Types and causes of osteoarthritis

A disease such as osteoarthritis most often occurs in older people.But taking into account the environment, lifestyle and human diet, this disease has become significantly younger.Now you can meet her even among 20-year-olds.To know how to prevent or prevent the development of such a pathology, you need to understand what it is.

What is osteoarthritis?

If we resort to simple expressions to describe the disease, then it can be characterized as articular cartilage disease.This leads to their destruction and disruption of their functionality, as well as their modification.Very often, during the above processes, inflammation occurs in the joint capsule itself.Osteoarthritis can affect any joint, but the hip and knee joints are most commonly affected.

Causes of osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis, osteoarthritis - these are all other names for osteoarthritis.The disease, as mentioned previously, most often affects the elderly part of the population.This is due to old age, which leads to disruption of the body's systems.But if a person is still far from gray hair and osteoarthritis has happened to him, the following factors can be the reasons:

• damage, trauma to the musculoskeletal system.These include bruises, dislocations, ruptured tendons and other types of injuries;
• a congenital disease associated with underdevelopment of the joint.In other words, we talk about joint dysplasia;
• improper metabolism in the body;
• drinking large amounts of carbonated drinks, which wash away important microelements from bones;
• poor functioning of the thyroid gland, hyperglycemia and other disruptions in the human endocrine system;
• hemorrhage in the joint capsule.

The causes of osteoarthritis are very broad.Therefore, in order to start timely treatment, it is better to consult a doctor who will fight not only the symptoms, but also the cause of the disease.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis

The knee joint is usually affected first.Next comes the hip, then the disease spreads to the joints of the big toes of the lower limb.Osteoarthritis rarely affects other joints.To understand if this particular pathology exists, you need to know its symptoms.Important symptoms of osteoarthritis include four things:

• At the initial stage of the disease, pain appears in the joints during intense movements or stress.Most often they are expressed weakly, because of this osteoarthritis begins.The second stage is characterized by pain that occurs during minor loads on the damaged joint.At the third, the pain bothers you even when stopping.If a person has problems with the cardiovascular system, pain may occur during weather changes;
• In damaged joints, a dry, rough cracking sound occurs from time to time.The consequence is friction between the joint surfaces.In the second and third stages, these sounds become more distinct.It should be noted that the usual cracking of the joints, not accompanied by pain, does not indicate the presence of the disease and in no way affects its further appearance;
• muscle spasms occur, the joint space decreases, and bony growths appear.For this reason, the range of motion of the affected joint decreases;
• progressive modification of the joint.

The symptoms of osteoarthritis and arthritis have many similarities.Therefore, some people confuse these two concepts, or consider them to be the same.But thinking like this is a mistake.They are different diseases.The main difference is that with osteoarthritis, pain occurs with movement during the day.With arthritis, pain does not depend on movement and appears at night.They are sharper and more intense.

Types of osteoarthritis

The specific diversity of the disease is divided into two categories: by etymology and by the nature of the disease.Each of them contains several additional species, and then there is a specific division that includes a large number of varieties.

By etymology

Depending on the causes of appearance, two groups of joint osteoarthritis are distinguished:

1. Primary.Occurs mainly in patients under 40 years of age.In this case, the disease begins to develop without prior injury or damage;
2. Secondary.Osteoarthritis occurs due to certain reasons, including age-related changes in the body, disruption of the endocrine system, trauma, damage, and many others.

Depending on the nature of the disease

In total, there are three stages of osteoarthritis.In this case, a person may experience minor, intermittent pain, which will not interfere with normal functioning.In this case, he will not be able to see a doctor for several years.Other people may experience a disease that progresses quickly: in just one or two months, one stage of osteoarthritis progresses to another.Thus, it is not possible to establish the moment of transition from the first stage to the next.

Stages of osteoarthritis:

• first step.The pain is insignificant, weakly felt and appears only after severe stress on the joint.This is because the synovial fluid and membrane inside the joint capsule change.
• second stage.The intra-articular cartilage is destroyed and primary deformities begin.Bony growths also appear at this stage.All of the above is accompanied by pain even with minor loads on the affected area.
• third step.The last stage, at which the irreversible process of modification of the joint already occurs.At the same time, the length of the tendons decreases and muscle contractions become more difficult.Ultimately, the person loses their ability to work.

Since the consequences of advanced osteoarthritis do not promise anything pleasant, it is necessary to start treatment procedures on time.

Treatment of osteoarthritis

In order to receive a treatment program that delivers results, you need to contact a trusted specialist.He will study tests, lifestyle, carry out appropriate diagnostics and prescribe the necessary medications, as well as additional treatment methods.these may include the following:

• physiotherapy:
• physiotherapy;
• spa treatment;
• proper nutrition, as well as a number of others.

Very often, the technology of smooth development of the joint is used thanks to short and achievable loads on the damaged area.During this therapy, the joint is subjected to a slight painful pain, which subsides the next day.If the pain becomes more and more intense, then you should reconsider the loading system used and adjust it.But don’t stop development completely!

Osteoarthritis is a very common disease in modern society.Every year, more and more people are affected by the disease.This is due to the deterioration of the environmental situation, poor nutrition and the increase in the number of injuries.But technologies are also developing to help solve the problem of osteoarthritis.The main thing is therefore not to let the disease progress, to carry out regular diagnostics, and if osteoarthritis is detected, to immediately contact a doctor specializing in this area.