Treatment of osteoarthritis ("deforming osteoarthritis", osteoarthritis) can not be postponed "for later". Pathology always changes the joint structure, affects the bone, cartilage, can completely destroy the joint and the person becomes disabled. Therefore, it is dangerous to self-medicate, to refuse examination and formal methods of therapy.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative-dystrophic disease of the joints 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 a crack while walking, pain syndrome of varying severity. Further, with osteoarthritis, stiffness of movements appears, the pain becomes permanent, 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 (joining of the articular surface) develops, disability occurs.
Conservative therapy of osteoarthritis
If you have symptoms of the disease, you should be examined and start osteoarthritis treatment immediately. Lack of adequate therapy can lead to a complete loss of joint function and result in disability.
In official medicine, the treatment of osteoarthritis is initially carried out with a conservative method. The patient is prescribed medication, exercise therapy, physiotherapy, orthopedic products, diet. With the permission of the doctor for osteoarthritis, you can also apply the methods of traditional medicine, traditional, homeopathy. A sick person should monitor his weight, avoid uneven loads on the joints, follow medical recommendations. If these complex methods do not bring a positive result, an operation is performed.
After conservative and / or surgical treatment to prevent osteoarthritis, it is helpful to undergo annual spa therapy. It is recommended to choose an institution that specializes in pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, and also has thermal springs, therapeutic mud.
Medical treatment
A disease such as osteoarthritis can be primary or secondary (it develops against the background of other pathologies). Therefore, the list of drugs used is chosen for each patient individually.
The main drugs in the treatment of osteoarthritis:
- chondroprotectors;
- medicinal preparations with microcirculatory action;
- multivitamins, vitamin C, group B;
- mineral complexes;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- corticosteroids (intra-articular injections);
- painkillers;
- desensitizing (antiallergic) drugs;
- medicines for external use (ointments, creams, solutions, balms, gels, tinctures and medical bile).
Chondroprotectors are prescribed in all stages, forms of the disease, as they affect the mechanism of restoration of articular cartilage. HP is prescribed for oral administration, but also with osteoarthritis, injections are made into the joint cavity and / or muscle. For intra-articular injections, both chondroprotectors and corticosteroids are used.
Secondary deforming osteoarthritis is treated with the same group of drugs, but additional medications 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 anesthesia, zinc, lithium, sulfur), electro-sleep therapy, ultraphonophoresis. Paraffin applications are applied to the diseased joint, black wax is used, therapeutic clay. A joint damaged by osteoarthritis is also treated with laser, magnetic field, diadynamic current and other pulses.
Therapeutic exercises for osteoarthritis
For 3-5 days after the removal of acute symptoms, gymnastics is prescribed. A set of exercise therapy exercises is selected individually for each patient for the identified stage, the form of osteoarthritis. The first workout should start with minimal loads on the injured joint and at a slow pace. Then, every 7-10 days, the exercises are complicated with the recommendation of a specialist.
Types of gymnastic tasks for the wrists:
- circular movements in the hands, elbows, shoulders;
- swinging forward and backward, up and down;
- shrug your shoulders;
- connecting-disconnecting blades;
- the curves of the palms towards the foot and away from it;
- flexion-extension at the elbows;
- tightening the fists with the maximum subsequent direction of the brush.
In case of pathology of the spine (osteochondrosis), arthrosis of the joints of the upper extremities - gymnastics is done in the "sitting", "standing" position.
Types of gymnastic tasks for the ankles:
- flexion-extension, circular motion in the groin, knee, ankle;
- oscillating forward-backward, right-left;
- raising the knees upwards;
- "bicycle";
- "butterfly";
- one-leg rotation of small objects;
- catching the ball with the toes;
- raising the toe "above itself".
With the development of coxarthrosis, gonarthrosis, arthrosis of the ankle, exercise therapy is performed lying down, standing and with damage to the small ankles - sitting.
Exercise should not cause pain in the injured ankle. If it appears, you need to reduce the load, the execution rate. After each exercise, you should also rest for up to 3 minutes.
Manual therapy for osteoarthritis
It is advisable to use mobility restoration with the help of chiropractor's hands in cases of grade I-II osteoarthritis.
A chiropractor performs 2 types of correction of a deformed joint: manipulation (movement with sharp pressure) and mobilization (extension of the damaged joint). The more complex the clinical case, the more sessions need to be done.
Manual treatment of arthritic joints is supplemented with 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.
Manipulation is performed with light pressure sliding movements (sawing, kneading, rubbing, etc. ). They massage not only the diseased joint, but also the nearby spine, the neighboring joints.
Home physiotherapy for osteoarthritis
Now people with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis have the opportunity to perform physiotherapy at home. Compact home appliances for medical purposes are sold online and in medical device stores.
The following devices are very popular for treating osteoarthritis:
- magnetotherapy;
- magnetic laser therapy;
- low frequency pulsed magnetotherapy;
- laser therapy;
- reflex physiotherapy.
Before ordering a device for osteoarthritis, a doctor should definitely clarify if there are any 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 discharge the diseased joint, to stabilize it in the proper anatomical and physiological position. With osteoarthritis are used canes, crutches, as well as corsets, special mats with arch supports and pillows and shoes, splints, orthoses, fasteners, holders. They are recommended to be ordered in a local orthopedic salon according to individual molds.
