When joint pain occurs unbearable, that at this time no matter what the name of the disease that causes. What is arthritis and osteoarthritis, is not well known. Joint problems affect one out of every ten person on Earth, regardless of the age and style of life. It can be noted that today it is a global problem. Therefore, it is important to deal with hot topic to finally find out for yourself what is osteoarthritis, how it happens and what methods it offers modern medicine for the treatment of this serious illness.
Arthritis and osteoarthritis is a disease?
The first part of the names of the definition of the disease of the joints, which is pronounced exactly the same. Agreement of names is misleading many people who believe that it is one and the same disease. In fact, the difference between them is large enough.
Arthritis of the joints – what is it? The so-called age-related disease characterised by the progressive deformation of the cartilage plates. Most often osteoarthritis begins to disturb the man after 45 years. In older age the risk of osteoarthritis of the joints increases up to 50 %.
Arthritis, on the contrary, occurs in young people under the age of forty years. In both cases, the age restrictions have exceptions depending on the different circumstances. For example, in early osteoarthritis can occur in professional athletes or be the result of severe injuries and fractures. The arthritis in the first place for the sick, and because of more age (from 60 years), if the person had complications from heavy colds, flu or a stressful situation.
The essence of the disease
What is osteoarthritis? This is a chronic disease with periodic exacerbations, damage to only furniture set of the bone end. Most often affects the knee, hip, ankle, and also occurs in the fingers of the hands and the feet.
Arthritis is characterized by an inflammatory process involving the entire human body. For pain of the joints can hide a large number of other processes, to recognize that directly is not so easy. The cause of the inflammation can be infectious diseases, the instability of the immune system, metabolic diseases. Arthritis, except in joints, can have a negative impact on the condition of the activity of the heart, the kidney, the liver.
Therefore, it becomes more clear what is arthritis and osteoarthritis, what is their difference and similarity. The same symptom in both diseases is inflammation of the cartilage of ligaments. But there are several characteristic features that allow the physicians to accurately make the correct diagnosis.
The symptoms of osteoarthritis
The main feature of the disease is, of course, the pain. Especially noticeable when driving or exercise. What is osteoarthritis of 1 degree? This is the initial phase of the disease when the pain can bring a weakly pronounced, because people quickly resigned to its presence and ceases to notice. What is osteoarthritis of 2 degrees? This is the next phase of the disease in which the pain begins to annoy in a small additional loads. And with the development of the disease, the pain does not stop even at rest. Briefly to get rid of it you can only take a comfortable position.
In any stage of osteoarthritis is inevitable restrictions on the movement of a diseased joint. Another sign of osteoarthritis is the crisis in the joints. In fact, the newspaper rustling happens to all the people, and that sounds like a slight crackling. The crisis happens more often, and the sound of it resembles coarse clicks. The cause of the symptom is the increase of the friction of the bones due to destruction of articular cartilage.
Appearance of the diseased joints is undergoing significant changes, which can be long, invisible from the outside. The absence of signs of external deformation, due to the fact that in the case of osteoarthritis there is no swelling, redness, muscle tissue or nodular forms.
The cause of osteoarthritis of the knee
The knee pain is troubling many of the people who seek help for medical doctors. Causes sensations can be different, including the defeat of the cartilaginous bend. What is the knee joint arthrosis (or osteoarthritis)? This is a negative change in the cover of the cartilage hinge joint, that lead first to the loss of elasticity of connective tissue, and later in their progressive destruction.
The wear and tear of the cartilage involves not only deformation, but also to complete the restructuring of the bone tissue. As a result of changes in the endings of the bones that appear osteophytes (spikes) that increase the pain and significantly restrict the person's movement.
So, osteoarthritis of the knee. What it is, I know that the majority of women after forty years, with overweight or suffer from varicose veins. The disease a long time it makes them feel. Its lower manifestations it is characterized by mild pain and slight discomfort after a long walk, physical exercise, a strong increase of the chair. The initial period of the disease can last from several months to several years.
What is a deforming arthrosis? This is the next inevitable stage of progressive disease. This leads to consequences irreversible that completely disrupt the function and structure of the cartilage of the joint. In the stage of development of deforming gonarthrosis pain occur more often, last longer, and movement, often accompanied by a crisis of the joints. There is a more noticeable deformity, and the joint cavity is filled with liquid. The third stage is characterized by enduring the pain, the growing before the weather changes. Bad bending and straightening of the knees affects the changes of motion and deformity of the joints, leads to curvature of the legs.
