Treatment of joint injuries - arthritis and osteoarthritis is complicated. The sooner treatment is started, the less noticeable the pathological process will be. Pathology of the musculoskeletal system can occur at any age, against the background of existing chronic diseases, as a result of trauma or as a manifestation of congenital anomalies. Articular pathology requires not only traditional treatments in the form of drugs, physiotherapy, but also lifestyle changes.
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Arthritis and osteoarthritis - the differences
These two pathologies have a similar name from the Latin word articulatio, which is translated as a joint. The ending -it means inflammation, -osis - deformation. The name is due to the process that takes place in the joints.
Arthritis affects the synovial membrane along with blood vessels and nerve endings. Synovial fluid production is impaired. It develops at any age and can occur in children as a manifestation of connective tissue diseases, autoimmune pathology. One or more joints are affected, rarely polyarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is characterized by the destruction of cartilage on the surface of the bone that forms the joint. Cartilage tissue becomes thinner, and deformities are replaced by bone tissue. It is formed during adolescence and can be the result of injuries. Mainly large joints - knees, elbows, etc.
The first symptoms of arthritis are sharp pain during movement and 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. Autoimmune diseases affect other organs - the heart, kidneys.
There are no symptoms with osteoarthritis in the early stages. Complaints are presented by patients in the later stages, pain during physical exertion, a crisis during movement, impaired movement. Contractures appear in the final stages.
Arthritis and osteoarthritis can be a complication of each other.
Which doctor should I see?
If you suspect arthritis and osteoarthritis, treatment is carried out by specialists, for example:
- 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 joint treatment
Effective combination therapy is based on an integrated approach, the exacerbation of which involves the administration of anti-inflammatory drugs. During remission, physiotherapy, massage and gymnastics are prescribed. Osteoarthritis therapy involves the use of chondroprotectors.
In addition to symptomatic treatment of arthritis, etiotropic treatment should be prescribed. With the development of reactive arthritis on the background of infection, antibiotics, hormonal agents with autoimmune diseases are prescribed. Treatment may include antiviral agents, immunomodulators.
Arthritis and osteoarthritis are a pathology that disrupts blood circulation and lymph flow, so 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.
A mandatory step is to reduce the load on the affected limbs. This includes conservative methods - wearing orthopedic shoes, protecting 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 occurs in the background of the underlying disease, disappears after treatment of the pathology that causes joint inflammation.
Methods of treatment
The treatment of osteoarthritis and arthritis of the foot is the same as for other joints. Make sure you wear the right shoes with back support. When high-heeled shoes and flat shoes are worn, the deformation will progress, and other joint groups and the spine will also 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-medicinal methods
How to treat arthritis at home? Treatment of arthritis and osteoarthritis at home is carried out using compressors with dimethyl sulfoxide, bischofite or medical bile. All these items can be purchased at the pharmacy.
- Bischofite - eliminates inflammation, has a local warming effect. It is prescribed for the treatment of large joints with deformities that are not complicated by synovitis.
- Medical bile has a local warming and absorption effect.
- Dimethyl sulfoxide eliminates inflammation, is absorbed into deep tissues.
You can apply anti-inflammatory ointments yourself. When arthritis is caused by autoimmune diseases, connective tissue pathology, gout, diet is of great importance in therapy. The diet is rich in vegetables, fruits, fiber, exclude:
- fried and fatty foods;
- smoked meat;
- Canned food;
- carbonated drinks;
- alcohol.
Gout arthritis also requires the removal of spices, hot spices, fatty meats, caviar, legumes, coffee, tea, chocolate.
Benefits to joint health:
- pineapple;
- cherry juice;
- ginger;
- lemon;
- turmeric;
- 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 vessels will serve as natural chondroprotectors and stimulate cartilage regeneration. The restriction applies to salt and mineral water.
The next step in home therapy is daily joint exercises and stretching. Activities involving the fine motor skills of the hands to prevent arthritis of small joints - modeling, drawing. Useful for general improvement of the body - cycling, swimming.
Treatment
Drug treatment of osteoarthritis consists of the appointment of NSAIDs, chondroprotectors. Forms of release - tablets, capsules, injections, ointments and gels. The oral form of the release has a number of contraindications, such as bronchial asthma, gastric ulcer.
Their long-term use can cause gastric bleeding. Ointments have no contraindications, but their effectiveness is lower.
Dosage is determined by a doctor, usually 1-2 tablets a day, propionic acid derivatives no more than 1 tablet every 4-6 hours.
Hormonal drugs are injected into the joint space. They are prescribed for severe pain that is not relieved by NSAIDs. The most commonly prescribed are glucocorticoids.
Chondroprotectors - a group of drugs prescribed for the regeneration of cartilage tissue. When used orally, they are used for a long course - up to 3 months, intraarticular - 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 laser injection into the skin. These procedures include phonophoresis and electrophoresis.
Phonophoresis - the device creates a directed flow that improves tissue permeability for the application of drugs. In addition, the beam has a massaging effect on deep tissues, thereby 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 the drug and placed under the electrodes with a reverse load. An electric field is created in the affected area, allowing the active substance to penetrate deep tissues. The number of such procedures varies up to 10.
Drug treatment of osteoarthritis is effective in the early stages. In the future, drugs do not give the desired effect.
Surgery
Surgical treatment of joints with osteoarthritis and arthritis is indicated when the movement in the joint is already impaired, the pain is always uncomfortable and is not stopped by medication. The main operation is arthroplasty.
The puncture is used to examine synovial fluid, remove it, and administer medication.
Arthroscopy is a research method, but it can be therapeutic. Osteophytes with osteoarthritis are removed using an endoscope.
Osteotomy - cutting the edges of the bone to reduce the load on the patient's joint. Used for arthritis.
Prevention of osteoarthritis and arthritis
You need to change your lifestyle to keep your joints healthy. That means dieting, losing weight and exercising regularly. At the first pathological symptoms, specialist consultation, research and treatment are indicated.