Types of arthrosis - complete classification of joint diseases

What it is

Arthrosis is a disease of the joints of a degenerative-dystrophic nature with the gradual destruction of cartilage and proliferation of bone tissue. At the beginning of the development of the disease, the cartilage tissue dries out and becomes less elastic and elastic. The cartilage covered with cracks no longer slides, but rubs, becoming even thinner. The pressure on the underlying bone increases, and it begins to harden and become deformed. The heads of the bones no longer have a cartilaginous shock absorber; they, not only the top layer of bone, are flattened, compensatingly increasing the joint area. Degenerated bone tissue (osteophytes) appears and grows along its edges.

Bone growths in arthrosis are NOT salt deposition. Therefore, thoughtless “distillation of salts” in this disease is a waste of time and will not bring any benefit.

Depending on the severity of the pathological process and the localization of the pathology, several types of arthrosis are distinguished. When diagnosing, it is important to determine what type of disease the patient has, since the volume and duration of treatment depends on this.

Risk groups by age and gender

Joint diseases manifest themselves mainly in old age - against the background of natural wear and tear of tissues. The risk group also includes those who have received weak bone joints genetically - by inheritance, as well as those suffering from diabetes, obesity, and chronic ailments. But there are other trends.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis occurs among minors.
Gout develops as a result of excessive consumption of meat, chocolate and red wine, and is therefore considered a “disease of aristocrats”.
Women often experience inflammation of the joints caused by hormonal fluctuations.
In men, diseases of a traumatic nature predominate.

Arthrosis is no longer considered a disease of the elderly: recently it has become noticeably younger

Classification of arthrosis according to Kosinskaya (by stages)

The most popular among domestic orthopedists is the classification of arthrosis proposed by prof. N.S. Kosinskaya in 1961, since it takes into account not only changes in the joint visible on x-rays, but also the presence and severity of clinical symptoms. Clinical and radiological signs of the disease according to Kosinskaya are divided into 3 stages (there is an erroneous classification on the Internet - 4 stages, this is incorrect).

Stage 1 arthrosis

The first sign of the disease is pain during physical activity, which goes away during rest. The range of motion in the joint is not changed. Visible on the x-ray:

slight and uneven narrowing of the joint space;
primary osteosclerosis (bone hardening).

For example, with gonarthrosis, the knee begins to hurt when walking, especially when climbing stairs or going down. Unpleasant sensations also appear when you stay on your feet for a long time, but as soon as you rest, the pain syndrome disappears. At this stage, arthrosis is highly treatable - you can completely get rid of unpleasant sensations.

Stage 2 arthrosis

The patient complains of moderate and constant pain. Mobility in the joint is limited, muscle wasting is noted when, as a result of decreased tone, the muscle is tense and resists movement. In addition, for arthrosis, symptoms characteristic of this disease are added at the location. For example, with coxarthrosis, lameness appears, the doctor determines a slight frontal deformation of the limb axis.

On the x-ray:

The narrowing of the joint space is clearly visible (2-3 times compared to a healthy joint);
osteophytes (marginal bone growths) appear, which can also be in the area of the intercondylar eminence;
subchondral sclerosis (formation of sweaty connective tissue) becomes pronounced.

At this stage it is also effective and will allow you to stop the destruction of the joint for a long time.

Any localization and form of arthrosis has serious complications, so you should not delay treatment.
See how easily the disease can be cured in 10-12 sessions.

Stage 3 arthrosis

At stage 3 according to Kosinskaya, the x-ray shows that the joint space is practically absent. The articular surfaces are expanded due to extensive bone growths along the edges and are sclerotic. Their fragmentation, cystic clearings and cavities are common (subchondral focal necrosis, the bone under the cartilage begins to collapse).

When examining the patient, note:

joint deformation;
persistent limitation of flexion-extension and rotational movements;
pronounced pain syndrome;
deformation of the limb or spine (depending on the location of arthrosis);
atrophy of the muscles adjacent to the joint.

If stage 3 symptoms are detected, you should immediately consult a doctor. In addition to drug therapy, the patient is prescribed massage, physiotherapy, and physical therapy. Only comprehensive treatment can significantly improve the ability to move and avoid surgery.

