Arthrosis is a chronic disease in which degenerative-dystrophic changes occur in the joints.Arthrosis can disrupt the function of the joint, and in the later stages, complete destruction of the joints and loss of motor functions can occur.
Arthrosis in women
The predisposition to arthrosis is transmitted genetically.Inborn features or defects of the structure of connective tissue and joints (dysplasia) can affect the development of the disease, especially in combination with acquired factors.Among the latter there may be injuries, obesity and other diseases.
At the age of 45, arthrosis is diagnosed in 2-3% of women, but this percentage increases by more than 10 times in the age interval from 45 to 60 years.After reaching 65 years, arthrosis symptoms are found in 70% of women.Men suffer from this disease somewhat less often.
Arthrosis in pregnant women
Arthrosis in pregnant women can significantly complicate the bearing of a child.And not only because due to the inevitable increase in body weight, the load on the joints increases significantly.During pregnancy, it is necessary to exclude or significantly reduce the use of certain drugs used to treat arthrosis.
Therefore, pregnancy in a woman with arthrosis of the joints is carried out in the close interaction of a gynecologist, orthopedic and rheumatologist.Doctors jointly solve issues related to the treatment plan of arthrosis, taking medication, prescribing a special regime.Perhaps a pregnant woman will need to wear special orthopedic devices designed to facilitate the course of arthrosis and not interfering with the fetal bearing.
Arthrosis in women in menopause
Women whose organism is included in the period of menopause falls at risk for arthrosis of the joints due to changes in the hormonal background.The health of bones, joints and ligaments depends on the level of estrogen.A decrease in the level of female hormones, associated with the onset of menopause, can lead not only to osteoporosis, but also to the beginning of degenerative changes in the joints and the development of arthrosis.
Arthrosis in men
Often arthrosis of the joints develops in adulthood in men who abuse some types of physical exercises.Especially often this happens after a long break in sports.To return the previous physical shape, a man can try to engage in the previous intensity.But excessive load leads to arthrosis faster than the embossed muscles appear.
Arthrosis in children
At an early age, arthrosis of the joints is rare, but, nevertheless, such a diagnosis in children is also found.
Arthrosis in young children
The probability of arthrosis at an early age increases if the child has congenital disorders of the structure of the bone system.This can be dysplasia of the hip joint or defects of the structure of the joints of the spine, elbow or knee joint.A change in the geometry of the articular joint causes the occurrence of an overload, adversely acting on the components of the joint.At the same time, the muscles are not yet developed enough to compensate for the defects of the structure.
Arthrosis in adolescents
In adolescence, arthrosis can be associated with injuries received during sports or outdoor games.Another reason is not enough balanced diet, hormonal restructuring of the puberty, rapid growth of bones with the lag of increasing the mass and strength of muscles.
Arthrosis of the joints of the lower extremities
Most often, large joints of the lower extremities suffer from arthrosis.But there are also damage to smaller joints: for example, arthrosis of the joints of the fingers on the foot.
Arthrosis of the knee joint (gonarthrosis)
The arthrosis of the knee is often found in men who have played sports with heavy loads. A wise amount of squats, with or without weighting, can quickly wear the cartilage layer and cause arthrosis of the knee joint.
The first alarming signs of arthrosis of the knee joint are characteristic crunching and clicks in the joint when moving.The pain comes later, because of which the patient does not notice the ongoing degenerative changes for a long time.
With timely treatment, arthrosis of the knee joint can be defeated, or at least suspend the development of the disease.
Arthrosis of the ankle joint (Cruzartrosis)
The ankle joint is very mobile and performs important functions when walking, running and jumping.Arthrosis of the ankle joint is able to lead a person to disability in just a few years, if treatment is not started in a timely manner.
But the early diagnosis of arthrosis of the ankle joint remains problematic, since there are no nerve endings in the cartilage itself, and for a long time the pain is not felt.Pathological changes develop, almost in no way to make itself felt.In the early stages of arthrosis of the ankle joint, as a rule, is detected by accident.
