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 reason for the pathology is a violation of metabolic processes. Predisposing factors are congenital malformations, internal inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis, trauma and overweight. With age, the likelihood of developing osteoarthritis increases.

The treatment of osteoarthritis is a complex and time-consuming process. In this case, it is not enough to just take different pills to reduce symptoms. Other measures will need to be taken to help inhibit disease progression. Without them, the risks of complications and disability increase several times.

Brief description of the disease

Before we talk 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 take place:

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

Osteoarthritis has severe symptoms. Most often, patients complain of pain and swelling in the joints, as well as crunch, limited movement and morning stiffness.

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

With regard to the factors provoking the development of pathology, the following reasons must be distinguished:

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

Basics of treatment

Can Arthritis Be Cured? No. This disease is not curable. But that doesn't mean you don't have to deal with it. Lack of therapy can lead to serious consequences - the pathology will progress, the person will lose the ability to work and become disabled. Therefore, despite the fact that 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;
• physical therapy classes;
• massages;
• physiotherapy procedures.

In osteoarthritis, a very important point is the fight against obesity, if any. Excess weight is an additional burden 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, the diet is chosen individually.

As for the food itself, it also has limitations. With any type of osteoarthritis, it is worth giving up the use of foods high in purines. To:

• meat from young animals;
• mushroom, meat, vegetable and fish broths;
• jelly dishes;
• meat sauces, sauces;
• quarantines;
• smoked meat;
• oily fish;
• salty and spicy cheeses;
• caviar;
• cocoa, black tea, coffee;
• refractory fats;
• legumes;
• grape-based products;
• yeast dough pastries, etc.

Your doctor should tell you in detail how to eat after identifying osteoarthritis or other types of DOA. With proper nutrition, the patient will be able to prevent the accumulation of uric acid salts in the body and avoid serious complications.

Also, talking about how to treat osteoarthritis, it should be noted that massages and physiotherapy exercises must be performed. But not on your own! Massages should be performed only by specialists, as any incorrect action can lead to complications. And physical therapy exercises under the supervision of a doctor are performed only for the first time, after which the patient can perform physical exercises at home.

Medicines

Medications will not help cure osteoarthritis forever. But they will reduce symptoms and stop 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 involves the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These drugs have several actions at once:

• stopping inflammatory processes;
• reduction of pain syndrome;
• have an antipyretic effect.

NSAIDs are available in several forms - tablets, ointments, rectal suppositories, solutions for intramuscular injection. As practice shows, they quickly eliminate the pain syndrome and their effect lasts a long time. But this group of drugs has several drawbacks. It is not possible 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 exacerbation of peptic ulcer, gastritis, pancreatitis, as well as the appearance of side effects such as diarrhea, flatulence, bloating and more.

NSAIDs can only be taken with a doctor's permission. Improper dosing can lead to exacerbation of osteoarthritis and even greater destruction of cartilage and bone tissue!

In severe cases, when treatment of deforming osteoarthritis with NSAIDs does not give 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 can not use them more than 4 times a year, as they also adversely affect the condition of the joints.

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

Analgesics are also used to relieve pain. Unlike NSAIDs, these drugs do not help eliminate inflammatory processes, but eliminate pain much better. And if the patient has muscle spasms, then 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 groups of drugs give only a symptomatic effect, then these drugs have a therapeutic effect. They contain substances that help restore the nutrition of damaged tissues, restoring their integrity.

Chondroprotectors act slowly. In order to achieve a positive result, they must be taken continuously for at least six months. But if the disease has reached stage 3 or 4, their reception will be meaningless.

In addition, vasodilators are also commonly used in the treatment of osteoarthritis. They provide improved blood flow as well as eliminate spasm in small vessels. Apply such funds in combination with chondroprotectors.