3 stages of arthrosis

Symptoms and diagnosis

Among the complaints that concern patients with articular pathology are:

– Soreness; – Swelling and puffiness; – Change of shape; – Stiffness of movements; – Inability to perform normal range of motion.

Doctors call them joint syndrome. Doctors call them joint syndrome. Redness of the skin, rashes and dense nodules are also possible. Among the general symptoms, patients often complain of increased temperature in the affected area or the whole body, and increased fatigue.

Reading the previous section, you may have noticed that all these symptoms occur in almost any joint pathology. Therefore, it is impossible to make a clear diagnosis based only on your complaints - you need an examination and consultation with a doctor.

During the examination of the patient, the doctor not only pays attention to his complaints. To make an accurate diagnosis, it is important to know the time of their occurrence, which joint is affected, whether it is one or several, whether the lesion is symmetrical and other factors.

Let's look at each symptom in more detail:

Soreness: Occurs in almost every pathology. Doctors distinguish several types of it:

– Inflammatory – intensifies closer to the morning, after a period of rest. Characteristic for rheumatoid, juvenile, gouty arthritis, spondyloarthritis.

– Mechanical – appears during physical activity or a change in body position, often in the late afternoon, goes away after rest. Characteristic of osteoarthritis, osteoarthritis, osteochondrosis, pathology of periarticular tissues.

– “Starting” - occurs in the first 15–20 minutes of physical activity after a period of rest. Characteristic of osteoarthritis.

– “Blocked” - caused by pinching of a cartilage fragment in the joint space, as a result of which the joint “jams”. May be accompanied by a crunching sound. Occurs in osteoarthritis.

– Constant – persists, regardless of load and time of day, may intensify at night. Characteristic of osteochondropathy, osteomyelitis, tumors and bone tuberculosis.

Number of affected joints:

– One (monoarthritis): for juvenile, gouty, psoriatic arthritis. – Two to four (oligoarthritis): for rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis. – More than four (polyarthritis): for rheumatoid, gouty arthritis.

Symmetry of the lesion:

– Symmetrical: for rheumatoid arthritis. – Asymmetrical: for spondyloarthritis, gout, osteoarthritis. – “Migratory”: for gout.

Morning stiffness in the joints: The patient feels it as the impossibility and tension of movement. It happens in the morning and is associated with the accumulation of fluid in the joint cavity overnight. Characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis.

The doctor also pays attention to general complaints: - Increased body temperature; — Redness of the skin, the presence of a rash on it; — Damage to internal organs.

To make an accurate diagnosis, laboratory (blood and joint fluid tests) and instrumental studies (radiography, CT, MRI, ultrasound) are required.

Types of arthrosis by location

Types of arthrosis according to the location of the disease:

Arthrosis of the hip joint.
Arthrosis of the knee joint.
Arthrosis of the temporomandibular joint
Arthrosis of the clavicle.
Arthrosis of the shoulder joint.
Arthrosis of the ankle.
Arthrosis of the talonavicular joint.
Arthrosis of the foot joints.
Arthrosis of the elbow joint.
Arthrosis of fingers and hands.
Patellofemoral arthrosis.
Arthrosis of the wrist joint
Etc.

Let's take a closer look at each of them.

Osteoarthritis of the hip joint

Arthrosis of the hip joint, otherwise coxarthrosis, develops after 40 in both men and women. Its peculiarity: first one joint gets sick, if the disease is not treated, the second one “tightens up”. The main symptom of arthrosis of the hip joint: pain in the groin, descending along the front and side surfaces to the middle of the thigh. The pain rarely reaches the knee and mid-calf, never to the toes (which often happens with a herniated disc).

The disease progresses quickly:

