Osteoarthritis of the hip, shoulder, knee and ankle is a disease that occurs as a result of wear and tear on the cartilage tissue and deformation of the bones. 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 functions, partial or total immobilization and disability. It is important to determine whether osteoarthritis can be cured without surgery.
Definition of defeat
Knee joint disease is most common in women, and many reasons can lead to its occurrence. Osteoarthritis of the knee is more common in older people.
If the osteoarthritis treatment is not initiated in time, the joint-forming bones will be exposed and damaged. In this case, surgical intervention cannot be dispensed with. When the first unpleasant symptoms appear, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible. It won't be able to completely eliminate the osteoarthritis, but it will help slow the deformation process of the knee joint and stop the degeneration. Early detection of the lesion and proper treatment can help avoid negative consequences and an early disability status.
What are the most common causes of osteoarthritis of the knee and can the disease be cured? The main reasons include:
- Flat feet.
- Diseases of the veins.
- Diabetes and other disorders related to metabolic disorders. In this case, it becomes difficult to get rid of the osteoarthritis, since not all drugs and physical therapy are allowed to be used.
- Obesity - People with weight problems are much more likely to have osteoarthritis than people of normal body weight.
- Adolescence - at this point in time, a person's metabolism and hormonal background change, leading to a degenerative process.
- Carrying a child - at this time a woman gains weight, which significantly increases the load on the knee part. The hormonal background is disrupted, which contributes to the appearance of osteoarthritis of the knees.
- Changes in the body related to the age of the patient.
- Got certain injuries. About 30 percent of knee osteoarthritis can be traced back to injuries. Injury leads to a change in the normal structure of the tissue, which provokes the process of destruction.
- Regular physical activity on the lower legs to which the body has not adapted.
- The beginning of the inflammatory process in the body.
- Hereditary disposition.
- The onset of cramps in the muscles of the thigh.
A cure for the disease is possible only if you contact a treating specialist. In this case, it is forbidden to start treatment on your own. Only a specialist can prescribe effective therapy, which includes physical therapy and medication.
Precautions
It is important to think about preventive measures before the onset of the underlying disease. Osteoarthritis can be divided into two types. The first occurs due to a violation of the metabolic process in the body, as well as the age characteristics of the patient.
The second type occurs as a result of an injury or infection. To prevent the second type of osteoarthritis, it is important to avoid possible injuries, bruises, and fractures. This is true to a greater extent for those who practice sports or dance. For such people, such a disease often becomes professional and no longer allows them to do what they love. This also applies to children who are very active and behave carelessly on the street; It is important that you behave carefully so as not to get dangerous injuries.
The most important factor in avoiding osteoarthritis of the deforming knee joint is mobility. Moderate exercise is the best way to prevent osteoarthritis. This is particularly important for people whose work activities are predominantly associated with sedentary work. It is important to remember that in this case we are talking about a moderate load on various joints.
The main stages of the disease
Developmental osteoarthritis can be divided into four different stages. The more advanced the stage, the more difficult it becomes to treat and relieve symptoms:
- at the first stage the symptoms are mild, but the process of tissue destruction is already spreading rapidly;
- the cartilage destruction continues, which leads to a decrease in leg mobility in the joint area and is accompanied by a severe pain syndrome;
- the cartilage tissue in this case is thinned, the joint-forming bones begin to actively grow and are damaged;
- At the last stage of the development of the disease, the cartilage is almost completely destroyed, the deformation of the bones leads to a change in the axis of the diseased limbs, while the joint can no longer withstand the pressure exerted on it, and the legs in the knee completely lose their mobility.
It is possible to diagnose osteoarthritis of the knee joint of the first degree from short-term pain that occurs at the moment of walking. Examination does not reveal any noticeable deformity, and neither does the X-ray provide the necessary amount of information about the condition of the joints to make an accurate diagnosis.
If the disease is detected in time and full-fledged treatment begins, the process of destruction of cartilage tissue can be completely stopped, and even the diseased areas can be restored.
Can grade 2 osteoarthritis be cured? Treatment at stage 2 of the development of osteoarthritis is aimed at eliminating unpleasant symptoms and slowing down the degenerative-dystrophic process. In this case, it is not always possible to restore the fabric, but you can get the rest.
Is degree 3 osteoarthritis curable? If the osteoarthritis is the 3rd developing this disease).
A prosthesis must be used if there are serious changes to the joint structure; this method of surgical correction is called endoprosthetics.
In some cases, surgery is also performed in stage 2 of osteoarthritis of the knee. At the same time, a minimally invasive arthroscopic operation is performed, in which dead tissue and damaged pieces of cartilage are removed through a small incision. With the help of such an operation, the range of motion increases, pain symptoms and inflammation disappear. But you need to remember that treatment does not end there. Such an operation will help relieve the unpleasant symptoms of the disease for several years.
treatment
Can osteoarthritis of the knee joint be cured? Treatment of any disease can be done in three main areas:
- etiotrop - eliminating the causes of the lesion;
- symptomatic - relief of the main symptoms;
- pathogenetic - interference in the progression of the disease.
To carry out effective treatment, or at least suspend the development of osteoarthritis, it is important:
- activate the blood supply process and improve the condition of tissues;
- compensate for the lack or excess of enzymes in the body;
- to give the body everything it needs for the reproduction of cartilage tissue;
- Restoration of the volume and composition of the synovial fluid.
Many physiotherapy procedures and topical ointments lead to an improvement in tissue nutrition and normalization of the blood supply. During electrophoresis, tissues can be saturated with special enzymes. However, the main way to treat such a disease is to take chondroprotectors. Recently, hyaluronic acid injections have been used predominantly to treat osteoarthritis. And methods of biological treatment are considered more aggressive.
