Arthrosis is a disease accompanied by dystrophic changes in articular cartilage without an inflammatory process. As a rule, this disease is most often diagnosed in the elderly (after 45 years). However, there are exceptions when the disease strikes at a younger age, especially after an injury. It is impossible to get rid of it completely. To relieve the bitterness and improve the general condition, the treatment of arthrosis should be comprehensive.
How to treat arthrosis?
In complex therapy, the following are used:
- drugs (pain relievers, anti-inflammatory drugs, chondroprotectors);
- physiotherapy (heating, laser, UVT therapy, electrophoresis, ultrasound);
- special training;
- surgical intervention (at the final stage, if there is no drug effectiveness);
- folk remedies;
- massage therapy;
- non-traditional methods (hirudotherapy, acupuncture, acupuncture).
Each stage of treatment should be developed by the doctor individually for each patient.
How to treat arthrosis with medicine?
To date, there are a large number of drugs 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, because 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 in damaged joints;
- hyaluronic acid for intra-articular injection - used as a lubricant for joints, it can prevent friction, reduce pain, help in the formation of hyaluronate.
If the joint has suffered a severe deformity, drug treatment will be powerless. Only surgery can replace it.
Physiotherapy
Warming up the body helps relieve pain and normalize blood circulation. However, this method is only used in the early stages of the development of the disease, when there are no serious injuries. Sometimes doctors recommend their patients to visit the bath, believing that it has a good effect on well-being. But it should be remembered that it is necessary to warm the joint moderately. Overheating, like hypothermia, will adversely affect the development of the disease. It is also forbidden to heat the damaged area during an exacerbation.
One of the physiotherapy methods involves the use of lasers to stop the progression of the degenerative process. During the procedure, the sore spot is exposed to a flux of light. As a result, it is possible to improve blood circulation, relieve inflammation, swelling, and relieve pain. Before the laser procedure, the patient must be examined. When aggravated, it is prohibited.
The effectiveness of electrophoresis in arthrosis has been proven. The affected area is affected by a special setup, through which an electric field is created. Due to this, the drug breaks down into ions, then moves to the upper layer of the skin, enters the bloodstream and spreads throughout the body.
UVT therapy helps cure arthrosis. This procedure helps remove inflammation, soften calcium deposits and remove them from the body, reducing swelling. However, this physiotherapy method 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 recovery period after surgery.
Surgical intervention
When medication is ineffective, which usually happens in the advanced stages of the disease, the doctor may decide to undergo surgery. There are several types of such operations:
- arthroplasty - damaged cartilage is replaced with an artificial pad, which helps reduce pain and increase mobility;
- prosthetics - the joint is completely removed, and a prosthesis made of special material is installed instead, which helps prevent rejection by the body;
- arthroscopy - helps to prevent the destruction of the joint, during the operation, the area with the inflammatory process is removed.
If the patient consults the doctor in the early stages of the disease, surgery can be avoided.
People's recovery
In complex therapy, in addition to drugs, folk remedies are used that help relieve the patient from unpleasant symptoms.
The following recipes have gained popularity:
- mix the same amount of calendula inflorescences, birch leaves and nettle leaves, then pour 2 tablespoons of the 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 in a wool scarf, stand overnight;
- 2 teaspoons of celery juice taken 3 times a day;
- squeeze the juice from the 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 a compress at night;
- pharmacy root elecampane (25 g) insisted 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 important to consult a doctor who, after a detailed examination, can indicate possible complications;
- it is important not only to consult a specialist, but also to perform 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 dose, because in this case the risk of side effects increases;
- it is advisable to use fresh infusions and ointments, because harvested for future use is not suitable for every recipe;
- if unwanted effects occur, treatment should be stopped and another drug should be selected.
To protect yourself from complications, you should follow these simple rules.
Special training
Therapeutic exercises are provided to prevent ligament weakness 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.
Exercise is prohibited during exacerbation, as well as earlier than 6 days after the removal of severe pain. The main task in performing therapeutic exercises is to restore mobility and flexibility.
A non-traditional way
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 at special points corresponding to certain active zones. This helps improve microcirculation in the tissues, relieves muscle spasms, and reduces swelling. Medicinal leech saliva has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.
Acupuncture is based on the activation of specific points with needles. Sometimes burning wormwood is also used instead. The effect is similar to the results of hirudotherapy. Metabolic processes improve significantly, blood circulation increases, and pain syndrome is relieved.
All the above procedures should be carried out only by specialists. Otherwise, instead of improvement, a sudden deterioration in the situation may occur.
Massage therapy
The most desired result of the therapeutic sequence is the restoration of the working capacity of the affected joint. However, this is possible when joint arthrosis is at an early stage of development. Massage should be done only by a specialist. Sometimes patients are allowed to do it themselves, but for this it is necessary to learn these techniques. Before the procedure, the damaged area is heated using a regular warm bath or exercise therapy.
One of the types is hydromassage, which is done by soaking in a warm water bath. The full course is up to 20 procedures. They are recommended to be repeated at least twice a year. If the massage is done correctly, afterwards 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 aggravation.