How to treat osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a chronic joint disease in which cartilage is destroyed in adjacent bone structures. The disease is widespread throughout the world.

The main cause of pathology is a violation of metabolic processes. The predisposing factors are congenital malformations, internal inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis, trauma and excess weight. With age, the likelihood of developing osteoarthritis increases.

The treatment of osteoarthritis is a complex and time-consuming process. In this case, taking several pills is not enough to reduce symptoms. It will be necessary to carry out other measures that contribute to the inhibition of disease progression. Without them, the risks of complications and disabilities increase many times over.

Brief description of the disease

Before talking about how to treat osteoarthritis, it is necessary to say a few words about what it is and what is the development of the disease. Osteoarthritis is a disease of the joints, accompanied by degenerative-dystrophic processes. During its development, the following processes occur:

• cartilage density and elasticity decrease, they cease to perform their shock-absorbing functions;
• the level of friction between bones increases, which leads to gradual destruction and deformation, the formation of sharp corners on the surface;
• sharp elements penetrate nearby tissues, causing their inflammation;
• motor functions are partially or completely impaired.

Osteoarthritis deformans has severe symptoms. Most often, patients complain of joint pain and swelling, as well as a flare-up, limited movement, and morning stiffness.

Unfortunately, osteoarthritis cannot be cured permanently. You can get rid of it only in one case - if the disease was detected in the early stages of development. But as at this stage it is asymptomatic, most patients do not even suspect that they have a pathology and, therefore, do not undergo any treatment. And when symptoms appear, irreversible processes occur in the joints that cannot be eliminated.

As for the factors that provoke the development of the pathology, the following reasons should be distinguished:

• trauma;
• hypothermia;
• bad habits;
• excessive physical work;
• professional sports;
• malnutrition;
• hormonal disorders;
• autoimmune diseases, etc.

Fundamentals of treatment

Can arthritis be cured? Not. This disease is not treatable. But that doesn't mean you don't have to deal with it. The lack of therapy can lead to serious consequences - the pathology will progress, the person will lose his ability to work and become disabled. Therefore, although the methods used do not allow to get rid of the disease, it must be treated!

With the development of osteoarthritis (any of its types, coxarthrosis, osteoarthritis, etc. ), a single treatment regimen is used, which includes:

• taking medications that help relieve pain and stop the progression of the disease;
• weight loss and proper nutrition;
• exercise therapy classes;
• massages;
• physiotherapy procedures.

With osteoarthritis, a very important point is the fight against excess weight, if any. The excess of kilograms is an additional load on the ligament apparatus, which causes the rapid progression of the disease. Therefore, if the patient's body weight exceeds the norm, he urgently needs to lose weight. But fasting is contraindicated. In this case, dietary nutrition is selected individually.

As for the food itself, it also has limitations. For any type of osteoarthritis, it is worth abandoning the use of foods rich in purines. This:

• meat from young animals;
• mushroom, meat, vegetable and fish broths;
• gelatinous dishes;
• meat sauces, sauces;
• offal;
• smoked meat;
• oily fish;
• salty and spicy cheeses;
• caviar;
• cocoa, black tea, coffee;
• refractory fats;
• legumes;
• prepared products made from grapes;
• bakery products made from yeast dough, etc.

The doctor should inform you in detail about how to eat after identifying osteoarthritis or other types of DOA. Eating properly, the patient can prevent the accumulation of uric acid salts in the body and avoid serious complications.

Also, talking about how to treat arthrosis, it should be noted that massages and physiotherapy exercises should be carried out without fail. But not on their own! Massages should only be performed by specialists, as any wrong action can lead to complications. And exercise therapy exercises under the supervision of a doctor are performed only for the first time, so the patient can perform physical exercises at home.

Medicines

Medications will not help cure osteoarthritis forever. But they will provide a reduction in symptoms and stop the pathological processes in the joints, which will normalize their motor functions and significantly improve the patient's condition.

As a rule, the treatment of osteoarthritis includes the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These drugs have several actions at once:

• stop inflammatory processes;
• reduce pain syndrome;
• have an antipyretic effect.

