Arthrosis (osteoarthritis or osteoarthritis (doa) or deforming arthrosis)- The disease of the joints, in which the joint cartilage is influenced in the initial phases, therefore the muscles, the ligaments, the nerves and the bone tissue, are included in the pathological process.
Arthosis is a disease that develops due to various causes.These include metabolic disorders, lesions, intoxication, etc.
Patients usually call "arthrosis" any joint disease in which pain, mobility restrictions and other unpleasant sensations in the area of one or more joints are observed, which is not always true.Osteoarthritis and the pain associated with it develop following the "aging" of the joints, due to the effects of various negative factors, however, the causes of joint pain can be both infections and injuries, and in these cases we are talking about other pathologies.
Statistics
Up to 70% of patients appointing a generic doctor, therapist, neurologist, surgeon, rheumatologist complains of joint pain.Very often, these are pain in the lower back and in the area of large joints (knee, hip).All over the world, and in Russia in particular, up to 70% of cases of long -term inability for work falls on osteoarthritis.There are a lot of patients: up to 10% of those who consist with the doctor due to advanced arthrosis receive disabilities and need constant assistance.Arthosis is one of the main reasons for the premature departure of a person from a full social life, in statistics it is second only to coronary diseases.
The probability of developing arthrosis increases with age: in people with more than 50 years, it occurs in 27% of cases, in elderly people over the age of 70, the prevalence is 97%, due to the load financed on the age on the joints and the expiry of their normal functioning.
Causes and development
The main factor in the development of arthrosis is a violation of the nutrition of the joint cartilage, which leads to its destruction.It is not so important, due to which this happens (great excess weight, professional sport, work characteristics, hormonal disorders, congenital joint defects, etc.), the result is the same: the result:
- The changes begin in the joint cartilage, which lead to a loss of elasticity;In the thickness of the cartilage, Microcack appear;
- The blood flow to the joint is disturbed, the production of joint fluid is reduced, the mechanics of the articulation changes;
- So all joint structures, adjacent muscles and nerve endings are involved.
The listed degenerative disorders lead to the development of the symptoms of arthrosis and the disease "begins" to the moment in which the constant mechanical load becomes transcendental for the joints (or the joints) and triggers the processes of its destruction.
Symptoms
Unlike other joint pathologies, arthrosis has developed for many years, for a long time and imperceptibly for man.At the time when the body reports the problem in the joint with severe pain, the pathological process has already been launched in it.
Pain is the main symptom of arthrosis (osteoarthritis), in the initial stages of not very expressed, weak pain, more comparable to the discomfort.The unpleasant sensations in the joints occur after the load takes place independently, without any medical or medicinal intervention, but quickly become tangible and limit the usual human mobility.
Pain can occur at rest or at the beginning of the movement (the so -called "initial"), for example, in the morning after sleep or after a long seat during the day in a position, when they move, pass.Arthosis is also characterized by night rest, which quickly decreases even with the start of motor activity.Patients encountered by joint problems usually affirm that to eliminate unpleasant sensations, "knead the bones", "wake up the joints", which, in general, characterize this condition quite carefully.
Pain arises not only because of the articulation disorders itself.When all components of the joint, the muscles and nerve endings are involved in the process, the pain becomes diversified and painful: "shoot" along the nerve that spreads along the muscle.The flow of blood to the joints, the nerves, the muscles is disturbed, degenerative changes occur quickly.
Temporary or constant restrictions develop to joint mobility (contracture) due to serious pathological changes in joint and muscle tissues.For example, with arthrosis of the hip joints, shortening of the limb, "inclination" of the pelvis and the curvature of the spinal column.
The creak in the joints in the initial stages is almost invisible, but as the disease develops when it moves, it becomes constant.This symptom psychologically concerns patients with arthrosis even more than pain, since it indicates in particular serious disorders, body aging and musculoskeletal system.
In the subsequent stages of arthrosis, the articulation is deformed, which is associated with the loss with the curvature of all joint surfaces, bone growth, a decrease in the amount of joint fluid and a subluxation of the joint.
Phases
Depending on the severity of the symptoms, several phases of osteoarthritis are distinguished.
In the first phase, there are no rest pains and during moderate load, they appear only after a high load (fitness, weight transfer, operation) or after a long static position.A person does not experience restrictions and difficulties in movement.Pharmacological treatment is not required.
In the second phase of pain, pronounced and constant, it quickly presents itself under the influence of provocative factors (prolonged walk, physical activity), do not transmit alone.The patient is limited in motion, the mobility of some joints: the knee, the hip and others is clearly limited.Medical assistance is required, a treatment regime should be prescribed, including non -pharmacological drugs and methods.
In the third phase, the patient moves with difficulty, he needs constant care, painful pain.As a rule, surgical treatment (endoprothetic) and massive physiotherapy are needed to restore the quality of life.
The symptoms of osteoarthritis already appear at a young age and in this case it is necessary not to ignore them, but consult a doctor.The prescribed timely treatment will support the normal function of the joints and help avoid rapid progress of the disease.