Treatment of arthrosis involves an integrated approach and a combination of several methods. Most of the treatment tactics consist in the correct prescription of drugs. They can be supplemented with traditional medicine methods.
Main trends in modern treatment of arthrosis
Appropriate treatment for arthrosis begins after a complete examination, which includes establishing the main and accompanying diagnoses.
This includes the following methods:
- lifestyle changes;
- drug correction;
- physiotherapy;
- surgery.
The choice of method depends on the stage of the disease and the degree of destruction of articular structures. First, you should learn the following rules that will make the treatment more effective:
- Body weight correction;
- Exercise therapy - exercises that eliminate static load on the joint;
- Increasing the level of knowledge about pathology in patients;
- Use of additional accessories (joint bandages, insoles, cane or orthosis);
- Physiotherapy.
The diagnosis is made by an orthopedic traumatologist. However, other consulting professionals may be involved in this process:
- neuropathologist: consultation is required in case of severe back pain due to damage of intervertebral structures, radicular syndrome, disease;
- specialist in infectious diseases: exclusion of the infectious nature of the joint disease;
- oncologist: exclusion of malignant neoplasms of bone and joint tissue or metastases to these areas;
- Osteophtisiatrist: exclude tubercular nature of bone lesions.
During the disease, complications of the pathology and its development are prevented. For this, it is necessary to use orthoses and tightening bandages, monitor body weight, nutrition, and consult a doctor regularly. Consultations with a treatment specialist are required at least 2 times a year.
The effectiveness of the treatment meets the following criteria:
- Stop the development of the disease;
- New joints are not involved in the pathological process;
- Pain decreases or disappears;
- There are no signs of an inflammatory process;
- Quality of life, motor activity and work ability improve.
On the contrary, there are features of the course of the disease that require adjustment of tactics for hospitalization and recovery:
- persistent and severe pain syndrome;
- severe inflammation of the joints and periarticular structures (the skin over the affected area is warm to the touch, there is redness, an increase in size, pain and limitation of movement).
Medicines
The choice of drug complex depends on the stage of the process:
- Stage I – non-drug correction methods, non-steroidal drugs and drugs that strengthen cartilage tissue;
- II stage - non-drug correction methods, non-steroidal drugs and drugs that strengthen cartilage tissue, intra-articular application of maintenance therapy;
- III stage - non-drug correction methods, non-steroidal drugs and drugs that strengthen cartilage tissue, intra-articular application of maintenance therapy, antidepressants;
- Stage IV - radical surgical intervention associated with excision of the affected tissue and installation of an artificial joint.
In addition, in case of severe pain, analgesics are used, various ointments can be used to relieve severe inflammation of soft tissues.
Treatment of arthrosis is carried out according to the established courses, the duration of which cannot be violated independently. Even if the condition seems to have improved, it is necessary to continue taking the drug, because it tends to accumulate in the body. In the same way, you cannot independently adjust the dose of the drug in the direction of reducing or increasing it.
Medicines should be taken at the same time every day. Features of reception - according to the instructions. If the patient is treated with another pathology, the doctor must analyze the combined effect of all drugs and exclude dangerous combinations.
Narcotics
Let's look at the main groups and examples of drugs.
Examples are given, the attending physician can prescribe other representatives of these drug groups.
- Analgesics.They are used to relieve pain, which allows you to restore the range of motion and improve the quality of life.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.They reduce joint pain, relieve swelling and redness of soft tissues, normalize the temperature of the skin over the joint, and restore range of motion.
- Chondroprotectors.They contain elements of animal cartilage tissue, which allows to restore the structure of the joint, periarticular surfaces, ligaments and synovium. Slow down the process and strengthen healthy joints.
- Narcotic analgesic.It is used for emergency treatment in cases of severe pain. Duration of admission: once if necessary.
- Derivatives of hyaluronic acid.A viscous implant containing hyaluronic acid is placed intra-articularly. It improves the condition of ligaments, synovium and soft tissues. It allows water retention, improves the condition of collagen fibers, which makes tissues elastic, resistant to damage and destruction.
- Glucocorticosteroids.It is used for severe inflammation. They allow to have an effective effect on the pathology and act quickly.
Use of ointments
Treatment of arthrosis involves the use of ointments. In some cases, they alleviate the patient's condition by eliminating pain. But this makes sense only in the first stages of the pathology. The fact is that any medicine that the patient takes orally is absorbed into the bloodstream in the digestive system and through it affects the joint tissue. If intravenous administration is used, the effect can be achieved more quickly, and the effect on the mucous membrane is also eliminated.
Applying the drug in the form of an ointment or gel results in the drug acting only on the skin and a small layer of soft tissue beneath it. The patient should understand that it does not have a joint effect, but only acts symptomatically.
The following ointments are used for this:
- containing non-steroidal drugs;
- containing salicylic acid;
- contains capsaicin.
It can also be an ointment or gel based on medicinal plants that improve the condition of soft tissues and reduce sensitivity. It can be an ointment with menthol, camphor, eucalyptus or mint.
Traditional methods of treatment of arthrosis
Folk treatment involves the elimination of pathological syndromes. It is not possible to fully recover from the disease using such methods, they are used in parallel with therapy and physical procedures. If you take only self-made medicines, the disease may progress and the patient will only waste time.
The following drugs have a symptomatic effect:
- Compress of grated horseradish root. It is used daily for 7-9 days. A film and a warm cloth are placed on top of the root pulp. The duration of the compress is 30 minutes;
- Oatmeal compress is used according to a similar principle. For this, a creamy paste is made from flakes. After the mixture has cooled, it is applied to the joint;
- Honey compress can be left overnight. It is better to use wild honey;
- A cabbage leaf with a layer of honey is applied to the affected joint. Set overnight and leave;
- mix chalk powder with thick yogurt. Apply together, wrap with a film and wrap on top with a warm natural cloth. Leave the compress overnight.
Diagnostics
Effective treatment of arthrosis is possible with a correct diagnosis. The following methods are used for this:
- clinical diagnosis, which includes the results of the patient's examination and questioning;
- X-ray diagnostics in which healthy and affected joints are examined and their condition is compared;
- laboratory methods that allow to exclude other causes of pathology;
- synovial fluid analysis;
- ultrasound examination for inflammation of soft tissues;
- tomography for a more detailed study of soft tissues and periarticular structures.