Physiotherapeutic procedures

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

• Shock wave therapy (SWT). The action of this procedure is aimed at eliminating the root cause of pain that occurs in osteoarthritis. Removes thorny 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 disease. In addition, there are many contraindications.
• Myostimulation. This procedure involves the application of electrical impulses that cause muscle contraction. Its use is recommended for bedridden patients and severe injuries when exercise therapy becomes impossible. Thanks to the stimulation of the muscles, their tone is increased and the blood circulation is improved, which has a positive effect on the course of arthrosis.
• Phonophoresis. This procedure is performed using ultrasound waves with the simultaneous use of drugs. Waves enhance the effect of drugs. Thanks to them, they are delivered directly to the pathological focus, which significantly increases their therapeutic effect.
• Ozone therapy. This involves introducing a gas mixture into the joint capsule. The main actions are to relieve inflammatory reactions, reduce pain, improve motor function. As a rule, ozone therapy is prescribed in a course that includes several injections. Their number depends on the severity of the course of osteoarthritis.

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

Physiotherapy

Can Osteoarthritis Be Cured With Exercise? The answer is the same - no. Patients are prescribed therapeutic exercises to develop joints and improve motor function. Performing special exercises also contributes to the normalization of blood circulation in pathological foci and increase the supply of nutrients to the affected tissues.

All physical exercises are also selected individually. First, they are performed 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 affected area, elimination of spasms, normalization of blood circulation. Massages and manual therapy are performed exclusively by a specialist. They can be done both in remission and in the period of exacerbation.

Mechanotherapy

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

Tightening of the joints

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

Alternative medicine

Alternative medicine also effectively helps to get rid of the pain that occurs against the background of osteoarthritis, coxarthrosis and other diseases. 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

To prepare it you will need:

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

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

Apply the ointment as needed, depending on the degree of pain, but not more than 5 times a day. It should be noted that such a tool has not only analgesic but also 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. Take a large leaf of white cabbage, place it on the inside of the sore spot and fix it with a warm bandage on top. The compress is left overnight. To enhance the effect, the leaves are smeared with honey.

Healing compresses

Every pharmacy sells drugs that are cheap and sold without a prescription. For example, dimexid. This agent has a good analgesic, absorbent and anti-inflammatory effect. Improves metabolism and improves blood circulation.

To apply a compress, you need to take a gauze napkin folded in several layers, moisten it in a solution and apply it on the inflamed joint after lubricating it with a little vegetable oil. You need to attach polyethylene on top and make a warm bandage. Hold the compress for about 20-30 minutes. Do it before bed.

Wine compress

Available in several versions:

• 280 g of linden or flower honey is melted in a water bath, then 350 ml of radish juice, 1 tablespoon of salt and 120 g of fortified red wine are added. All components are thoroughly mixed and cooled. Apply as follows - about 10-15 g of the mixture is rubbed into the affected area, then apply a warm bandage for 30-40 minutes. The duration of treatment is 30 days.
• First, a healing mixture is prepared. To do this, red wine and bee venom are mixed in a vessel in a ratio of 1: 1. The resulting composition is heated slightly and then moistened gauze napkin and applied to the damaged joint, make a warm bandage on top. Hold the compress for 30 minutes.
• This compress will require 150 g of radish. Rub on a fine grater, then mix with 2 tsp wine. The resulting slurry is placed on the tissue and applied to the joint. The polyethylene must be applied on top and the limb wrapped in a warm scarf or towel. Hold the compress for 40 minutes. The course of treatment is 5 weeks.

garlic juice with butter

Peel the garlic cloves, pass them through a press and squeeze the juice from 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 proportion will be 1: 12. The resulting mixture should be taken 1 tsp every day before breakfast.

Decoction of blueberries

You will need blueberry leaves to make it. 1 tablespoon of raw materials is poured into 250 ml of water and then put on the fire, bring to a boil and boil for 20 minutes. The finished broth is then cooled and filtered. Take it in small sips throughout the day.

Blackcurrant leaf infusion

1 tbsp crushed blackcurrant leaves are poured with 0, 5 liters of boiling water and leave for about 1 hour, then filtered. 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 curable and all the measures used only contribute to reducing the symptoms. And in order for the therapy to give maximum results, it is necessary to strictly follow all the doctor's recommendations.