Arthrosis is a pathological process of the joints that has several causes.All of these can lead to functional and structural disruption of one or more joints.This disease is the most common cause of chronic joint pain.It affects millions of people.In each case, symptoms and treatment of arthrosis are individualized and require observation by a qualified orthopedic surgeon.
What is joint disease?
The disease is based on the progressive loss of cartilage, which normally lines adjacent bone segments and ensures that they slide relative to each other.Under the influence of various causes, the cartilage tissue begins to collapse, immature stem cells in the underlying bone are activated, become more dense, and form cavities (cysts) and growths (osteophytes) in them.
The gap between the joint surfaces gradually narrows and then disappears completely, and the limb ceases to move.When you have arthrosis, all joint tissue is affected, including nearby muscles, ligaments, and joint capsules.Therefore, treating joint arthritis is a difficult task, and only surgery can help the patient in the later stages.
The most common form of pathology is joint deformity, affecting the large joints of the lower limbs as well as the hands.
Causes of Arthropathy
Possible causes of joint disease:
- Endocrine diseases - diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, acromegaly, obesity;
- Injuries, both large (fractures, whereby their joint surfaces deviate from their normal axis), and minor but permanent (during hard work, sustained occupational or sports loads);
- Inflammatory processes: infectious arthritis, gout, rheumatoid diseases;
- Metabolic disorders in the body: Paget's disease and Wilson-Konovalov disease;
- Congenital developmental abnormalities, such as different limb lengths;
- Genetic defects in collagen structure, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome;
- Neuropathy of various origins: diabetes, alcohol;
- Hemophilia is accompanied by frequent bleeding into the joints.
In order to successfully treat joint disease, the cause of the joint disease must be eliminated.
Symptoms and Stages of Arthropathy
The disease is accompanied by the following symptoms and external signs:
- Pain and impaired mobility in one or more joints;
- The pain worsens after exercise, usually at night, and in severe stages of arthrosis it becomes permanent;
- A dangerous complication is the inability of the joint to move, move and care for itself.
Common forms of the disease:
- Damage to the interphalangeal joints of the fingers and the base of the thumb, which can enlarge, swell, sometimes become painful, and become inflamed;
- Hip arthritis: more common in men and related to heavy physical labor; the main cause of this disease in women is obesity;
- Arthritis of the Knee: Often associated with kneeling and squatting occupational activities;
- Spondyloarthropathy: accompanied by the formation of bone spurs, compression of nerve roots leads to pain, weakness, impaired sensitivity of the limbs, and persistent pain in the waist.
There are several degrees of joint disease:
- Degree 1: Slightly limited mobility.
- 2 degrees: mobility is significantly limited, creaking when moving, and nearby muscles are moderately atrophied.
- Third degree: The joint is deformed and there is almost no movement at all.
Depending on the degree of dysfunction and the stage of the pathology, doctors from different specialties - therapists, physiotherapists, rheumatologists, neurologists and orthopedists - are involved in the treatment of the disease.
Treatment of Arthropathy
The goals of treatment are to eliminate risk factors and pain and restore joint function.Various influencing methods are used for this purpose:
- Non-pharmacological: informing patients about the condition and preventing complications, physical therapy, weight loss, physical therapy, use of assistive devices (orthotics, canes, crutches);
- Drugs for the treatment of joint disease: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, especially the new generation of selective COX-2 inhibitors; atypical antidepressants are needed to relieve chronic pain; symptomatic and slow-acting drugs are only of auxiliary value because their effect in slowing cartilage destruction has not been proven;
- Because of the associated inflammation and severe pain, the traumatologist will perform intra-articular injections of corticosteroids;
- The most effective method is surgery, which can eliminate pain and restore mobility.
Different types of surgeries can be performed:
- Arthroscopy - using a small camera (endoscope) to examine the inside surface of a joint to remove fragments of cartilage that are blocking the joint;
- Arthroplasty – replacement of the cartilage surface with artificial material;
- Osteotomy - cutting or removing part of the bone to restore the normal axis of the joint;
- Arthroscopic surgery – surgery to restore the integrity of the cartilage;
- Arthrodesis - Artificial immobilization of a joint (most commonly the ankle) to relieve a patient's ongoing pain;
- Endoprosthesis - Removes damaged joint ends of bones and replaces them with artificial joints.
prevention
There is no reliable way to prevent this disease.Preventing joint disease involves eliminating excessive load on the joints and promptly treating diseases that lead to cartilage destruction.Treating joint disease with folk remedies does not slow the progression of the disease, but it helps temporarily relieve joint pain.It should only be considered as a complement to traditional medical treatments or surgery.
Time is a negative factor for patients with joint disease.The sooner treatment or surgery is started, the better the results will be.Therefore, if symptoms of osteoarthritis occur, it is recommended to see a doctor immediately.