The appearance of a suspicious lump on the leg rarely goes unnoticed, because any attempt to walk without taking off shoes causes discomfort for the patient. But in most cases, seeing a doctor is postponed for months, or even years. It’s a pity, because going to the doctor in the early stages of arthrosis of the big toe allows you to “freeze” the disease and delay the appearance of irreversible foot deformities.
First, baths and applying onions in a sock are used, then, when the disease does not respond, ointments are used, and only then, exhausted by constant pain, the patient turns to an orthopedist or rheumatologist. What kind of diagnosis is this, how to treat arthrosis of the toe, how to recognize its first signs and what could be the consequences of postponing a visit to the doctor?
Arthrosis of the toe joints - what is it?
Osteoarthritis of the interphalangeal and metatarsal joints of the legs is a chronic degenerative disease that begins with the destruction of cartilage tissue and can disfigure the patient’s fingers and feet beyond recognition. Regardless of the causes of this condition, it leads to complete degeneration of cartilage and its replacement by bone growths - osteophytes.
Since the foot and toes - the load-bearing supports of the human body - are subject to enormous stress, arthrosis of the toes is extremely common. According to some estimates, it affects up to 10% of the human population over 60 years of age. It’s not surprising, because the foot doesn’t rest even when we sit!
Typically, the disease begins in the big toe or little toe and primarily affects the metatarsophalangeal joint. Osteoarthritis of the second or third finger is less common. In recent years, there has been a trend towards “rejuvenation” of the disease - arthrosis of the big toe is increasingly found in patients aged 30-35 years.
Prevention
To prevent the development of pathology, doctors recommend lifestyle changes:
- adjust the diet to normalize body weight;
- play sports (gymnastics, swimming, running);
- give up bad habits (tobacco, alcohol addiction). Avoid active sun exposure, exposure to direct sunlight from 12 to 16 hours of the day;
- get enough rest. Night sleep should average 8-10 hours;
- avoid injuries to the lower extremities and increased tension in the legs;
- promptly treat diseases of the urinary system;
- Wear comfortable, high-quality shoes with low soles and wide toes.
Also, for prevention purposes, it is recommended to regularly perform self-massage of the lower extremities. This procedure improves blood circulation, relieves discomfort and pain, and in combination with a hot bath will allow you to achieve a feeling of complete relaxation.
Causes of arthrosis of the toes
Joint diseases, incl. arthrosis of the joints of the toes must be considered comprehensively - often the prerequisites and triggers of the disease include several factors at once. These factors lead to disruption of phosphorus-calcium metabolism, starvation of cartilage tissue, and its loosening.
Common causes of osteoarthritis of the toes include:
- injuries to the fingers, foot or joints located above (frequent and severe bruises of the little finger, left without treatment, can also provoke arthrosis);
- congenital abnormalities of the foot, postural disorders (flat feet, club feet, lordosis, kyphosis, etc.);
- wearing uncomfortable shoes (tight, constricting, not warm enough, worn out or high-heeled, or otherwise leading to an unphysiological position of the foot);
- hypothermia (local or general);
- excessive load on the legs (“standing” profession, excess weight, active sports, habit of uncomfortable posture);
- diseases of the peripheral arteries of the lower extremities (varicose veins, thrombosis and others);
- metabolic disorders (diabetes mellitus);
- endocrine diseases, hormonal imbalances, menopause or pregnancy;
- the presence of infectious agents in the body;
- genetic predisposition associated with the density of cartilage tissue, metabolic characteristics, and the anatomical structure of the limbs;
- the presence of arthritis and arthrosis of other joints, especially with systemic diseases;
- smoking and other bad habits;
- stress - physical, mental or emotional stress;
- elderly age.
The exact causes can only be determined after a series of tests, x-rays, and in some cases, an MRI. Acute inflammation in arthrosis of the toes usually occurs after active physical activity, and also if particles of osteophytes break off and enter the joint capsule, injuring it during movement.
Causes of the disease
In most cases, leg arthritis is a hereditary disease that begins to appear in men and women over the age of 50. Its most common types are osteoarthritis (arthrosis), rheumatoid arthritis, and gout. There is also a juvenile type of the disease, which affects children 5-15 years old.