At the first stage, the intensity of the pain is low, it quickly goes away during rest. If the walk is long (over 2 km), lameness appears. When climbing stairs, patients experience difficulty due to a decrease in range of motion.
At the second stage, pain occurs with any stress (starting to walk, sudden change in body position, getting up from a chair), and can be from moderate to significant. It intensifies from tension in the surrounding muscles, often projects to the area of the inguinal fold and radiates (radiates) to the knee. The muscles can no longer relax, they are constantly in good shape. It is difficult to swing to the side and rotate the leg. Habitual actions: putting on socks, tying shoelaces, sitting on an exercise machine with your legs spread wide are difficult. Night pain in the joint does not go away. Patients limp, walk with a cane, and are forced to stop often because the pain intensifies after 500-800 m. The limitation of mobility is reduced by a third, and a crunching sound appears. Patients become disabled group 3.
The third stage – 1st and 2nd disability groups. The pain in the hip joint is constant, sharply intensifies with movement, which cannot be done without crutches. The leg shortens (flexion contracture). It is interesting that in 1 and 10 patients the leg lengthens. Only rocking movement is possible in the joint; adduction, flexion, and external rotation are impossible. The affected leg turns outward, and when walking the person seems to fall on it. In addition to the pain in the groin, pain in the lower back is added. The muscles atrophy, pain appears near the knee, in the area where the tendons attach, which can be worse than the groin. However, the disease does not spread to the knee, this is not arthrosis of the knee joint, the cause is in the muscles.

If a diagnosis of “arthrosis of the knee joint” is made, but no one has checked the functional functioning of the entire limb, there is a high probability of a medical error and the problem is in the hip joint.

This type of arthrosis is the most severe disease in terms of course and consequences. If left untreated, it will lead to long-term disability and disability.

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint

Gonarthrosis, according to statistics, is diagnosed in 8%-20% of patients with arthrosis, develops after 40 years, women are affected more often than men. The disease is more severe with excess body weight and varicose veins.

The main symptom: pain in the knee, which occurs after physical activity, when going up and down stairs, worsens in cold and damp weather. Moreover, the pain does not arise suddenly, in one day, the onset of the disease is a period of many months of mild pain. The knee practically does not change shape, it may be slightly swollen.

Symptoms at stage 2:

crunching sound when moving;
inflammation of the inner lining of the joint (synovitis), when there is a lot of pathological fluid formed during inflammation, it may spread to the back surface of the knee and form a Baker cyst;
decreased range of motion;
painful palpation in the projection of the joint space and when the patella is displaced;
increasing deformity of the lower limb.

Attention: gonarthrosis is often confused with damage to the menisci (meniscopathy, develops very quickly), blockade of the knee joint, “referred” pain of coxarthrosis, inflammation of the knee tendons, vascular pain, etc. Contact a specialist to make the correct diagnosis.

If this type of arthrosis is not treated, knee instability, impaired flexion-extension movements in the knee, and varus or valgus deformity appear. The knee hurts all the time, not only when walking.

Crunching in joints - when to worry

Intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid

Patellofemoral arthrosis

Arthrosis that damages the cartilage tissue, and then the bone of the kneecap and femur, is called patellofemoral (“patella” means “kneecap”). A rare type of arthrosis, but it occurs even in adolescents, because The disease is caused by bruises and injuries to the knee (typical for athletes), compression (prolonged work on the knees of repair workers, tilers). Women, due to weaker muscles and ligaments, get sick more often than men.

The main symptom: pain in the front of the knee, not in the entire joint, which occurs during physical activity, going up and down stairs. A slight crunch and numbness are also noted. If the disease does not affect the remaining parts of the joint, varus (O-shaped) curvature of the tibia and valgus (inward) displacement of the patella are possible in the future. If we compare both limbs, the patient’s kneecap looks inward rather than forward, and the lower leg is more curved in the middle part.

Arthrosis of the ankle

Arthrosis of the ankle joint occurs in obese people and due to problems with the ligamentous apparatus:

after dislocations and fractures of the foot and ankle;
fractures of the talus;
gunshot wounds;
due to professional chronic injuries (dancers, ballet dancers, athletes);
with severe deformation of the proximal segments of the limbs.

With a single injury, the ankle recovers in a couple of months, but with repeated injuries, arthrosis begins. Stages of arthrosis of the foot joints:

The first stage is characterized by swelling and pain in the ankle after normal walking activities and at the end of a working day. Location of pain: anterior surface of the joint, along the line of the joint with transition to the lateral surfaces under the ankles. Sometimes there is a feeling of a “twisted leg.”
The second stage, there is constant pain, synovitis, crunching when moving, limited mobility.
The third stage, the joint is deformed, severely swollen along with the distal (lower) part of the leg. Only rocking movements are possible in the ankle.

