First, let's define what degenerative joint disease is. Osteoarthritis, or joint disease, is a joint disease in which the cartilage tissue of the joint surface is damaged. At the same time, not only the articular cartilage is involved in the pathological process, but also the ligaments, synovial membrane, and muscles around the joint.
Arthritis can take two forms: focal, where one of the joints is affected (foot, knee, etc. ) and systemic. These types of disease depend on the affected joint and are:
- coxarthrosis (or hip);
- gonarthrosis (or knee);
- arthritis of the distal intervertebral joints (Heberd ganglia);
- damage to the proximal intercranial joints;
- polyarthritis of the joints of the hands (Kelgen's disease);
- shoulder joint disease;
- spondylolisthesis of the light zone;
- arthrosis of the foot.
The main symptoms of the disease are:
- pain and deformity
- "dry" sound in the joint,
- reduced mobility (due to decreased joint space and muscle spasticity around the inflamed joint).
The joint may swell, the color of the skin on it changes (redness appears). In some cases, the temperature rises.
There are four degrees of disease (according to some sources, only 3)
- In the first degree, the presence of problems in the joint can be identified by the presence of crunching, tingling, and accompanying pain. However, body temperature does not increase, no swelling occurs. Treatment should be started at the very beginning of the development of the disease.
- In the second degree of development of the disease, there are visible changes. There is a constant feeling of fatigue and a feeling of pressure on the affected area, which increases with exertion. Reduced joint mobility.
- Grade 3 is accompanied by persistent severe pain in the joints (even at rest). Increased sensitivity to weather conditions. The joints can completely break down and the person becomes incapacitated.
- The fourth degree of the disease is the appearance of constant severe pain, in which strong drugs are impotent.
Read more about the symptoms and treatment of different types of osteoarthritis.
Symptoms and treatment of hip arthritis
Symptoms of the disease are characterized by pain or just a feeling of tugging in the groin, especially in the evening, after physical activity during the day. The discomfort quickly passed. However, if not treated in time, the pain will last longer and be more intense even with light exertion. The patient begins to limp, trying to reduce the load on the inflamed organ. Movement is becoming more and more limited. With disease progression, femoral atrophy and shortening of the affected limb occur.
Depending on the severity of the disease, it can be treated with or without surgical intervention (grade III-IV).
Of course, the earlier the disease is diagnosed and appropriate treatment is initiated, the less likely the disease will progress and the patient will maintain a high quality of life.
So, in the early stages (stages I and II), various drugs, special gymnastics, manual therapy and a mandatory diet in these cases will be helpful. The diet is aimed at reducing the patient's weight to reduce the load on the joints (if there is a problem with being overweight, of course). Eating vegetables and fruits to provide vitamins and minerals to the body is also important. Saturation with protein, which is the basis of any connective tissue, is a priority, so it is recommended to include in the diet low-fat dairy products and beans, jellies, jellies.
The patient may be prescribed a course of acupuncture and physical therapy, which, in addition to the exercises outlined above, may include aquatic massage, thermotherapy, hydrotherapy and balneotherapy, and electrotherapy. Whether. Orthopedic structures may be used (walking cane, wedge pillow, chair lift, orthopedic).
Drugs prescribed to patients in the treatment of this disease (grade I-II):
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory. These drugs are designed to relieve pain in the groin and hips, not directly to treat the joint;
- chondroprotectors. The drug contributes to the restoration of the structure of damaged cartilage of the joints and nourishes the cartilage, i. e. used for the treatment of joints;
- Muscle relaxants are used to reduce muscle spasms. It should be used with caution, as the body regularly protects joints from further destruction.
- ointments and creams. Intended to alleviate the patient's condition, but not to treat.
- medicine to be injected into the diseased organ. They are rarely used to eliminate pain.
Manual therapy is the application of one of two methods. During the movement, the doctor will gently stretch the hip joint, in which the bones together are hybridized. If everything is done correctly, the movement of the diseased organ is partially restored and spasms are reduced. However, the technique is quite lengthy (up to 15 procedures per year) and must be comprehensive, i. e. with medications and other types of treatment.
