Arthrosis of the hip, shoulder, knee and ankle joints is a disease that develops as a result of wear and tear of the cartilage tissues and deformation of the bones.In this case, the patient feels pain of varying intensity (depending on the form of the disease).As a result, the disease leads to motor function problems, partial or complete immobility and disability.It is important to determine whether arthrosis can be cured without surgery.
Determination of the lesion
Knee joint disease is most common in women;it can happen for many reasons.The elderly experience arthrosis in the knee joint more often than others.
If the treatment of arthrosis is not started in time, the joint-forming bones are exposed and damaged.In this case, it is impossible without surgical intervention.When the first unpleasant symptoms appear, it is important to consult a doctor as soon as possible.It will not be able to completely eliminate arthrosis, but it will help to slow down the process of deformation of the knee joint and stop the degeneration.Early recognition of the lesion and properly formulated treatment help to avoid negative consequences and early disability.
What are the common causes of arthrosis of the knee joint, and can the disease be cured?The main reasons are:
- Flat feet.
- Venous diseases.
- Diabetes and other changes related to metabolic disorders.In this case, it will be difficult to get rid of arthrosis, since not all drugs and physical procedures can be used.
- Overweight - people with weight problems experience arthrosis much more often than people of normal weight.
- Adolescence - at this time, a person's metabolism and hormone levels change, which leads to a degenerative process.
- Carrying a child - during this time, the woman gains weight, as a result of which the load on the knee increases significantly.The hormone level is interrupted, which contributes to the appearance of knee arthrosis.
- Age-related changes in the patient's body.
- Taking certain injuries.About 30 percent of knee arthrosis occurs due to injury.The injury leads to a change in the normal structure of the tissue, which provokes the process of destruction.
- Regular physical activity on the lower legs, to which the body has not adapted.
- The beginning of the inflammatory process in the body.
- Hereditary tendency.
- The appearance of spasms in the muscle tissues of the thigh.
The disease can only be cured if you contact a treating specialist.In this case, it is forbidden to start any treatment on your own.Only a specialist can prescribe effective therapy, which includes physiotherapy and medication.
Preventive measures
It is important to remember the preventive measures even before the appearance of the underlying disease.Arthrosis can be divided into two types.The first occurs due to a violation of the metabolic process in the body, as well as the age characteristics of the patient.
The second type appears as a result of injury or infection.In order to prevent the second type of arthrosis, it is important to avoid possible injuries, bruises and fractures.This applies to a greater extent to those involved in any sport or dance.For such people, such a disease often becomes professional and prevents them from doing what they love.This also applies to children who are very active and careless on the street;It is important that they behave carefully to avoid dangerous injuries.
The main factor that helps to avoid arthrosis of the deforming knee joint is mobility.The best way to prevent arthrosis is moderate exercise.This is especially important for those whose work activities involve predominantly sedentary work.It is important to note that in this case we are talking about a moderate load on the various joints.
The main stages of the disease
Osteoarthritis can be divided into four distinct stages according to its development.The more advanced the stage, the more difficult it will be to treat and relieve symptoms:
- in the first stage, the symptoms are mild, but the process of tissue destruction is already spreading rapidly;
- the destruction of the cartilage continues, which leads to a decrease in the mobility of the leg in the joint area and is accompanied by severe pain;
- in this case, the cartilage tissue becomes thinner, the bones that make up the joint begin to grow actively and are damaged;
- in the last stage of the development of the disease, the cartilage is almost completely destroyed, the deformation of the bone leads to a change in the axis of the patient's limb, while the joint cannot cope with the pressure on it, and the leg at the knee completely loses mobility.
Arthrosis of the knee joint of the first degree can be diagnosed by short-term pain that occurs when a person walks.No noticeable deformity can be detected during the examination, and the X-ray does not provide enough information about the condition of the joints to make an accurate diagnosis.
