Arthritis is a degenerative joint disease, accompanied by degeneration of cartilage tissue.As the disease progresses, the joint capsule, ligamentous apparatus, synovial membrane and adjacent bone structures are also involved in the destruction process.
Incidence of arthritis
Among people with joint disease, the majority are elderly.Disease after age 65 is not only the most frequently diagnosed joint disease but also the main cause of loss of work ability and disability later in life.Moreover, in old age, sufferers are mainly of the fair sex, but among young people, sufferers are mostly men.
The incidence of osteoarthritis varies widely between countries.It is still not possible to determine the cause of the wide dispersion of statistical data.
Causes and risk factors
Arthritis is a disease that can be primary or secondary.If there is no objective reason for the development of pathology, then they talk about the primary type.If it is possible to determine the cause of joint disease, then they talk about the secondary type.
Secondary arthritis can be provoked by the following negative factors:
- Joint injuries of various nature (frequent falls, sprains, bruises);
- chronic congenital tissue dysplasia;
- pathological changes in metabolism;
- various autoimmune pathologies;
- inflammatory processes of a non-specific nature in the joint area;
- some diseases of the endocrine system;
- processes of the degenerative-dystrophic type occur chronically;
- various diseases accompanied by excessive joint mobility along with weak ligamentous apparatus;
- presence of hemophilia;
- Inflammatory process of a particular type.
In addition to the direct causes that lead to the development of joint disease, there are also risk factors that do not cause the disease but can increase the risk of developing the disease.
These include:
- age over 55 years old;
- the presence of excess weight, due to which the load on the joints increases;
- excessive load on any joint or group due to improper sports training, specific work requiring prolonged position;
- history of surgical intervention on the joint;
- hereditary;
- Hormonal changes in a woman's body after menopause;
- persistent hypothermia;
- Untreated spinal pathology;
- insufficient amount of beneficial micro and macro elements from food.
Development mechanism
The mechanism for the development of joint disease is quite well known.Cartilage ensures normal contact between two bones with a smooth nature, without bumps or roughness, helping to maintain normal movement in the joint.When the disease occurs, the structure of the cartilage changes, becomes rough, and defects appear on it, reducing the natural gliding efficiency.
Due to the acquired unevenness, the cartilage is gradually damaged, in some places it begins to calcify, in others it begins to ossify.In this case, it is possible to separate small particles that enter the synovial fluid and can damage surrounding tissues.
As the pathology becomes more severe, the joint can fall into a state of chronic subluxation, which will significantly impair its motor function.
Degree
Doctors divide joint disease into three main levels:
- I give degrees.Characterized by the absence of a clear clinical picture.Patients may complain of pain in the affected joint but often do not consult a doctor.In this case, changes are observed in the ligament-muscle apparatus and synovial fluid, but there are still no obvious deformations.
- level II.Symptoms of arthritis become more pronounced.The pain is described as tolerable but occurs frequently.The patient consulted his doctor because he noticed a decrease in quality of life.A characteristic crunching sound may be heard in the affected joint.Changes are observed in neighboring muscle structures, due to disruption of nerve conduction.
- level III.Characterized by pronounced symptoms.Articular cartilage is very thin and cysts, calcifications or ossification can be found in it.The ligamentous apparatus becomes shorter, which leads to increased mobility in the affected area, accompanied by limitation due to a pronounced inflammatory process.The metabolism of surrounding tissues is affected, which can lead to muscular dystrophy.
In any case, the patient will need clarification of the diagnosis from the attending physician.This is due to the peculiarities of the course of the disease, which is characterized by alternating periods of remission and exacerbation.
Pain due to illness
Pain due to arthritis is the most common complaint for which patients consult a doctor.Their distinguishing characteristics are their connection to the time of day, weather and physical activity.
In most patients, pain becomes worse when walking, running, or performing other physical activities that target the affected joint.As soon as the load stops, the pain gradually subsides.Their development is explained by the fact that the cartilage is no longer able to perform the function of shock absorption.
At night, discomfort most often occurs due to blood stagnation in the veins.Another reason is the increase in pressure in the bones during this period.
One of the main diagnostic criteria is the presence of so-called onset pain, which causes the patient discomfort at the beginning of active movement.The initial pain often subsides with continued physical activity.Their appearance is explained by the presence of plaques in the joints (debris), which irritate nerve endings.As these deposits move away from the nerve, the pain disappears.
Symptom
In addition to pain, doctors also identify other signs of joint disease, which may indicate the presence of pathology.
These include:
- The appearance of painful and crunching sounds.Pain mainly appears if a person suffers from hypothermia.At first, it will be difficult for the ears to feel the crunching sound, but as the disease progresses without treatment, people around will hear the crunching sound.
- Reduced mobility.At the early stages of pathology development, mobility is not reduced.However, the longer the disease is left untreated, the more severe the limitation of joint movement becomes.This is explained by the narrowing of the joint space and the contraction of nearby muscle structures.
- Joint deformity.It is characteristic of the late stages of joint disease, but is also an important indicator of the disease's progression.During this period, treatment of the disease was very difficult.
Which doctor treats arthritis?
