Treatment of osteoarthritis ("deforming osteoarthritis", osteoarthritis) can not be postponed "later". The pathology always changes the articular structure, affects the bones and cartilage, can completely destroy the articulation and the person becomes disabled. Therefore, it is dangerous to self-medicate, to refuse examination and official treatment methods.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative-dystrophic joint disease in which the joints gradually begin to deform, function deteriorates, osteophytes grow at the bone marrow, and cartilage is destroyed.
The main symptoms of the pathology are the presence of a crisis during walking, pain syndrome of varying severity. In addition, with osteoarthritis, stiffness of movements is seen, the pain becomes persistent, constantly intensifies, atrophy of nearby muscles begins, and the space between the bones of the joint narrows. When there is no treatment at this stage, ankylosis develops (articular surface fusion), and disability occurs.
Conservative treatment of osteoarthritis
If you have symptoms of the disease, you should be examined and begin treatment of osteoarthritis immediately. Lack of adequate therapy can lead to complete loss of joint function and disability.
In official medicine, the treatment of osteoarthritis is initially carried out conservatively. The patient is prescribed medication, exercise therapy, physiotherapy, orthopedic products, diet. In addition to the doctor's permission for osteoarthritis, you can apply traditional, traditional medicine, homeopathy methods. A sick person should monitor his weight, avoid unequal loads on the joints, and follow medical advice. If these complex methods do not give a positive result, the operation is performed.
It is beneficial to undergo annual spa therapy after conservative and / or surgical treatment to prevent osteoarthritis. It is recommended to choose an institution that specializes in the pathology of the musculoskeletal system, as well as thermal springs, therapeutic mud.
Treatment
A disease such as osteoarthritis can be primary or secondary (it develops against the background of other pathologies). Therefore, the list of drugs used is selected individually for each patient.
The main drugs in the treatment of osteoarthritis:
- chondroprotectors;
- microcirculatory drugs;
- multivitamins, vitamins C, B group;
- mineral complexes;
- anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs;
- corticosteroids (intraarticular injections);
- painkillers;
- desensitizing (antiallergic) drugs;
- Medications for external use (ointments, creams, solutions, balms, gels, tinctures and medical bile).
Chondroprotectors are prescribed in all stages and forms of the disease, because they affect the mechanism of regeneration of articular cartilage. HP is prescribed for oral administration, but also with osteoarthritis, injections into the articular cavity and / or muscle. Both chondroprotectors and corticosteroids are used for intraarticular injections.
Secondary deforming osteoarthritis is treated with the same group of drugs, but additional drugs are prescribed to treat the pathology that causes degenerative-dystrophic changes in the joints.
Physiotherapy
Each physiotherapy has its own contraindications. Therefore, when choosing them, you may need to consult a cardiologist, neurologist, endocrinologist or other specialist.
Basic physiotherapy
Drug treatment of osteoarthritis is supplemented by electrophoresis (with anesthetics, zinc, lithium, sulfur), electrosleep therapy, ultraphonophoresis. Paraffin applications to the diseased joints, black wax, therapeutic mud are used. Osteoarthritis-damaged joints are also treated with lasers, magnetic fields, diadynamic currents and other pulses.
Therapeutic exercise for osteoarthritis
Gymnastics is prescribed for 3-5 days after the elimination of acute symptoms. A set of exercise therapy exercises is selected individually for each patient for the defined stage and form of osteoarthritis. The first exercise should begin with minimal loads on the painful joint and at a slow pace. Then, every 7-10 days, the exercises are complicated by the advice of a specialist.
Types of gymnastic exercises for the joints of the hands:
- circular movements in the hands, elbows, shoulders;
- swing back and forth, up and down;
- shoulder pull;
- connection and disassembly of knives;
- palms facing the foot and away from it;
- flexion-extension at the elbows;
- squeezing the fists with subsequent maximum straightening of the brush.
When the pathology of the spine (osteochondrosis) is damaged, arthrosis of the joints of the upper extremities - gymnastics is performed in a "sitting", "standing" position.
