From the ancient Greek "arthrosis" is a joint disease ("arthr-"-joint, "-OSIS"-disease). Sometimes it is also called osteoarthrosis or deforming osteoarthrosis (from the ancient Greek "osteon" - bone).
It will be wrong to call arthrosis the disease - this is the name of a whole group of states, which includes many diagnoses.
Any disease of any joint, regardless of the cause, can be called arthrosis, but this will not give anything to the doctor or the patient: the word "arthrosis" is not associated with the cause of the disease, or with treatment, but only with some symptoms.
The word "arthrosis" is very similar to another term - "this is arthritis. "They both describe the damage to the joints, often both are associated with pain in the joint, but have significant differences.
Typically, arthritis is a disease that is associated with inflammation in the joint: infection, hereditary or autoimmune diseases lead to the beginning of arthritis. Its main manifestations include pain, color change, swelling in the area of the inflamed joint.
With arthrosis, manifestations are less noticeable, and the causes are completely different.
How the joint works (knee and others)
The musculoskeletal system needs a person for active movements in space. The bones are a rigid frame, muscles - their driving force, and joints - the place of the mobile connection of bones.
In the structure of the joint there are always two ends of the neighboring bones that can move relative to each other with the help of muscles, and a small gap between them. This articular gap is filled with a special lubricant - synovial fluid. It is needed for nutrition of cartilage: there is no vessels inside it, so he takes all nutrients from synovia.
The articular end of each bone is covered with cartilage to protect bone tissue from friction. The cartilage also helps to "extinguish" the vibration and a sharp mechanical load: for example, the knee and joints of the foot during walking take most of the energy from the blow of the foot on the ground.
The restoration of these cartilage is a long and complex process that does not always end successfully.
All joints are limited by a capsule - a film that holds the articular fluid, does not allow it to spread. Almost all joints are supported by ligaments that do not allow the neighboring bones to move too much and in the wrong direction.
Why and how arthrosis develops
There are many reasons for the onset of arthrosis, in some cases it is a combination of factors, and sometimes it is impossible to establish the cause.
There are three main causes and more than a dozen additional. The most popular:
- joint injury;
- congenital joint abnormalities (dysplasia);
- The consequence of inflammation (arthritis) of any reason;
- age (usually more than 50 years);
- Violation of metabolism (trace elements), obesity;
- Excessive load on the joint.
The development of osteoarthritis is divided into three stages:
- Initial. There are no obvious signs, it is difficult to find it. The composition of the synovial fluid is changing, its function worsens.
- Pain. Complaints and structural changes appear in the form of bone growths - osteophytes.
- Severe arthrosis. A significant decrease in the function of the joint is added: the movements are reduced or completely disappeared; The joint is deformed and the appearance of the limb changes.
First, the structure of the cartilage is disturbed: it is thickened due to a change in the composition of the synovia or for another reason. Swelling of the cartilage fabric worsens its nutrition, so over time the cartilage begins to become thinner.
Then, in the most loaded parts of the joint, the cartilage almost disappears or becomes too tight. In return, the growth of the bone begins - the appearance of osteophytes (bone "spikes).
At the end of the disease, the growth of the bone is so pronounced that it limits the movement up to Ankylosis - the complete immobility of the joint.
Symptoms of arthrosis
Initial manifestations: periodic pain after significant physical activity. Then the morning stiffness joins - after waking up for several minutes (up to 30), the joint seems to be connected by an elastic bandage: movements are possible, but difficult.
Later symptoms:
- pain on palpation of the joint;
- thickening of the bone in the joint;
- movement restriction;
- increased pain during less significant physical activity;
- Deformation of the limb.
Most often, arthrosis is a disease of large joints of the legs (knee, hip) and hands (shoulder). The joints of the foot are less common.
Degenerative processes in the joint can still manifest in the form of unusual sounds during movement: crunch, cracking, shock.
Diagnostics
As in the case of any other disease, it begins with the collection of an anamnesis - the history of the disease.
It is especially important for the doctor to find out if there was the presence of risk factors (injuries, arthritis, congenital defects, chronic diseases).
After talking and inspecting the joint, additional methods will be needed: tests and instrumental examination.
The main study in the diagnosis of arthrosis is radiography.
The picture will clearly see the main changes in the joint: reduction of the joint gap, bone growths, deformation. In the initial stages, small osteophytes can be seen along the edge of the joint, and in the late uneven growths of the bone along the entire joint gap will be noticeably.
Ultrasound examination (ultrasound) is an additional method that will help determine the thickness of the cartilage in the earliest stages of arthrosis. Arthroscopy is less common: a surgeon puts a small camera directly into the joint gap and gets the image of the cartilage.
Treatment of arthrosis
It is impossible to completely cure arthrosis and return the joint to the original state. The correct combination of several methods will only slow down the development of osteoarthritis, but "to return the former youth" will not work.
The main tasks of treating deforming osteoarthrosis of the knee or hip joint:
- moderate physical activity (running, walking, sitting position);
- special exercises, exercise therapy (physiotherapy exercises);
- diet;
- drug treatment;
- surgical treatment.
With arthrosis of the shoulder joint or other localization, the principles do not change, except for the correction of the load on the specific joint.
Physical activity and exercises are selected in each case with an orthopedist-traumatologist by a doctor. The diet usually includes the enrichment of the diet with unsaturated fatty acids, a variety of proteins, moderately limits carbohydrates (especially simple ones, they are "fast").
The rejection of bad habits (smoking, taking alcohol in any quantities) significantly slows down the development of arthrosis. The diet also depends on the cause of the disease, chronic diseases. You do not need to take dietary supplements.
Drug therapy - painkillers. OF NSAIDs - non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs are more often used. The choice of suitable depends on the presence of chronic diseases and the planned duration of administration. Less commonly used are Corticosteeroids (glucocorticoids, steroid drugs).
Very often, doctors prescribe Chondroproprotectors - drugs that contain some of the molecules important for cartilage. In the vast majority of cases, such drugs have no effect on the joint, especially tablet forms and ointments.
It is extremely rare that such drugs can really be necessary and give a real effect: when examining intra -articular fluid, you can check their amount, and with a lack of injected directly into the joint (intra -articular injection).
Conclusions
Arthrosis is a degenerative joint disease associated with mechanical damage to the cartilage and the growth of bone tissue. It usually develops in people over 50 years old, after joint injuries or a long-term excess load.
It is manifested by pain after the load, morning stiffness and crunch.