The treatment of joint injuries - arthritis and osteoarthritis is complex. The earlier the therapy is started, the less pronounced the pathological process will be. Pathology of the musculoskeletal system can occur at any age, against the background of existing chronic diseases, due to trauma or as a manifestation of congenital anomalies. Joint pathology requires not only traditional methods of treatment in the form of medication, physiotherapy, but also lifestyle changes.
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Arthritis and osteoarthritis - differences
These two pathologies have a similar name due to the root of the word, which comes from the Latin word articulatio, which translates as becomes. The ending -it means inflammation, and -osis - deformity. The name is due to the process that takes place in the joints.
Arthritis affects the synovial membrane along with the blood vessels and nerve endings. Synovial fluid production is impaired. It develops at any age, can occur in children as a manifestation of connective tissue diseases, autoimmune pathology. One or more joints are affected, in rare cases polyarthritis occurs.
Osteoarthritis is characterized by destruction of the cartilage located on the surface of the bone that forms the articulation. The cartilage tissue becomes thinner, the places of deformation are replaced by bone tissue. Formed in adulthood, it can be a consequence of injuries. It mainly affects large joints - knee, elbow and others.
The first symptoms of arthritis are sharp pain that occurs during movement and at rest, stiffness in the morning. In addition to local manifestations, this pathology is accompanied by general symptoms in the form of fever, general weakness, lethargy. In autoimmune diseases, other organs are also affected - the heart, the kidneys.
In osteoarthritis in the early stages there are no symptoms. Complaints are reported by patients at a later stage, there is pain during exercise, crunch when moving, difficulty moving. In the last stages, contractures appear.
Arthritis and osteoarthritis can be a complication of each other.
Which doctor should I see?
If arthritis and osteoarthritis are suspected, treatment is performed by specialists such as:
- Surgeon - to examine the condition of the tissues.
- A rheumatologist deals with autoimmune diseases.
- Traumatologist - treats pathology caused by injuries.
- Orthopedist - deals with the rehabilitation of patients after a course of treatment.
Principles of effective treatment of joints
Effective treatment of joints is based on an integrated approach, the period of exacerbations involves taking drugs that have anti-inflammatory effect. In the period of remission physiotherapeutic methods, massage and gymnastics are prescribed. The treatment of osteoarthritis is different in that it involves the use of chondroprotectors.
In arthritis, etiotropic treatment should be prescribed in addition to symptomatic treatment. With the development of reactive arthritis on the background of infection, antibiotics are prescribed, with autoimmune diseases, hormonal agents are prescribed. Treatment may include antivirals, immunomodulators.
Arthritis and osteoarthritis are pathologies in which blood circulation and lymph flow are disrupted, which is why their effective treatment is based on the normalization of these processes, improving tissue nutrition.
Effective treatment of joints in the presence of synovitis on the background of arthritis and osteoarthritis is based on the use of anti-inflammatory drugs.
An obligatory step is to reduce the load on the affected limbs. This includes conservative methods - wearing orthopedic shoes, protecting the joints from injuries, normalizing weight, dosed physical activity.
How to treat osteoarthritis and arthritis? Osteoarthritis is a progressive disease. It cannot be completely cured, so the main task of therapy is to prevent further development of the deformity.
Arthritis, which arose against the background of the underlying disease, disappears after treatment of the pathology that caused the inflammation in the joint.
Methods of treatment
The treatment for osteoarthritis and arthritis of the foot is the same as for other joints. Be sure to wear appropriate shoes with arch support. When wearing high heels, flat shoes, the deformation will progress, other groups of joints and the spine will begin to be involved in the process.
The main methods of treatment of joint pathology:
- lifestyle adjustment;
- orthopedic correction;
- physiotherapy;
- massage;
- physiotherapy;
- drug treatment;
- surgical intervention.
Non-drug methods
How to treat arthritis at home? The treatment of arthritis and osteoarthritis at home is done with the help of compresses with dimethyl sulfoxide, bischofite or medical bile. All these substances can be purchased at a pharmacy.
- Bischofite - relieves inflammation, has a local warming effect. It is prescribed for the treatment of large joints with a deformity uncomplicated by synovitis.
- Medicinal bile has a local warming and absorbing effect.
- Dimethyl sulfoxide relieves inflammation, is absorbed into deep tissues.
You can apply anti-inflammatory ointments yourself. When arthritis is caused by autoimmune diseases, connective tissue pathology, gout, then diet is of great importance in therapy. The diet is saturated with vegetables, fruits, fiber, exclude:
- fried and fatty foods;
- smoked meats;
- canned foods;
- carbonated drinks;
- alcohol.
Gout also requires the exclusion of spices, hot spices, fatty meats, caviar, legumes, coffee, tea, chocolate.
Joint health benefits:
- pineapples;
- Cherry juice;
- ginger;
- lemon;
- turmeric;
- hot hot pepper.
For a patient treating osteoarthritis at home, it is important to include jelly and jelly in the diet. In the early stages, these dishes will serve as natural chondroprotectors and stimulate cartilage repair. The restriction is on salt and mineral water.
The next step in home therapy is daily joint and stretching exercises. Arthritis of the small joints is prevented through activities that involve fine motor skills of the hands - modeling, drawing. For the general improvement of the body are useful - cycling, swimming.
Medical treatment
The treatment of osteoarthritis with the help of drugs consists in the appointment of NSAIDs, chondroprotectors. Forms of release - tablets, capsules, injections, ointments and gels. The oral form of release has a number of contraindications, such as bronchial asthma, gastric ulcers.
Prolonged use may cause stomach bleeding. Ointments have no contraindications, but their effectiveness is lower.
The dosage is prescribed by a doctor, usually 1-2 tablets are taken per day, propionic acid derivatives are taken no more than 1 tablet every 4-6 hours.
Hormonal drugs are injected into the joint cavity. They are prescribed for severe pain that is not relieved by NSAIDs. The most commonly prescribed are glucocorticoids.
Chondroprotectors - a group of drugs prescribed to restore cartilage tissue. When the oral form is used, they are used for a long course - up to 3 months, with intra-articular - up to 2 weeks. The main active ingredients are chondroitin, glucosamine and hyaluronic acid. Ointments with chondroprotectors are effective in preventing joint pathology.
Arthritis is treated by injecting a therapeutic substance with a laser through the skin. These procedures include phonophoresis and electrophoresis.
Phonophoresis - the device creates a directed flow that improves the permeability of tissues for drug administration. In addition, the beam has a massaging effect on deep tissues, thus improving their nutrition, increasing blood circulation and reducing inflammation.
Electrophoresis is the action of an electric current that breaks down substances into ionized particles. The tissue is impregnated with drug, placed under electrodes with opposite charge. An electric field is created in the affected area, which allows the active substance to penetrate into the deep tissues. The number of such procedures varies up to 10.
Treatment of osteoarthritis with drugs is effective in the early stages. In the future, the drugs do not have the desired effect.
Surgery
In osteoarthritis and arthritis, surgical treatment of the joints is indicated when the movement in the joint is already impaired, the pain is bothersome all the time and is not stopped with medication. The main operation is arthroplasty.
The puncture is used to examine the synovial fluid, remove it and administer medication.
Arthroscopy refers to research methods, but can be therapeutic. In osteoarthritis, osteophytes are removed with an endoscope.
Osteotomy - cutting the bone edges to reduce the load on the diseased joint. Used in arthritis.
Prevention of osteoarthritis and arthritis
To keep your joints healthy, you need to change your lifestyle. Namely, to establish a diet, lose weight and exercise regularly. At the first pathological symptoms, consultations with specialists, examinations and treatment are indicated.