Osteoarthritis: curable, possible causes, symptoms and treatment

pain with arthrosis of the wrist joint

Arthrosis of the hip, shoulder, knee and ankle joints is a disease that occurs as a result of wear of cartilage tissue, as well as bone deformation. In this case, the patient feels pain of varying intensity (depending on the form of the disease). As a result, the disease leads to problems with motor function, immobilization and partial or complete disability. It is important to determine if arthrosis can be cured without surgery.

Definition of defeat

Knee joint disease most often occurs in women, and many reasons can cause its appearance. Older people are more likely to have arthrosis of the knee joint.

knee pain with arthrosis

If arthrosis treatment is not started in a timely manner, the bones that form the joints will be exposed, and they will be damaged. In this case, it is not possible to do without surgical intervention. When the first unpleasant symptoms appear, it is important to seek medical help as soon as possible. It will not be able to eliminate the arthrosis completely, but will help slow down the process of knee joint deformation and stop the degeneration. Early identification of lesions and proper treatment can help avoid negative consequences and early disability status.

What are the common causes of knee joint arthrosis and can the disease be cured? The main reasons include:

  • Flat feet.
  • Vein disease.
  • Diabetes and other disorders associated with metabolic disorders. In this case, it is difficult to get rid of arthrosis, because not all medications and physiotherapy can be used.
  • Overweight - people with weight problems have arthrosis more often than people with normal weight.
  • Adolescence - during this time a person's metabolism and hormonal background changes, which leads to degenerative processes.
  • Carrying a child - at this time a woman is gaining weight, as a result of which the load on the knees increases significantly. The hormonal background is disturbed, which contributes to the appearance of knee arthrosis.
  • Changes in the body related to the age of the patient.
  • Got certain injuries. About 30 percent of knee arthrosis is due to injury. Injury causes changes in the normal structure of tissue, which provokes the process of destruction.
  • Normal physical activity on the lower limbs, whose body has not yet been able to adapt.
  • The beginning of the inflammatory process in the body.
  • Hereditary tendencies.
  • Onset of cramps in the thigh muscles.

It is possible to cure this disease only if you contact a treatment specialist. In this case, it is forbidden to start treatment yourself. Only a specialist can prescribe effective therapy, which includes physiotherapy and medication.

Preventive measures

It is important to remember about preventive measures even before the onset of the underlying disease. Arthrosis can be divided into two types. The first occurs due to violations of metabolic processes in the body, as well as age characteristics of the patient.

The second type appears as a result of injury or infection. To prevent the second type of arthrosis, it is important to avoid the possibility of injuries, bruises, fractures. So far, this is the case for those involved in any sport or dance. For people like that, illnesses like these are often professional and don’t allow them to do the things they love anymore. This is also true for children who are very active, being sloppy on the streets; it is important for them to be careful not to suffer dangerous injuries.

climbing for the prevention of arthrosis

The main factor that will help prevent arthrosis of a deformed knee joint is movement. Moderate exercise is the best method to prevent arthrosis. This is especially important for people whose work activities are associated primarily with inactive work. It is important to remember that in this case is about a moderate load on different joints.

The main stage of the disease

Developmental arthrosis can be divided into four different stages. The more advanced the stage, the more difficult it is to treat and relieve the symptoms:

  • in the first stage, the symptoms are mild, but the process of tissue destruction has spread rapidly;
  • persistent cartilage destruction, which results in decreased mobility of the foot in the joint area and is accompanied by severe pain syndrome;
  • cartilage tissue in this case thins, the bone -forming joints begin to actively grow and are damaged;
  • in the last stage of the development of the disease, the cartilage is almost completely destroyed, the deformation of the bone causes a change in the axis of the diseased limb, while the joint ceases to withstand the pressure applied to it, and the foot at the knee loses movement completely.

It is possible to diagnose first -degree knee joint arthrosis with short -term pain that occurs when a person walks. No significant defects could be detected during the examination, and radiographs also did not provide the amount of information needed about the condition of the joint to make an accurate diagnosis.

