Contents
Osteoarthritis
– the most common joint disease. Arthrosis most often occurs in the older age group.
According to statistics, after 70 years, osteoarthritis occurs in 97% of patients.
Reasons for the development of arthrosis
- hereditary factor
- injuries, overload,
- impaired metabolism;
- acquired diseases of the joints and bones,
- endocrine diseases that lead to malnutrition of cartilage,
- elderly age,
- overweight,
- developmental disorders and congenital abnormalities in the formation of joints,
- occupational hazards (physical activity, prolonged standing work).
Symptoms of arthrosis
- crunching in the joints when moving,
- pain of a mechanical nature, severe or worsening in the evening after physical activity; are stupid in nature
- minor pain after physical activity, goes away with rest,
- prolonged aching night pain, relieved by walking, associated with impaired blood supply to joint tissues;
- starting pains accompany the first steps, going down the stairs; worsen with prolonged walking, usually the development of synovitis occurs – inflammation of the joint capsule.
- pain with a certain movement in the joint – with inflammation of the muscle tendons at the point of attachment to the periarticular tissues (tendobursitis),
- pain associated with the presence of a foreign body in the joint cavity, the so-called articular mouse – very strong, sudden pain, accompanied by blockade of movement in the joint.
The severity of the pain syndrome is not related to the stage of arthrosis on x-ray, but the results of treatment are assessed based on the severity of the pain syndrome.
Types of arthrosis
Depending on which joint is involved in the pathological process, there are:
Coxarthrosis is arthrosis of the hip joint.
this is one of the most common variants of the disease. It develops equally often in both men and women, but in women it is much more severe. With a long course of the disease, atrophy of the thigh muscles occurs. Characterized by back pain and compression of large nerve trunks. Leads to a change in gait – limping, then shortening of the limb and lameness. With bilateral lesions, a duck’s gait is formed.
Gonarthrosis is osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
As a rule, women are affected; the disease is promoted by obesity and poor circulation in the lower extremities. The first symptoms usually appear at 40-50 years of age. Pain occurs when walking, especially on stairs, when standing for a long time, and during prolonged physical activity. There is a feeling of wobbly legs. Almost half of the patients have curvature of the legs in the area of the knee joint (genu varum – O-shaped and genu valgum – X-shaped deformity), due to the weakening of the lateral ligaments, instability of the joint appears.
Arthrosis of the interphalangeal joints of the fingers (Heberden’s and Bouchard’s nodes).
They occur mainly in women during menopause, occur both as an independent disease and in combination with other forms of arthrosis, and can be a consequence of injury. During the formation period, burning and tingling symptoms are noted, the symptoms disappear after the formation of nodules. They are located on the dorsolateral surface of the joints and are no larger than a pea.
Diagnosis of arthrosis
The main diagnostic method is x-ray, and the diagnosis is made based on the main clinical and radiological manifestations.
Treatment of arthrosis
aimed at relieving pain syndrome and reducing inflammation:
- orthopedic treatment (conservative and surgical),
- medications (improving blood flow in joint tissues and relieving muscle spasms),
- physiotherapy (electro- and magnetic therapy, ultrasound, water procedures).
- normalization of nutrition,
- weight loss,
- physical activity