Treatment of osteoarthritis ("deforming osteoarthritis", osteoarthritis) cannot be postponed "for later". Pathology always changes the joint structure, affects the bones, cartilage, can completely destroy the articulation and the person becomes disabled. That is why it is dangerous to self-medicate, refuse an examination and official methods of therapy.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative-dystrophic joint disease in which the joint gradually begins to deform, its functionality deteriorates, osteophytes grow along the edge of the bone and cartilage is destroyed.
The main symptoms of the pathology are the presence of crunch while walking, pain syndrome of varying severity. In addition, in osteoarthritis, stiffness of movements occurs, the pain becomes constant, constantly intensifies, atrophy of nearby muscles begins and the gap between the bones of the joint narrows. If there is no treatment at this stage, ankylosis (fusion of the joint surface) develops, disability occurs.
Conservative therapy of osteoarthritis
If you have symptoms of the disease, you should be examined and start treatment for osteoarthritis immediately. Lack of adequate therapy can lead to complete loss of joint function and lead to disability.
In formal medicine, the treatment of osteoarthritis is initially performed conservatively. The patient is prescribed medication, exercise therapy, physiotherapy, orthopedic products, diet. With the permission of the doctor for osteoarthritis you can additionally apply the methods of traditional, traditional medicine, homeopathy. A sick person should monitor his weight, avoid uneven loading of the joints, follow medical recommendations. If these complex methods do not bring a positive result, surgery is performed.
After conservative and / or surgical treatment for the prevention of osteoarthritis, it is useful to undergo annual spa therapy. It is advisable to choose an institution that specializes in pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, and also has thermal springs, therapeutic mud.
Medical treatment
Disease such as osteoarthritis can be primary or secondary (it develops against the background of other pathologies). Therefore, the list of drugs used is selected for each patient individually.
The main drugs for the treatment of osteoarthritis:
- chondroprotectors;
- Medical preparations with microcirculatory action;
- multivitamins, vitamins C, group B;
- mineral complexes;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- corticosteroids (intra-articular injections);
- painkillers;
- desensitizing (antiallergic) drugs;
- medicines for external use (ointment, cream, solutions, balm, gel, tinctures and medicinal bile).
Chondroprotectors are prescribed at all stages, forms of the disease, as they affect the mechanism of recovery of articular cartilage. HP is prescribed for oral use, but arthrosis also involves injections into the articular cavity and / or muscle. Both chondroprotectors and corticosteroids are used for intra-articular injections.
Secondary deforming arthrosis is treated with the same group of drugs, but additional drugs are prescribed to treat the pathology that provoked degenerative-dystrophic changes in the joints.
Physiotherapy
Each physiotherapy has its own list of contraindications. Therefore, when choosing them you may need to consult a cardiologist, neurologist, endocrinologist or other specialist.
Basic physiotherapy
Drug treatment of osteoarthritis is supplemented by electrophoresis (with anesthetic, zinc, lithium, sulfur), electrosleep therapy, ultraphonophoresis. Paraffin applications are applied on the diseased joint, black wax is used, healing mud. Damaged by osteoarthritis joint is also treated with laser, magnetic field, diadynamic currents and other pulses.
Therapeutic gymnastics for osteoarthritis
Gymnastics is prescribed for 3-5 days after the removal of the acute symptoms. A set of exercises for exercise is selected individually for each patient for the identified stage, form of osteoarthritis. The first workout should start with minimal strain on the inflamed joint and at a slow pace. Then every 7-10 days the exercises are complicated on the recommendation of a specialist.
Types of gymnastic tasks for the joints of the hands:
- circular movements in the arms, elbows, shoulders;
- swing back and forth, up and down;
- shrug;
- connecting-disconnecting the blades;
- rotation of the palms to the feet and away from him;
- flexion-extension in the elbows;
- clenching fists with subsequent maximum straightening of the brush.
In case of damage to the pathology of the spine (osteochondrosis), arthrosis of the joints of the upper extremities - gymnastics is done in a sitting position, "upright".