If the disease is detected in a timely manner and full treatment begins, then the process of destruction of cartilage tissue can be completely stopped, and the diseased area can even be restored.

Is grade 2 arthrosis curable? Treatment at stage 2 of the development of arthrosis aims to eliminate unpleasant symptoms and slow down the degenerative-dystrophic process. In this case, the fabric cannot be returned, but you can keep what is left.

Is it possible to cure grade 3 arthrosis? When arthrosis reaches the 3rd stage of development, efforts to slow down the destructive process and damage to the bones often do not yield results, the disease quickly acquires the 4th stage of development (some experts, for this reason, distinguish only three stages of development of the disease).

If there are serious changes in the structure of the joint, it is necessary to use a prosthesis; This method of surgical correction is called endoprosthetics.

In some cases, surgical intervention is also used in stage 2 gonarthrosis. At the same time, minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery is performed, removing dead tissue through small incisions, as well as pieces of damaged cartilage. With the help of such operations, the distance of movement increases, the symptoms of pain and inflammation disappear. But you have to remember that treatment does not end there. Such surgery will help relieve the unpleasant symptoms of the disease for several years.

Treatment

Can arthrosis of the knee joint be cured? Disease treatment can be done in three main areas:

  • etiotropic - elimination of the cause of the lesion;
  • symptomatic - relief of the main symptoms;
  • pathogenetic - a disorder in the development of the disease.

To carry out effective treatment, or at least to delay the progression of arthrosis, it is important:

  • activating the process of blood supply and improving the condition of tissues;
  • compensate for the lack or excess of enzymes in the body;
  • to give the body everything necessary for the reproduction of cartilage tissue;
  • restore the volume and composition of synovial fluid.
doctor of arthrosis

Many physiotherapeutic procedures and topical ointments result in an increase in tissue nutrition and normalization of their blood supply. During electrophoresis, tissues can be saturated with special enzymes. But the main way to treat a disease like this is by taking chondroprotectors. Recently, hyaluronic acid injections have been used primarily for the treatment of arthrosis. And biological treatment methods are considered more aggressive.

Use of chondroprotectors

Can arthrosis be completely cured? For full treatment, chondroprotectors are suitable - drugs that include natural components of cartilage tissue or its synthetic analogues, which lead to the synthesis of certain components or prevent their damage.

Chondroprotectors are available in the following forms:

  • tablets, capsules and powders for oral administration;
  • solution for intramuscular injection;
  • special ointment for external use.

Medicines for external use should be used as an adjunct treatment in complex therapy.

Is deformed arthrosis curable? First you need to consider the features of treatment with chondroprotectors:

  • many chondroprotectors help relieve severe pain and inflammation, but this is not the main benefit of taking them, as symptomatic therapy is better using more affordable NSAIDs;
  • therapeutic measures bring special effects at stages 1 and 2 of the development of the disease, when the cartilage has not been destroyed to an extreme state;
  • during treatment, it is important to undergo a long systematic drug treatment, after each course should rest; one course spans 6 months, so the treatment lasts for years.

If the patient is prone to the appearance of knee arthrosis, then he should start taking chondroprotectors first to prevent it, before the first signs of the disease develop. Chondroprotectors should not be called a panacea, because they protect the cartilage, and do not restore its condition. Osteoarthritis is much easier to prevent than starting treatment afterwards.

The main difficulty of treatment

Can arthrosis be cured forever? The main difficulty of treatment is that until now there is no drug that can eliminate arthrosis permanently and completely. But it is important to remember that there are quite effective complex treatment methods that can help relieve pain and slow down the process of the disease.

Arthrosis of the hip joint

Arthrosis of the hip joint is a degenerative-dystrophic process, in which the cartilage structure that covers the surface of the femoral head, as well as the acetabulum, is damaged. To keep cartilage healthy, it is important to determine if hip arthrosis can be treated.