The use of chondroprotectors
Can osteoarthritis be completely cured? For complete treatment, chondroprotectors are suitable - drugs that contain natural components of cartilage tissue or their synthetic analogues, which lead to the synthesis of certain components or inhibit their breakdown.
Chondroprotectors can be found in the following forms:
- Tablets, capsules and powders for oral administration;
- Solutions for intramuscular injection;
- special ointments for external use.
Drugs for external use should be used as an additional treatment in complex therapy.
Can deforming osteoarthritis be cured? First you need to take into account the features of treatment with chondroprotectors:
- many chondroprotectors help get rid of severe pain and inflammation, but this is not the main benefit of taking them. For symptomatic therapy, it is best to use cheaper NSAIDs.
- therapeutic measures have a special effect in stages 1 and 2 of the development of the disease, when the cartilage is not yet extremely destroyed;
- during treatment it is important to undergo long systematic medication, it is necessary to take a break after each course. A course lasts 6 months, so the treatment lasts for years.
If the patient is prone to the development of knee osteoarthritis, he should start taking chondroprotectors in advance to prevent this before the first signs of the disease develop. Chondroprotectors cannot be called a panacea, as 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 osteoarthritis be cured forever? The main difficulty of treatment is that no drugs have been developed that could permanently and completely eliminate osteoarthritis. However, it is important to remember that there are very effective complex methods of treatment that will help relieve pain and slow the process of the disease.
Arthrosis of the hip joint
Arthrosis of the hip joint is a degenerative-dystrophic process in which the cartilage structures covering the surface of the femoral head and the acetabulum are damaged. To keep the cartilage healthy, it is important to determine whether hip osteoarthritis can be treated.
Medication
There are many ways to treat this disease. Most often, the attending specialist prescribes a whole complex, which includes many therapeutic measures.
Can hip osteoarthritis be curable? With osteoarthritis of 1 and 2 degrees, drugs may be used for treatment. The most effective drugs in this case are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, vasodilator drugs that improve blood flow to the joints, relax muscles and help eliminate cramps.
Chondroprotectors are also used to preserve the cartilage tissue. At the first and second degrees of development of the lesion, experts allow the use of topical agents: plasters, applications, ointments and gels - they stimulate normal blood circulation.
It is important to remember that osteoarthritis of the hip joint without effective and timely treatment can provoke ankylosis. Ankylosis is a complete fusion of the femur and pelvis. In this case, the leg completely loses its mobility in the joint.
Ankle arthrosis
Can ankle osteoarthritis be curable? Before treating ankle osteoarthritis, it is important to make an accurate diagnosis. In most cases, the doctor can make an accurate diagnosis by examining either the patient's foot or an X-ray.
Depending on the stage of development of the disease, the specialist will choose the most suitable treatment. Even before visiting a specialist, the patient should significantly reduce the load on the affected joint, avoid hypothermia and overload. The doctor prescribes complex treatment for the patient: physiotherapy, balneotherapy, taking painkillers, as well as means to stimulate blood circulation.
Ankle therapy can also be carried out on an outpatient basis in a hospital with the appointment of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Overweight can lead to treatment difficulties. It is important for such a patient to eat properly not only during the treatment itself, but also afterwards.
Gymnastic exercises
Gymnastics with osteoarthritis of the ankle is allowed only after the main symptoms of the disease have completely disappeared. A series of exercises and loads for the foot should be put together in cooperation with the treating specialist.
All gymnastic exercises during osteoarthritis should strain the ligaments and muscles in the joint without overloading the joints themselves, otherwise it can become very dangerous.
Can osteoarthritis of the joint be cured? The course of gymnastics for the treatment of osteoarthritis does not require the patient to spend money, buy drugs or expensive equipment, but the patient must be patient and diligent to accurately complete the course.
Shoulder problems
Some injuries can lead to the onset of an inflammatory or degenerative process in the joints. The most common reasons for shoulder osteoarthritis are:
- severe physical stress on the shoulder joint at work, which leads to active wear and tear of its components;
- get a shoulder injury;
- dysplasia of the shoulder joint;
- Changes in hormone production;
- Problems with the blood supply to the joint tissues, which lead to the appearance of vascular pathologies;
- Age-typical natural cartilage wear.
Often in this case is the inflammatory process, which is accompanied by painful symptoms. The reasons for this lesion are different, it can be associated with trauma, infection or disruption of the work of certain systems in the body.
Most often, an additional external influence is required for the appearance of arthritis: stress, hypothermia, infection of organs, infection through an open wound, an immune response to the resulting infection.
When establishing the disease, the doctor pays attention to the degree of the disease, the main complaints of the patient and the results of a number of examinations. The main diagnostic measure is a biochemical blood test, which will help confirm the presence of inflammation and, in some cases, determine its type.
Another important study is the x-ray, which helps pinpoint the location of the joint deformation at an early stage in its onset.
Can osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint be curable? In the presence of osteoarthritis of the first two degrees, only conservative treatment is used. And only with a complicated form of the disease, surgery is prescribed.
The main methods of conservative treatment:
- Taking medication;
- Treatment with folk methods;
- physiotherapy activities;
- sanitary treatment;
- Massages;
- Acupuncture;
- Physical therapy;
- special diet.
Before starting therapy, it is important to give the damaged joint complete rest, which is much easier with widespread osteoarthritis of the shoulder area. The simplest treatment is the first stage of the disease when no scar changes have occurred and the tissue has still retained its ability to regenerate.
However, with such a form of the lesion, the discomfort, as a rule, does not manifest itself strongly, the pain is weak, so the patient seeks help from a doctor very late. In the future, the patient will have to follow a thrifty regime even after the end of treatment.