Arthrosis of the hip, shoulder, knee and ankle joints is a disease that occurs as a result of wear and tear of cartilage tissue, as well as bone deformation.In this case, the patient feels 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 arthrosis can be cured without surgery.
Definition of the lesion
Knee joint disease occurs most often in women;it can arise for a number of reasons.Older people experience arthrosis in the knee joint more often than others.
If osteoarthritis treatment is not started in time, the bones that form the joint will be exposed and damaged.In this case, it will be impossible without surgical intervention.When the first unpleasant symptoms appear, it is important to seek the help of a doctor as soon as possible.It will not be able to completely eliminate arthrosis, but it will help to slow down the process of deformation of the knee joint and stop the degeneration.Early identification of the lesion and properly formulated treatment will help to avoid negative consequences and early disability.
What are the most common causes of knee arthrosis and can the disease be cured?The main reasons include:
- Flat feet.
- Diseases of the veins.
- Diabetes and other lesions associated with metabolic disorders.In this case, it will be difficult to get rid of arthrosis, because not all medicines and physical procedures are allowed.
- Excess weight - people with weight problems suffer from arthrosis much more often than people with a normal body weight.
- Adolescence - at that time, a person's metabolism and hormonal level changes, which leads to a degenerative process.
- Carrying a child - at this moment, the woman gains weight, due to which the load on the knee increases significantly.Hormonal levels are disturbed, which contributes to the appearance of knee arthrosis.
- Changes in the body associated with the patient's age.
- Getting certain injuries.About 30 percent of knee arthrosis is caused by an injury.Injury leads to a change in the normal tissue structure, which triggers 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 beginning of spasms in the muscle tissue of the thigh.
The disease can be cured only if you consult a specialist.In this case, it is forbidden to start any treatment on your own.Only a specialist will be able to prescribe effective therapy, which will include physiotherapy and medication.
Preventive measures
It is important to remember preventive measures even before the appearance of the underlying disease.Arthrosis 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 as a result of injury or infection.To prevent another type of arthrosis, it is important to avoid possible injuries, bruises and fractures.This applies to a greater extent to those who practice any sport 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 act carefully so as not to injure themselves dangerously.
The main factor that will help to avoid arthrosis of the deforming knee joint is mobility.The best way to prevent arthrosis is moderate exercise.This is especially important for people whose work activity includes mostly sedentary work.It is important to remember that in this case we are talking about a moderate load on different joints.
The main stages of the disease
Osteoarthritis can be divided into four different stages according to its development.The more advanced the stage, the more difficult the process of treatment and relief of 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 cartilage tissue thins out, the bones forming the joint begin to actively grow and become damaged;
- in the last stage of the disease, the cartilage is almost completely destroyed, bone deformation leads to a change in the axis of the affected limb, while the joint stops coping with the pressure exerted on it, and the leg in the knee completely loses mobility.
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint of the first degree can be diagnosed by short-term pain that occurs when a person walks.There is no noticeable deformity that can be detected during the examination, and the radiograph also does not provide the necessary amount of information about the state of the joints to make an accurate diagnosis.
If the disease is detected in time and proper treatment is started, the process of cartilage tissue destruction can be completely stopped, and the diseased areas can even be restored.
Is it possible to cure arthrosis of the 2nd degree?Treatment in phase 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 you can keep what remains intact.
Is it possible to cure arthrosis of the 3rd degree?When arthrosis reaches the 3rd stage of development, attempts to slow down the destructive process and bone damage usually do not give results, the disease quickly takes on the 4th stage of development (some experts distinguish only three stages of the development of this disease for this very reason).
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 endoprosthetics.
In some cases, surgical intervention is also used in stage 2 gonarthrosis.In this case, minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery is performed, which removes dead tissue and parts of damaged cartilage through a small incision.With the help of this operation, the range of motion increases, the symptoms of pain and inflammation disappear.But we must remember that the treatment does not end there.This operation will help alleviate the unpleasant symptoms of the disease for several years.
Conducting 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 underlying causes of the lesion;
- symptomatic – alleviation of the main symptoms;
- pathogenetic – intervention in the process of disease progression.
For effective treatment or at least stopping 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 cartilage tissue;
- restores the volume and composition of the synovial fluid.
Many physiotherapeutic procedures and local 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 are mainly used for the treatment of arthrosis.Biological methods of treatment are considered more aggressive.
Use of chondroprotectors
Is it possible to completely cure arthrosis?Chondroprotectors are suitable for complete treatment - drugs that include natural components of cartilage tissue or their synthetic analogues, which lead to the synthesis of certain components or inhibit their degradation.