What is arthritis of the knee and what are their causes? Conventionally, the disease has two forms:
- The main cause is a defect congenital of the union. The first symptoms are notable, as in childhood, when the rapid growth of the body reveals incorrect formation of the ligamentous apparatus.
- Secondary – the result of complications following injuries, dislocations, serious injury or certain diseases.
In the case of the second form of pathology it is very important to start the treatment of the inflammatory process, so that they were not developed in osteoarthritis of the knee.
How to treat osteoarthritis
Almost completely cure the disease only at an early stage, if we can get rid of the main causes of arthritis (for example, excess weight). In other cases conservative treatments can only achieve a sustained remission: minimal presence or absence prolonged of signs pathological. To achieve this goal, prescribed drugs, chiropractic, massage, physiotherapy, exercise therapy.
The result of these measures significantly reduced or for a long time will be pain, subsides the inflammation of the joint. In addition, it improves blood flow to the affected area and there will be a partial restoration of cartilage. Good result also gives regular balneological treatment.
In the advanced stage of gonarthrosis prescribed prosthesis. Thanks to the artificial joint can be achieved full recovery of the motor function.
When there is arthrosis of the ankle joint
If you use uncomfortable shoes or high heels, increases the risk of putting the foot. Minor Trauma may seem insignificant, but as you soon forget about it. But, in reality, each rotation is injury of muscles and ligaments, which later will make itself felt with the development of the nasty disease.
What is osteoarthritis of the ankle joint and that in other circumstances it is a prerequisite for its development? In addition to the lesions, the appearance of the disease is strongly influenced by the existing osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, intra-joint fractures, dysplasia, and other factors that cause the pinching of the nerve roots in the lumbar region of the spine. This results in the operation of the muscles of the ankle. What is osteoarthritis of the foot, soon you realize that people who have regular physical the load of the legs due to the professional specific: movers, dancers, dancers, footballers, runners, body builders. At the risk also fat people.
From the constant loading of the articular cartilage to wear out faster, become thinner and lose their elasticity. Very soon they develop small cracks, which accumulate calcium salts, which destroys the connective tissue. If you do not treat the disease at an early stage, then, the bone will appear with bullets. In this case, we can certainly speak of deforming arthrosis, which is care.
What is osteoarthritis and how to recognize it comes? You need to listen to your body and pay attention to the following symptoms:
- getting up from the sofa and take the first step, you will immediately feel pain and discomfort in the joints of the foot;
- the pain increases with physical exercise.
- loud crunching and crackling in the joints when walking, limitations and stiffness;
- when walking even on level ground that often harm the feet.
In the first signs of incipient osteoarthritis in a hurry to the doctor to not run the disease and prevent consequences that are irreversible.
Method of treatment of osteoarthritis
The result of this treatment is directly proportional to the stage of the disease. The first degree of osteoarthritis involves conservative methods: medication, exercise therapy, physiotherapy. Full people recommended the weight loss. The result can be a long time to get rid of the pain, relieve the inflammation.
Very important in this stage of treatment is the use of biostimulants increases the the circulation of blood in the body. An additional method impact positive is a Spa treatment that gives long-lasting and sustainable effect.
The decision about the surgery, the doctor can accept only in the appearance of the third and most severe stage of osteoarthritis. In this case, there are several options:
- arthroplasty-replacement of the destroyed joint with an implant (eventually to recover all the functions of the foot);
- arthrodesis is the removal of cartilage and forced the connection of the bone endings (as a result of the stop will have to completely lose the mobility);
- arthroplasty, the restoration of the functions of the damaged connection (recommended for small joints).
Prevention
You should always remember that getting arthritis can practically everyone. The older you get, the more likely serious disease. Therefore, it is very important, from an early age to pay attention to their health and to take preventive measures to avoid the disease. Here are the main factors that can help to prevent osteoarthritis:
- complete and balanced nutrition,
- the absence of habits harmful;
- moderate physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight;
- compliance with regulations, prevention of potential injuries from excessive physical activity (occupational or sports);
- preventive medical examination;
- the use of platforms integrated tools.