Arthrosis refers to degenerative changes in the joints that begin with the depletion of cartilage tissue and lead to limited or complete loss of mobility over time.The disease is more sensitive in older people, but it also develops in people younger than 40 years.The prevalence of the diagnosis is high - about 20% of the world's population, up to 80% of them are patients over 70 years old.
How does the disease develop?
To understand what arthrosis is (an alternative name is osteoarthritis), you need to understand how the joint works.The articulation of two or more bones is surrounded by an articular capsule and remains mobile thanks to a space filled with synovial fluid.The elastic mass acts as friction, preventing friction and premature wear of the articular surfaces.Cartilage tissue, in turn, works as a shock absorber.In individual joints, its functions are completed by menisci or discs.
The main reason for degenerative changes in arthrosis is the mismatch between external influences and the joint's ability to withstand them.A provoking factor can play the role of:
- age, injury, excess weight;
- lack of nutrients;
- excessive physical activity;
- inflammatory processes;
- genetic diseases;
- autoimmune reactions, etc.
Osteoarthritis in older people is usually the result of natural aging and wear and tear of bone structures.Therefore, it is diagnosed in every third person after 50 years, and in every second person after 70 years.Also, the rapid destruction of certain compounds is characteristic of representatives of a number of professions: mechanics, loaders, weavers, ballerinas, etc.
Under the influence of unfavorable factors, cartilage tissue is damaged and becomes thinner.As a result, the bones begin to slip and rub against each other, causing noticeable discomfort.The process is accompanied by inflammation and swelling.The articular surfaces are deformed, the lost cartilage tissue is replaced by bony bones and growths, which hinders movement and causes disability.In such cases, only a strong painkiller can relieve pain for a long time.
Types of arthrosis
Destructive processes inside the joints are called primary if the cause of their occurrence is unknown, and secondary if they develop against the background of certain diseases and conditions.Acute osteoarthritis is associated with infectious and stress factors and is characterized by a rapid progression.The chronic form develops gradually, if therapy is abandoned, it threatens to limit physical activity.Also, the type of disease is determined by the place of its development.
Arthrosis of the hip joint (coxarthrosis)
It is accompanied by pain in the groin, spreads to the surface of the thigh, sometimes affects the area of the lower leg.In the initial stages, walking, difficulties when climbing stairs and during long walks - lameness occurs.Subsequently, it becomes difficult for a person to carry out the main tasks associated with the load on the painful joint: putting on shoes, riding a bicycle, tying shoelaces, walking without crutches.Muscles atrophy, legs become shorter, back and knee pains occur.In the absence of therapy, the probability of disability is high.
Arthrosis of the knee joint (gonarthrosis)
It is often diagnosed in women, it is severe with excess weight and varicose veins.Discomfort in the knee increases in bad weather, climbing stairs or during physical activity.As the disease progresses, flexion-extension movements are disturbed, deformation of limbs, signs of inflammation and swelling appear.Knee osteoarthritis is often confused with meniscus damage, characterized by faster development.
Arthrosis of the spine
A general form of degenerative joint processes triggered by both high loads and mineral deficiency and a number of diseases affecting the vertebrae.The difficulty of diagnosis is due to the masking of symptoms as clinical manifestations of other pathologies.Osteoarthritis of the spine can develop in different areas: thoracic, lumbar, cervical, sacrococcygeal.Therefore, the symptoms and names will be different.
Ankle arthrosis
Often this is the result of domestic or occupational injuries, excess weight or problems with the ligaments.It starts with pain and swelling in the ankle area, increases after physical exertion and long walks.Cramping and limited mobility may be present and may progress as the degenerative process progresses.Diagnosis is complicated by edema associated with other diseases: diabetes, kidney damage, heart disease.
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint (oarthrosis)
It is usually caused by a dislocation, a strong blow or a fracture.There is an aching pain that spreads to the lower part of the limb, which mainly bothers at night.As the cartilage deteriorates, abduction, rotation, and other arm movements become difficult.It is necessary to distinguish the disease from heart problems and diseases of the spine, which have similar manifestations.
