Arthritis

articulation of the joint in the finger

Arthritis and arthritis are pathological processes in the human body, in which various joints are affected. Because of the similarity of these terms, many people do not know the difference between the two. But in reality, arthritis and arthritis are not the same disease. And they have significant differences. It is important to study their main symptoms so that, if they occur, you can visit a hospital immediately. You also need to know which doctor treats arthritis to get the right honey in time. specific.

Do not self-medicate. At the first sign of illness, see your doctor.

Arthritis of the joints is a complex degenerative disease associated with the destruction of cartilage tissue within the joints. This pathological process is the most common joint disease in the world. According to the latest statistics, about 80% of the world's population suffers from it. But most people do not have a clear idea of what arthritis is. With this disease, for a long time, various changes and rearrangements appear in the articular ends of the bones and inflammatory processes develop. As a result, the periarticular tissues degenerate.

Many people ask the same question - how is arthritis different from arthritis? Arthritis is a pathology that leads to damage to large and small joints. Arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the entire human body. The changes that occur in the body do not only affect the joints. The most common disease in arthritis is the heart and kidneys. If the right treatment is not given, then complications and even death can occur.

The chance of developing arthritis or arthritis increases significantly by the age of 40-50 years. The disease affects women and men equally. The disease occurs in people with a fit body and has recently become much younger (people over 30 suffer from arthritis). Therefore, it is very important to know what arthritis is and how to properly treat this pathology.

Causes

Like arthritis, arthritis occurs in the body due to metabolic failure in some joints. This leads to a loss of cartilage tissue elasticity.

The cartilage in the joints of the limbs can be damaged due to disturbances in the production of hormones, reduced blood supply to the joints and injuries. Also, some diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, can cause arthritis.

Main reasons:

  • history of limb injuries;
  • advanced age?
  • severe hypothermia
  • the presence of inflammatory processes in large and small joints (arthritis and arthritis are two simultaneous diseases).
  • increased body weight. In this case, there will be a constant additional load on the joints.
  • general intoxication of the body.
  • common SARS, acute respiratory infections and influenza.
  • pathological processes in the thyroid gland.
  • haemophilia;
  • Perthes disease.

Arthritis of the joints can also develop in a person due to genetic disorders - collagen mutations, dysplasia.

Symptoms

The symptoms of arthritis appear almost immediately. The first sign of the development of a pathological process is the intense pain when loading a particular joint. The pain will subside as soon as the joint is at rest. In medical circles, the following groups of arthritis symptoms are distinguished:

  • pain.Acute pain occurs only when certain movements are made. Its location is at the site of the affected joint. At night, there is practically no discomfort, as the joint is at rest. Pain at rest can only occur during the progression of arthritis.
  • joint mobility is reduced.This is true for both arthritis and arthritis. In the early stages of the disease, this symptom does not cause much concern to the patient. But soon the muscles will start to break. The gap between the joints will disappear almost completely.
  • crunching.The reason for its appearance lies in the fact that due to the disease, the softness of the rotation of the bone in the joint is reduced. Its sound is "dry".
  • deformity of the affected joint.This is due to the proliferation of osteophytes. This symptom is the last to appear. Treating arthritis at this stage is the most difficult.

Stages of the disease

All of these signs of arthropathy appear at different stages of the disease. In medical practice, there are three degrees:

  • 1st degree arthropathy.The symptoms of arthritis are not severe. Most often, minor joint pain occurs during exercise or long walks. Pathological changes in the fluid and in the joint begin to appear. The treatment of arthritis at this stage is the most effective.
  • 2nd degree arthropathy.The joint is destroyed. Osteophytes are formed. The pain during exercise and movement becomes stronger, a characteristic crisis is heard in the affected joints.
  • 3rd degree arthropathy.This is the most difficult stage in the development of this disease. There is a pathological change in the positions of the patient joints. Inflammation occurs. The patient feels stiff when moving, as the muscles can not fully contract and perform their functions.

The joint of the joints in the third stage of its development is extremely difficult to heal. You will have more chances of success if you find a specialized specialist. Many people ask the question - which doctor treats arthritis? In this case, you should seek help from a rheumatologist. He is a specialist in the treatment of dystrophic and inflammatory diseases of the connective tissue and joints, such as arthritis and arthritis.

Complications

If you do not start treatment for arthritis in the early stages of its development, then this can lead to the following consequences:

  • complete destruction of the joint.
  • it will become almost impossible to make various moves.
  • herniated disc.
  • a person's disability;
  • complete deformation of the joint.
  • the patient's standard of living will decrease.