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 an 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 to get rid of severe pain and inflammation, but this is not the main advantage of taking them;for symptomatic therapy, it is best to use more affordable NSAIDs;
- therapeutic measures give a special effect in stages 1 and 2 of the development of the disease, when the cartilage has not yet been destroyed to an extreme state;
- during treatment it is important to take a long, systematic therapy;after each course, you need to take a break;one course covers 6 months, so the treatment continues for years.
If the patient is prone to knee arthrosis, then he should start taking chondroprotectors in advance for the purpose of prevention, before the first signs of the disease develop.Chondroprotectors cannot be called a panacea, because they protect the cartilage and do not restore its condition.Osteoarthritis is much easier to prevent than to start treatment afterwards.
The main difficulty of treatment
Is it possible to cure arthrosis forever?The main difficulty in treatment is that to date, no drugs have been developed that could permanently and completely remove arthrosis.But it is important to remember that there are quite effective comprehensive treatment methods that help eliminate pain and slow down the progression of the disease.
Osteoarthritis of the hip joint
Arthrosis of the hip joint is a degenerative-dystrophic process in which the cartilage structures that cover the surface of the femoral head, as well as the acetabulum, are damaged.In order for the cartilage to be in good condition, it is important to determine whether arthrosis of the hip joint can be cured.
Drug treatment
There are a number of ways to treat this disease.Most often, a treatment specialist prescribes a whole complex that includes many therapeutic measures.
Is it possible to cure arthrosis of the hip joint?For arthrosis of the 1st and 2nd degree, it is allowed to use drugs for treatment.The most effective drugs in this case are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, vasodilators, which improve the blood supply to the joints, relax the muscles and help relieve spasms.
Chondroprotectors are also used to help preserve cartilage tissue.In the first and second stages of the development of the lesion, experts allow the use of local agents: plasters, 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 cause 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 ankle arthrosis be cured?Before treating ankle arthrosis, it is important to make an accurate diagnosis.Most often, a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis either by examining the patient's feet or by taking an X-ray.
Depending on the stage of development of the disease, the specialist will choose the most suitable treatment.Even before visiting a specialist, the patient must significantly reduce the load on the affected joint, avoid hypothermia, as well as overloading.The doctor prescribes a comprehensive treatment for the patient: physiotherapy, balneotherapy, painkillers, drugs to stimulate blood circulation.
Also, ankle joint therapy can be carried out on an outpatient basis, in a hospital with the prescription of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Difficulties with treatment may arise if the patient is obese.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 passed.A set of exercises and loads on the foot should be compiled together with a treatment specialist.
Any gymnastic exercises during arthrosis should strain the ligaments and muscles in the joint without overloading the joints themselves, otherwise it can be very dangerous.
Is it possible to cure joint arthrosis?A course of gymnastics in the treatment of arthrosis will not require the patient to spend money, buy drugs or expensive devices, but the patient will have to be patient and diligent in order to complete the course correctly.
Shoulder problems
Some injuries can lead to the appearance of an inflammatory or degenerative process in the joints.The most common causes of shoulder arthrosis are:
- strong physical stress on the shoulder joint at work, which results in active wear of its components;
- sustaining a shoulder injury;
- shoulder dysplasia;
- changes in hormone production;
- problems with the blood supply of joint tissues, which leads to the appearance of vascular pathologies;
- natural wear and tear of cartilage, which is typical for older people.
What is common in this case is the process of inflammation, accompanied by symptoms of pain.The causes of such damage are various;they can be related to an injury, infection or disorder of certain systems in the body.
Most often, the appearance of arthritis requires an additional external influence: stress, hypothermia, organ infection, infection through an open wound, immune response to infection.
When determining the disease, the doctor pays attention to the degree of the disease, the main complaints of the patient and the results of numerous examinations.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 an X-ray, which helps to determine the location of joint deformation at an early stage of its appearance.
Is it possible to cure arthrosis of the shoulder joint?In the presence of arthrosis of the first two degrees, only conservative treatment is used.And only in the case of a complicated form of the disease, surgery is prescribed.
Basic methods of conservative treatment:
- taking medication;
- treatment with traditional methods;
- physiotherapeutic measures;
- sanitary treatment;
- massages;
- acupuncture;
- physical therapy;
- special diet.
Before starting therapy, it is important to ensure complete rest for the damaged joint, which is much easier to do if the arthrosis is widespread in the shoulder area.The first stage of the disease is considered the easiest treatment, when scarring changes have not yet occurred, and the tissue has still retained its regenerative capacity.
But in the presence of this form of damage, as a rule, unpleasant sensations are not manifested strongly, the pain is mild, so the patient is late in seeking help from a doctor.In the future, after the end of the treatment, the patient will also have to follow a mild regimen.