The doctor performs the manipulation with the aid of a sharp movement, which gives immediate relief to the patient, however, this technique is effective in the early stages of the disease when combined with otherother methods of treatment.
Surgical intervention is performed in the late stages of the disease. Various types of manipulation can be used, depending on the specific condition of the disease. Therefore, joint-rescue operations are performed with osteopathy of the femur and proximal pelvis. Hip closure and joint replacement (or chiropractic) manipulations.
Foot joint
Two types of joint deformities of the leg can be specified: primary and secondary. Primary is characterized by the absence of visible causes of disease development and is considered hereditary. Secondary arthropathy of the legs develops against the background of any disease (eg, flat feet) or trauma.
Arthritis of the foot is a generic definition for diseases of the ankle (joints of the foot) and gonarthrosis. The symptoms and treatment of arthropathy of the legs (foot and knee) are discussed below.
Arthritis of the feet: symptoms and treatment
Symptoms are characterized by clicking ankles, pain when walking, disappearing at rest, limited joint mobility, swelling of the feet and redness of the skin in the joints, as well as atrophy of nearby muscles. . Usually, the joints of the toes are affected. Arthritis of the feet is diagnosed by X-rays.
Treatment of the foot joint, as well as the hip joint, can be surgical and non-surgical. Nonsurgical methods include (in the early stages of the disease):
- orthopedic shoes or use orthopedic insoles in comfortable shoes,
- low heels in shoes (3-4 cm),
- physical therapy,
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,
- special medical gymnastics.
If the foot joint has reached grade II-III, pain medication may be indicated and surgical intervention may be performed.
It is also important to adhere to the diet for overweight patients (to reduce the load on the leg joints). Shoes must be comfortable, have a low heel, and do not restrict movement.
The drug is needed to relieve pain and help rebuild cartilage in the affected joints.
Physical therapy includes foot massage, therapeutic baths, infrared laser therapy, UV radiation, UHF therapy, magnetic therapy, and ultrasound.
Surgical treatments may be:
- arthrodesis, in which there is tight fixation of the diseased area,
- arthroplasty, when the affected joint is surgically restored,
- arthroscopic - complete replacement of the diseased joint with an artificial joint.
Symptoms and treatment of knee osteoarthritis
As with other types of joint disease, the symptoms of emerging knee osteoarthritis are mild pain on exertion that goes away with rest. The knee may swell. Usually occurs after fractures and dislocations of the legs.
Characteristic crackling occurs in stage II disease and is accompanied by pain. Joint mobility is also limited, which can lead to fluid retention.
Drug treatment and healing procedures:
- ozone therapy as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic,
- kinesitherapy is performing special exercises to improve ligament elasticity and blood circulation,
- use homeopathic medicine.
Treatment of joint diseases by folk methods
Of course, folk remedies should not be considered a panacea for such a serious disease as joint disease. But combined with the treatment prescribed by the doctor, folk remedies will speed up the recovery process.
- To relieve pain symptoms, you can use cabbage juice, which is soaked in natural fibers and then applied every evening. It is necessary to use cabbage juice within three days, after which it is necessary to freshen it.
- Suppositories are also made from whole cabbage leaves, soaked in honey. We apply the smeared side to the joint, wrap it with cellophane film and wrap it warmly. We leave it on all night.
- To relieve the symptoms of arthropathy, crushed white powder or eggshell and kefir are mixed until a homogeneous mass is obtained, which is applied to the feet at night in the form of a compress. The calcium found in these products improves blood flow and, therefore, reduces pain and swelling.
- Applying oatmeal also helps relieve pain from arthritis. To apply, you need to cook porridge, let it cool, wrap it in a cloth and apply it to the painful area overnight. You can only use it once, then brew it fresh.
- To relieve pain, you can make a drink. To do this, add 1 tablespoon to a cup of boiling water. l. olive oil and half a teaspoon of minced garlic. Should be taken 2 times a day when pain occurs.
Again, we note that it is important to treat the joint comprehensively and promptly, to avoid serious complications and surgical intervention.