- Home >
- Directory >
- Which doctor treats arthrosis
Arthrosis is a degenerative-dystrophic disease of the joints, in which the gradual destruction of articular cartilage occurs. As they age, many people experience this disease. However, ignorance of the early manifestations of the disease, as well as which doctor treats arthrosis, leads to the fact that those suffering from this problem seek help too late, when serious changes have already occurred or the function and performance of the joint has been impaired.
Types of arthrosis
There are primary and secondary arthrosis. With primary arthrosis, the disease develops in an initially healthy joint, for example, due to excessive physical activity. With secondary arthrosis, destruction occurs in a joint that has already undergone deformation - for example, as a result of an injury.
Most often, arthrosis affects the joints of the lower extremities (knee, hip, first metatarsophalangeal joint of the foot), as well as the joints of the fingers. Arthrosis of the spine is also widespread.
Surgery and endoprosthetics
In advanced stages of coxarthrosis, conservative therapy does not always give positive results.
Sometimes surgery is necessary. Operations prescribed for stages II and III of coxarthrosis (osteotomy, chondroplasty, debridement) slow down the pathological process, but do not stop it.
At the last stage of the disease, the cartilage is completely destroyed. In this case, replacing the hip joint with an implant is the only method of helping a patient with arthrosis. Endoprosthetics (replacement surgery) helps to return to a full life and restores the functionality of the limb.
Causes of arthrosis
Factors contributing to the development of arthrosis are:
- genetic predisposition (including congenital diseases of bones and joints);
- old age (joint wear and tear with age);
- postmenopause (estrogens deficiency in postmenopausal women);
- overweight;
- increased load on joints;
- joint operations;
- joint injuries.
Professional help for arthritis
Which doctor treats the patient is determined by the data obtained. A surgeon or orthopedist, rheumatologist or arthrologist may prescribe initial treatment. First you need to remove the inflammation and anesthetize the patient. Conducted anti-inflammatory drug therapy should be accompanied by ointments and gels that remove inflammation directly in the desired area of the body. Wearing products made from dog hair (knee pads, sleeves, belts, gloves) and special orthopedic devices will help.
- Arthritis 3 degrees
For bacterial arthritis, you need to take a course of antibiotics. Cartilage tissue is restored using chondroprotectors.
If a decrease in immunity is associated with poor nutrition or excess weight, then you will need to consult a nutritionist and endocrinologist. Proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle will help you recover faster from illness.
If the condition of arthritis or arthrosis is advanced, which doctor treats the patient is clear without any recommendations. This is a surgeon. During the operation, the destroyed joint is removed and a prosthesis is placed in its place.
Symptoms of arthrosis
Manifestations of arthrosis begin with pain and crunching in the joints when moving. Subsequently, swelling appears and joint pain intensifies. It becomes difficult to move quickly, climb stairs, or lift weights.
Similar symptoms are characteristic of arthritis. However, arthritis is characterized by inflammatory processes in the joint. With arthrosis, inflammation does not occur from the onset of the disease and can be intermittent, and destructive processes in articular cartilage are caused by metabolic disorders.
Joint pain
The pain can be severe if the movement is preceded by a long stay at rest; after some time after the start of the movement, the pain subsides.
Edema
The affected joint may swell.
Decreased range of motion in a joint
The affected joint loses mobility. Movements in the joint are no longer free, and the possible range of motion in the joint is reduced. Trying to maintain the same range of motion causes pain.
Joint deformity
At a late stage of the disease, deformation of the joint occurs, the joint almost completely loses mobility.
Stages of osteoarthritis
What stage the disease is in is determined by x-ray diagnostics:
- Osteoarthritis of the first degree is detected only by X-ray; pain occurs after moderate exercise and goes away at rest;
- Osteoarthritis of the second degree is characterized by the destruction of cartilage tissue and the growth of bone, narrowing of the joint space, pain becomes constant;
- Osteoarthritis of the third and fourth degrees is characterized by extensive damage to the cartilage and articular surface, persistent swelling, disruption of the musculoskeletal system, and joint deformation.
Treatment methods for arthrosis
Treatment of arthrosis is aimed at eliminating the causes that caused the development of arthrosis, eliminating inflammatory changes, restoring lost functions and metabolism in the joints.