Types of gymnastic exercises for leg joints:
- flexion-extension, circular movements in the hips, knees, ankles;
- swinging back and forth, right and left;
- raise your knees up;
- "bicycle";
- "butterfly";
- rolling small objects with your feet;
- catch the ball with your toes;
- to lift the toe "to itself. "
With the development of coxarthrosis, gonarthrosis, osteoarthritis of the ankle, exercise therapy is carried out by stretching, with damage to the small joints of the legs and feet - sitting.
Exercise should not cause pain in the injured joint. If it appears, the load, the execution speed should be reduced. After each workout, you should rest for up to 3 minutes.
Hand therapy for osteoarthritis
In cases of grade I-II osteoarthritis, it is advisable to use chiropractic hands to restore mobility to the joints. 
The chiropractor performs 2 types of correction of the deformed joint: manipulation (sharp pressure movement) and mobilization (elongation of the damaged joint). The more complicated the clinical situation, the more sessions should be performed.
Manual treatment of joints with osteoarthritis is completed with massage. For all stages of the disease is carried out with a course of up to 25 procedures every 2-3 months, but only during remission and in the subacute period.
Manipulation is carried out by sliding movements with light pressure (sawing, kneading, rubbing, etc. ). They massage not only the diseased joint, but also the nearby spine and adjacent joints.
Physiotherapy at home for osteoarthritis
People with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis now have the opportunity to receive physiotherapy at home. Compact home appliances for medical purposes are sold on the Internet and in medical equipment stores.
The following devices are very popular for the treatment of osteoarthritis:
- magnetotherapy;
- magnetic laser therapy;
- low frequency pulsed magnetotherapy;
- laser therapy;
- reflex physiotherapy.
Before ordering a device for osteoarthritis, your doctor must make sure that there are no contraindications to the effects of pulse, laser, current or magnetic field on your body.
Non-medicinal methods
Treatment of osteoarthritis requires the use of an orthopedic regimen. The purpose of the method is to loosen the patient's joint and stabilize it in the correct anatomical and physiological position. Osteoarthritis, canes, armpits, as well as special inserts and shoes with corsets, backrests and pillows, tires, orthoses, fasteners, brace are used. It is recommended to order at a local orthopedic salon according to individual plasters.
You can buy cheaper products in online stores, the design of which allows you to independently adjust the voltage. These are usually elastic bandages, bandages, calipers, fixation straps, knees, elbows and similar orthopedic devices. However, before ordering a specific product for osteoarthritis, you should clarify with the attending physician all the necessary features: the degree of tension, the presence and type of fasteners, whether it is necessary to adjust the angle of extension of the extremities? patient joint, additional conditions.
Climatotherapy is also a non-pharmacological method. During its use, a person is provided with special climatic conditions by prescribing thalassotherapy procedures, or they are advised to go to a spa, to undergo preventive sanatorium treatment in spas.
diet therapy
With secondary osteoarthritis, doctors recommend one of the treatment tables to the patient. For example, to correct body weight, excess weight is removed using diet number 8. In most cases, patients eat according to Table 15 and ATS (general version of the diet).
Products based on gelatin (jelly, jelly, etc. ), avocado (1 piece per week), vegetable oils, freshly squeezed berry juices, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds and flax seeds help well with osteoarthritis. It is recommended to eliminate fatty, smoked and salty foods from the diet.
Homeopathic medicines and herbal medicines for osteoarthritis
Doctors supplement conservative methods with homeopathy and herbal medicines. Preparations based on natural substances improve the functioning of all body systems.
List of commonly used homeopathic remedies for osteoarthritis:
- hydrofluoric acid;
- calcium fluoride;
- phosphorus;
- calcium phosphate;
- Potassium carbonate.
Their reception is combined with other methods of formal and traditional medicine.
