Osteoarthritis of the hip, shoulder, knee and ankle joints is a disease that occurs due to wear and tear of cartilaginous tissue and deformation of bones.In this case, the patient experiences pain of varying intensity (depending on the form of the disease).As a result, the disease leads to problems with motor functions, partial or complete immobility, and disability.It is important to determine whether osteoarthritis can be cured without surgery.
Definition of lesion
Knee joint disease occurs more often in women;it can occur for many reasons.Older adults experience osteoarthritis of the knee joint more often than others.
If osteoarthritis treatment is not started on time, the bones that form the joints will be exposed and damaged.In this case, it will be impossible to do without surgical intervention.When the first unpleasant symptoms appear, it is important to seek help from a doctor as soon as possible.It will not be able to completely eliminate arthrosis, but it will help slow down the process of deformation of the knee joint and stop degeneration.Early identification of the lesion and properly formulated treatment will help to avoid negative consequences and an early state of disability.
What are the most common causes of osteoarthritis of the knee joint and can the disease be cured?The main reasons include:
- Flat feet.
- Venous diseases.
- Diabetes and other injuries associated with metabolic disorders.In this case, it will be difficult to get rid of arthrosis, since not all drugs and physical procedures can be used.
- Overweight: People with weight problems suffer from osteoarthritis much more often than people with a normal body weight.
- Adolescence: It is at this time that a person's metabolism and hormone levels change, which leads to a degenerative process.
- Carrying a child: at this time, a woman gains weight, as a result of which the load on the knee part increases significantly.Hormone levels are disrupted, which contributes to the appearance of arthrosis of the knees.
- Changes in the body associated with the age of the patient.
- Receiving certain injuries.About 30% of knee osteoarthritis occurs due to injury.The injury leads to a change in the normal structure of the tissue, which causes the process of destruction.
- Regular physical activity on the lower legs, to which the body has not adapted.
- The beginning of the inflammation process in the body.
- Hereditary predisposition.
- The appearance of cramps in the muscle tissues of the thigh.
The disease can be cured only if you contact a treating specialist.In this case it is forbidden to start any treatment yourself.Only a specialist will be able to prescribe effective therapy, which will include physiotherapy and medications.
Preventive measures
It is important to remember preventive measures even 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 appears following injury or infection.To prevent the second type of arthrosis it is important to avoid possible injuries, bruises and fractures.This applies to a greater extent for those who play sports or dance.For such people, such a disease often becomes professional and prevents them from doing what they love.This also applies to children who are very active and behave carelessly on the street;It is important that they behave carefully so as not to dangerously injure themselves.
The main factor that will help avoid arthrosis of the deformed knee joint is mobility.The best way to prevent osteoarthritis is moderate exercise.This is especially important for people whose work activity predominantly involves sedentary work.It is important to remember that in this case we are talking about a moderate load on several joints.
Main stages of the disease
Osteoarthritis can be divided into four distinct stages depending on its development.The more advanced the stage, the more difficult the process of treating and relieving symptoms will be:
- in the first stage the symptoms are mild, but the process of tissue destruction is already spreading rapidly;
- the destruction of cartilage continues, which leads to a decrease in the mobility of the leg in the joint area and is accompanied by severe pain;
- in this case, the cartilaginous tissue becomes thinner, the bones that form the joints begin to actively grow and become damaged;
- in the last stage of development of the disease, the cartilage is almost completely destroyed, bone deformation leads to a change in the axis of the diseased limb, while the joint ceases to cope with the pressure exerted on it and the leg at the knee completely loses mobility.
First degree arthrosis of the knee joint can be diagnosed by short-term pain that occurs when a person walks.There is no obvious deformity that can be detected during the examination, and even the x-ray does not provide the necessary amount of information about the condition of the joints to make an accurate diagnosis.
If the disease is detected timely and adequate treatment is started, the process of destruction of cartilage tissue can be completely stopped, and diseased areas can even be restored.