There are more than a hundred varieties of this pathology, among which osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout are the most common. Osteoarthritis occurs due to friction between bone heads or thinning of the cartilage structures that would otherwise protect the bones from friction. Rheumatoid arthritis is the result of aggressive attacks by the immune system that affect healthy joints and tissues. Gout is a consequence of metabolic disorders, crystallization of uric acid in the joint cavity, between the bones.
Common causes of the disease:
- heredity;
- natural aging of the body (including joints);
- cartilage degeneration;
- mechanical injuries and bone fractures;
- congenital anomalies of the anatomical structure of the foot;
- infectious agents (bacteria or viruses);
- an overactive immune system;
- metabolic disorders;
- lack of physical exercise in a person's life;
- passive lifestyle;
- obesity;
- diabetes;
- unbalanced diet;
- dehydration;
- avitaminosis.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the toes
An alarming signal for the patient, as a rule, is pain and fatigue in the legs. At first, they are mistaken for ordinary fatigue at the end of the day, the consequences of uncomfortable shoes, and a sedentary lifestyle. Discomfort is observed while walking; in the mornings, patients are bothered by stiffness of the toes and the entire foot, a feeling of numbness, and crunching. The pain increases after physical activity and subsides at night, but as arthrosis of the toes progresses, it becomes around the clock.
Also among the first symptoms to appear:
- swelling, sometimes up to the ankle;
- hyperemia and hyperthermia (redness and increased skin temperature) as symptoms of the inflammatory process;
- frequent appearance of corns and calluses in the same places where they were not observed before;
- growing limitation of mobility in the joint (the joint space seems to be “overgrown” with osteophytes and the heads of the subchondral bones can no longer slide in the joint);
- audible rough crunching sound when walking;
- sometimes the patient can independently palpate osteophytes - hard tubercles under the skin.
Previously comfortable shoes become tight for the patient, it becomes more difficult to stand, and changes in gait appear. With arthrosis of the joint of the big toe, as people say, “the bone begins to bulge” on the inside of the foot, at the base of the first toe. Similar thickenings in the joint area can be observed on other fingers, incl. between the phalanges.
Weather-sensitive patients complain that before the weather changes, the joint begins to ache, twist, and ache.
Symptoms may vary depending on the stage of arthrosis of the toes. Stage 1 is characterized by aching pain and an increase in the size of the affected joints, however, due to smoothed symptoms, it may remain unnoticeable. For the 2nd - increased pain, crunching, inflammation. For the 3rd - deformation and inflexibility of the joints, displacement of the fingers.
Symptoms of the disease
When the disease affects a joint, not only the heads of the bones are involved in the pathoprocess, but also adjacent tissues, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. This makes mobility painful and, in some cases, impossible. Therefore, it often becomes a cause of disability.
The main symptom of arthritis of the big toe is inflammation, which is visible to the naked eye. It is accompanied by pain, swelling, swelling, redness, and increased temperature in the affected area. Another symptom of the pathology is stiffness in the joint cavity. It usually appears in the morning and gradually disappears as the patient carries out his daily work. Over time, due to gradual deterioration of the condition, deformation of the affected joints may occur.
Other symptoms of arthritis in the legs:
- fatigue;
- exhaustion;
- temperature increase;
- tingling in the legs;
- chest pain;
- depression;
- loss of appetite and weight.
Arthritic feet can lead to disability and paralysis. But this can be avoided with early diagnosis and medical care.
Treatment of arthrosis of the toes
Based on the tests performed, the observing doctor draws up an individual treatment strategy, which depends on the stage of the disease, the presence of concomitant health problems, age, weight, lifestyle and anatomical characteristics of the patient. The general course of treatment for arthrosis of the toe joints may include taking chondroprotectors and vitamin-mineral complexes, diet adjustments, therapeutic exercises, and teaching the patient an orthopedic regimen. At stages 2 and 3, the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), painkillers, hormonal corticosteroid injections, and physical therapy is indicated. If a joint completely loses its functions, endoprosthetics (usually of the metatarsophalangeal joints) may be prescribed.
At the 1st stage of arthrosis of the joint of the big toe, complete recovery is still possible - the main thing is to consult a doctor in time. At the 3rd stage, as a rule, surgical intervention is indicated - without it, the patient’s quality of life and level of activity drop significantly, and unremitting pain leads to sleep disturbances and decreased mood.