Drug treatment

There are many ways to treat this disease. Often, the attending specialist prescribes the whole complex, which includes many therapeutic steps.

pain with hip arthrosis

Can hip arthrosis be cured? With 1st and 2nd degree arthrosis, it is permissible to use medication for treatment. The most effective medication in this case is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, a vasodilating drug, which leads to an increase in blood supply to the joints, relaxes the muscles and helps relieve cramps.

Chondroprotectors are also used to help preserve cartilage tissue. In the first and second stages of lesion development, experts allow the use of topical agents: plasters, applications, ointments and gels - they stimulate normal blood circulation.

It is important to remember that without effective and timely treatment, arthrosis of the hip joint can provoke ankylosis. Ankylosis is the complete fusion of the femur and pelvis. In this case, the foot loses movement completely at the joint.

Arthrosis of the ankle

Can ankle arthrosis be cured? Before treating ankle arthrosis, it is important to make an accurate diagnosis. Often, a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis either by examining a patient’s feet, or by using X-rays.

ankle pain with arthrosis

Depending on the stage of development of the disease, the specialist will choose the most appropriate treatment. Even before seeing a specialist, patients should reduce the load on the diseased joint, avoid hypothermia, and overuse. Doctors prescribe complex treatments for patients: physiotherapy, balneotherapy, taking painkillers, as well as methods to stimulate blood circulation.

Also, ankle therapy can be done on an outpatient basis, in a hospital with the appointment of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Difficulties for treatment may arise if the patient is obese. It is important for such patients to eat properly not only during the treatment itself, but also afterwards.

Gymnastic exercises

Gymnastics with ankle arthrosis is allowed only after the main symptoms of the disease have completely disappeared. A set of exercises and loads on the legs should be arranged together with the attending specialist.

Any gymnastic exercise during arthrosis should stretch the ligaments and muscles in the joint, without burdening the joint itself, otherwise it can be very dangerous.

Can joint arthrosis be cured? A gymnastics course in the treatment of arthrosis will not require the patient to spend money, buy expensive medications or tools, but the patient should be patient and diligent in completing the course accurately.

Shoulder problems

Some injuries can cause the onset of inflammatory or degenerative processes in the joints. Often, the following causes cause shoulder arthrosis:

  • strong physical energy on the shoulder joint at work, causing the active use of its components;
  • suffered a shoulder injury;
  • dysplasia of the shoulder joint;
  • changes in hormone production;
  • problems with blood supply to articular tissues, leading to the emergence of vascular pathology;
  • natural wear of cartilage, which is typical for the elderly.

Common in this case is an inflammatory process, accompanied by painful symptoms. The causes of these lesions vary, they can be associated with trauma, infection, or disruption of the work of certain systems in the body.

Often, for the appearance of arthritis, additional external influences are required: stress, hypothermia, organ infection, infection through open wounds, the immune response to the resulting infection.

While determining the disease, the doctor pays attention to the extent of the disease, the main complaints of the patient and the results of several examinations. The main diagnostic measure is a biochemical blood test, which helps confirm the presence of inflammation and, in some cases, determine its nature.

pain in shoulder arthrosis

Another important study is X-rays, which help determine the site of joint deformation in the early stages of its appearance.

Is it possible to cure arthrosis of the shoulder joint? In the presence of first -degree arthrosis, only conservative treatment is used. And only with complicated forms of the disease, surgery is prescribed.

The main methods of conservative treatment:

  • taking medication;
  • treatment with folk methods;
  • physiotherapy activities;
  • hygiene treatment;
  • massage;
  • acupuncture;
  • physiotherapy;
  • special food.

Before starting therapy, it is important to provide the damaged joint with complete rest, which is much easier to do if the arthrosis is widespread in the shoulder area. The easiest treatment is considered to be the first stage of the disease, when cicatricial changes have not yet occurred, and the tissue still retains its regenerative capacity.

But in the presence of such a form of lesion, the discomfort, as a rule, does not manifest itself strongly, the pain is weak, so that the patient is very late to seek help from a doctor. In the future, after the end of treatment, patients should also follow a better regimen.