Arthrosis is a disease accompanied by dystrophic changes in articular cartilage without an inflammatory process. As a rule, the disease is most often diagnosed in older people (after 45 years). However, there are exceptions when the disease appears at a younger age, mainly after injuries. It is impossible to get rid of it completely. To relieve exacerbations and improve general condition, treatment of arthrosis should be comprehensive.
How is osteoarthritis treated?
In complex therapy, the following are used:
- Medicines (painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, chondroprotectors);
- Physiotherapy (heat, laser, UVT therapy, electrophoresis, ultrasound);
- special exercises;
- surgical intervention (at later stages, when drugs are not effective);
- home remedies;
- massage therapy;
- non-traditional methods (hirudotherapy, acupuncture, acupuncture).
Each stage of treatment should be developed by the doctor individually for each patient.
Treat osteoarthritis with medication?
To date, there are a large number of drugs that are used to treat this disease. However, they only help to eliminate the main symptoms and alleviate the patient's condition. It is impossible to restore articular cartilage, since dystrophic changes are irreversible.
Drug therapy consists of the following drugs:
- NSAIDs to reduce pain and inflammation;
- chondroprotectors with chondroitin and glucose;
- Corticosteroids for intra-articular administration are used in severe cases of the disease, they can relieve inflammation and restore mobility to the damaged joint;
- Hyaluronic acid for intra-articular injection - used as a lubricant for the joint, it can prevent friction, relieve pain and help in the formation of hyaluronate.
If the joint is severely deformed, drug treatment is useless. Only surgery can replace it.
physical therapy
Warming up will help get rid of pain and normalize blood circulation. However, this method is used only at the initial stage of the development of the disease, when there are no serious violations. Sometimes doctors recommend their patients to visit the bath, believing that it has a beneficial effect on well-being. But it should be remembered that it is necessary to warm up the joint in moderation. Overheating, like hypothermia, will adversely affect the development of the disease. It is also forbidden to heat the damaged area during the exacerbation.
One of the methods of physiotherapy involves the use of a laser to stop the progression of degenerative processes. During the procedure, the sore spot is exposed to a stream of light. Thanks to this, it is possible to improve blood circulation, reduce inflammation and swelling, eliminate pain. Before the procedure with a laser, the patient must be examined. If aggravated, it is prohibited.
The effectiveness of electrophoresis in osteoarthritis has been proven. The affected area is affected by special preparations for which an electric field is created. Because of this, the drug breaks down into ions, then migrates to the upper layers of the skin, enters the bloodstream and spreads throughout the body.
UVT therapy helps to heal arthrosis. This procedure helps to eliminate inflammation, soften and remove calcium deposits from the body, reduce swelling. However, this method of physiotherapy has many contraindications, including thrombosis, diabetes mellitus, tumors and purulent processes.
Ultrasound exposure allows you to numb the affected area and reduce inflammation. Usually, ultrasound treatment is used during the rehabilitation period after surgery.
Surgical intervention
When medications are ineffective, which usually occurs as the disease progresses, the doctor may decide to have surgery. There are several types of such operations:
- Arthroplasty - damaged cartilage is replaced with an artificial pad that helps reduce pain and improve mobility;
- prosthetics - the joint is removed completely, and a prosthesis made of a special material that prevents rejection by the body is put in its place;
- Arthroscopy - helps prevent the destruction of the joint, during the operation areas with inflammatory processes are removed.
If the patient consults a doctor at an early stage of the disease, surgery can be avoided.
home remedies
In complex therapy, in addition to medicines, folk remedies are used that relieve the patient of unpleasant symptoms.
The following recipes have gained popularity:
- mix an equal amount of calendula inflorescence, birch leaves and nettle leaves, then pour 2 tablespoons of herbal collection with 1 liter of boiling water and insist overnight, take half a glass 5 times a day;
- mix fresh egg yolk with turpentine and apple cider vinegar in equal proportions, rub the sore spot with the resulting mixture and wrap with a woolen scarf, leave for the night;
- 2 teaspoons celery juice taken three times a day;
- squeeze the juice from a head of cabbage, soak a woolen cloth in it and apply as a compress;
- Boil oatmeal until a thick porridge, cool and apply at night in the form of compresses;
- Pharmacy root elecampane (25 g) insist in 150 ml of vodka for 12 days, rub at night.
Traditional medicine will not replace drugs, but will be a great addition to them.
Basic rules when using traditional medicine
When using folk remedies, you must follow these general rules:
- before using any of the recipes, it is imperative to consult a doctor who, after a thorough examination, will be able to point out possible complications;
- it is important not only to consult a specialist, but also to conduct an allergic reaction test yourself - for this, a small amount of the product is applied to the inside of the wrist for 2 hours;
- it is not recommended to exceed the dosage, since in this case the risk of side effects increases;
- It is advisable to use fresh infusions and ointments, since the harvest for future use is not suitable for every recipe.
- If undesirable effects occur, treatment should be discontinued and another drug chosen.
To protect yourself from complications, you should follow these simple rules.
Special exercises
Therapeutic exercises are offered to prevent weakening of the ligaments and muscles. Depending on the condition of the patient and the course of the disease, gymnastics is selected individually. This is performed by a physical therapist.
Exercises are prohibited during exacerbations, as well as earlier than 6 days after eliminating intense pain. The main task when performing therapeutic exercises is to restore mobility and flexibility.
Non-traditional ways
Non-traditional methods of treating this disease include hirudotherapy, acupuncture and acupuncture.
Leeches are used in hirudotherapy. Although this method is not medical, it is very effective. Leeches are placed at special points that correspond to specific active zones. This helps to increase microcirculation in tissues, eliminate muscle spasms and reduce swelling. The medicinal saliva of leeches has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.
Acupuncture is based on activating specific points with needles. Sometimes lit wormwood sticks are used instead. The effect is similar to the result of hirudotherapy. Metabolic processes are significantly improved, blood circulation is increased and pain syndrome is relieved.
All of the above procedures should be performed only by specialists. Otherwise, instead of improvement, there may be a sharp deterioration in the condition.
massage therapy
The most desirable result of therapeutic massage is the restoration of working capacity of the affected joint. But this is possible if arthrosis of the joints is in the initial stages of development. Massage should only be performed by a specialist. Sometimes the patient is allowed to do it himself, but for this it is necessary to learn these techniques. Before the procedure, the damaged area is warmed up with a regular warm shower or physical therapy exercises.
One of the types is hydromassage, which is performed by immersion in a warm bath. The full course includes up to 20 procedures. It is recommended to repeat them at least twice a year. If the massage is carried out correctly, a pleasant warmth and relaxation will follow. To achieve the desired result, the duration of the procedure must be gradually increased.
Only an integrated approach will allow you to get rid of the symptoms of arthrosis and avoid exacerbations.