NSAIDs are available in many forms - tablets, ointments, rectal suppositories, solutions for intramuscular injection. As practice shows, they quickly eliminate the pain syndrome, and their effect lasts for a long time. But this group of drugs has several disadvantages. It is impossible to take them for more than 5-7 days, as the components contained in them have an irritating effect on the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract. And this, in turn, can cause an exacerbation of peptic ulcers, gastritis, pancreatitis, as well as the appearance of side effects such as diarrhea, flatulence, bloating, etc.

NSAIDs can only be taken with a doctor's permission. An incorrect dosage can lead to an exacerbation of arthrosis and even greater destruction of cartilage and bone tissues!

In severe cases, when treatment of osteoarthritis deformans with NSAIDs does not show positive results, corticosteroids are used. As a rule, they are introduced into the body by injection into the joint capsule. Unlike NSAIDs, the effect of corticosteroids lasts for several months. But you cannot use them more than 4 times a year, as they also negatively affect the condition of the joints.

Important! NSAIDs and corticosteroids are symptomatic medications. They do not cure osteoarthritis, but simply eliminate its unpleasant manifestations.

Analgesics are also used to relieve pain. Unlike NSAIDs, these drugs do not contribute to the removal of inflammatory processes, but they eliminate pain much better. And if the patient has muscle spasms, antispasmodics are used to stop them. The greatest effect is given by analgesics and antispasmodics in the form of solutions for intramuscular injection.

Deformed joints and bones are also treated with chondroprotectors. And if the above drug groups give only a symptomatic effect, then these drugs will have a therapeutic effect. They contain substances that help restore nutrition to damaged tissues, restoring their integrity.

Chondroprotectors act slowly. To get a positive result from them, they must be taken continuously for at least six months. But if the disease has reached stage 3 or 4, its reception will be meaningless.

In addition, vasodilators are also frequently used in the treatment of osteoarthritis. They provide better blood flow as well as elimination of spasm in small vessels. Apply these funds in combination with chondroprotectors.

physiotherapy procedures

In addition to drug therapy, osteoarthritis is also treated with the help of physical therapy procedures. They also do not help to cure the disease, but they contribute to a significant improvement in the patient's well-being. The most popular among them are:

• Shockwave Therapy (SWT). The action of this procedure aims to eliminate the main cause of pain that occurs with osteoarthritis. Eliminates spine-like bone processes - osteophytes. Of course, this does not happen immediately, but gradually. Under the influence of ultrasonic waves, osteophytes soften and eventually dissolve. In addition, SWT improves blood circulation in the pathological focus and normalizes metabolism. But, despite the effectiveness of this procedure, its use is possible only in the early stages of the development of the disease. In addition, it has many contraindications.
• Myostimulation. This procedure involves the application of electrical impulses that cause muscle contraction. Its implementation is advisable for bedridden patients and in cases of serious injuries, when exercise therapy becomes impossible. Thanks to the stimulation of the muscles, there is an increase in tone and an improvement in blood circulation, which has a positive effect on the course of osteoarthritis.
• phonophoresis. This procedure is performed using ultrasonic waves with the simultaneous use of medications. The waves increase the effect of drugs. Thanks to them, they are delivered directly to the pathological focus, which greatly increases their therapeutic effect.
• Ozone Therapy. It involves introducing a gas mixture into the joint capsule. The main actions are the relief of inflammatory reactions, the reduction of pain, the improvement of motor functions. As a rule, ozone therapy is prescribed on a course that includes several injections. Their number depends on the severity of the course of arthrosis.

Important! Physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed individually, taking into account contraindications and the severity of the course of the disease.

Physiotherapy

Can osteoarthritis be cured with exercise therapy? The answer is the same - no. Therapeutic exercises are prescribed to patients to develop joints and improve motor functions. The performance of special exercises also contributes to the normalization of blood circulation in pathological foci and an increase in the supply of nutrients to the affected tissues.

All physical exercises are also selected individually. First, they are carried out under the strict supervision of a specialist, then they can be done independently, at home.

Massage and manual therapy

They are used to treat osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis) and other types of osteoarthritis. These procedures provide warming of the diseased area, elimination of spasms, normalization of blood circulation. Massages and manual therapy are performed exclusively by a specialist. They can be done both in the remission stage and during the exacerbation period.

