Osteoarthritis is a disease that is accompanied by dystrophic changes in the articular cartilage without an inflammatory process. As a rule, the disease is most often diagnosed in elderly people (after 45 years). However, there are exceptions when the disease occurs at a younger age, particularly after injuries. It is impossible to get rid of it completely. To alleviate the exacerbation and improve the general condition, the treatment of osteoarthritis must be comprehensive.
How to treat osteoarthritis?
In complex therapy, the following is used:
- medications (analgesics, anti-inflammatories, chondroprotectors);
- physical therapy (warming, laser, UVT therapy, electrophoresis, ultrasound);
- special exercises;
- surgical intervention (in later stages, in the absence of drug efficacy);
- folk remedies;
- massage therapy;
- non-traditional methods (hirudotherapy, acupuncture, acupuncture).
Each of the stages of treatment must be developed by the physician individually for each patient.
How to treat osteoarthritis with medication?
To date, there are a large number of medications 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 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 to the damaged joint;
- Hyaluronic Acid for Intra-articular Injection - Used as a lubricant for the joint, it can prevent friction, reduce pain, help in the formation of hyaluronate.
If the joint has suffered severe deformities, drug treatment will be impotent. Only surgery can replace it.
Physiotherapy
Warming helps to get rid of pain and normalize blood circulation. However, this method is used only at the initial stage of the development of the disease, when there are no serious injuries. Doctors sometimes recommend that their patients visit the bath, believing that it has a beneficial effect on well-being. But it should be remembered that it is necessary to warm the joint in moderation. Overheating, like hypothermia, will adversely affect the development of the disease. It is also forbidden to heat the damaged area during exacerbations.
One of the methods of physical therapy involves the use of a laser to stop the progression of degenerative processes. During the procedure, the sore spot is exposed to light flow. As a result, it is possible to improve blood circulation, relieve inflammation, swelling and eliminate pain. Before the procedure using a laser, the patient must be examined. When exacerbated, it is prohibited.
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 cure osteoarthritis. 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. Typically, ultrasound treatment is used during the rehabilitation period after surgery.
Surgical intervention
When medications are ineffective, which usually occurs in the advanced stages of the disease, the doctor may decide to have surgery. There are several types of such operations:
- arthroplasty - the damaged cartilage is replaced with an artificial cushion, which helps to reduce pain and improve mobility;
- prostheses - the joint is completely removed and a prosthesis made of a special material is installed, which helps to prevent rejection by the body;
- arthroscopy - helps to prevent joint destruction, during the operation, areas with inflammatory processes are removed.
If the patient sees a doctor at an early stage of the disease, surgery can be avoided.
Folk remedies
In complex therapy, in addition to drugs, folk remedies are used that help to relieve the patient of unpleasant symptoms.
The following recipes have gained popularity:
- mix an equal amount of marigold inflorescence, birch leaves and nettle leaves, then pour 2 tablespoons of herb 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 sore spot with the resulting mixture and wrap it with a wool scarf, spend the night;
- 2 teaspoons of celery juice 3 times a day;
- squeeze the juice from a head of cabbage, wet a woolen cloth and apply it as a compress;
- boil oats until you get a thick porridge, cool and apply in the form of compresses at night;
- pharmacy root elecampane (25 g) insist on 150 ml of vodka for 12 days, do rubbing at night.
Traditional medicine will not replace drugs, but it will be a great addition to them.
Basic rules when using traditional medicine
Using folk remedies, you should follow these general rules:
- before using one of the recipes, it is essential to consult a doctor who, after a detailed examination, may indicate possible complications;
- it is important not only to consult a specialist, but also to carry out an allergic reaction test - 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 dosage, as in this case the risk of side effects increases;
- it is advisable to use fresh infusions and ointments, as harvested for future use are not suitable for all recipes;
- if undesirable effects occur, treatment should be stopped and another remedy should be chosen.
To protect yourself from complications, you must follow these simple rules.
special exercises
Therapeutic exercises are provided to prevent ligament weakening and muscle atrophy. Gymnastics is selected individually, depending on the patient's condition and the course of the disease. This is done by a physical therapist.
Exercises are prohibited during exacerbations, as well as before 6 days after removal of severe pain. The main task in performing therapeutic exercises is to restore mobility and flexibility.
non-traditional ways
Nontraditional methods of treating this disease include hirudotherapy, acupuncture, and acupuncture.
Leeches are used in hirudotherapy. Despite the fact that this method is not medical, it is quite effective. Leeches are placed at special spots corresponding to certain active zones. This helps to increase microcirculation in the tissues, eliminate muscle spasms and reduce swelling. The medicinal saliva of leeches has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.
Acupuncture is based on activating certain points with needles. Sometimes lit absinthe sticks are also used. The effect is similar to the result of hirudotherapy. Metabolic processes are significantly improved, blood circulation is increased, and the pain syndrome is relieved.
All of the above procedures should only be performed by specialists. Otherwise, instead of improvement, a marked deterioration of the condition may occur.
massage therapy
The most desirable result of massage therapy is the restoration of the affected joint's ability to work. However, this is possible when osteoarthritis of the joints is at an early stage of development. Massage should only be performed by a specialist. Sometimes the patient can do it on their own, but for that it is necessary to learn these techniques. Before the procedure, the damaged area is warmed up using a regular hot bath or exercise therapy exercises.
One of the types is the whirlpool, which is performed by immersion in a warm bath. The complete course is up to 20 procedures. It is recommended that they be repeated at least twice a year. If the massage is performed correctly, after the massage there will be a pleasant warmth and relaxation. 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 osteoarthritis symptoms and avoid exacerbations.