Is it possible to cure 2nd degree arthrosis?Treatment at stage 2 of the development of arthrosis is aimed at eliminating unpleasant symptoms and slowing down the degenerative-dystrophic process.In this case it is not always possible to restore the tissue, but it is possible to keep what remains intact.
Is it possible to cure 3rd degree arthrosis?When arthrosis reaches the 3rd stage of development, attempts to slow down the destructive process and bone damage most often do not bring results, the disease quickly acquires the 4th stage of development (some experts, for this very reason, distinguish only three stages of development of this disease).
In case of serious changes in the structure of the joint it is necessary to use a prosthesis;this method of surgical correction is called endoprosthesis.
In some cases, surgery is also used in stage 2 of gonarthrosis.In this case, a minimally invasive arthroscopic operation is performed, removing dead tissue and pieces of damaged cartilage, through a small incision.With the help of this operation, the range of motion increases, pain symptoms and inflammation disappear.But we must remember that the treatment does not end there.This operation will help relieve the unpleasant symptoms of the disease for several years.
Carrying out the treatment
Is it possible to cure arthrosis of the knee joint?Treatment of any disease can be carried out in three main areas:
- etiotropic – elimination of the root causes of the lesion;
- symptomatic – relief of the main symptoms;
- pathogenetic – intervention in the process of disease progression.
To carry out effective treatment or at least stop the development of arthrosis, it is important:
- activate the process of blood supply and improve tissue condition;
- compensate for the lack or excess of enzymes in the body;
- give the body everything it needs to reproduce cartilaginous tissue;
- restore the volume and composition of synovial fluid.
Many physiotherapeutic procedures and topical ointments lead to improved tissue nutrition and normalization of their blood supply.During electrophoresis, tissues can be saturated with special enzymes.But the main way to treat such a disease is to take chondroprotectors.Recently, hyaluronic acid injections have been used predominantly to treat osteoarthritis.Biological treatment methods are considered more aggressive.
Use of chondroprotectors
Is it possible to completely cure osteoarthritis?For comprehensive treatment, chondroprotectors are suitable: drugs that include 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 injections;
- special ointments for external use.
Medicines for external use should be used as additional treatment in complex therapy.
Is it possible to cure deforming arthrosis?First you need to consider the features of treatment with chondroprotectors:
- many chondroprotectors help get rid of severe pain and inflammation, but this is not the main advantage of taking them;for symptomatic therapy it is better to use the most convenient NSAIDs;
- therapeutic measures bring a special effect in stages 1 and 2 of the development of the disease, when the cartilage has not yet been destroyed to the extreme state;
- during treatment it is important to follow a long and systematic therapeutic cycle;after each course it is necessary to take a break;one course includes 6 months, then treatment continues for years.
If a patient is prone to the appearance of arthrosis of the knees, then he should start taking chondroprotectors in advance for preventive purposes, before the first signs of the disease develop.Chondroprotectors cannot be called a panacea, since they protect the cartilage and do not restore its condition.Osteoarthritis is much easier to prevent than starting treatment later.
The main difficulty of treatment
Is it possible to cure osteoarthritis forever?The main difficulty of treatment is that to date, no drugs have been developed that can permanently and completely eliminate arthrosis.But it is important to remember that there are quite effective comprehensive treatment methods that help get rid of pain and slow down the progression of the disease.
Osteoarthritis of the hip joint
Osteoarthritis of the hip joint is a degenerative-dystrophic process during which the cartilaginous structures covering the surface of the femoral head and the acetabulum are damaged.To keep the cartilage in good condition, it is important to determine whether osteoarthritis of the hip joint can be cured.
Treatment with drugs
There are numerous ways to treat this disease.Most often, the treating specialist prescribes a whole complex that includes many therapeutic measures.