If the disease is detected in time and appropriate treatment is started, the process of cartilage tissue destruction can be completely stopped, and the diseased areas can even be restored.
Is it possible to cure 2nd degree arthrosis?In the 2nd stage of the development of arthrosis, treatment is aimed at eliminating unpleasant symptoms and slowing down the degenerative-dystrophic process.In this case, it is not always possible to restore the tissue, but it is possible to preserve what remained intact.
Is it possible to cure 3rd degree arthrosis?When arthrosis reaches the 3rd stage of development, attempts to slow down the destructive process and bone damage most often do not bring results, the disease quickly reaches the 4th stage of development (for this reason, some experts distinguish only three stages of development of this disease).
In case of severe changes in the structure of the joint, the use of a prosthesis is necessary;this surgical correction method is called endoprosthesis.
In some cases, surgical intervention is also used in the 2nd stage of gonarthrosis.In this case, minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery is performed, during which dead tissue and damaged pieces of cartilage are removed through a small incision.With the help of surgery, the range of motion increases, pain symptoms and inflammation disappear.But we must remember that the treatment does not end.This operation helps alleviate the unpleasant symptoms of the disease for several years.
Carrying out the treatment
Is it possible to cure knee arthrosis?Any disease can be treated in three main areas:
- etiotropic – elimination of the root causes of the lesion;
- symptomatic - alleviation of the main symptoms;
- pathogenetic - intervention in the process of disease progression.
To carry out effective treatment or at least to stop the development of arthrosis, it is important:
- activates the blood supply process and improves the condition of tissues;
- compensates for the lack or excess of enzymes in the body;
- give the body everything it needs to grow cartilage;
- restores the volume and composition of synovial fluid.
Many physiotherapy procedures and local ointments lead to the improvement of the nutrition of the tissues and the normalization of their blood supply.During electrophoresis, tissues can be saturated with special enzymes.But the main way to treat such a disease is to take chondroprotectors.Recently, hyaluronic acid injections are predominantly used to treat arthrosis.Biological treatment methods are considered more aggressive.
Use of chondroprotectors
Is it possible to cure arthrosis completely?For complete treatment, chondroprotectors are suitable - drugs that contain natural components of cartilage tissue or synthetic analogues that lead to the synthesis of certain components or inhibit their degradation.
Chondroprotectors are available in the following forms:
- tablets, capsules and powders for oral administration;
- solutions for intramuscular injections;
- special ointments for external use.
Medicines intended for external use should be used as an additional treatment during complex therapy.
Is it possible to cure arthrosis deformans?First of all, you need to consider the features of chondroprotector treatment:
- many chondroprotectors help to get rid of severe pain and inflammation, but this is not the main advantage of taking them;for symptomatic therapy, it is best to use more affordable NSAIDs;
- therapeutic measures have a special effect in the 1st and 2nd stages of the development of the disease, when the cartilage has not yet destroyed to an extreme state;
- a long, systematic drug regimen is important during the treatment;you must take a break after each course;a course takes 6 months, so the treatment continues for years.
If the patient is prone to the appearance of arthrosis of the knee, he should start taking chondroprotectors in advance for the purpose of prevention, before the first signs of the disease appear.Chondroprotectors cannot be called panaceas, as they protect the cartilage and do not restore its condition.It is much easier to prevent arthrosis than to start treatment afterwards.
The main difficulties of treatment
Is it possible to cure arthrosis forever?The main difficulty in treatment is that no drugs have been developed to date that could permanently and completely eliminate arthrosis.But it is important to note that there are quite effective comprehensive treatment methods that help get rid of pain and slow down the progression of the disease.
Osteoarthritis of the hip joint
Arthrosis of the hip joint is a degenerative-dystrophic process, during which the cartilage structures covering the surface of the femoral head and the acetabulum are damaged.In order to preserve the good condition of the cartilage, it is important to determine whether arthrosis of the hip joint can be cured.
