Arthrosis 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 strikes at a younger age, mainly after injuries. It is impossible to completely get rid of it. To relieve exacerbation and improve the general condition, the treatment of arthrosis should be comprehensive.
How to treat arthrosis?
In complex therapy, the following is used:
- medicines (painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, chondroprotectors);
- physiotherapy (heating, laser, UVT therapy, electrophoresis, ultrasound);
- special exercises;
- surgical intervention (in the later stages, in the absence of the effectiveness of medicines);
- folk remedies;
- massotherapy;
- non-traditional methods (hirudotherapy, acupuncture, acupuncture).
Each of the stages of treatment should be developed by the doctor individually for each patient.
How to treat arthrosis with medication?
To date, there are 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 articular cartilage, since 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 undergone severe deformities, drug treatment will be powerless. Only surgery can replace it.
Physiotherapy
Warming up 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. Sometimes doctors 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 up 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 physiotherapy involves the use of a laser to stop the progression of degenerative processes. During the procedure, the sore spot is exposed to a light flux. 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 to cure arthrosis. This procedure helps 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 occurs in the advanced stages of the disease, the doctor may decide to have surgery. There are several types of such operations:
- arthroplasty - damaged cartilage is replaced with an artificial pad, which helps reduce pain and improve mobility;
- prosthetics - the joint is completely removed, and a prosthesis made of a special material is installed instead, which helps prevent rejection by the body;
- arthroscopy - helps to prevent joint destruction, 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 of unpleasant symptoms.
The following recipes have gained popularity:
- mix an equal amount of calendula inflorescence, 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 sore spot with the resulting mixture and wrap it with a woolen scarf, stand the night;
- 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 oatmeal until a thick gruel 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, do rubbing at night.
Traditional medicine will not replace drugs, but will be a great 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 imperative to consult a doctor who, after a detailed examination, can indicate possible complications;
- it is important not only to consult with 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 dosage, since in this case the risk of side effects increases;
- it is advisable to use fresh infusions and ointments, since harvested for future use is not suitable for every recipe;
- if undesirable effects occur, treatment should be stopped and another remedy should be selected.
To protect yourself from complications, you should follow these simple rules.
Special exercises
Therapeutic exercises are provided in order to prevent weakening of the ligaments and muscle atrophy. Gymnastics is selected individually, depending on the condition of the patient 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 intense pain. The main task in performing therapeutic exercises is to restore mobility and flexibility.
Non-traditional ways
Non-traditional 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 on special points corresponding to certain active zones. This helps to increase microcirculation in tissues, eliminate muscle spasms, and reduce swelling. The medicinal saliva of leeches 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 are significantly improved, blood circulation is increased, and pain is relieved.
All of the above procedures should be carried out only by specialists. Otherwise, instead of improvement, a sharp deterioration in the condition may occur.
Massotherapy
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 at the initial stage of development. Massage should be carried out only by a specialist. Sometimes the patient is allowed to perform it on his own, 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 carried out by immersion in a warm bath. The full course is up to 20 procedures. They are recommended to be repeated at least twice a year. If the massage is performed correctly, after it there is 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 the symptoms of arthrosis and avoid exacerbations.