Deforming osteoarthritis is a degenerative-dystrophic joint disease, in which the cartilage tissue of the joints is damaged. This disease ranks first among forms of joint damage, often causing disability.
Causes of deforming osteoarthritis
There are two types of deforming osteoarthritis - primary (idiopathic) secondary. Primary osteoarthritis develops in the initially healthy cartilage, but the reasons for this process remain not fully known. There are only a number of provoking factors:
- Excess of mechanical stress on articular cartilage above its ability to resist effects;
- hereditary predisposition;
- defects in the structure of the musculoskeletal system;
- overweight;
- hormonal disorders;
- malfunctions of metabolic processes in the body;
- micronutrient deficiency;
- supercooling;
- exposure to chemical toxins;
- specific professions;
- old age, etc.
Secondary deforming osteoarthritis can develop for the following reasons:
- injury of the joint;
- dysplasia of the joint (congenital inferiority of the joint, in which its poor biomechanics is observed);
- inflammatory processes in the tissues of the joint, caused most often by infections or developing as a result of autoimmune diseases;
- endocrine and metabolic disorders.
Symptoms of deforming osteoarthritis
Most often with this disease affect the joints of the hand, foot, cervical and lumbar spine, knee and hip joints. Common manifestations and symptoms of deforming osteoarthritis of any localization are the following manifestations:
- pains of a mechanical type that arise when the joints are loaded and stop at rest;
- "Starting" pain in the joints - short-term pain, appearing with the onset of movement;
- "Blockade pain" - sharp pains of a periodic nature, which appear when the joint "jamming" when the part of the destroyed cartilage is infringed between two articular surfaces;
- crunching in the joints ;
- limited movement;
- deformation of the joints.
Deforming osteoarthritis - diagnosis
To assess the degree of joint damage, the following diagnostic methods are used:
- X-ray examination;
- Ultrasound of joints;
- CT scan;
- Magnetic resonance imaging;
- puncture of the joint.
How to treat deforming osteoarthritis?
As a rule, treatment of deforming osteoarthritis is carried out on an outpatient basis. The main principles of treatment of this disease are aimed at slowing the progression of the process and improving the function of the joint and include the following:
- restriction of loads (during the exacerbation the joint is given a neutral position to create rest and maximum discharge, the movements are started immediately after removal of inflammation and pain);
- therapeutic physical training, the main goals of which are to restore mobility and amplitude of movements in the joint, increase muscle strength;
- physiotherapy ( electrophoresis , ozokeritotherapy, magnetotherapy, laser therapy, etc.);
- Pharmacotherapy, aimed at the removal of inflammation and pain.
As medicinal products are used:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- corticosteroids;
- chondroprotectors.
In some severe cases, surgical treatment is indicated - arthroplasty.
The diet for deforming osteoarthritis does not require any special restrictions, except when the disease
Treatment of deforming osteoarthritis with folk remedies
In the treatment of this disease it is useful to take a tincture of the rhizomes of the swamp saber, which is prepared in this way:
- Pour 100 grams of raw material with a liter of vodka.
- Leave to infuse for 3 weeks in a dark place.
- Strain.
Take tincture three times a day for a tablespoon for half an hour before meals.