Arthropathy causes damage to the joints and degenerative-dystrophic changes in them. This requires appropriate and timely treatment. It may involve a set of conservative methods or imply the need for surgery.
Arthropathy is a chronic disease of a degenerative-dystrophic nature. It involves the destruction of cartilage and pathological changes in the capsule, articular organ, ligament and adjacent bone structures. Pathology requires a comprehensive approach to treatment.Medicines
One of the main areas of conservative treatment for arthritis is drug use. The following drugs are usually prescribed:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Relieve inflammation, pain and fever.
- Glucocorticosteroids. These drugs also relieve inflammation and pain, but are more effective.
- Painkillers. These include analgesics and some NSAIDs.
- Chondroprotectors. Such drugs are used in long-term courses. They are necessary for the restoration of the affected cartilage structures.
- Muscle relaxants and antispasmodics. These drugs also relieve pain by relieving muscle spasm.
- If arthritis is a consequence of gout, then gout medications are needed.
- Vasodilators. Such drugs have a vasodilating effect.
- Compressions are effective in the treatment of the joint, for which medical bile and other means are used.
- Complexes of vitamins and minerals. They are necessary for the activation of immunity, the normalization of the metabolism of materials and metabolic processes, the replenishment of missing elements and their assimilation. Calcium supplements are usually prescribed.
The individual drug selection is often wrong. The treating physician must prescribe drugs and determine the characteristics of their use.
Physiotherapy
Treatment of arthritis usually involves a variety of physical therapy procedures. They are used as part of conservative treatment and are prescribed after surgery to speed up recovery and reduce the risk of complications.
The following procedures are effective for arthritis:
- laser treatment- heat exposure to stimulate regeneration.
- magnetotherapy- increase vascular tone, activation of metabolic processes, accelerate recovery, relieve inflammation.
- ozokeritotherapy- warm-up to improve microcirculation and relieve pain.
- electrophoresis- administration of drugs by electric current.
- cryotherapy- exposure to low temperatures to relieve swelling, pain, reduce muscle tone.
- ultrasound- exposure to high frequency sound to improve the metabolism of materials.
- UHF therapy- softness of calcium deposits, normalization of material metabolism, reduction of edema.
- homeosiniatry- the introduction of homeopathic remedies in biologically active sites.
Physiotherapy procedures have contraindications. These include worsening of the inflammatory process, pregnancy, active tuberculosis. There are also some restrictions on individual procedures.
Massage
Massage is used for joint depression or the subacute period. In acute disease, this treatment is ruled out, as the affected joints need complete rest.
Massage for arthritis provides the following results:
- pain relief?
- return of mobility, elimination of stiffness.
- activation of blood circulation and lymph flow.
- prevention of muscle atrophy, strengthening of the muscular corset.
- improvement of metabolic processes and food tissue.
The characteristics of the massage depend on which joints are affected. In any case, such treatment should be performed exclusively by a qualified specialist. Before the massage, he must assess the degree of mobility, the condition of the muscles, to identify contractions, ankylosis, signs of pain.
The effectiveness of massage is provided by the application of the course. The number of sessions is determined separately. Periodically, massage lessons should be repeated - their frequency is also selected on an individual basis.
exercise therapy
Physiotherapy is actively used for arthritis. It is required for the activation of blood circulation and metabolic processes, the restoration of joint mobility and the strengthening of the muscular corset. In the initial stage, the exercise should be done under the supervision of an instructor.
In the future, you can exercise at home:
- Lie on your back on a firm surface and stretch your legs. Bend one leg at the knee, keeping the leg 5-10 cm above the floor. Correct in this position for 5 seconds, return to the starting position. Do 5 repetitions alternately on each leg.
- The starting position is the same. Bend one leg and press it with your hands on the body. Repair in a few seconds. Then place your foot on the floor and slowly straighten the limb. Do 10-15 reps for each leg.
- The starting position is the same. Raise your straight leg 25-30 cm above the floor and fasten it for a few seconds. Return to the starting position. Do 20-30 reps on each leg in a row.
- Lie on your stomach. Bend your knees alternately, trying to reach your buttocks with your heels, but without lifting your hips off the floor. Do 20-50 reps for each leg.
- The starting position is the same. Bend your knees alternately, securing yourself for a few seconds at the extreme point. Do 10 reps for each leg.
- Sit down and straighten your back. Alternatively bend and unblock the legs, maintaining a moderate pace. In the future, you can do the exercise with light weight.
- The starting position is the same. Lift your leg to form a right angle. Correct for 3 seconds and return to the starting position. Do 10 reps for each leg.
All exercises should be performed smoothly, abrupt movements are excluded. During exercise it is necessary to monitor your breathing - it should be calm and measured.
Lifestyle
Treatment of arthropathy includes some lifestyle changes:
- If you are overweight, you need to normalize it. This moment is especially important in case of damage to the lower extremities.
- Moderate physical activity. High loads should be excluded, so you should not engage in professional sports. The best option is physical therapy exercises and regular walking.
- Careful attitude towards your state of health. It is necessary the treatment of chronic diseases, the periodic intake of vitamin-mineral complexes, preventive examinations by a doctor.
- The right choice of clothes and shoes. A person should not feel shy. Tight clothes are full of stagnant blood, which is dangerous with arthropathy. Women should avoid high heels, shoes should be firm.
- Proper organization of sleep and workplace. All furniture should be comfortable. It should provide such a position of the body that does not slow down blood circulation, does not cause the flow of the limbs. If you have problems with movement, you should equip your home with special handles and handrails.
Diet
With arthritis, it is essential to follow a proper diet. The characteristics of the diet are individual and depend on many factors.
The general principles of nutrition are as follows:
- Fractional nutrition. You need 5-6 meals a day and the portions should be small.
- Proper metabolism is ensured by a sufficient amount of carbohydrates. Emphasis should be placed on complex carbohydrates - vegetables, fruits, berries, cereals.
- Elimination of simple carbohydrates - sugar, sweets.
- Vegetable fats are needed to speed up metabolic processes. As for the butter, only one natural product is useful.
- To restore cartilage structures, it is useful to use gelatinized meat, gelatin-based jelly.
- For cooking, you should limit yourself to cooking, cooking and steaming.
- Exclusion from the diet of spicy, salty, fatty, fried foods. Refusal of fatty meat, fast food, corn oil.
- The diet should be enriched with milk, cottage cheese, other dairy products and fermented milk products. Must be fatty or low in fat.
- You need foods rich in zinc and magnesium - liver, fish, nuts, pumpkin, legumes.
- Oranges and peppers are good sources of antioxidants. To relieve inflammation, you should use pomegranate, pineapple.
Special orthopedic aids
In the treatment of arthritis, various devices are often used to facilitate the patient's life and reduce the risk of certain complications.
The following structures are used in orthopedics:
- Cane - used to redistribute the load in case of damage to the lower extremities. It is usually used in the later stages of the disease, as well as after surgery.
- Corrections - used to correct joints. This allows you to reduce or adjust the mobility of the joint, gradually increasing it.
- Bandages - also used to repair joints, advantage after injuries and surgeries
- Corsets - used to fasten and straighten the torso, especially for hip joints.
- Heel pads - provide shock absorption and reduce load.
- Lining for flat feet correction, foot relief.
- Correctors for deformed fingers.
- Silicone protectors to protect deformed fingers.
If the arthropathy is caused by flat feet, orthopedic shoes and special insoles should be used. Such a measure is also necessary in case of damage to the lower extremities to reduce the risk of complications.
Joint extension
This technique is called traction. It can be manual or hardware. Adhesion is commonly used when the hip or knee joints are affected.
Adhesion involves applying lessons. On average, 10-12 sessions are required. They can be performed daily or every other day.
Joint extension is a temporary measure and should be repeated periodically. With arthritis, 2 courses are usually held annually.
Traditional medicine
The use of traditional medicine is suitable as an auxiliary direction in treatment.
The following recipes are effective for arthritis:
- Compressed with cabbage or horseradish leaves. The selected sheet should be washed or chopped at various points, applied to the affected area, secured with foil and insulated. It is also effective to pre-dip the leaf in honey. Such a compress should be maintained for several hours and done several times a day. Mix equal parts iodine (5%), ammonia (10%), bile, glycerin and honey. Mix the ingredients and place in a dark place for a week and a half. Before use, shake the mixture and heat the required volume in a water bath. Wet a paper towel in the composition, apply to the affected area, fasten with cellophane and insulate. Squeeze at night until you recover.
- 50 g of dried elecampane root pour half a glass of vodka and leave for 2 weeks in the dark. Rub the toothache joints with the resulting product.
- Grind the shells into a powder, mix with kefir to make a thick mixture. Wrap it in linen and attach it to the affected area, secure it with polyethylene and reinforce it. Squeeze every day and hold for 2. 5 hours
- Mix equal parts of honey with glycerin, alcohol and iodine. Gently spread the mixture with a cotton ball, moving from the bottom up.
- Pour half a liter of water over a handful of boiled oats and cook for 10 minutes. Apply warm to the affected area, secure with foil and insulate. Wait an hour.
Natural remedies also have contraindications and side effects. Each new product should be used with caution, starting with the minimum dose and duration of use.
Surgical treatment
Surgery is necessary in case of serious pathological changes, development of serious complications and the ineffectiveness of a conservative approach.
Surgical treatment of arthropathy can be performed in the following ways:
- Arthroplasty- restoration of joint surfaces. The indication may be ankylosis, contractions. Such an operation is possible only if there is no acute inflammatory process.
- Arthrotomy- opening of the joint to remove foreign body, endoprostheses, purulent contents.
- Arthrodesis- anchorage (joint immobility) is created artificially. The operation can be intra- and extra-articular.
- Resection- partial or complete removal of the joint surface and the joint to create immobility within the joint.
- Arthrorisis- creating conditions to restrict joint mobility.
- Endoprostheses- implant placement for complete or partial replacement of the affected joint.
- Periarticular osteotomy- archiving bones and exposing them to a specific angle. This measure allows you to shift the center of gravity and redistribute the load.