Drug treatment
There are many ways to treat this disease.Most often, the treating specialist prescribes a whole complex that includes a number of therapeutic measures.
Is it possible to cure arthrosis of the hip joint?In the case of arthrosis of the 1st and 2nd degree, it is allowed to use drugs for treatment.The most effective drugs in this case are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and vasodilators, which improve blood supply to the joints, relax the muscles and help eliminate spasms.
Chondroprotectors are also used to help preserve cartilage tissue.In the first and second stages of the formation of the lesion, experts allow the use of local agents: patches, applications, ointments and gels - they stimulate normal blood circulation.
It is important to remember that without effective and timely treatment, arthrosis of the hip joint can cause ankylosis.Ankylosis is a complete fusion of the femur and pelvis.In this case, the leg completely loses its mobility in the joint.
Arthrosis of the ankle joint
Can arthrosis of the ankle joint be cured?Before treating arthrosis of the ankle, it is important to make an accurate diagnosis.Most often, the doctor can make an accurate diagnosis either by examining the patient's foot or by taking an X-ray.
Depending on the stage of development of the disease, the specialist selects the most appropriate treatment.Even before visiting the specialist, the patient must significantly reduce the load on the affected joint, avoid hypothermia and overload.The doctor prescribes a comprehensive treatment for the patient: physiotherapy, balneotherapy, painkillers, blood circulation stimulating drugs.
Ankle therapy can also be performed on an outpatient basis, in a hospital, by prescribing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Difficulties may arise during the treatment if the patient is obese.It is important for such a patient to eat properly not only during the treatment, but also after it.
Gymnastic exercises
Gymnastics for arthrosis of the ankle is allowed only if the main symptoms of the disease have completely disappeared.Together with the treating specialist, a series of exercises and the loads on the leg must be put together.
Any gymnastic exercise during arthrosis should stretch the joint ligaments and muscles without overloading the joints themselves, otherwise it can be very dangerous.
Is it possible to cure joint arthrosis?A gymnastics course in the treatment of arthrosis does not require money, drugs or expensive equipment, but the patient must be patient and diligent in order to complete the course accurately.
Shoulder problems
Some injuries can lead to the development of inflammatory or degenerative processes in the joints.The most common causes of arthrosis of the shoulder joint are:
- heavy physical load on the shoulder joint at work, resulting in active wear of the components;
- get a shoulder injury;
- shoulder dysplasia;
- changes in hormone production;
- problems with the blood supply of joint tissues, which leads to the appearance of vascular pathologies;
- natural cartilage wear, which is characteristic of the elderly.
In this case, the inflammatory process is common, accompanied by symptoms of pain.The causes of such damage are varied;they can result in injury, infection or disruption of certain body systems.
Most often, the appearance of arthritis requires an additional external influence: stress, hypothermia, infection of organs, open wound infection, immune response to infection.
When determining the disease, the doctor takes into account the extent of the disease, the patient's main complaints and the results of several tests.The main diagnostic measure is a biochemical blood test, which helps confirm the presence of inflammation and, in some cases, determine its nature.
Another important study is the X-ray, which helps to determine the location of joint deformation in its early stages.
Is it possible to cure shoulder joint arthrosis?In the presence of the first two degrees of arthrosis, only conservative treatment is used.And surgery is prescribed only in the case of a complicated form of the disease.
Basic methods of conservative treatment:
- taking medications;
- treatment with traditional methods;
- physiotherapy measures;
- health resort treatment;
- massages;
- acupuncture;
- Physiotherapy;
- special diet.
Before starting the therapy, it is important to completely rest the injured joint, which is much easier to do if the arthrosis is widespread in the shoulder area.The easiest treatment is the first stage of the disease, when scarring has not yet occurred and the tissue has still retained its ability to regenerate.
But in the presence of this form of damage, the discomfort is usually not strong, the pain is mild, so the patient seeks help from the doctor very late.In the future, after the end of the treatment, the patient must also follow a gentle treatment regimen.