Treatment of joint damage - arthritis and arthrosis is complex. The sooner therapy is started, the less obvious the pathological process. Pathology of the musculoskeletal system can occur at any age, with a background of pre-existing chronic diseases, as a result of trauma, or as a manifestation of congenital anomalies. Articular pathology requires not only traditional methods of treatment in the form of medication, physiotherapy, but also lifestyle changes.
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Arthritis and arthrosis - the difference
Both of these pathologies have the same name because the root of the word, which is derived from the Latin word articulatio, it translates as joint. The ending -it means inflammation, and -osis -defect. The name is due to a process that takes place in the joints.
Arthritis affects the synovial membranes along with blood vessels and nerve endings. Impaired synovial fluid production. It develops at any age, can occur in children as a manifestation of connective tissue disease, autoimmune pathology. One or more joints are affected, in rare cases polyarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is characterized by the destruction of cartilage located on the surface of the bone that forms the articulation. Cartilage tissue becomes thinner, the site of deformation is replaced by bone tissue. Formed in adulthood, can be the result of injury. It mainly affects large joints - knees, elbows, etc.
The first symptom of arthritis is acute pain that occurs during movement and during rest, stiffness of movement 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 affected - the heart, kidneys.
With arthrosis in the early stages, there are no symptoms. Complaints are submitted by patients at a later stage, there is pain during physical exercise, cramps during movement, impaired movement. At the last stage, the contractor appears.
Arthritis and arthrosis can be complications of each other.
Which doctor should I call?
If arthritis and arthrosis are suspected, treatment is carried out by specialists such as:
- Surgeon - to check the condition of the tissue.
- A rheumatologist deals with autoimmune diseases.
- Trauma specialist - treats pathology caused by injury.
- Orthopedic Specialist - is involved in the rehabilitation of patients after undergoing treatment.
Principles of effective joint treatment
Effective joint treatment is based on an integrated approach, periods of exacerbation include taking drugs that have anti-inflammatory effects. During the remission period, physiotherapeutic, massage, and gymnastic methods are prescribed. Arthrosis therapy is different because it includes the use of chondroprotectors.
In arthritis, in addition to symptomatic treatment, etiotropic treatment should be prescribed. With the development of reactive arthritis against the background of infection, antibiotics are prescribed, with autoimmune diseases, hormonal agents are prescribed. Treatment may include antiviral agents, immunomodulators.
Arthritis and arthrosis are pathologies in which blood circulation and lymph flow are disrupted, therefore their effective treatment is based on the normalization of this process, improving tissue nutrition.
Effective treatment of joints in the presence of synovitis against the background of arthritis and arthrosis is based on the use of anti-inflammatory drugs.
The mandatory measure is to reduce the load on the affected limb. These include conservative methods - wearing orthopedic shoes, protecting joints from injury, normalizing weight, dosing physical activity.
How to cure arthrosis and arthritis? Arthrosis is a progressive disease. It cannot be completely cured, so the main task of therapy is to prevent further development of the disability.
Arthritis arising against the background of the underlying disease disappears after treatment of pathology that causes inflammation of the joints.
Methods of Treatment
The treatment of arthrosis and arthritis of the foot is the same as for other joints. Make sure you wear the right shoes with arch support. When wearing high heels, flat shoes, deformation will develop, other joint and spine groups will begin to be involved in the process.
The main methods of treatment of joint pathology:
- lifestyle corrections;
- orthopedic correction;
- physiotherapy;
- massage;
- physiotherapy;
- drug treatment;
- surgical intervention.
Non -drug methods
How to treat arthritis at home? Treatment of arthritis and arthrosis at home is carried out using compresses with dimethyl sulfoxide, bischofite or medical bile. All these ingredients can be purchased at the pharmacy.
- Bischofite - relieves inflammation, has a local warming effect. It is prescribed for the treatment of large joints, with deformities not complicated by synovitis.
- Medical bile has a warming effect and local absorption.
- Dimethyl sulfoxide relieves inflammation, is absorbed into deep tissues.
You can use your own anti-inflammatory ointment. When arthritis is caused by autoimmune diseases, connective tissue pathology, gout, then diet is very important in therapy. Diet saturated with vegetables, fruits, fiber, excluding:
- fried and fatty foods;
- smoked meat;
- canned food;
- carbonated drinks;
- alcohol.
Gouty arthritis also requires the exclusion of spices, hot spices, fatty meats, caviar, beans, coffee, tea, chocolate.
Benefits for joint health:
- pineapple;
- Cherry juice;
- halia;
- lemon;
- turmeric;
- chili api.
For patients treating arthrosis at home, it is important to include jellies and jellies in the diet. In the early stages, these dishes will serve as natural chondroprotectors and stimulate cartilage repair. Restrictions apply to salt and mineral water.
The next step in home therapy is daily joint exercise and stretching. Arthritis of the small joints is prevented by activities in which fine motor skills of the hands are involved - modeling, drawing. For general improvement of the body is useful - cycling, swimming.
Medical treatment
Treatment of osteoarthritis with the help of drugs consists of the appointment of NSAIDs, chondroprotectors. Forms of release - tablets, capsules, injections, ointments and gels. The oral release form has several contraindications, such as bronchial asthma, stomach ulcers.
Long -term use of them can cause stomach bleeding. The ointment has no contraindications, but its effectiveness is lower.
The dose is prescribed by a doctor, usually taking 1-2 tablets a day, propionic acid derivatives are taken no more than 1 tablet every 4-6 hours.
Hormone drugs are injected into the joint cavity. They are prescribed for severe pain not relieved by NSAIDs. The most commonly prescribed is glucocorticoids.
Chondroprotectors - a group of drugs prescribed for the restoration of cartilage tissue. When using the oral form, it is 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 for the prevention of joint pathology.
Arthritis is treated by injecting a therapeutic substance with a laser through the skin. These procedures include phonophoresis and electrophoresis.
Phonophoresis - a device creating a directed flow, which increases the permeability of tissues for drug administration. In addition, the beams have a massaging effect on deep tissues, thereby improving their nutrition, improving blood circulation, and reducing inflammation.
Electrophoresis is the action of an electric current that breaks down a material into ionized particles. The tissue is impregnated with the drug, placed under an electrode with an 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 arthrosis with medications is effective in the early stages. In the future, drugs do not have the desired effect.
Surgery
With arthrosis and arthritis, surgical treatment of the joint is indicated when movement in the joint is already impaired, the pain interferes all the time, and is not stopped by medication. The main operation is arthroplasty.
Punctures are used to examine synovial fluid, remove it and administer medication.
Arthroscopy refers to a research method, but can be therapeutic. With arthrosis, osteophytes are removed using an endoscope.
Osteotomy - cutting the edges of a bone to reduce the load on a diseased joint. Used for arthritis.
Prevention of arthrosis and arthritis
To keep your joints healthy, you need to change your lifestyle. That is, to set a diet, lose weight, and exercise regularly. At the first pathological symptom, specialist consultation, research and treatment are indicated.