For successful treatment of arthrosis of the toe joints, it is important to follow three principles:
- Seeing a doctor earlier increases the chances of recovery or stable remission.
- Treatment is carried out continuously, over a long period of time.
- Outpatient therapy occurs with regular consultations with the attending physician. Don't self-medicate!
Treatment of arthrosis of the toes with medications
For moderate symptoms, in the drug treatment of arthrosis of the toes, preference is given to local NSAIDs in the form of ointments, creams, and gels. In advanced cases with severe pain, anti-inflammatory drugs together with analgesics can be injected directly into the diseased joint. For systemic joint damage or as part of complex therapy, NSAIDs are also prescribed in the form of tablets or intramuscular injections. This allows you to quickly relieve swelling, improve nutrition of the tissues around the joint, and facilitate warm-up. In addition to relieving symptoms and treating toe joints, the use of any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs slows down cartilage degeneration.
Ointments in the treatment of arthrosis of the toes with medications can be used daily. Short courses of NSAIDs in tablets aimed at relieving an acute inflammatory process are prescribed by a doctor. If taken for a long time, they can lead to stomach ulcers.
If more serious therapy is required to relieve inflammation, the doctor may prescribe hormonal injections with glucocorticosteroids (their use on their own is extremely dangerous!). Analgesics (systemic or local) are used to relieve pain and are selected taking into account its intensity. The main treatment for arthrosis of the big toe is usually supplemented with vasodilators, which improve the nutrition of periarticular tissues and serve to prevent foot diseases (for example, fungal).
It is also recommended to take lifelong dietary supplements based on cartilage tissue components - glucosamine and chondroitin (for at least 3-6 months a year). Effective at stages 1 and 2.
Diagnosis and treatment
Timely contact with a kinesiotherapist allows you to stop the pathology and prevent serious complications. During the examination, the number and symmetry of the affected joints, the presence of deformities, the nature of pain, extra-articular manifestations, etc. are determined. Data from MRI, CT, blood and synovial fluid tests are taken into account.
Rheumatoid, psoriatic, gouty arthritis of the fingers require complex pathogenetic and symptomatic treatment. The patient is advised to reduce the load on the affected areas, it is necessary to avoid sudden movements and lifting heavy objects.
Drug treatment can relieve pain and swelling, but does not eliminate the pathology itself. Physiotherapy can provide temporary relief. You can achieve some results in the treatment of finger arthritis using kinesitherapy.
It allows you to have the most effective effect not only on the external manifestations of the disease, but also on its true cause and carry out therapy in the most accessible, safe and physiological way. To develop the course, a preliminary examination is carried out at our center.
Treatment of finger arthritis with kinesitherapy has undeniable advantages:
- special exercises bring relief to the patient and relieve pain;
- kinesitherapy improves blood circulation and trophism of joint tissues, helps them recover naturally;
- exercises protect joints and spine from excess load, all movements are strictly dosed;
- An experienced instructor, methodologist and kinesiotherapist monitors the correct implementation of the program; they correct the technique of performing the exercises in a timely manner, giving the patient advice and recommendations.
Possible complications of post-traumatic arthritis
Failure to consult a doctor in a timely manner, inaccurate diagnostic measures, as well as refusal or deviation from the prescribed treatment plan can cause the development of unwanted complications
, among which:
What is post-traumatic arthritis?
Arthritis
– this is a group of diseases involving damage to the joint of a degenerative-dystrophic type. Pathology can be an independent disease or a symptom of another.
Post-traumatic arthritis
– a type of arthritis that involves the development of degenerative-dystrophic processes against the background of a previous injury, in a situation where dysfunction of the damaged part of the body is observed.
Athletes and elderly people are considered to be particularly susceptible to the disease.
In the absence of timely diagnosis and necessary treatment, the pathology leads to irreversible disability of the patient.
Diagnosis of post-traumatic arthritis
If you have symptoms of post-traumatic arthritis, it is best to seek a diagnosis of the pathology from a traumatologist or rheumatologist. It is permissible to visit a therapist who will refer the patient to a specialist for accurate diagnosis.
Key techniques
clarifications of the diagnosis are: