Osteoarthritis refers to degenerative changes in the joints that begin with the depletion of cartilage tissue and over time lead to a limitation or complete loss of mobility.The disease is more susceptible to the elderly, but it also develops in people under 40 years of age.The prevalence of the diagnosis is high - about 20% of the world's population, of which up to 80% are in patients over 70 years old.
How does the disease develop?
To understand what arthrosis (an alternative name is osteoarthritis) is, you need to understand how the joint works.The articulation of two or more bones is surrounded by a joint capsule and remains mobile thanks to a cavity filled with synovial fluid.The elastic mass acts as a lubricant, preventing friction and premature wear of the joint surfaces.Cartilage tissue, in turn, works as a shock absorber.In individual joints, its functions are supplemented by menisci or discs.
The main cause of degenerative changes in arthrosis is the discrepancy between external influences and the ability of the joint to withstand them.The role of a provoking factor can play:
- age, injury, excess weight;
- lack of nutrients;
- excessive physical activity;
- inflammatory processes;
- genetic diseases;
- autoimmune reactions, etc.
Osteoarthritis in older people is usually the result of natural aging and wear and tear of bone structures.Therefore, after 50 years it is diagnosed in every third person, and after 70 years - in every second person.Also, the accelerated destruction of some joints is characteristic of representatives of a number of professions: mechanics, loaders, weavers, ballerinas, etc.
Under the influence of adverse factors, cartilage tissue is damaged and thinned.As a result, the bones shift and begin to rub against each other, causing noticeable discomfort.The process is accompanied by inflammation and swelling.The joint surfaces are deformed, the lost cartilage tissue is replaced by bone spurs and growths that make movement difficult and lead to disability.In such cases, only a strong pain reliever can relieve the pain for a long time.
Types of arthrosis
Destructive processes in the joints are called primary if the cause of their occurrence is unknown, and secondary if they develop against the background of certain diseases and conditions.Acute arthrosis is associated with infectious and stressful factors and is characterized by a rapid progression.The chronic form develops gradually, threatening to limit physical activity if therapy is refused.Also, the type of disease is determined by the place of its development.
Osteoarthritis of the hip joint (coxarthrosis)
It is accompanied by pain in the groin, which spreads to the surface of the thigh, sometimes affecting the area of the lower leg.In the initial stages, difficulties arise when walking, moving up stairs, and during long walks - lameness.Subsequently, it becomes difficult for a person to do elementary things related to the load on the diseased joint: putting on shoes, riding a bicycle, tying shoes, walking without crutches.Muscles atrophy, the leg shortens, back and knee pains appear.In the absence of therapy, the likelihood of damage is high.
Arthrosis of the knee joint (gonarthrosis)
It is often diagnosed in women, it is severe with overweight and varicose veins.Discomfort in the knee increases in bad weather, when climbing stairs or during physical activity.As the disease progresses, flexion-extension movements are impaired, limb deformities, signs of inflammation and swelling appear.Knee arthrosis is often confused with meniscus damage, which is characterized by faster development.
Osteoarthritis of the spine
A common form of degenerative joint processes, which can be caused both by high loads or mineral deficiency, and by a number of diseases affecting the vertebrae.The difficulty of the diagnosis is due to the fact that the symptoms are masked as clinical manifestations of other pathologies.Osteoarthritis of the spine can develop in different areas: thoracic, lumbar, cervical, sacrococcygeal.Accordingly, the symptoms and names will be different.
Ankle arthrosis
It is often the result of domestic or occupational injuries, excess weight or relationship problems.It starts with pain and swelling in the ankle area, which worsens after physical exertion and prolonged walking.Crunching and limited mobility may be present and progress as the degenerative processes progress.The diagnosis is complicated by edema, which is associated with other diseases: diabetes, kidney damage, heart disease.
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint (oarthrosis)
It is usually caused by a sprain, a hard blow, or a fracture.There is an aching pain radiating to the lower part of the limb, which is especially troublesome at night.As the cartilage deteriorates, difficulties occur with abduction, rotation, and other movements of the arm.The disease must be distinguished from heart problems and diseases of the spine, which have similar manifestations.
Arthrosis of the joints of the legs
It affects both the big and small joints of the foot.Quite often, a destructive process develops in the area of the thumb, which is why it is assumed to be gout.The provoking factor is usually not an injury to the feet, but an incorrect choice of shoes in combination with flat feet.In a narrow space, the joint area is injured, thickened, inflamed and loses mobility.
Arthrosis of joints and fingers
Damage to the small joints, as a rule, is multiple and develops on both hands.The process is usually associated with changes in hormonal levels, so it is often observed in women during menopause.In the acute stage, the joints swell, turn red, and nodules may appear on them.Gradually, the pain decreases, but the deformations of the fingers increase and the mobility is lost.
Injuries and pinched nerves in the arm area can lead to degenerative processes in the wrist joint.The prerequisite is often tunnel syndrome, due to which blood circulation suffers.Rhizarthrosis, which is provoked by loads on the base of the thumb, is also common.The pain in this type of arthrosis is moderate, but mobility may be impaired and crunching may occur on exertion.
Arthrosis of the temporomandibular joint
It often appears against the background of dental problems, autoimmune and endocrine pathologies.Often the provoking factor is chronic stress, causing muscle tension and convulsive clenching of teeth, which disrupts the nutrition of the joint capsule.The disease is accompanied by discomfort in the jaw and can lead to dizziness, impaired hearing, sleep and facial symmetry.
Among the large lesions, the most common are gonarthrosis, coxarthrosis and arthrosis of the shoulder joint.The joints of the hands and the spine are most often affected in small children.Degenerative processes in the area of the patella, clavicle, talanovicular and elbow joints are significantly less common.They are usually provoked by injuries or specific stress, in particular professional sports or work with monotonous movements.
Other types of arthrosis
Another classification of the disease is related to the nature of the destructive processes and the causes that provoke them.If the degenerative changes are related to the consequences of an injury, they speak of post-traumatic arthrosis.When autoimmune diseases become a factor that causes the depletion of cartilage tissue, a distinction is made between the rheumatoid and psoriatic types.
If the disease affects one joint, it is called localized arthrosis.If several joints are affected, the term polyarthrosis (or generalized osteoarthritis) is used.The progressive form of the disease refers to the rapid destruction of cartilage, which develops in just a few years.If the process is accompanied by bone growths and affects ligaments and nearby tissues, deforming osteoarthritis is diagnosed.
Stages of arthrosis
Degenerative processes in the joint develop gradually, eventually leading to complete thinning and destruction of the cartilage.The initial changes are noticeable only at the cellular level, but with the transition to the next stages of arthrosis, the clinical signs become more and more pronounced.Their nature, as well as X-ray indicators, are the basis of the classification of the disease.
Arthrosis of the joint 1st stage
Accompanied by minor changes in bone and cartilage tissue.They are still poorly visible on ultrasound and X-ray examination, but are already visible on computed tomography.With significant loads, short-term pain, swelling and movement in the affected area are somewhat limited.There is some narrowing of the joint space and sharpening of the bony edges.At this stage, the disease responds well to drug therapy.
Arthrosis of the joints 2 stage
Destructive processes are progressing.Photographs show significant narrowing of the joint space, cartilage damage reaches 50%.The pain is still mild but becoming constant.Symptoms characteristic of each type of arthrosis appear, such as lameness, reduced range of motion, crunching, accumulation of fluid in the synovial cavity, etc.Treatment of joint arthrosis at this stage of the disease allows to slow down the destructive changes.
Arthrosis of the joints 3 stage
The disease leads to complete destruction of the cartilage.The joint surfaces expand significantly due to bone growths, the gap practically disappears.Caries, cystic formations and deformities may appear.Destruction of bones begins, thinning of muscle fibers adjacent to the joint.Flexion and rotation movements are limited.The pain is intense.In the absence of treatment, the processes of fusion and ossification of joint structures begin, which is accompanied by a complete loss of mobility.The patient loses the ability to care for himself and needs constant care.
Early stages of arthrosis respond well to drug therapy, which allows you to maintain maximum mobility and stop degenerative processes.In advanced cases, it is possible to relieve the condition only with the help of physiotherapy, taking chondroprotectors, anti-inflammatory and pain relievers.In some cases, the only treatment option is surgery.