Mechanotherapy

Mechanotherapy is a special type of gymnastics, during which all physical exercises are performed using special simulators. They contribute to an increased load on the body, preventing damage to diseased joints. Like physiotherapy, mechanotherapy provides an increase in muscle tone and improves blood circulation.

joint drive

The essence of the procedure is the mechanical "stretching" of the joints with the help of a special device. A session lasts about 15-20 minutes. The full course includes 10-12 procedures, performed every six months. Stretching the joints helps to relieve them of the load, slow the progression of osteoarthritis and reduce pain.

alternative medicine

Alternative medicine also effectively helps to get rid of pain that occurs against the background of osteoarthritis, coxarthrosis and other types of disease. But, as in other cases, they do not provide a cure for the pathology, so you should not place high hopes on them.

Important! Folk remedies should be used as adjunctive therapy in combination with other treatments prescribed by a doctor.

homemade ointment

For your preparation you will need:

• animal fat (eg pork) - 1 cup;
• unrefined vegetable oil - 100 ml;
• birch buds - 1 tbsp. I. ;
• propolis - 50 g.

The ointment is prepared as follows. First, animal fat is melted, boiled, and birch buds are added to it. Then the resulting composition is boiled in a water bath for about 2-3 hours and cooled to room temperature. After that, propolis is added (it is pre-ground on a grater) and the ointment is stirred until dissolved. And the last ingredient is vegetable oil. Then the product is left in a cool place until it is completely cooled and filtered.

Apply the ointment as needed, depending on the degree of pain, but no more than 5 times a day. It should be noted that such a remedy has not only an analgesic effect, but also an anti-inflammatory effect. It can be used not only for osteoarthritis. It will also help with arthritis, osteochondrosis and bronchitis. It can be used for both adults and children.

cabbage leaf

An effective remedy for joint pain. It is applied as follows. A large white cabbage leaf is taken, placed inside the affected area and fixed with a warm bandage on top. The compress is left overnight. To enhance the effect, the leaf is smeared with honey.

medicinal compresses

All pharmacies sell cheap and over-the-counter medicines. For example, Dimexide. This remedy has a good analgesic, absorbable and anti-inflammatory effect. Improves metabolism and improves blood circulation.

To put a compress, you need to take a gauze napkin folded in several layers, moisten it in a solution and apply it to the painful joint, after lubricating it with a little vegetable oil. On top, you need to fasten the polyethylene and make a hot bandage. Keep the compress for about 20 to 30 minutes. Do it before bed.

compress with wine

Available in several versions:

• 280 g of linden or flower honey are melted in a water bath, then 350 ml of radish juice are added, 1 tbsp. I. salt and 120 g of fortified red wine. All components are thoroughly mixed and cooled. It is applied as follows - about 10-15 g of the mixture is rubbed into the painful place, then a warm bandage is applied for 30-40 minutes. The duration of treatment is 30 days.
• First, a medicinal mixture is prepared. To do this, red wine and bee venom are mixed in a container in a ratio of 1: 1. The resulting composition is slightly heated, and then a gauze napkin is moistened and applied to the damaged joint, a warm bandage is done from above. Hold the compress for 30 minutes.
• This compress will require 150 g of radish. It is rubbed on a fine grater and then mixed with 2 tsp. fault. The resulting paste is placed on the tissue and applied to the joint. Polyethylene is necessarily applied from above, and the limb is wrapped with a warm scarf or towel. Hold the compress for 40 minutes. The course of treatment is 5 weeks.

garlic juice with olive oil

Peel the garlic cloves, pass them through a press and squeeze the juice out of them. Mix it with olive oil in a ratio of 1: 10. If there is no olive oil, you can use corn oil, but in this case the ratio will be 1: 12. The resulting mixture should be taken in 1 tsp. every day before breakfast.

decoction of cranberries

For its preparation, you will need blueberry leaves. 1st. I. raw materials are poured into 250 ml of water, and then put on fire, boiled and boiled for 20 minutes. Then the finished broth is cooled and filtered. Take in small sips throughout the day.

Infusion of blackcurrant leaves

1st. I. crushed black currant leaves pour 0. 5 liters of boiling water and leave for about 1 hour, then filter. Take ½ cup 5-6 times a day.

It should be understood that no remedy is able to eliminate the causes of osteoarthritis and completely get rid of the disease. Unfortunately, this disease is not treatable and all the measures used only contribute to the reduction of symptoms. And for the therapy to give maximum results, it is necessary to strictly follow all the doctor's recommendations.