Arthrosis is accompanied by swelling of the joint, so a frequent misdiagnosis is diseases of the internal organs (diabetes, heart failure, kidney disease). Yes, these diseases can exist, but swelling rises higher: not only to the joint, but also to the lower leg, and often lower, to the foot and toes. And this does not exclude problems with the ankle. Therefore, you need to contact specialists who will examine the ankle using X-rays, conduct a blood test, and perform rheovasography to examine the vessels, and prescribe treatment.

Arthrosis of the talonavicular joint

The talonavicular joint (more precisely, the talocaleonavicular joint) is responsible for the flexion and extension of the foot. Arthrosis in this localization can develop:

after an injury, severe bruise (martial arts fans: don’t madly hit your foot on a concrete surface);
foot fracture;
gunshot wound;
autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis);
necrosis of the bones forming the joint, etc.

The main symptom: pain in the foot followed by limitation of movement. The pain is worse in cold and damp weather. If the disease is not treated, the foot will constantly swell in the upper part, and at stages 2-3 the disease will become deformed. Read our article “Deforming arthrosis.”

Arthrosis of the foot joints

Arthrosis of the foot joint

Arthrosis affects not only large joints; small joints of the foot are also affected. Most often, the thumb suffers (“healers” call this gout, explaining the pain as salt deposition). The most common cause is not impacts or injuries, but wearing tight shoes. Along with flat feet, improper shoes lead to illness.

Tight shoes with a narrow toe squeeze the toes, causing the big toe to bend inward and press against the second toe. It's a slow torture for the legs. The finger bone protrudes, rubs against the shoe, and becomes injured. The joint becomes thicker, movement in it is limited. Next, the thumb pushes out the second and third fingers, and bursitis (inflammation of the periarticular bursa) may occur in the joints.

In the initial stage, hallux valgus (and flat feet) can be corrected by giving up tight shoes and performing special physical exercises, regularly using braces, and doing massage. If treatment is neglected, the disease will progress and only surgery can alleviate the condition.

Arthrosis of the clavicle

Arthrosis of the clavicle means:

arthrosis of the sternoclavicular joint;
arthrosis of the acromioclavicular joint.

The disease affects the same bone, the collarbone, and the symptoms are similar. This is pain when moving, and then at rest, limited mobility, clicking when moving. Athletes who work with heavy weights and military personnel are at risk (gunshot wounds and injuries can also lead to illness).

In the early stages of arthrosis, injections that reduce pain are widely used - blockade with long-acting glucocorticoids and injections of platelet-rich plasma. Surgical treatment of this type of arthrosis is indicated for severe pain, confirmed by MRI and radiographs.

Arthrosis of the shoulder joint

Arthrosis of the shoulder joint is caused by a severe bruise, dislocation or intra-articular fracture. The disease develops gradually, since the shoulder joint does not experience strong loads compared to the same knee joint. The pain is sharp, it is difficult to bend, abduct or rotate the arm.

Night pain syndrome is noted by all patients, and it is necessary to distinguish between arthrosis in the joint and pain radiating to the upper part of the arm (shoulder) due to heart disease, damage to the periosteal muscle, or osteochondrosis. Arthrosis pain syndrome is aching, pressing, dull, with intensity ranging from weak to very strong, with irradiation to the lower part of the arm.

If you ignore the symptoms and do not consult a doctor, the disease leads to loss of ability to work for a year or more, since during treatment in the final stages the arm is fixed on an abductor splint.

Arthrosis of the elbow joint

Arthrosis affecting the elbow joint develops as a post-traumatic disease. Feature of the disease: in the initial stage, pain is felt not in the joint, but in the lower part of the humerus above the elbow joint (the place of attachment of the tendons to the epicondyles of the humerus), and in extreme positions of flexion-extension of the arm, also in the projection of the ulnar nerve. If the disease is not treated, over time the arm loses mobility at the elbow (flexion contracture develops), first under the influence of muscle pain, then arthrosis.

Arthrosis of the wrist joint

Severe bruises, wounds, fractures of articulating bones are the main causes of arthrosis of the wrist joint. The disease can also be caused by:

dislocations and subluxations of the hand;
tunnel syndromes with pinched nerves and poor circulation in the hand;
Dupuytren's contracture (shortening of the palmar tendons, due to which the palm and fingers do not straighten and bend completely).

If left untreated, pain in the wrist joint due to arthrosis begins to be accompanied by impaired mobility of the fingers and hand.