Treatment

The question of how to treat arthritis is asked by anyone who has shown the first signs of the disease. The easiest way to do this is in the early stages of the development of the pathological process, until the violations become irreversible. The essence of the therapeutic measures is the removal of the main causes of the development of arthritis and the elimination of the inflammation in the joints.

Arthritis treatment must be complete. It includes taking medicines (tablets, mixtures) with analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Physiotherapy procedures are also required.

Principles of arthritis treatment:

  • eliminate excessive pressure on the joints.
  • treatment with anti-inflammatory and analgesic pills. Also, in combination therapy, chondroprotective agents are actively used for arthropathy.
  • physiotherapy;
  • spa treatment;
  • magnetotherapy, electrotherapy, laser therapy, shock wave therapy.
  • intra-articular oxygen therapy.
  • intraosseous exclusion
  • It is important to choose the right diet for arthritis.

Medication

How to treat arthritis with medication? This question is more common among patients. Treatment is performed using three groups of drugs:

intra-articular injection into the joint for arthropathy
  • hormonal corticosteroids.Effective for acute stage arthritis. Introduction - intra-articular. Tablets are less effective in this case.
  • anti-inflammatory drugs.They are used to reduce inflammation in the joint, as well as to relieve pain. Doctors do not recommend patients to take pills, as they irritate the lining of the stomach to some extent. Therefore, they are most often injected into a vein or muscle.
  • chondroprotectants for arthropathy.They are used to restore the structure of cartilage. Chondroitin sulfate is most often prescribed, as this drug is extremely effective. The use of chondroprotectants for arthropathy gives positive results in the early stages of the development of the pathological process.

Folk recipes

Most people these days do not want to take pills or injections. Therefore, they ask the question - how to cure arthritis with the help of folk remedies? For the most part, such funds are aimed at increasing body tone, improving blood circulation, relieving pain, and increasing immunity. The treatment of arthritis with folk remedies is more effective in the early stages of the development of the pathological process. To treat this disease, recipes based on the following herbs are used:

  • ginger;
  • Kalanchoe;
  • celery seeds;
  • castor oil seeds;
  • cinnamon;
  • turmeric;
  • ponytail.

Tinctures of laurel, horseradish, garlic and rye seeds are also considered effective. Treatment of arthritis with folk remedies will be more effective if combined with drugs.

Diet for arthritis

The diet for arthritis has its own peculiarities. It is especially important to monitor your diet during the worsening of the disease. Do not eat too much, as the body weight and load on the affected joint will increase. But you also can not sit hungry. The cartilage must receive the required amount of micronutrients.

The diet for arthritis aims to reduce unnecessary weight. Therefore, carbohydrates should be removed from the diet. Sweets, flours, alcoholic beverages are completely excluded.

Fish dishes can be included in the daily diet. Preference should be given to low fat varieties. The leading role in the treatment of arthritis is attributed to everyone's favorite dish - jelly meat. Many doctors recommend its use, as it is a real panacea for the joints. Contains all the necessary trace elements. But the most important ingredient in the dish is natural collagen.

meat jelly in the treatment of arthritis

The diet for arthritis should be regular. It is important to eat in portions. The daily menu should include foods rich in B vitamins. They are essential for regulating metabolism.

If you follow a diet for arthritis, then you can achieve a significant improvement in the general condition.

Basic nutritional principles:

  • the menu must be perfectly balanced.
  • heavy food should not be consumed in the evening. You can cause an arthritis attack.
  • if the disease is not in a worsening stage, then it is better to walk shortly after eating.
  • Food should be fractional.
  • you need to constantly monitor your weight and not increase it.
  • If pills are prescribed, then it is necessary to clearly regulate the intake and consumption of food (take them before or after meals).

A diet for arthritis helps not only to eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of the disease, but also to improve the condition of the joints.

Prophylaxis

Prevention of arthritis begins with proper nutrition. It is necessary to try to reduce the intake of salt, as well as foods that can disrupt metabolism. These include legumes, fatty meats and alcohol. The diet includes cabbage, herbs and fish.

To prevent arthritis, it is necessary to attend physical education, to warm up. If possible, it is best to walk a few miles. It is also important to monitor your weight and prevent weight gain, as this will cause extra stress on the aching joints. It is not recommended to take pills for weight loss, as they can disrupt the body's metabolism.