List of herbal remedies commonly used for osteoarthritis:
- cinquefoil;
- unrefined oats;
- yukurba (removal of the devil's claws);
- medicinal collection (marshmallow and licorice roots, chamomile flowers, calendula).
Homeopathic and herbal remedies reduce the need for large doses of NSAIDs, analgesics, corticosteroids, antihistamines.
Joint operations
Surgical treatment of a disease such as osteoarthritis is used in case of inappropriate use of conservative methods. The operation is usually performed when the patient sees a doctor late, when the pathology has already reached 3-4 stages of development and threatens disability.
Types of surgery for osteoarthritis:
- arthrodesis;
- arthroscopic debridement;
- arthroplasty;
- periarticular osteotomy;
- endoprosthetics.
After the operation, the patient is treated conservatively and rehabilitation measures begin.
The use of lasers in surgery and physiotherapy for osteoarthritis
Laser therapy is prescribed for all degrees and types of deforming osteoarthritis. The rays of the devices used affect the damaged tissues at the cellular, molecular and physiological (organ) levels.
In physiotherapy for osteoarthritis, this feature of the laser helps to restore microcirculation, eliminate inflammation, pain and swelling, improve metabolism, and self-regulate regenerative processes. There are many device types and operating modes. The beams of the device affect the surface of the tissues and the intraarticular layer, biologically active points (with laser acupuncture).
Laser treatment is also performed in surgery, using only high-intensity equipment. The use of radiation during surgery, in addition to the listed properties, promotes rapid tissue regeneration and minimizes the risk of wound infection.
When diagnosing osteoarthritis, it is possible to determine laser spectroscopy and examine small joints with an infrared laser scanner. These methods are safer and cheaper than MRI and X-ray.
Folk and traditional medicine for osteoarthritis
Raw materials of natural origin must be selected individually, because each substance has its own contraindications. Medicines for osteoarthritis include herbs that improve metabolism, have anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and analgesic effects. More often use willow bark, linden, St. John's wort, burdock, cinquefoil.
It is convenient to treat osteoarthritis at home with clay. Has a good therapeutic effect blue, kaolin (white), green, yellow and black healing agent. For osteoarthritis, clay is added to baths (1 tablespoon / 1 liter of water), the damaged joint is wrapped, applied to it, and the painful area is rubbed with a mixture of clay and vegetable oil.
Among traditional medicine methods, acupuncture and apitherapy show good results. Some patients feel better after hirudotherapy, mineral therapy.
Sanatoriums and resorts
It is recommended to enhance the effectiveness of the main treatment of osteoarthritis by resting in spas and rehabilitation centers specializing in joint diseases. It is better to prefer enterprises with thermal, mineral, mud springs, therapeutic clay, special gases.
In spas, treatment is carried out with a focus on physiotherapy. A patient with osteoarthritis is advised to follow a strict diet, exercise therapy, massage. Among physiotherapy, balneotherapy methods are used. These are hydromassage, swimming, baths (hydrogen sulfide, salt, nitrogen, sulfide and radon). In the case of osteoarthritis, therapeutic mud, exposure to heat, Bernard currents, laser and magnetic field dressings are also prescribed. Each resort has its own therapy program, which must be confirmed with a representative of the selected institution before purchasing a ticket.
Every country has institutions specializing in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. Therefore, with osteoarthritis, it is better to choose a health resort with the help of your doctor. He will recommend what climate is required, the holiday season, the necessary physiotherapy methods for prevention, provide information about the resorts, advise him or the best institution nearby.
Prognosis of osteoarthritis treatment
It is very important not to miss a scheduled medical examination (1-2 times a year) and to give blood and urine for analysis, as this allows doctors to detect pathological processes in a timely manner. However, the later a person seeks medical help, the worse the prognosis. With chronic osteoarthritis, doctors can only relieve pain with conservative therapy, partially preserve joint function, or recommend surgery to prevent disability.
The combination of formal, traditional and non-traditional medical methods under the supervision of a attending physician regularly increases the prognosis of treatment of osteoarthritis and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system.