Arthrosis of the joints of the hand and fingers

Arthrosis of the finger joint

Arthrosis that affects small joints is multiple; if it affects, it is not just one joint, but both hands at the same time. It appears against the background of hormonal imbalance; it often occurs during menopause, and women are much more likely than men. First, nodules appear on the fingers:

Heberden, located on the joint of the middle and upper phalanges;
Bushera, located on the joint of the middle and lower phalanges.

The appearance of thickenings in the joints is usually painless, sometimes patients feel a burning sensation in Herberden's nodes and tingling. Next, the joints swell and turn red. After the fluid flows out through the burst skin, the pain subsides. The acute period lasts several months, then the joints become dense, the pain is practically not felt. Over time, deformation and stiffness in the joints increases.

Busher's nodes develop gradually and painlessly, thickening the finger on the sides so that they become spindle-shaped. The joints hurt less throughout all stages, but in the last stage the deformity is clearly severe, the fingers on the hand are knotty.

Another joint susceptible to arthrosis is at the base of the big toe. The disease is called rhizarthrosis (the joint that articulates the metacarpal bone of the thumb and the wrist joint is destroyed) and progresses in those whose profession involves active work with this finger. Main symptoms: stiffness, crunching and moderate pain

The symptoms of this arthrosis are similar to psoriatic arthritis and gout. If you notice swelling or feel severe pain, consult a doctor immediately.

Arthrosis of the temporomandibular joint

Problems in the temporomandibular joint are closely related to psychology. We grind our teeth, clench our jaws, doing unpleasant things through force. Tension in the muscles does not go away, the vessels carrying nutrition to the joint are pinched. Enough chronic stress (along with elevated cortisol levels) and the disease will begin to progress. Other reasons:

autoimmune diseases;
endocrine disorders;
jaw injuries;
errors in dental decisions.

In addition to pain and crunching in the joint, swelling affects the ear (can lead to hearing loss), the symmetry of the face is disrupted, and dental problems on the part of the joint increase. If arthrosis is not treated, dizziness, insomnia, and headache appear.

Chondroprotectors: what are they, how to choose, how effective are they?

Joint pain at rest

Treatment of arthritis

Has undergone great changes recently. At one time, treatment for arthritis consisted of prescribing aspirin, thermal procedures, and immobilization of damaged joints using various orthopedic orthoses. It turned out that immobilization, supposedly to relieve pain, does more harm than good. Currently, joints are given less time to rest and constant mobility in them is the key to preserving its functions. Current treatment for osteoarthritis consists of a combination of exercise, physical therapy, medications, intra-articular injections and weight loss. There is an obvious connection between excess weight and damage to large joints (knees, hips). And weight loss is very beneficial in these cases.

There has also been progress in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. In the mid-20th century, prednisolone was first used and the first results of treatment were very encouraging. But it turned out that steroids have no less side effects than therapeutic ones. Certain hopes are associated with the recently discovered selective immunosuppressants Adalimumab (Humira) and others. Time will tell their effectiveness.

Drug treatment

Currently, there is a whole group of drugs: aspirin, indomethacin, ibuprofen, naproxen, COX-2 inhibitors (Celebrex), steroids, tramatodol, methotrexate, penicillamine, various creams and gels, chondroitin sulfate.

All medications have, to one degree or another, a number of side effects and their prescription, dosage and duration are the exclusive prerogative of the doctor.

Physiotherapy. Modern physiotherapeutic techniques help in some cases to reduce swelling in the joint, increase mobility, and reduce pain. But sometimes even long courses of physiotherapy do not produce an effect.

Physical exercise

Patients with joint pain try to avoid physical exercise so as not to injure them. And it would seem that such types of activity as long walking, bicycle ergometry or treadmill exercise are the lot of only healthy people. But reasonable loads with a gradual increase in the volume of exercises performed have a very beneficial effect on patients with arthritis. Along with medications and orthoses, physical exercise helps improve the following parameters: reduce joint stiffness and pain, increase the elasticity of muscles and ligaments of the joint, improve blood supply to cartilage tissue, improve overall well-being (sleep, mood), and reduce weight.

Naturally, not every exercise is suitable for patients with arthritis. And even the selected exercise does not always work. Exercises for arthritis are a type of various gymnastics (yoga, qi gong) and physical activity (swimming, walking, cycling). Depending on the presence of pain, the intensity of the load may change, but not stop.

Types of spinal arthrosis

Arthrosis also affects the facet joints of the spine, formed by the 2 lower ones of one and the 2 upper ones of the other. The second name for such an articulation is zygopophyseal. The articular surface is tiny, approximately 2 cm in diameter. There is shock absorber cartilage between the processes; the outside of the joint is protected by a capsule. Synovial fluid is produced by the synovial membrane.

Main reasons:

developmental anomalies and injuries of the spinal column;
diseases affecting the vertebrae (autoimmune diseases, spondylitis, osteochondrosis, etc.);
high loads on the spine (sports, physical labor);
lack of vitamins, minerals and hormonal imbalance;
infectious diseases.

Arthrosis of the cervical spine

Pain and crunching when bending and turning the neck do not indicate arthrosis. Just like they don’t say weakened vision and hearing, impaired coordination, loss of sensation in the hands. However, all these symptoms, together with a limitation in the range of motion, are a reason to consult a doctor and undergo treatment.

Arthrosis of the thoracic spine

The main symptoms of arthrosis of the thoracic region, including costovertebral joints):

labored breathing;
chest stiffness (difficulty breathing, expansion of the lower lungs when inhaling is painful);
pain.

The pain may be cardiac, difficulty breathing is associated with pulmonary-cardiac insufficiency. Be sure to consult your doctor.

Arthrosis of the spine

Main symptoms:

pain in the lumbosacral region, aggravated by movement;
stiffness (painful twisting and bending);
occasionally numbness and weakness in the legs.

It may not be arthrosis, but a pinched sciatic nerve or hernia. The correct diagnosis will be determined by the doctor after examination.

Arthrosis of the coccyx

The causes of arthrosis of the coccyx are all diseases that lead to poor circulation in the pelvis, infectious diseases, and spinal injuries.

Arthrosis of the sacrococcygeal joint can lead to exacerbation of gynecological and urological problems. Local redness, pain, swelling, local fever are symptoms related to various diseases. However, if there is a decrease in mobility when bending and moving (it seems that a board is tied to the patient’s back), this is a reason to consult a doctor.

What preventative devices to use

Today there are many devices that make life much easier for people with coxarthrosis, gonarthrosis and other joint pathologies. These include bandages, knee pads, and canes. In addition, do not be lazy to equip your apartment for convenience and safety, especially if osteoarthritis in your case has already become deforming:

get footstools in the rooms;
equip the toilet and bathroom with special handrails;
make the toilet seat higher to make sitting and standing up easier;
if you have arthrosis of the hand, elbow or shoulder, think about how to make self-care easier (for example, change buttons on clothes to Velcro, wear pants with an elastic waistband);
If you work on a computer, purchase a special elbow support device.

Such handrails in the bathroom make life much easier for people with arthrosis

Anatomical types of arthrosis

To correctly make a medical report, knowing which joint is affected by the disease is not enough. The classification of arthrosis also identifies specific types of disease.

Deforming arthrosis

Deforming arthrosis is otherwise called osteoarthrosis, where osteon in Greek means bone, i.e. The articular cartilage and the articulating surfaces of the bones underneath are affected by the disease, and then the destructive process involves the synovial membrane, ligaments, and spreads to the capsule and nearby tissues.

Deforming arthrosis

The disease is accompanied by bone growths (osteophytes), manifested by pain and limitation of movement in the joint. The subchondral layer of the bone dissolves (sclerosation), and at the same time, along the border of its surface, osteochondral growth begins with possible cyst-like bone cavities. Changes in bone tissue along with loss of cartilage alter the shape of the joint.

Exudate accumulates in the joint, disrupting the properties of the synovial fluid. The joint capsule, ligaments and muscles are destroyed. When the range of motion is limited, muscle atrophy occurs. At the very beginning of the development of deforming arthrosis, the pain is aching, but it intensifies with load and its duration increases. A characteristic crunching sound (crepitation) appears.

If the disease is not treated, stiffness of movement due to osteoarthritis leads to:

deformation and enlargement of the joint;
development of synovitis;
fibrous ankylosis (immobility).

