Osteoarthritis is a condition that occurs in a joint due to the destruction of the cartilage tissue that covers the heads of the bones that enter the joint. Osteoarthritis can develop in the joints of the limbs and spine, especially often the disease affects the knee joint (knee osteoarthritis) and the hip joint (coxarthrosis).
It is also important to understand what osteoarthritis is, so as not to aggravate the development of the disease with improperly taken measures.
Causes of osteoarthritis
Basically, the causes of osteoarthritis of the joints are associated with the aging of cartilage cells. Therefore, the disease of osteoarthritis is diagnosed in most cases in the elderly. Excessive stress also leads to premature aging of the joint. Athletes and people who are constantly involved in heavy physical labor are also at risk.
In addition, the causes that led to osteoarthritis are often associated with insufficient nutrition of the joint or slow metabolism. This can be the result of a joint injury or insufficient blood supply to the periarticular tissues.
Destruction of cartilage tissue can also provoke a disease such as psoriasis, in this case, doctors observe a specific form of psoriatic arthritis: the skin of the diseased joint is covered with psoriatic plaques, the skin turns grayish.
Prolonged inflammation (arthritis of the joint) can cause arthritis of the joints; a prolonged inflammatory process in the joint without proper treatment threatens a complicated form of deforming osteoarthritis.
Excess weight can also be the cause of the development of the disease, since the higher the body weight, the greater the constant load on the joints.
Studies have also shown that a genetic factor is sufficient for the occurrence of osteoarthritis. So, for example, the disease of osteoarthritis of the interphalangeal joints of the hands in women occurs 10 times more often.
Symptoms
Common symptoms that indicate the onset of osteoarthritis of the joints are pain syndrome and stiffness of movement.
Pain syndrome with osteoarthritis occurs in most cases at the time of the load on the joint and at rest, the discomfort subsides. In addition, pain can occur during sudden movements or turns, while it is short-lived and only reappears with the next awkward movement. These signs of osteoarthritis are reason enough to seek immediate medical attention.
In advanced stages, the pain syndrome can become permanent. In addition, over time, symptoms such as crunches in the joints and a feeling of muscle tension around the joint may appear. Rashes in the joint area characterize psoriatic osteoarthritis.
Types of osteoarthritis
Depending on the joint in the part of the body affected, osteoarthritis is:
- hip joint;
- knee joints;
- hands;
- spine;
- Stop.
Psoriatic osteoarthritis mainly affects the knee joints and the joints of the hands.
There are four stages of osteoarthritis, the fourth stage is also called deforming osteoarthritis, when the pathological changes in the joint become irreversible, the joint itself is practically destroyed and ceases to perform its functions.
If the pathology has affected several joints at the same time, polyarthrosis is diagnosed.
Psoriatic osteoarthritis is diagnosed when the usual symptoms of osteoarthritis are supplemented by specific rashes.
Diagnostic
It is almost impossible to make the correct diagnosis, let alone prescribe the correct treatment on your own. The most likely way would be to see a doctor. Modern diagnostic methods allow the specialist to apply the most optimal direction of treatment.
The main types of diagnosis
- X-ray: the image shows the degree of joint deformity;
- laboratory tests: confirmation of the presence of a pathological process in the joint will be an increase in ESR in the blood;
- analysis of synovial fluid and histological examination of the synovium: allows the doctor to determine the presence of pathological formations in the joint.
In addition, the doctor should examine and palpate the affected joint. Thus, a visual examination will reveal signs of psoriatic osteoarthritis. Only an integrated approach to studying test results can give a real picture of the disease and confirm the diagnosis.
Onset and course of the disease
The onset of osteoarthritis usually goes unnoticed by the patient, the pain in the early stages of the disease is barely noticeable and does not cause significant concern. The first thing that patients usually experience is a feeling of discomfort after a long stay at rest, for example, short-term stiffness in the joints in the morning. Over time, the connection between physical activity and pain in the joint begins to be drawn. A slight pain on exertion begins to intensify. In later stages, the pain can also be bothersome during periods of rest at night. Painful sensations in osteoarthritis differ in frequency, intensify during periods of exacerbation, they may not appear at all during periods of remission.
For the most part, patients go to the doctor when there is already a very pronounced pain syndrome and limited movement, which makes a normal life impossible. The advanced stage of osteoarthritis is also indicated by symptoms such as lameness and subluxation of the joints, the onset of which is associated with the presence of large deformities of the joint and deterioration of cartilage tissue.
Processing
The earlier treatment is started, the more likely it is that the joint will start to function fully again, although modern medicine does not speak of the complete disappearance of the disease. The main factors in the treatment of osteoarthritis are its complexity and consistency. The doctor must take into account many different factors: the stage of the disease, the specifics of the clinical picture, the causes of its occurrence and the degree of impairment of the function of the musculoskeletal system. If acute osteoarthritis is diagnosed, treatment begins with the appointment of pain relieving drugs.
The treatment takes place in three stages:
- Relief of joint tension.
- Relief from synovitis.
- Rehabilitation and preventive measures aimed at slowing the further development of the disease.
In each case, an individual approach is required. The drugs affect each organism with varying degrees of effectiveness, and the tolerance and side effects of these drugs should be taken into account. In many cases, the disease develops against the background of an infection already present in the body. So, in the case of psoriatic osteoarthritis, measures are taken to eliminate the psoriasis.