Arthrosis of the hip joint (coxarthrosis)
Coksartrosis, or arthrosis of the hip joint, belongs to the most common and most severe lesions of the joints of the lower extremities.As a rule, pain is absent for a long time.The pain appears already when the joint is significantly destroyed.This is very dangerous, since it is the hip joint that carries the main load associated with body mass.
Arthrosis of the joints of the foot
Although arthrosis often affects large joints, smaller joints can also suffer.The reason for the development of arthrosis of the joints of the foot may be injuries, congenital disorders in the structure of the limbs, flat feet, uncomfortable shoes, work in which a person spends a lot of time on his feet.Often the development of arthrosis of the foot can provoke vascular diseases, due to which the blood supply to the limb is disturbed, as well as endocrine and metabolic diseases.
A protruding bone at the base of the thumb very often appears precisely due to arthrosis of the joints of the fingers.Following the deformation of the first joint, the propagation of the process to other fingers may follow.
Arthrosis of the joints of the upper extremities
Although the upper limbs account for a lower load than on the lower, arthrosis of the joints of the hands causes a lot of troubles to the patient.
Arthrosis of the joints of the brush
Statistics say: this type of arthrosis is found in women much more often than in men.And it manifests itself, as a rule, after the onset of menopause, although the first symptoms of arthrosis can appear earlier.
It is precisely the arthrosis of the joints of the fingers that disfigures the hands, making the joints with mound, swollen, and the fingers - curves.
Joint deformation is very poorly affected by fine motor skills.It becomes difficult not only to hold small objects in your hands, to put a thread in a needle, knit and write.During periods of exacerbations, sore fingers are not able to hold the spoon, and the tea cup has to be lifted with two hands, and then it can slip.
Arthrosis of the elbow joint
This type of joint arthrosis is relatively rare.Typically, the cause of the development of the disease lies in the injuries, inflammatory diseases, hard work, excessive enthusiasm for some sports.
Although the elbow joint usually does not carry significant loads, changes caused by arthrosis can thoroughly interfere with normal life.Violation of mobility can even deprive a person of the ability to perform the usual action in the life of, including servicing his own needs.
Arthrosis of the shoulder joint
The arthrosis of the shoulder joint is not too common.If at the early stage of the development of arthrosis of the shoulder joint the pain appears relatively rarely, then as the joint destroys the situation, the situation worsens.
The hand becomes painful to raise and turn, pain intensifies when heavily lifted and weather changes.Walking pain does not allow to sleep: the patient cannot find the position of the body in which the shoulder would not hurt.
Arthrosis of the temporomandibular joint
If arthrosis of the joints of the hand may interfere with the patient to convey a spoon with food to the mouth, then arthrosis of the temporomandibular joint (TMS) prevents the mouth.But this is in the last stage of the disease, when the jaw joint has undergone significant destruction, and bone growths deprive it of mobility.
The cause of the disease is a violation of the bite, congenital or acquired due to destruction or loss of teeth.The development of arthrosis can cause injury, inflammatory processes in the joint.
Arthrosis of the joints of the spine (spondylarthrosis)
Arthrosis of the joints of the neck develops due to a violation of the structure of bones and cartilage;Due to a long stay in the wrong position of the body during operation.The reason may be injuries, inflammation, hard work, violation of the blood supply to the spine and many other factors.
Arthrosis of the joints of the spine is dangerous in that the deformation of joints can lead to compression of the nerve fibers, blood vessels, which, in turn, can cause various pathological symptoms.These are frequent headaches, migraine (meaning the syndrome of the vertebral artery or the so -called “cervical migraine”), hypertension, weakness and rapid fatigue, etc. Compression of blood vessels and nerve fibers can occur with spondyl arthrosis of the 2nd degree.