The specialists of JSC “Family Doctor” have extensive experience in diagnosing and treating arthrosis. Professional training, modern equipment and our own laboratory allow our orthopedic doctors to make an accurate diagnosis and develop effective treatment tactics for the disease.
Treatment of arthrosis is usually carried out on an outpatient basis. In some cases, you may be offered inpatient treatment for arthrosis.
Conservative treatment
Conservative treatment of arthrosis is complex, including the use of anti-inflammatory and painkillers, as well as physiotherapeutic procedures.
Specialist consultation
Secondary arthritis as a concomitant pathology
Against the background of some underlying disease that is not diagnosed and not cured in time, or is difficult to treat, inflammation of the joints may begin, as a result of weakened immunity and the inability of the body to independently produce antibodies to suppress infectious bacteria. Such pathologies include:
- systemic lupus erythematosus;
- psoriasis;
- granulomatosis;
- tuberculosis;
- hepatitis;
- borreliosis.
In addition to the three characteristic symptoms, with secondary damage, rashes, rashes, and plaques appear.
If arthritis develops against the background of psoriasis or systemic lupus erythematosus, you will need a dermatovenerologist. When fighting a disease caused by hepatitis, tuberculosis or borreliosis, you will need the help of a therapist and an infectious disease specialist.
In the most severe cases, the disease can only be treated surgically, or even with the help of prosthetics. In these cases, the patient is treated by a surgeon, physiotherapist, orthopedist, and traumatologist. Considering that the disease also affects the internal organs of a person, sometimes it may be necessary to involve doctors such as a cardiologist, urologist and other specialists. The condition of the affected bones and the detection of the disease are monitored by ultrasound doctors and radiologists.
Treatment methods for arthrosis and arthritis are different. Arthritis is characterized by the presence of a focus of inflammation, causing symptoms such as:
- redness of the skin;
- pain, swelling of the affected joint;
- local and general high temperature;
- general malaise;
- increased sweating;
- rarely conjunctivitis.
How to treat joint arthritis and what tactics to choose is determined by a highly specialized doctor, depending on the causes of the disease.
Which doctor treats arthritis depends on the type of disease
Treatment involves the use of complex therapy, which includes:
- Medication.
- Physiotherapeutic.
- Physiotherapy.
- Spa treatment.
- Ethnoscience.
- Diet.
- Surgical methods of treatment.
Some types of arthritis, such as infectious, have a very favorable prognosis and can be cured, subject to timely diagnosis and early proper therapy.
Arthrosis is a secondary type of disease caused by changes in bones and joints:
- as an outcome of a pathological inflammatory process;
- previous illnesses or due to age-related changes;
- disturbances in the body's metabolic processes.
Often the occurrence of arthrosis is associated with excessive mechanical stress, as a result of which the spongy, loose substance of the bones is damaged, the integrity of the blood vessels is disrupted, and a characteristic crunch appears in the affected joint. With further development of the disease, deformation and destruction of the affected bones and changes in their structure occur.
Leading doctors for patients diagnosed with gouty arthritis can be a rheumatologist, endocrinologist and nutritionist
In the later stages, arthrosis is incurable. However, with the right treatment regimen, it is possible to stop the further development of the disease and avoid irreversible changes in the functioning of the musculoskeletal system.
The following have proven themselves well in the treatment of arthrosis:
- corticosteroids prevent bone destruction;
- Chodroprotectors that stimulate the regeneration of cartilage tissue;
- NSAIDs that inhibit the process of inflammation;
Painkillers, sometimes by intra-articular injection.
Most often, when treating a disease, you will have to consult several doctors.
As a rule, after diagnosis, the therapist, depending on the form of the disease, refers the patient to doctors with a narrow specialized focus:
- Traumatologist
- Orthopedist
- Rheumatologist
- Surgeon
- Arthrologist
If the test for C-reactive protein is positive, and the quantitative indicator indicates that the cause of inflammation of the joints was rheumatism, then you should contact a rheumatologist.
This doctor prescribes therapy for rheumatoid arthritis, the characteristic manifestations of which are:
- general and local (in the affected area) increase in temperature;
- history of illness of viral or bacterial origin;
- deformation of the articular cavity, changes in the composition of the joint fluid;
- limited mobility of affected bone joints.
The specialist draws up a treatment regimen, including the use of cytostatics, NSAIDs, immunosuppressants, and vitamin and mineral supplements.