Who treats arthritis?In most cases, therapy is performed by several specialists at the same time.First of all, a rheumatologist - a joint specialist - is involved.In addition, patients also need to see an orthopedist.If the disease is the result of an inflammatory process, you should also see a rheumatologist.
If necessary, other specialists can participate during treatment.Usually, you have to seek the services of a traumatologist, physiotherapist, massage therapist and surgeon.
Diagnose
Treatment of arthropathy begins only after the diagnosis is confirmed and the extent of the pathology has been determined.First of all, the doctor interviews the patient in detail and conducts an examination.The presence of characteristic complaints and deformities indicates the existence of this disease.
A mandatory way to confirm the diagnosis is to take an X-ray of the affected joint.If the disease has affected the knee, take a picture of the knee;If pathology is detected in the hand, X-ray signs of the disease will be specifically looked for there.
Diagnosis by radiography does not always provide adequate results to diagnose the patient.In this case, he can be sent for MRI (this will allow to evaluate the condition of soft tissues and their participation in the pathological process) or CT (this will allow to draw conclusions about the condition of bone and cartilage structures, the involvement of nearby anatomical formations in the pathological process).
Treatment
How to treat arthritis?Choosing the appropriate treatment depends on the severity of symptoms and stage of the disease.
The doctor chooses the treatment regimen after evaluating the patient's general condition and the progression of the disease.Both conservative and surgical treatments can be used.
medicine
How to treat the disease if it is best not to have surgery but to take medication?
Conservative therapy is suitable only for patients in the early stages of the formation of pathology and will include the use of three main groups of drugs:
- glucocorticosteroids– hormonal drugs that effectively reduce the inflammatory process during exacerbations are injected into the joint cavity;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,It is mainly used as an injection and is injected into muscles near joints or directly into a vein.But doctors can also recommend tablets, although this option of taking NSAIDs is undesirable due to the negative effect on the digestive tract;
- chondroprotector– drugs of this group can reduce the process of destruction of cartilage tissue and enhance regeneration;They are especially effective in the early stages of the disease.
Surgery
How to cure arthritis if the disease has gone quite far?In this case, conservative therapy will not be effective and the doctor can only recommend surgical intervention to the patient.
Nowadays, in most cases, endoscopy is performed.During surgery, the real joint is replaced with a prosthetic joint that has the full function of a healthy joint.
In some cases, palliative treatment options are provided, the main goal of which is to reduce the load on the joint surface.
do exercise
In the early stages of the disease, the disease is treated not only with medication, but also with physical therapy.Exercise is an important phase of therapy, helping to maintain joint function and reduce the likelihood of further progression of the disease.
Depending on the severity of the pathology and the individual characteristics of the patient, the set of exercises is selected individually.The doctor must take into account the localization of the arthritis, which allows the most effective treatment of the affected tissues.
Do not self-study without medical supervision, especially in the early stages.Exercises must be chosen so that they are as smooth as possible, without sudden movements.
Gymnastics therapy classes are effective only if the patient spends a little time performing the recommended complex exercise every day.
Traditional method
Many people with arthritis refuse medication or surgery until the last minute.In this case, alternative medicines are used to replace the medicine.
The most commonly used plants in therapy are:
- Kalanchoe;
- ginger;
- horseradish;
- bay leaf;
- garlic;
- cinnamon;
- horsetail and others.
They are used as tinctures, decoctions and poultices on the affected area.It is important to note that it is impossible to completely treat the disease using only home recipes.It is best to combine traditional therapy with traditional medicine.
prevent
What to do to reduce the risk of joint disease in old age?Simple preventative measures are available to anyone.
Recommendation:
- daily moderate physical activity: walking, cycling, performing simple exercises such as gymnastics, etc.;
- adhere to the basic principles of a healthy diet: eat often but little by little, avoid fast food, overeating, heavy and fatty foods, eat a lot of spices;
- weight control: weight gain leads to increased stress on the joints, which can lead to the development of joint disease;
- Timely treatment of chronic diseases leading to metabolic disorders;
- the use of vitamin-mineral complexes if the amount of nutrients provided from food is considered insufficient.
Difference between arthritis and arthrosis
Many people, due to the similarity in sound, confuse arthrosis and arthritis.However, these are completely different diseases.
Arthritis is not referred to as dystrophy and degeneration in joint tissues but as any inflammatory reaction that can develop in the joint cavity, regardless of its cause.Inflammation often affects not only the joint but also the muscles closest to it, bone structures and ligaments.Arthritis pain is not related to physical activity;it can bother the patient even at rest and there is no crepitation in the joints.
In most cases, it is impossible to independently distinguish arthritis from joint disease, since the main symptom is pain, and patients rarely know its features in each pathology.
It is better to entrust the establishment of an accurate diagnosis to the treating doctor so as not to make mistakes in the treatment and prevention of the disease later.
Arthritis is a serious disease that can lead to disability if the patient does not consult a doctor promptly.At the first signs of the disease, you should contact a specialist to confirm the diagnosis and choose the most optimal treatment method.
If you can detect the disease in its early stages of development, you will probably be cured even without surgical intervention, limiting yourself to conservative treatment.