Arthrosis is a disease that is associated with dystrophic changes in the articular cartilage without an inflammatory process. As a rule, the disease is diagnosed more often in the elderly (after 45 years). However, there are exceptions when the disease appears at a younger age, mainly after injuries. It is impossible to completely get rid of it. To alleviate the deterioration and improve the general condition, the treatment of arthrosis should be comprehensive.
How to treat arthrosis?
In complex therapy, the following are used:
- drugs (painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, chondroprotectors);
- physiotherapy (heating, laser, UVT therapy, electrophoresis, ultrasound);
- special exercises;
- surgical intervention (in later stages, in the absence of effectiveness of drugs);
- folk remedies;
- massage therapy;
- non-traditional methods (hirudotherapy, acupuncture, acupuncture).
Each of the stages of treatment must be developed by the doctor individually for each patient.
How to treat arthrosis with drugs?
To date, there is a large number of drugs that are used to treat this disease. However, they only help to eliminate the main symptoms and alleviate the patient's condition. It is impossible to restore the articular cartilage, as dystrophic changes are irreversible.
Medical therapy consists of the following drugs:
- NSAIDs to reduce pain and inflammation;
- chondroprotectors with chondroitin and glucose;
- corticosteroids for intra-articular administration are used in severe cases of the disease, they can relieve inflammation and restore mobility in the damaged joint;
- hyaluronic acid for intra-articular injection - used as a lubricant for joints, can prevent friction, reduce pain, help the formation of hyaluronate.
If the joint has undergone severe deformations, drug treatment will be ineffective. Only surgery can replace it.
Physiotherapy
Warming helps to get rid of pain and normalize blood circulation. However, this method is used only in the initial stage of the development of the disease, when there are no serious injuries. Sometimes doctors recommend that their patients visit the bath, believing that it has a beneficial effect on well-being. But it must be remembered that it is necessary to heat the joint in moderation. Overheating, like hypothermia, will negatively affect the development of the disease. It is also prohibited to heat the damaged area during irritations.
One of the physiotherapy methods involves the use of a laser to stop the progression of degenerative processes. During the procedure, the injured area is exposed to a light flux. As a result, it is possible to improve blood circulation, relieve inflammation, swelling and eliminate pain. Before the laser procedure, the patient must be examined. When it gets worse, it's forbidden.
The effectiveness of electrophoresis in arthrosis has been proven. The affected area is affected by special preparations, for which an electric field is created. Due to this, the drug breaks down into ions, then moves to the upper layers of the skin, enters the bloodstream and spreads throughout the body.
UVT therapy helps to cure arthrosis. This procedure helps to eliminate inflammation, soften calcium deposits and remove it from the body, reduce swelling. However, this method of physiotherapy has many contraindications, including thrombosis, diabetes mellitus, tumors and purulent processes.
Exposure to ultrasound allows you to anesthetize the affected area, relieve inflammation. Usually, ultrasound treatment is used during the rehabilitation period after surgery.
Surgical intervention
When medications are ineffective, which usually happens in the advanced stages of the disease, the doctor may decide to do surgery. There are several types of such operations:
- arthroplasty - damaged cartilage is replaced with an artificial cushion, which helps reduce pain and improve mobility;
- prosthetics - the joint is completely removed and a prosthesis made of a special material is installed in its place, which helps prevent rejection by the body;
- arthroscopy - helps prevent the destruction of the joint, during the operation, areas with inflammatory processes are removed.
If the patient consults a doctor at an early stage of the disease, surgery can be avoided.
Folk remedies
In complex therapy, in addition to medicines, folk remedies are used that help relieve the patient from unpleasant symptoms.
The following recipes have gained popularity:
- mix an equal amount of calendula blossoms, birch leaves and nettle leaves, then pour 2 tablespoons of herbal collection with 1 liter of boiling water and insist overnight, take half a glass 5 times a day;
- mix fresh egg yolk with turpentine and apple cider vinegar in equal proportions, rub the injured area with the resulting mixture and wrap it in a wool scarf, stay overnight;
- 2 teaspoons of celery juice taken 3 times a day;
- squeeze the juice from a head of cabbage, soak a woolen cloth in it and apply it as a compress;
- boil oats until a thick grain is obtained, cool and apply in the form of compresses at night;
- pharmacy root elecampane (25 g) insist in 150 ml of vodka for 12 days, rub at night.
Traditional medicine will not replace medicines, but will be an excellent addition to them.
Basic rules when using traditional medicine
Using folk remedies, you must follow these general rules:
- before using one of the recipes, it is necessary to consult a doctor who, after a detailed examination, can indicate possible complications;
- it is important not only to consult a specialist, but also to do an allergic reaction test yourself - for this, a small amount of the product is applied to the inside of the wrist for 2 hours;
- it is not recommended to exceed the dose, as in this case the risk of side effects increases;
- it is advisable to use fresh infusions and ointments, since harvesting for future use is not suitable for every recipe;
- if unwanted effects appear, the treatment should be stopped and another drug should be chosen.
To protect yourself from complications, you should follow these simple rules.
Special exercises
Therapeutic exercises are offered to prevent weakening of ligaments and muscle atrophy. Gymnastics is selected individually, depending on the patient's condition and the course of the disease. This is done by a physiotherapist.
Exercises are prohibited during exacerbations, as well as earlier than 6 days after the removal of severe pain. The main task in performing therapeutic exercises is to restore mobility and flexibility.
The non-traditional way
Non-traditional methods of treating this disease include hirudotherapy, acupuncture and acupuncture.
Leeches are used in hirudotherapy. Although this method is not medical, it is quite effective. Leeches are placed in special spots that correspond to certain active areas. This helps increase microcirculation in tissues, eliminate muscle spasms and reduce swelling. Medicinal leech saliva has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.
Acupuncture is based on the activation of certain points with needles. Sometimes lit wormwood sticks are also used instead. The effect is similar to the result of hirudotherapy. Metabolic processes improve significantly, blood circulation increases and the pain syndrome is alleviated.
All the above procedures should be performed only by specialists. Otherwise, instead of improvement, a sharp deterioration of the condition may occur.
Massage therapy
The most desirable result of therapeutic massage is the restoration of the working capacity of the affected joint. However, this is possible when arthrosis of the joints is in the initial stage of development. Massage should only be performed by a specialist. Sometimes the patient is allowed to perform it himself, but for this it is necessary to learn these techniques. Before the procedure, the damaged area is warmed up using a regular warm shower or exercise therapy exercises.
One of the types is hydromassage, which is performed by soaking in a warm bath. The full course is up to 20 procedures. It is recommended to repeat at least twice a year. If the massage is performed correctly, there is a pleasant warmth and relaxation after it. To achieve the desired result, it is necessary to gradually increase the duration of the procedure.
Only an integrated approach will allow you to get rid of the symptoms of arthrosis and avoid deterioration.