As the inflammatory process progresses, arthritis is subject to surgical treatment in a hospital. Observation and treatment of traumatic, purulent and other forms of severe stage disease is carried out by a surgeon. When a joint is deformed or fragmented, surgical intervention is necessary, after which a long period of rehabilitation under the supervision of a specialist is required.
You should contact a doctor of this specialization if:
- the synovial cavity and ligamentous apparatus are affected;
- with deformation of bone joints under the influence of destructive factors or genetic predisposition;
- the occurrence of prolonged painful manifestations in the affected area;
- surgical treatment with the use of prostheses and synthetic joint lubricants is necessary;
- it is necessary to select the type of reduction in limb mobility, special means that reduce the load on the diseased joint.
An orthopedist is able to provide emergency assistance in case of exacerbation of the disease, injuries, defects and deformations of the human movement apparatus.
A doctor with a narrow specialization aimed at performing diagnostic operations and treating diseases of the joints, ligaments, and periarticular soft tissues. This specialist is able to perform surgery through a micro-incision to diagnose joint disease - arthroscopy. Carries out the selection of medications for drug treatment, physiotherapeutic procedures and preventive measures.
The clinical picture at the onset of the disease is not always clear. Symptoms are weak and uncharacteristic, which makes diagnosis difficult. Early seeking competent help increases the chances of recovery.
Diagnostics is based on general data:
- initial examination;
- familiarization with the medical history and clinical picture;
- X-ray results;
- laboratory test data (urine, blood, synovial fluid punctate);
- cytological studies;
- ultrasound, MRI, CT data;
- arthrography results;
- examination of the patient.
A detailed examination is based on the patient’s specific complaints. Areas of concern are examined through palpation and tapping, determining tenderness, swelling, stiffness, and lameness.
After the initial examination, laboratory tests necessary to make an accurate diagnosis are prescribed:
- general detailed blood test with leukocyte formula;
- clinical urine analysis;
- biochemical blood tests;
- rheumatic factor test;
- tuberculosis test;
- complex of allergy tests;
- examination of synovial fluid punctate;
- histological examination of tissues;
Laboratory tests alone are not enough to determine the extent of the disease and predict its development.
Modern methods of hardware diagnostics make it possible to extremely accurately determine the form of the disease, the degree of pathological processes, deformation and other changes in the normal picture of the area under study.
To do this, the following diagnostic procedures are performed:
- X-ray - allows you to detect pathological changes in tissues.
- Ultrasound, CT - allow you to determine the stage and clarify the nature of damage to joints and soft tissues.
- MRI is also prescribed for suspected damage to the ligaments, tendons and nerve endings.
- Arthroscopy is a study performed using an endoscope inserted through a microscopic incision to diagnose the affected tissue.
- Based on the research, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient, the scheme and type of therapy are determined.
The effectiveness of the treatment process depends on when the disease was diagnosed and the correctly selected therapeutic regimen.
Therapy for this disease consists of several methods:
If other methods of therapy are ineffective, surgical interventions are used, for example, endoprosthetics, arthroscopy for therapeutic purposes, and others.
- Traditional medicine, which includes decoctions, tinctures, compresses, rubbing, acupuncture, treatment with medicinal leeches, bee stings.
- Spa treatment.
- Maintaining a proper lifestyle and nutrition.
Arthritis is a disease that is difficult to cure, but can be controlled. With timely diagnosis and proper therapy, it has a favorable prognosis. However, treatment can take a long time and require patience from the patient.
Which doctor treats arthrosis
At the very first manifestation of symptoms, you can consult a rheumatologist.
Already after 30 years, pulling or aching pain may be felt in the joints after physical activity. Sometimes after sleep you may feel tension in your joints for some time. This is already a reason to see a doctor. Unfortunately, in most cases, such symptoms are not paid attention to, and people think about visiting a doctor and treating arthrosis when the pain begins to seriously interfere with movement. At this stage of the disease, you should consult an orthopedic doctor for treatment of arthrosis.
In case of joint injury, follow-up with an orthopedic surgeon is necessary to prevent and timely treatment of post-traumatic arthrosis.
Make an appointment Do not self-medicate. Contact our specialists who will correctly diagnose and prescribe treatment.
Rate how useful the material was
thank you for rating