Types of gymnastic tasks for the joints of the legs:
- flexion-extension, circular movements in the hip joint, knee, ankle;
- swing back and forth, right and left;
- lifting the knees up;
- "wheel";
- "butterfly";
- rolling small objects with your foot;
- gripping the ball with your toes;
- lifting the toe "on itself".
With the development of coxarthrosis, gonarthrosis, arthrosis of the ankle, therapeutic exercise is performed in a supine, upright position, and in case of damage to the small joints of the legs - sitting.
Exercise should not cause pain in the damaged joint. If it occurs, you need to reduce the load, the pace of execution. You should also rest for up to 3 minutes after each exercise.
Manual therapy for osteoarthritis
It is recommended to use the restoration of joint mobility with the help of the hands of a chiropractor in grade I-II osteoarthritis.
The chiropractor performs 2 types of correction of a deformed joint: manipulation (sudden movement of pressure) and mobilization (stretching of the damaged joint). The more complex the clinical case, the more sessions need to be done.
Manual treatment of arthrosis of the joints is complemented by massage. It is performed every other day for all stages of the disease every 2-3 months with a course of up to 25 procedures, but only during remission and in the subacute period.
The manipulation is performed by sliding movements with light pressure (sawing, kneading, rubbing, etc. ). They massage not only the diseased joint, but also the nearby spine, the adjacent joints.
Physiotherapy at home for osteoarthritis
Now people diagnosed with osteoarthritis have the opportunity to undergo physiotherapy at home. Compact household appliances for medical purposes are sold online and in medical equipment stores.
The following devices are very popular for the treatment of osteoarthritis:
- magnetic therapy;
- magnetic laser therapy;
- low frequency pulsed magnetic therapy;
- laser therapy;
- reflex physiotherapy.
Before ordering an arthrosis device, the doctor must clarify whether there are contraindications to the effects of pulses, laser, current or magnetic field on your body.
Non-drug methods
Treatment of osteoarthritis requires the use of an orthopedic regimen. The purpose of the method is to unload the diseased joint, to stabilize it in the correct anatomical and physiological position. In osteoarthritis, canes, crutches, as well as corsets, special insoles with supports and pads and shoes, splints, orthoses, fixators, braces are used. It is recommended to order in a local orthopedic salon according to individual plasters.
In online stores you can buy cheaper these products, whose design allows you to independently adjust the tensile strength. These are usually elastic bandages, bandages, calipers, fixation belts, knee pads, elbow pads and similar orthopedic devices. However, before ordering a specific product for osteoarthritis, you should clarify with your doctor all the necessary characteristics: the degree of tension, the presence and type of reinforcing elements, whether it is necessary to adjust the angle of extension of the limb in a diseased joint, additional conditions.
Climatotherapy also belongs to non-drug methods. During its use, a person creates special climatic conditions by prescribing thalassotherapy procedures or it is recommended to visit a resort, to undergo preventive sanatorium treatment in health resorts.
dietary therapy
In case of secondary arthrosis, the doctors recommend to the patient one of the healing masses. For example, to correct body weight, excess weight is eliminated with the help of diet № 8. In most cases, patients are fed according to table № 15 and ATS (general version of the diet).
Gelatin-based products (jelly, jelly, etc. ), avocado (1 piece per week), vegetable oils, freshly squeezed forest fruit juices, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame and flaxseed help with osteoarthritis. It is recommended to exclude fatty, smoked, salty foods from the diet.
Homeopathic remedies and herbal remedies for osteoarthritis
Doctors supplement conservative methods with homeopathy and herbal medicine. Preparations based on natural ingredients improve the functioning of all body systems.
List of commonly used homeopathic remedies for osteoarthritis:
- hydrofluoric acid;
- calcium fluoride;
- Phosphorus;
- calcium phosphate;
- Potassium carbonate.
Their use is combined with other methods of official and traditional medicine.
List of commonly used herbal remedies for osteoarthritis:
- cinquefoil;
- unpeeled oats;
- yukurba (extraction of devil's claws);
- medicinal collection (rose and licorice roots, chamomile flowers, calendula).
Homeopathic and herbal remedies reduce the need for large doses of NSAIDs, analgesics, corticosteroids, antihistamines.
Joint operations
In case of improper use of conservative methods, surgical treatment of a disease such as osteoarthritis is resorted to. The operation is usually performed when the patient seeks medical help late, when the pathology has already reached 3-4 stages of development and threatens damage.
Types of operations for osteoarthritis:
- arthrodesis;
- arthroscopic debridement;
- arthroplasty;
- periarticular osteotomy;
- endoprosthesis.
After the operation the patient is transferred to conservative treatment, rehabilitation measures are started.
The use of laser in surgery and physiotherapy for osteoarthritis
Laser therapy is prescribed for all degrees and types of deforming osteoarthritis. The rays of the devices used affect the damaged tissues at the cellular, molecular and physiological (organ) level.
In physiotherapy for osteoarthritis, this property of the laser helps to restore microcirculation, relieve inflammation, pain and swelling, improve metabolism, self-regulation of regenerative processes. There are many types of devices and modes of operation. The rays of the device affect the surface and intra-articular layer of tissues, biologically active points (with laser acupuncture).
Laser treatment is also performed in surgery, using only high-intensity equipment. The use of rays during surgery, in addition to their listed properties, contributes to the rapid recovery of tissues and minimizes the risk of wound infection.
During the diagnosis of osteoarthritis, it is possible to prescribe laser spectroscopy and examine small joints with an infrared laser scanner. These methods are safer, cheaper than MRI, radiography.
Folk and traditional medicine for osteoarthritis
Raw materials of natural origin must be selected individually, as each substance has its own contraindications. Osteoarthritis drugs include plants with improving metabolism, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and analgesic effects. More often use willow bark, linden, St. John's wort, burdock, cinquefoil.
At home it is convenient to treat osteoarthritis with clay. Blue, kaolin (white), green, yellow and black remedies have a good therapeutic effect. Clay for osteoarthritis is added to baths (1 tablespoon / 1 liter of water), the damaged joint is wrapped, applied to it, the affected area is rubbed with a mixture of clay and vegetable oil.
Among the methods of traditional medicine, acupuncture and apitherapy show good results. Some patients feel better after hirudotherapy, mineral therapy.
Sanatoriums and resorts
It is recommended to strengthen the effectiveness of the basic treatment of osteoarthritis by resting in health resorts and rehabilitation centers specializing in joint diseases. It is better to give preference to those institutions that have thermal, mineral, mud springs, healing clay, special gases.
The treatment in the resorts is carried out with an emphasis on physiotherapy. A patient with osteoarthritis is definitely recommended to follow a diet, not to miss exercises, massages. Among physiotherapy, balneotherapy methods are used. These are hydromassage, swimming, baths (hydrogen sulfide, salt, nitrogen, sulfide and radon). In case of arthrosis, shells with healing mud, heat exposure, Bernard currents, laser, magnetic field are also prescribed. Each resort has its own therapeutic program, which must be clarified with the representative of the selected institution before buying a ticket.
In each country there are institutions specializing in the treatment of pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. Therefore, in osteoarthritis it is better to choose a resort with the help of your doctor. He will recommend what climate is needed, the holiday season, the necessary methods of physiotherapy for prevention, will provide information about the resorts and will advise the best institution in his or the nearby area.
The prognosis of osteoarthritis treatment
It is very important not to miss a planned medical examination (1-2 times a year) and to donate blood and urine for tests, as this allows doctors to detect pathological processes in time. But the later a person seeks medical help, the worse the prognosis for treatment. In chronic osteoarthritis, doctors can alleviate the pain only through methods of conservative therapy, partially preserve the functions of the joint or recommend surgery to avoid disability.
The combination of methods of official, traditional and traditional medicine under the regular supervision of the attending physician increases the prognosis for the treatment of osteoarthritis and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system.