Uncovertebral arthrosis

This is a disease that destroys the vertebrae in the cervical region. First, the intervertebral cartilage is destroyed, then the discs and bone tissue. Growing bone tissue presses on nerve bundles and blood vessels, injuring muscle tissue. In addition to pain in the neck and when moving the head, patients suffer from headaches, and if left untreated, numbness and loss of sensation in the upper extremities.

Post-traumatic arthrosis

This is a disease that most often develops after injury, fracture, or gunshot wound. Conservative methods are aimed at preventing further joint deformation and relieving pain, but refer only to symptomatic care. They will only work if the disease is diagnosed at an early stage. In advanced stages, only surgical treatment will help restore joint mobility.

Degenerative arthrosis

In medicine, “degenerative” means a disease in which neurons die. When we talk about degenerative arthrosis, we mean osteoarthritis; this type is not included in the medical classification of arthrosis. The goals of treatment are pain relief, maintaining joint mobility, and optimizing joint function. For this purpose, drug treatment, physical therapy (physical therapy) and lifestyle changes are used. Prosthetics are prescribed as a last resort if previous methods have failed.

Rheumatoid arthrosis

Rheumatism is an autoimmune disease when the body considers its own cells to be the enemy. In this case, the connective tissue becomes inflamed, the disease spreads to the heart, joints, and internal organs. In rheumatoid arthrosis, secondary to arthritis, rheumatoid joint fever and inflammation of the cartilage with subsequent destruction are typical.

Psoriatic arthrosis

A secondary disease that develops against the background of psoriatic arthritis. The inflammatory process leads to a change in the composition and viscosity of the synovial fluid, cartilage tissue begins to break down, and then the bone. Treatment is aimed at blocking inflammation and restoring the joint.

Features of joints and causes of their diseases

A joint is any connection between two or more bones. There are 38 pairs of joints in the human body (for a total of 76 joints). They provide mobility and flexibility to our body. Movement is a vital function, and if the disease limits it, the quality and life expectancy are reduced.

Each joint has articular surfaces - these are the surfaces of the bones that enter it, covered with a special hyaline cartilage. It is dense, elastic and is needed to protect bones from abrasion during movement. It also ensures that they match each other perfectly. It is the wear and tear of cartilage that becomes a common cause of pain, crunching, stiffness and other signs of disease in the joints.

Joints are characterized by a complex structure. Articular surfaces, capsule, cleft, synovium, periarticular muscles and ligaments - all these structures provide the motor and support functions of the joint. Damage to them can trigger the development of the disease.

Causes of diseases

Many people mistakenly believe that joint diseases only affect older people due to age-related changes and weakness of the body. But that's not true!

Joint diseases can develop as a result of:

– injuries; – excess weight; – physical activity; – incorrect posture; – flat feet; – hereditary predisposition; – nutrition with insufficient content of microelements; – diseases of internal organs; – metabolic disorders; – postponed operations; – infections.

People of absolutely any age and even those with relatively good health (for example, men and women of working age, teenagers, children, athletes, etc.) can experience the effects of these factors.

Therefore, this group of diseases is getting younger - in terms of frequency of occurrence and disability, it is second only to cardiovascular and endocrinological diseases, and their treatment is associated with large financial costs.

Other types

Simply saying, for example, “rheumatoid arthrosis of the ankle” is not enough. The diagnosis must fully characterize the clinical picture, therefore other types of arthrosis are also used for a medical conclusion.

Localized and generalized arthrosis

When the disease affects only one joint, the disease will be localized. If arthrosis affects several joints (for example, fingers, hip joints, spine), it is polyarthrosis (otherwise, generalized arthrosis).

Primary and secondary arthrosis

Osteoarthritis can be primary (otherwise idiopathic) and secondary. The cause of primary deforming arthrosis is genetic factors. The most significant causes of secondary osteoarthritis are:

Biomechanical:
highly intense loads, especially shock and torsion;
joint injuries;
disruption of the structure and nutrition of bone tissue with subsequent necrosis;
obesity (weight creates additional stress on the joints);
kyphosis, lordosis, scoliotic posture.
Inflammatory:
arthritis.
Metabolic:
iron deposition in joints with hemochromatosis;
deposition of uric acid salts in gout.
Endocrine:
increased production of growth hormone (acromegaly);
diabetes;
insufficient or excessive production of PTH hormones produced by the parathyroid glands (hypo- and hyperparathyroidism).
Ischemic:
varicose veins

If you have at least one of the listed reasons and feel pain in the joints of your arms or legs, it is better to consult an orthopedic traumatologist in advance.