Arthrosis of the foot joints
It affects both large and small joints of the foot.Often, a destructive process develops in the thumb area, so they mistake it for gout.The inciting factor is usually not an injury to the foot, but the wrong choice of shoes with flat feet.In a tight space, the joint area is injured, thickened, inflamed and loses mobility.
Arthrosis of fingers and joints
Damage to the small joints is usually multiple and develops in both hands.The process is usually associated with changes in hormonal levels, so it is often observed in women during menopause.In the acute stage, the joints swell, redden, and nodules may appear on them.Gradually, the pain decreases, but the deformations of the fingers increase and the mobility is lost.
Hand injuries and pinched nerves can cause degenerative processes in the wrist joint.The prerequisite is often tunnel syndrome, due to which blood circulation suffers.Rhizarthrosis, provoked by loads under the thumb, is also common.With this type of arthrosis, the pain is moderate, but mobility may be impaired and crunching may occur during tension.
Arthrosis of the temporomandibular joint
It often occurs against the background of dental problems, autoimmune and endocrine pathologies.A frequent inciting factor is chronic stress, which causes tension in the muscles and convulsive clenching of the teeth, which disrupts the nutrition of the joint capsule.The disease is accompanied by discomfort in the jaw and can cause dizziness, hearing, sleep and facial symmetry disorders.
Among the large lesions, the most common are gonarthrosis, coxarthrosis and arthrosis of the shoulder joint.Of the smaller ones, the joints of the hands and the spine are most affected.Less often, degenerative processes are observed in the patella, clavicle, talonavicular and elbow joints.They are usually triggered by injuries or special stress, especially professional sports or work with monotonous movements.
Other types of arthrosis
Another classification of the disease is related to the nature of the destructive processes and the causes that provoke them.If degenerative changes are associated with the consequences of an injury, they speak of post-traumatic arthrosis.Rheumatoid and psoriatic types are distinguished when autoimmune diseases become a factor that causes the depletion of cartilage tissue.
If the disease affects one joint, they talk about localized arthrosis.If several joints are affected, the term polyarthrosis (or generalized osteoarthritis) is used.The progressive form of the disease refers to the rapid destruction of cartilage that develops over several years.Deforming osteoarthritis is diagnosed if the process is accompanied by bone growth and affects ligaments and nearby tissues.
Stages of arthrosis
Joint degenerative processes develop gradually, over time lead to complete thinning and destruction of cartilage.Initial changes are noticeable only at the cellular level, but as we progress to the later stages of arthrosis, clinical signs become more and more obvious.Their nature, as well as X-ray indicators, are the basis for the classification of the disease.
Joint arthrosis 1st stage
It is accompanied by small changes in bone and cartilage tissue.They are still faintly visible on ultrasound and X-ray, but are already visible on CT.With significant loads, short-term pain, swelling and limited movement in the affected area.There is a slight narrowing of the joint cavity and sharpening of the bone edges.At this stage, the disease responds well to drug therapy.
Joint arthrosis 2nd stage
Destructive processes are underway.Photographs show significant narrowing of the joint space, cartilage damage reaches 50%.The pain is still moderate but persistent.Symptoms characteristic of each type of arthrosis, such as lameness, reduced range of motion, crunching, accumulation of fluid in the synovial space, etc. Treatment of arthrosis of the joints at this stage of the disease allows to slow down the destructive changes.
Joint arthrosis 3rd stage
The disease leads to the complete destruction of cartilage.Articular surfaces expand significantly due to bone growth, the gap practically disappears.Cavities, cystic formations and deformities may appear.Bone destruction begins, thinning of muscle fibers adjacent to the joint.Flexion and rotation movements are limited.The pain is intense.In the absence of treatment, the processes of fusion and ossification of articular structures begin, which is accompanied by a complete loss of mobility.The patient loses the ability to care for himself and needs constant care.
Early stages of arthrosis respond well to drug therapy, which allows maintaining mobility as much as possible and stopping degenerative processes.In advanced cases, it is possible to relieve the condition only by taking physiotherapy, chondroprotectors, anti-inflammatory and painkillers.In some cases, the only treatment option is surgery.