Symptoms of arthrosis
Symptoms of arthrosis of the joints of the legs
Pain, as a rule, is absent in the early stages of the disease.But you can see that when moving, the joint can click, crack, and sometimes very loudly.
If arthrosis is not treated, then movement without a cane or crutches can become problematic.And in the most severe cases, the patient completely loses the ability to move independently.Gonarthrosis, arthrosis of the hip and ankle joints are especially difficult.
Symptoms of arthrosis of the joints
Arthrosis of the joints of the hand manifests itself in deformation of the fingers: they can bend, joints swell, thickenings and hillocks appear on them.During exacerbation, sore joints become hot and painful.Arthrosis of the fingers prevents the exact movements, the fingers obey poorly.
Symptoms of arthrosis of the shoulder joint are expressed, among other things, in limiting mobility.If a healthy shoulder joint has the ability to make a variety of movements with a large amplitude, then with arthrosis of the shoulder joint, it can become impossible even just raising a hand.
Symptoms of arthrosis of the temporomandibular joint
Symptoms of arthrosis of the jaw charter are not too different from others.This is crackling during movement, limiting the mobility of the joint.Moreover, in the absence of treatment, the patient can generally lose the ability to open his mouth and even talk clearly.As the disease develops, pain appears, increasing from the load and during raw, cold weather.
Symptoms of spondylarthrosis
In the early stages, spondyl arthrosis is manifested only by some discomfort in the back.Unpleasant sensations make the patient more often than usual, change the position of the body.As the disease develops, pain appears.At first, it is not strong, but very stubborn and intrusive, and then it can become constant and exhausting.
Forms of arthrosis
Primary and secondary arthrosis
Primary, or idiopathic, is called arthrosis, the causes of the development of which cannot be detected.This applies to hereditary forms of arthrosis, including.
Secondary arthrosis develops as a result of various pathological processes in the body that can cause changes in the joints.It can be injuries, a wrong lifestyle, hard work, or illness.In particular, arthrosis can develop after suffering joint inflammation, as well as due to diseases of the vascular system, endocrine disorders and autoimmune diseases.Arthrosis can lead to diabetes mellitus, gout, obliterating endarteritis, etc.
Localized and generalized arthrosis
Localized arthrosis is characterized by the spread of the process by 1-2 joints.Localized arthrosis includes arthrosis of the hip joint, gonarthrosis, cruarthrosis, arthrosis of the temporomandibular joint, etc.
The causes of arthrosis
The causes of primary arthrosis
Primary arthrosis can develop for obscure reasons, which are not always possible to detect.Famous risk factors include congenital and genetically transmitted characteristics of the body.
Building anomalies
The structure of the skeleton, bones and ligaments plays a large role in the development of arthrosis.This can be due to both violations of the structure of bones, cartilage and connective tissues, and with the improper formation of bones and joints.
Hereditary predisposition
Genetic disorders can lead to disorders in the processes of the synthesis of substances that are cartilage, connective tissue or joint fluid.
The causes of secondary arthrosis
Injuries
As a result of fractures, cracks and incorrect fusion, the natural shape of the joint may change, its blood supply to it can be disturbed.That is why the reason for the development of arthrosis of large and small joints in 20-30% of cases is the injuries.
Excessive load
With too much physical activity of the surface of articular joints when moving, microtrauma is obtained, which over time lead to a change in the quality of the cartilage and its destruction.
Obesity
Excess weight significantly increases the load on the joints of the spine and lower extremities.It is this factor that accelerates and weights the course of coxarthrosis, arthrosis of the ankle and knee joints of the legs.
Joints of the joints
Inflammatory processes in the joints are called arthritis and often precede the development of arthrosis.Joint inflammation occurs with rheumatism and rheumatoid arthritis, with gout and psoriasis.
Endocrine diseases
Diabetes mellitus is one of the most significant factors in the development of arthrosis.But other endocrine diseases and conditions can have a negative effect.In particular, hormonal changes associated with menopause significantly increase the risk of arthrosis in mature women.