Arthritis

It is a misconception that arthritis only affects older people. These diseases occur in any age group. Arthritis is a disease characterized by inflammation of the joints and affects both children and adults. The typical manifestation of arthritis is pain and stiffness in the joints, which limits movement and sometimes these symptoms are resistant to treatment. Often, it is possible to achieve a therapeutic effect with the help of exercise, medication and lifestyle changes. About 46 million adults in the United States have been diagnosed with a form of arthritis, and that number is trending upward. But arthritis did not appear today and has been bothering people for hundreds of years (typical changes in bone structures discovered during excavations indicate this). It’s just that over the past 100 years there has been a sharp increase in the diagnosis of diseases of the musculoskeletal system and the immune system. Scientists have identified at least 100 types of arthritis and, as it turns out, many conditions accompanied by fever and a malfunction of the immune system are somehow related to the joints.

Arthritis is characterized by pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints, as well as a decrease in the range of movement in them. There are various forms of arthritis, incl. secondary (gout, SLE, fibromyalgia). Arthritis can be divided into three groups:

Osteoarthritis. Also called degenerative joint disease, it is the most commonly diagnosed form of arthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs when the process of disintegration of cartilage tissue in joints begins. This form of arthritis most often affects the hip, knee, ankle and shoulder joints. It most often develops over the age of 40 years.
Rheumatoid arthritis. This type of arthritis occurs when the surfaces lining a joint are damaged, causing pain and inflammation. Small joints (feet, fingers) are most often affected. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that typically develops in women between the ages of 30 and 50.
Juvenile arthritis. This group includes all arthritis that develops before the age of 18 years. It is not clear what causes the development of arthritis at a young age, but JA occurs more often in girls than in boys. Juvenile arthritis can involve various joints (ankle, knee, hip, shoulder, wrist). There are many types of juvenile arthritis, but juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is the most common.

Approach to treating the disease in our clinic

The Paramita Clinic is an example of a unique approach to the treatment of arthrosis. We use an approach that combines modern European and time-tested Eastern principles of treatment. Taking the best medications for arthrosis is not always a guarantee of results, since the body gets used to the medications. In addition, this approach does not restore energy integrity; problems of interaction between individual systems will remain.

In the clinic, based on the tests, an individual treatment plan is drawn up, physiopuncture and other oriental methods of physiotherapy are prescribed, and traditional drug therapy is also used.

As a result, not only the symptoms of arthrosis are eliminated, the joint restores its functionality, but also a “reboot” occurs:

general well-being improves;
metabolism is restored;
Further destruction of the body due to chronic stress is prevented.

Arthrosis of the joints is a disease that leads to disability. Don't waste time!

We combine proven techniques of the East and innovative methods of Western medicine.
Read more about our unique method of treating arthrosis

Literature

Traumatology and orthopedics. Textbook. Ed. Corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, prof. N.V. Kornilov
Traumatology and orthopedics. Textbook for university students. Ed. G.M. Kavalersky
Evdokimenko P.V. Arthrosis

Themes

Arthrosis, Joints, Pain, Treatment without surgery Publication date: 10/07/2021 Update date: 11/04/2021

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Preventive physical education and massage

With osteoarthritis, it is important to exercise correctly so as not to cause harm. Start your workout with warming up and relaxing exercises. Then do stretching and strength exercises, but avoid sudden movements. All actions must be neat and smooth, and must be done systematically.

The specialist will tell you what massage movements will help support the joint. Massage is relevant for large joints surrounded by large muscle groups. The main rule is not to massage the capsule of the damaged joint. Ideally, it is better to entrust this event to a specialist, but it is hardly worth refusing such prevention. A well-executed massage relaxes spastic muscles and improves lymphatic drainage.

Another effective therapeutic and prophylactic agent is intra-articular injections of the Noltrex synovial fluid prosthesis. The drug stops friction of damaged cartilage surfaces and postpones their further destruction by a year and a half. Subsequently, you can take another course and thus protect your joints from degenerative changes.

It's never too late to take care of your joints. Do this as long as nothing bothers you. Take care of them if they are already damaged. And remember that with arthrosis the main thing is to maintain a positive attitude, move and look confidently into the future!