Osteoarthritis: Symptoms, steps and treatment

13 May 2025

Osteoarthritis -A disease that has many factors and linked to degenerative-dystrophic damage to the joints. One of them is a violation of metabolic processes in the body. The development of osteoarthritis disease is associated with circulatory disorders in the capillaries of the periosteum layers and, consequently, with a violation of the nutrition of the cartilage tissue of the joint. At the same time, the structure of cartilage itself changes, and it becomes thinner, becoming less elastic, the softness of the surface of the joint also decreases. A decrease in the quality of the cartilage tissues leads, in turn, a significant reduction in the volume of synovial fluid and a deterioration of the lubrication of the affected joint.

The popular name of osteoarthritis disease is the "salt deposit", which is not true, because in the event of osteoarthritis disease, the cartridge and the joint capsules are destroyed, which implies an increase in the load on the affected joint and, therefore, the deformation of the bone. Following all this, a crunch appears in the joint, often accompanied by pain, because osteophytes (bone spikes) are formed along the edges of the joint surface - hence the popular name of arthrosis. Room, as a general rule, mainly affects the elderly. Inexorable statistics indicate that more than 30% of people over sixty years of age and about half, at the age of more than seventy years, obtain osteoarthritis.Although this disease is based on the lesion of the cartilage of the joint, the process of the disease is also striking in neighboring tissues - the synovial membrane, the periarticular muscles, the internal layers of the joint bag, the bone structures and the ligaments.

OsteoarthritisThe osteoarthritis of the disease is symptomatic, first of all, the occurrence of serious night pain when changing body or other movements. Pain, at rest with osteoarthritis, generally does not appear. One of the symptoms of osteoarthritis can be considered a characteristic crisis in joints with pain. In addition, osteoarthritis is also characterized by a sensitivity to the excessively pronounced weather of patients - the manifestation of pain depending on time changes. Basically, osteoarthritis affects the hip and knee joint. A little less often - this affects the joints of the fingers on the arms and legs, as well as the ankle joint. At the initial stage of the disease, the current symptoms of osteoarthritis are short -term and weak pain which have no clear location and intensify precisely during physical activity. Poor mobility of the joint is noted, after a state of rest and a feeling of growing discomfort. With the development of arthritis, the clinical image can deteriorate and, over time, the pain becomes more pronounced, the characteristic tightening of the joint acquires a constant character, and the ever -increasing pain leads to a muscular spasm linked to the limitation of the amplitude of movements in the affected joint. In the last stages of osteoarthritis, with damage to the joints of the lower limbs, lameness appears and the patient must use crutches or cane.
Osteoarthritis stagesIn accordance with a classification based on radiological characteristics, four stages of osteoarthritis development are distinguished:I degree - Doubtful osteoarthritis: The pain is almost not felt, manifests itself periodically and only at the start of the movement and quickly passes with its beginning. In the articulation, there is a slight limited movement after a state of rest, passing quickly with the start of the movement. At the beginning of flexion in the joint, there is a pronounced crunch, but without pain, so patients rarely come from a specialist to obtain help.II degree - Sweet osteoarthritis: It is characterized by an increase in pain after great physical effort - they become more acute and longer. The cartilage tissues in the joint begin to lose their damping qualities, osteophytes (bone spikes) are perceptible in X -rays and joint space is narrowed. The patient cannot already do some work and his ability to work is reduced. At this stage, the patient generally seeks a doctor.III degree - Moderate osteoarthritis: It is characterized by its gravity and negligence of osteoarthritis. An increase in the accumulation of liquid in the joint cavity and the subsequent growth of the bone tissue, as a result, implies the deformation of the joint itself. The patient is tormented by pain even at rest due to the spasm near the muscle joint, while a decrease in motor amplitude is observed. The slightest load on the joint causes the patient's suffering.IV degree - Severe osteoarthritis: It is characterized by a significant narrowing of the joint deviation, large osteophytes, as well as irreversible bone deformations. The patient can no longer move and only the implantation of the artificial joint prosthesis can help avoid disability by surgery.
The causes of osteoarthritisOsteoarthritis is a consequence of the altered functions of the cartilage fabric due to changes in its structure. The seal cartilage fabric is softened and detaches, while in the joint, which transports the load, the ulcers begin to form.The occurrence of osteoarthritis disease is divided into two methods:Primary Osteoarthritis (idiopathic) occurs without any visible cause. They can be, as hereditary factors: genetic disturbances in cartilage, congenital defects of the musculoskeletal system, as well as others, in a way: the hypermirs of the joints, the flat feet, etc. Secondary Osteoarthritis is caused by the development of pathological processes: congenital disorders of joints, wounds, metabolic disorders, a number of endocrine diseases, specific and non -specific and specific inflammation.
OsteoarthritisEffective treatment of osteoarthritis is only possible and must be carried out after consultations with a specialist. The main stages of osteoarthritis treatment include:Anesthesia by taking pain relievers.Elimination of inflammation with anti-inflammatory drugs.The restoration of the cartilage tissue of the joint using drugs containing in their composition of drugs individually selected by course for several months.In combination with these three stages, physiotrosis is an integral part of the treatment of osteoarthritis - magnetotherapy for osteoarthritis, electrophoresis, acupuncture, as well as massage. It is not unimportant, at the same time, and compliance with a properly selected diet.
Osteoarthritis preventionFor the prevention of osteoarthritis, it is necessary to minimize the static load on the joints. The constant port of high themed shoes should be avoided. It is not recommended to sit in the position "put the leg on the leg". More often than not, the arrangements of the sitting position and the position should be alternated. If there is an excess weight, you should get rid of. The best diet for the prevention of osteoarthritis is food for food with a predominance of carbohydrates, vegetables, fruits, limiting the supply of protein and calcium. Try to avoid weight lifting. In summer, organize "holidays" in your joints - swim as much as possible!