In online stores, you can buy cheaper those products, the design of which allows you to independently adjust the voltage strength. Usually these are elastic bandages, bandages, calipers, fastening belts, knee pads, elbows and similar orthopedic devices. However, before ordering a specific product for osteoarthritis, you should clarify with the attending physician all the necessary characteristics: the degree of tension, the presence and type of stiffeners, if it is necessary to adjust the angle of extension of the limbs to the joints andsick, additional conditions.
Climatotherapy also belongs to non-drug methods. During its use, a person is created special climatic conditions by prescribing thalassotherapy procedures, or it is recommended to visit a resort, to undergo preventive treatment of the sanatorium in health resorts.
diet therapy
With secondary osteoarthritis, doctors recommend to the patient one of the treatment tables. For example, to correct body weight, excess weight is removed using diet no. 8. In most cases, patients eat according to table no. 15 and ATS (general version of diets).
With osteoarthritis, gelatin-based products (jelly, jelly, etc. ), avocados (1 piece per week), vegetable oils, freshly squeezed grains, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds and flax seeds helpgood. It is recommended to exclude from the diet fatty, smoked and salty foods.
Homeopathic remedies and herbal remedies for osteoarthritis
Doctors complement conservative methods with homeopathy and herbal medicine. Preparations based on natural ingredients improve the functioning of all body systems.
List of homeopathic remedies commonly used for osteoarthritis:
- Hydrofluoric acid;
- calcium fluoride;
- Phosphorus;
- calcium phosphate;
- Potassium carbonate.
Their reception is combined with other methods of formal and traditional medicine.
List of commonly used herbal remedies for osteoarthritis:
- black leaf;
- pacified oats;
- yukurba (extraction of the devil's claws);
- medicinal collection (marshmallow and licorice roots, chamomile flowers, calendula).
Homeopathic and herbal remedies reduce the need for large doses of NSAIDs, analgesics, corticosteroids, antihistamines.
Joint operations
Surgical treatment of a disease such as osteoarthritis is used in case of inappropriate use of conservative methods. Usually, surgery is performed when the patient seeks medical help late, when the pathology has already reached stage 3-4 of development and threatens disability.
Types of surgeries for osteoarthritis:
- arthrodesis;
- arthroscopic debridement;
- arthroplasty;
- periarticular osteotomy;
- endoprosthetics.
After surgery, the patient is transferred to conservative treatment, rehabilitation measures begin.
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 equipment used affect the damaged tissues at the cellular, molecular and physiological level (organ).
In physiotherapy for osteoarthritis, this property of the laser helps to restore microcirculation, relieve inflammation, pain and swelling, improve metabolism, self-regulate regenerative processes. There are many types of equipment and modes of operation. The device's rays touch the superficial and intra-articular layer of tissue, biologically active points (with laser acupuncture).
Laser treatment is also performed in surgery, only high intensity equipment is used. The use of rays during surgery, in addition to the listed properties, contributes to the rapid restoration of tissue and minimizes the risk of wound infection.
When diagnosing osteoarthritis, it is possible to prescribe laser spectroscopy and examine small nodes with an infrared laser scanner. These methods are safer, cheaper compared to MRI, radiography.
Folk and traditional medicine for osteoarthritis
Raw materials of natural origin must be selected individually, as each substance has its own contraindications. Medicines for osteoarthritis include herbs with metabolic-enhancing, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and analgesic effects. Most often they use willow bark, linden, St. John's wort, burdock, wool.
At home, it is convenient to treat osteoarthritis with clay. A good therapeutic effect has a healing agent blue, kaolin (white), green, yellow and black. Arthritis clay is added to the bath (1 tablespoon / 1 liter of water), the damaged joint is wrapped, an application is made on it, the injured 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 consolidate the effectiveness of the main treatment of osteoarthritis by resting in health resorts and specialized rehabilitation centers for joint diseases. It is better to give priority to those institutions that have thermal springs, minerals, clay, healing clay, special gases.
Treatment at health resorts is carried out with emphasis on physiotherapy. A patient with osteoarthritis is definitely recommended to follow a diet, not to miss exercise therapy, massages. Among physiotherapy, balneotherapy methods are used. These are hydromassage, swimming, baths (hydrogen sulfide, salt, nitrogen, sulfide and radon). In case of osteoarthritis, therapeutic mud wraps, heat exposure, Bernard currents, laser and magnetic field are also described. Each health resort has its own therapy program, which should be clarified with the representative of the selected institution before purchasing a ticket.
In every country there are institutions specialized in treating pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. Therefore, with osteoarthritis, it is better to choose a health resort with the help of your doctor. He will recommend what kind of climate is required, the holiday season, the necessary methods of physiotherapy for prevention, will provide information about resorts and will advise the best institution in his area or nearby.
Prognosis of osteoarthritis therapy
It is very important not to miss a scheduled medical examination (1-2 times a year) and donate blood, urine for tests, as this enables doctors to detect in a timely manner the pathological processes. But the later a person seeks medical help, the worse the prognosis of treatment. With chronic osteoarthritis, doctors can relieve pain only with conservative therapy methods, partially preserve joint functions, or recommend surgery so that they do not remain incapacitated.
The combination of formal, traditional and traditional medicine methods under the regular supervision of the attending physician, increases the prognosis of treatment of osteoarthritis and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system.