Violations of metabolic processes
Diseases of metabolism also contribute to the disease of arthrosis of the joints.This is gout, osteoporosis and others.Incorrectly occurring metabolic processes play a negative role in the absorption of calcium, synthesis of proteins and other elements necessary to preserve the normal structure of bones, cartilage, ligaments, etc.
Blood supply disorders
Atherosclerosis, varicose veins and other blood vessels lead to a violation of blood supply and nutrients of bones and joints.Due to the lack of nutrition, their strength is reduced and the risk of arthrosis appears.
Hypodynamia
Lack of movement is harmful to the whole organism, and for the musculoskeletal system too.The lack of physical activity negatively affects the blood supply to individual organs and systems, and also often leads to obesity and congestive phenomena.
Diagnosis of arthrosis
Arthrosis can be similar to other diseases that require a different treatment methodology.The correct diagnosis is very important for the timely start of treatment of arthrosis and choosing the optimal methodology.
Suspicion of arthrosis occurs during the initial examination on the basis of a set of complaints of the patient.But this is not enough to establish an accurate diagnosis.
One of the most visual methods remains an X -ray examination: the changes occurring in the joint are clearly visible on the radiograph.The degree of changes visible in the picture allows you to determine the degree of development of the disease.
In addition to radiography, thermographic examination, ultrasound, computed and magnetic resonance imaging are used.
Other studies are carried out for differential diagnostics.In particular, rheumatoid samples, a detailed blood test, determination of uric acid level, etc.
Treatment of arthrosis
How to treat arthrosis?
The main thing that must be remembered by the patient with arthrosis: treatment must be carried out under the supervision of specialists.With home methods, arthrosis cannot be cured.Moreover: if the disease has already developed up to 2-3 stages, it will not work out to completely restore the affected joint.
Treatment of arthrosis: medicine
The treatment of arthrosis of the joints must be comprehensive.The basis of drug treatment is chondroprotectors - drugs that help to maintain their elasticity and strength that improve the structure of cartilage tissue.
Chondroprotectors are available in different forms:
- in capsules and tablets;
- In solutions for intramuscular and intraarticular injection.
Chondroprotectors are especially effective with an early degree of arthrosis, but their use is also advisable in the treatment of advanced stages of the disease.
To relieve pain, various anesthetics and analgesics are prescribed in the form of creams, gels for local use, or in the form of injections.
To relieve inflammation in the affected joint, non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs based on sodium diclofenac, orthophen and metindol are used.
Muscle cramps recede under the influence of miorelaxant drugs.
In addition, drugs are prescribed that contribute to the improvement of blood microcirculation.As auxiliary substances, the use of vitamins is possible.
Treatment of arthrosis with surgical methods
In the late stages of arthrosis, when the joint is already significantly destroyed and not lended to medical treatment, surgical operations on the joint can be performed.
Types of surgical treatment of arthrosis:
- Artroplasty, in which mobility can be returned to the affected joint;
- arthrodesis aimed at ensuring the immobility of the joint;
- joint resection, that is, complete or partial removal of affected elements of joint;
- Prosthetics, in which damaged and destroyed parts are replaced by artificial elements.
Massage, physiotherapy in the treatment of arthrosis
Physiotherapeutic treatment plays a very important role in the fight against symptoms of arthrosis.The patient is prescribed massage, laser and magnetic therapy, acupuncture and other types of treatment.
Treatment courses must be repeated regularly.
Sanatorium-resort treatment of arthrosis
Many sanatoriums specialize in the treatment of arthrosis, especially those that are located close to the deposits of therapeutic mud and specialize in mud.
Patients of arthrosis are indicated by therapeutic baths and heating, but all this must be done under strict medical control.Mudlit has restrictions and contraindications.
