Arthrosis is a condition that occurs in a joint due to the destruction of the cartilaginous tissue that covers the heads of bones that enter the joint. Osteoarthritis can develop in the joints of the limbs and spine, especially often the disease affects the knee joint (gonarthrosis) and the hip joint (coxarthrosis).
It is also important to understand what arthrosis is so as not to aggravate the development of the disease with inadequate measures.
causes of arthrosis
Basically, the causes of arthrosis of the joints are associated with the aging of cartilage cells, so arthrosis disease is most often diagnosed in elderly people. Excessive stress also leads to premature aging of the joint. Athletes and people who are constantly involved in forced physical labor are also at risk.
In addition, the causes that lead to arthrosis are often associated with poor joint nutrition or slow metabolism in the joint. This can be the result of joint damage or impaired blood supply to periarticular tissues.
The destruction of cartilage tissue can also cause a disease such as psoriasis, in which case doctors look at a specific form of psoriatic arthrosis: the skin of the diseased joint is covered with psoriatic plaques, the skin becomes grayish.
Prolonged inflammation (joint arthritis) can cause arthrosis of the joints; a prolonged inflammatory process in the joint without adequate treatment threatens a complicated form of deforming arthrosis.
Excess weight can also be the culprit for the development of the disease, as the more body weight, the greater the constant load on the joints.
Studies also show that a genetic factor is sufficient for the occurrence of osteoarthritis. Thus, for example, arthrosis disease of the interphalangeal joints of the hands in women occurs 10 times more frequently.
Symptoms
The common symptoms that indicate the occurrence of joint arthrosis are pain syndrome and stiffness of movement.
Arthrosis pain syndrome occurs in most cases at the time of load on the joint and, at rest, the discomfort disappears. In addition, pain can occur with sudden movements or turns, although it is short-lived and only reappears on the next awkward movement. These signs of osteoarthritis are reason enough to see a doctor right away.
In advanced stages, the pain syndrome can become permanent. Also, over time, symptoms such as crushing the joints and a feeling of muscle tension around the joint may appear. Skin rashes in the joint area characterize psoriatic arthrosis.
Types of arthrosis
Depending on which joint in which part of the body is affected, arthrosis is:
- the hip joint;
- knee joints;
- hands;
- column;
- Stop.
Psoriatic arthrosis mainly affects the joints of the knees and hands.
There are four stages of arthrosis, the fourth stage is also called deforming arthrosis, when pathological changes in the joint become irreversible, the joint itself is practically destroyed and ceases to perform its functions.
If the pathology affected several joints at the same time, polyarthrosis is diagnosed.
Psoriatic arthrosis is diagnosed when the usual symptoms of arthrosis are complemented by specific skin rashes.
Diagnosis
It is almost impossible to make the correct diagnosis and even more so to prescribe the proper treatment on your own. The most likely way would be to see a doctor. Modern diagnostic methods allow the specialist to apply the most appropriate direction of treatment.
The main types of diagnoses
- X-ray: the image shows the degree of deformation of the joint;
- laboratory tests: confirmation of the presence of a pathological process in the joint will be an increase in ESR in the blood;
- synovial fluid analysis and histological examination of the synovia: allows the physician to determine the presence of pathological formations in the joint.
In addition, the doctor will need to examine and palpate the affected joint. Therefore, a visual examination will reveal signs of psoriatic arthrosis. Only an integrated approach to studying test results can give a true picture of the disease and confirm the diagnosis.
Onset and course of the disease
The appearance of arthrosis, as a rule, goes unnoticed by the patient, the pain in the early stages of the disease is almost imperceptible and does not pose any significant concern. The first thing patients usually feel is a feeling of discomfort after a long stay at rest, for example, temporary stiffness of the joints in the morning. Over time, the connection between physical activity and joint pain begins to be drawn. The slight pain with exertion begins to intensify. In subsequent stages, pain can also be uncomfortable during rest periods at night. Pain sensations in arthrosis differ in frequency, intensifying during periods of exacerbation, and may not even appear during periods of remission.
Most of the time, patients go to the doctor when there is already a very pronounced pain syndrome and limited movement, which makes it impossible to lead a normal life. The advanced stage of arthrosis is also indicated by symptoms such as lameness and joint subluxation, the occurrence of which is associated with the presence of large joint deformities and deterioration of the cartilage tissue.
Treatment
The sooner therapy is started, the more likely the joint will start to function fully again, although modern medicine is not talking about the complete disappearance of the disease. The main factors in the treatment of arthrosis are its complexity and consistency. The clinician needs to take into account many different factors: the stage of the disease, the specifics of the clinical picture, the causes of its occurrence, and take into account how impaired the function of the musculoskeletal system is. If acute osteoarthritis is diagnosed, treatment begins with the indication of pain-relieving medications.
The treatment takes place in three stages:
- Relief of joint tension.
- Relief from synovitis.
- Rehabilitation and preventive measures designed to delay the development of the disease.
In each case, an individual approach is required. Medications affect each organism with varying degrees of effectiveness, and tolerance and side effects of these medications must be taken into account. In many cases, the disease develops in the context of an infection already present in the body. Therefore, in the case of psoriatic arthrosis, steps are taken to eliminate the psoriasis.