The treatment of osteoarthritis involves an integrated approach and a combination of several methods. Most treatment tactics consist of the correct prescription of medications. They can be complemented with traditional medicine methods.
Main trends in the modern treatment of osteoarthritis.
After a complete examination, including the main diagnosis and complementary diagnosis, appropriate treatment for osteoarthritis begins.
Includes the following methods:
- lifestyle modification;
- drug correction;
- physiotherapy;
- surgery.
The choice of method depends on the stage of the disease and the degree of destruction of the joint structures. First, you need to learn the following rules that will make the treatment more effective:
- Body weight correction;
- Exercise therapy - exercises that eliminate static load on the joint;
- Increase the level of knowledge about pathology in patients;
- The use of additional accessories (joint bandages, insoles, canes or orthoses);
- Physiotherapy.
The diagnosis is made by an orthopedist-traumatologist. However, other specialists who provide consultations may participate in this process:
- neurologist - consultation is required in case of damage to the intervertebral structures, radicular syndrome, severe back pain due to the disease;
- infectious disease specialist: exclusion of the infectious nature of joint diseases;
- oncologist: exclusion of malignant neoplasm of bone and joint tissue or metastases in these areas;
- Osteophthisiatrist: rule out the tuberculous nature of the bone lesions.
During the disease, prevention of complications of pathology and its progression is carried out. To do this, it is necessary to wear orthoses and fixation bandages, monitor body weight, nutrition and regularly consult a doctor. Consultations with a treating specialist are required at least 2 times a year.
The effectiveness of the treatment meets the following criteria:
- Stop the progression of the disease;
- The new joints do not participate in the pathological process;
- The pain decreases or disappears;
- There are no signs of an inflammatory process;
- Improves quality of life, motor activity and ability to work.
On the contrary, there are features of the course of the disease that require hospitalization and correction of recovery tactics:
- persistent and intense pain syndrome;
- Severe inflammation of the articular and periarticular structures (the skin over the affected area is hot to the touch, there is redness, enlargement, pain and limitation of movement).
Medicines
The choice of a drug complex depends on the stage of the process:
- Stage I: non-drug correction methods, non-steroidal drugs and drugs that strengthen cartilage tissue;
- Stage II: non-pharmacological methods of correction, non-steroidal drugs and drugs that strengthen cartilage tissue, intra-articular administration of maintenance therapy;
- Stage III: non-pharmacological methods of correction, non-steroidal drugs and drugs that strengthen cartilaginous tissue, intra-articular administration of maintenance therapy, antidepressants;
- Stage IV: radical surgical intervention involving excision of the affected tissue and installation of an artificial joint.
Also, in case of severe pain, painkillers are used, and various ointments can be used to eliminate severe inflammation of soft tissues.
Treatment of osteoarthritis is carried out according to established courses, the duration of which cannot be violated independently. Even if the condition seems to improve, it is necessary to continue taking the medication, because it tends to accumulate in the body. In the same way, the dose of the medication cannot be independently adjusted, either to decrease it or to increase it.
Medications should be taken at the same time every day. Features of reception: according to the instructions. If the patient is being treated for another pathology, the doctor must analyze the combined effect of all drugs and exclude dangerous combinations.
Drugs
Let's look at the main groups and examples of medications.
Examples are given, the treating doctor can prescribe other representatives of these groups of drugs.
- Analgesics.They are used to relieve pain, restoring range of motion and improving quality of life.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.They reduce joint pain, eliminate 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 cartilaginous tissue, which makes it possible to restore the structure of the joint, periarticular surfaces, ligaments and synovial membrane. Slows the progression of the process and strengthens healthy joints.
- Narcotic analgesic.It is used for emergency relief in cases of severe pain. Duration of admission: once, if necessary.
- Hyaluronic acid derivatives.A viscous implant containing hyaluronic acid is inserted intra-articularly. Improves the condition of ligaments, synovial membrane and soft tissues. It allows water retention, improves the state of collagen fibers, which makes the tissue elastic, resistant to injury and destruction.
- Glucocorticosteroids.It is used for severe inflammation. They allow you to effectively influence the pathology and act quickly.
Use of ointments
Treatment of osteoarthritis involves the use of ointments. In some cases, they alleviate the patient's condition by relieving pain. However, this only makes sense in the early stages of the pathology. The fact is that any medication that the patient ingests orally is absorbed into the bloodstream in the digestive tract and through it acts on the joint tissue. If intravascular administration is used, the effect can be achieved faster, and the effect on the mucous membrane is also eliminated.
Applying the medication in the form of an ointment or gel causes the medication to act only on the skin and a small layer of soft tissue beneath it. The patient must understand that it does not affect the joint, but only acts symptomatically.
For this, the following ointments are used:
- containing non-steroidal drugs;
- containing salicylic acid;
- which contains capsaicin.
It can also be an ointment or gel based on medicinal plants, which improve the condition of soft tissues and reduce sensitivity. It can be an ointment with menthol, camphor, eucalyptus or mint.
Traditional methods of treating osteoarthritis.
Folk remedies involve relieving pathological syndromes. Complete recovery from an illness cannot be achieved with these techniques; They are used in parallel with physical therapies and procedures. If you take only self-made medicines, the disease may progress and the patient will only lose time.
The following drugs have a symptomatic effect:
- grated horseradish root compress. Used daily, in a course of 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;
- According to a similar principle, an oatmeal compress is used. For this, a creamy flake paste is prepared. Once the mixture has cooled, it is applied to the joint;
- The honey compress can be left overnight. It is better to use field honey;
- A cabbage leaf with a layer of honey is applied to the affected joint. Arrange and leave overnight;
- mix powdered chalk with thick yogurt. Apply to the joint, wrap with film and cover with a warm natural cloth. Leave the compress on overnight.
Diagnosis
Effective treatment of osteoarthritis is possible with a correct diagnosis. For this, the following methods are used:
- clinical diagnosis, including the results of examination and questioning of the patient;
- X-ray diagnosis, for which a healthy and affected joint is examined and their condition is compared;
- laboratory methods that allow you to exclude other causes of pathology;
- synovial fluid analysis;
- ultrasound examination to detect soft tissue inflammation;
- Tomography for a more detailed study of soft tissues and periarticular structures.