Degree of arthrosis
Arthrosis of the 1st degree
The early degrees of arthrosis are manifested by insignificant symptoms that can not be easily noticed:
- some stiffness of movements, especially after being in relative immobility;
- pain at the beginning of movement, disappearing after a few minutes;
- light creak, crunch, clicks in the joint when making movements;
- Pain after and during physical exertion, after rest, passes.
On the radiograph, minor changes in the structure of the joint can be visible, including the appearance of small bone growths along the edges of the articular joint and a slightly expressed narrowing of the joint gap.
Arthrosis of the 2nd degree
With 2 degrees of arthrosis, all symptoms appear more strongly:
- more noticeable restriction of joint mobility;
- With any movement, a crack and a crunch in a sore joint are heard;
- Pain for arthrosis of the 2nd degree becomes more often and sharper;
- “Starting” pains do not disappear longer after the start of movement;
- On the X -ray, the deformation of the joint and the growth of osteophytes are clearly visible;
- Arthrosis of the 2nd degree causes a significant narrowing of the joint gap, it may even be noticeable to shorten the sore limb.
With 2 degrees of development of arthrosis, the performance is reduced, and some types of activity become impossible.
Arthrosis of 3 degrees
3 degree of arthrosis is characterized by severe damage to the joint:
- The growth of bone tissue and the accumulation of fluid in the joint bag leads to an increase in the joint;
- The movements are significantly limited, sometimes the patient is able to perform nothing more than swaying with the affected limb;
- the sensitivity to changes in the weather increases;
- Strong pain practically do not leave the patient either in motion or at rest;
- The muscles around the sore joint are constantly spasmodic, due to power disorders they begin to gradually atrophy;
- The joint gap is practically not visible on the radiograph, the deformation of the surfaces of the articular elements is very strongly expressed;The joint is surrounded by the growths of bone tissue, the destruction of intra -articular structures and sclerotic changes in the surrounding tissues is noticeable.
Arthrosis of the 4th degree
Despite the generally accepted classification of the development of arthrosis, consisting of 3 degrees, sometimes the most severe, 4 degree is distinguished.The deforming arthrosis of the joint at this stage of the disease takes the most severe form: the joint is completely destroyed and loses its functions.At the same time, the patient experiences such severe pain that even minor movements become impossible.The pain does not stop even with potent drugs.
On the X -ray, the fusion of the affected bones of the joints, the joint, expressed sclerotic changes may be seen.
At this stage, deforming arthrosis can only be stopped by a surgical operation to prosthetes the destroyed joint.
Prevention of arthrosis
The health of the joints must be taken from youth.The prevention of arthrosis is attentive to your health and in timely seeking a doctor when the first symptoms of arthrosis appear, even expressed slightly.
The prevention measures include maintaining body weight at an optimal level.
Do not excessively get involved in traumatic sports, train with excessive diligence and irrational loads.It is also dangerous to take large breaks in sports, after which the previous load may be destructive for the joints and cause arthrosis.
It is advisable to provide proper, rational nutrition, excluding alcohol, fatty, spicy and canned foods.It is absolutely necessary to quit smoking in order to maintain the health of blood vessels.
For women, it is always relevant to avoid close high -heeled shoes.And in the period of menopause, it is necessary to competently approach the question of hormone replacement therapy so as not to expose the body to hormonal stress that can provoke the development of arthrosis.
Since injuries become a common cause of the development of arthrosis, it should be avoided as much as possible damage to bones, joints and other injuries.
Exercises for arthrosis
Therapeutic gymnastics for arthrosis is very important, as well as sufficient physical activity for the prevention of the disease.
Special exercises for arthrosis are selected by the doctor, but there are some general recommendations.
- Exercises for arthrosis should not cause pain.
- The load intensity should not be large, any overloads are harmful.
- Movements are performed at a slow or medium pace, with moderate amplitude.
- Swimming is very useful and aqua-aerobic in a warm pool.
- Exercises for arthrosis must be performed daily, without breaks, for a long time.Preferably always.