Is it possible to cure arthrosis of the hip joint?For grade 1 and 2 arthrosis, the use of drugs for treatment is allowed.The most effective drugs in this case are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, vasodilators, which improve blood supply to the joints, relax muscles and help eliminate spasms.
Chondroprotectors are also used, which help preserve cartilaginous tissue.In the first and second stages of development of the lesion, experts allow the use of local agents: patches, applications, ointments and gels - they will stimulate normal blood circulation.
It is important to remember that without effective and timely treatment, arthrosis of the hip joint can result in ankylosis.Ankylosis is a complete fusion of the femur and pelvis.In this case, the leg completely loses mobility in the joint.
Arthrosis of the ankle joint
Can osteoarthritis of the ankle joint be cured?Before treating ankle arthritis, it is important to conduct an accurate diagnosis.Most often, a doctor can establish an accurate diagnosis by examining the patient's foot or taking an x-ray.
Depending on the stage of development of the disease, the specialist will choose the most appropriate treatment.Even before visiting a specialist, the patient must significantly reduce the load on the diseased joint, avoid hypothermia and overstrain.The doctor prescribes the patient a comprehensive treatment: physiotherapy, balneotherapy, painkillers and drugs to stimulate blood circulation.
In addition, ankle therapy can be carried out on an outpatient basis, in a hospital with the prescription of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.If the patient is obese, difficulties with treatment may arise.It is important for such a patient to eat properly not only during the treatment itself, but also after it.
Gymnastic exercises
Gymnastics for ankle arthrosis is allowed only after the main symptoms of the disease have completely disappeared.A set of exercises and loads on the foot should be compiled together with the treating specialist.
Any gymnastic exercises during arthrosis should strain the ligaments and muscles of the joint without overloading the joints themselves, otherwise it can be very dangerous.
Is it possible to cure arthrosis of the joint?A gymnastics course in the treatment of arthrosis will not require the patient to spend money, purchase expensive medicines or devices, but the patient will have to be patient and hardworking to complete the course thoroughly.
Shoulder problems
Some injuries can lead to the onset of an inflammatory or degenerative process in the joints.The most common causes of shoulder arthritis are:
- severe physical stress on the shoulder joint during work, resulting in active wear of its components;
- receiving a shoulder injury;
- shoulder dysplasia;
- changes in hormone production;
- problems with blood supply to joint tissues, which leads to the appearance of vascular pathologies;
- natural wear of the cartilage, typical of elderly people.
What is common in this case is the inflammatory process, accompanied by painful symptoms.The causes of such damage are different;they may be associated with injury, infection, or disruption of certain systems in the body.
Most often, the appearance of arthritis requires additional external influence: stress, hypothermia, infection of organs, infection through an open wound, immune response to infection.
When determining a disease, the doctor pays attention to the degree of the disease, the patient's main complaints and the results of a series of tests.The main diagnostic measure is a biochemical blood test, which helps to confirm the presence of inflammation and, in some cases, determine its nature.
Another important study is x-ray, which helps to determine the location of joint deformation in the initial stage of its appearance.
Is it possible to cure arthrosis of the shoulder joint?In the presence of arthrosis of the first two degrees, exclusively conservative treatment is used.And only in case of a complicated form of the disease is surgery prescribed.
Basic methods of conservative treatment:
- take medications;
- treatment with traditional methods;
- physiotherapeutic measures;
- spa treatments;
- massages;
- acupuncture;
- physical therapy;
- special diet.
Before starting therapy it is important to guarantee complete rest to the damaged joint, which is much easier to do if the arthrosis is widespread in the shoulder area.The simplest treatment is considered the first stage of the disease, when scar changes have not yet occurred and the tissue has still retained its regenerative ability.
But in the presence of this form of damage, unpleasant sensations, as a rule, do not manifest themselves strongly, the pain is mild, so the patient seeks help from a doctor very late.In the future, after the end of treatment, the patient will also have to follow a gentle regimen.