Osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis or deforming arthrosis (DOA), or deforming osteoarthritis) is a disease of the joints, in which the articular cartilage is affected in the initial stages, then the surrounding muscles, ligaments, nerves and also the bone tissue are included in the pathological process.
Osteoarthritis is a disease that develops for various reasons. These include metabolic disorders, trauma, intoxication, etc.
Patients often call "osteoarthritis" any joint disease in which pain, limited mobility and other discomfort are observed in the area of one or more joints, which is not always true. Osteoarthritis and associated pain develop as a consequence of the "aging" of the joints, due to the influence of various negative factors, however, the causes of joint pain can be infections and injuries, and in these cases we are talking about other pathologies . .
Osteoarthritis statistics
Up to 70% of patients at the reception of a general practitioner, therapist, neurologist, surgeon, rheumatologist complain of joint pain. Most of the time these are pain in the lower back and in the area of large joints (knee, hip). Worldwide, up to 70% of cases of long-term disability are due to osteoarthritis. A large number of patients: up to 10% of those who seek medical help as a result of advanced osteoarthritis are disabled and need constant helpOsteoarthritis is one of the main reasons for the premature departure of a person from a full-fledged social life; In statistics, it is only second only to coronary heart disease.
The probability of developing osteoarthritis increases with age: in people older than 50 years, it occurs in 27% of cases, in people older than 70 years, the prevalence is 97%, which is due to the accumulated burden related to age at joints and expiration. of its normal operation.
Causes and development
The main factor in the development of osteoarthritis is malnutrition of the articular cartilage, which leads to its destruction. It is not so important why this happens (very overweight, professional sports, work habits, hormonal disorders, congenital joint defects, etc. ), the result is the same:
- changes in the articular cartilage begin that lead to a loss of elasticity; microcracks appear in the thickness of the cartilage;
- the blood supply to the joint is interrupted, the production of joint fluid decreases, the mechanics of the joint changes;
- then all the structures of the joint, adjacent muscles, nerve endings are involved.
The listed degenerative disorders lead to the development of symptoms of osteoarthritis, and the disease "begins" at the moment when the constant mechanical load becomes prohibitive for the joint (or joints) and begins the processes of their destruction.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis.
Unlike other joint pathologies, osteoarthritis develops over many years, long-term and imperceptible to humans. By the time the body signals a problem in the joint with severe pain, the pathological process has already begun.
Pain is the main symptom of osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis), in the initial stages the pain is not very pronounced, weak, more comparable to discomfort. The unpleasant sensations in the joints that arise after loading disappear on their own, without any medical or pharmacological intervention, but are quickly noticed and limit the habitual mobility of the person.
Pain can also occur at rest or at the beginning of movement (the so-called "beginning"), for example, in the morning after sleeping or after sitting for a long time during the day in one position, pass during movement. Night pains at rest are also characteristic of osteoarthritis, which also diminish rapidly with the onset of physical activity. Patients facing joint problems often say that to eliminate the discomfort it is necessary to "stretch the bones", "wake up the joints", which, in general, characterizes this condition quite accurately.
Painful sensations arise not only due to disturbances in the work of the joint itself. When all the components of the joint, muscles and nerve endings are involved in the process, the pain becomes varied and excruciating: it "shoots" along the nerve and spreads through the muscle. The blood supply to the joints, nerves and muscles is disturbed, degenerative changes rapidly occur in them.
Temporary or permanent limitations of joint mobility (contractures) develop due to severe pathological changes in joint and muscle tissues. For example, with osteoarthritis of the hip joints, the limb is shortened, the pelvis is "skewed, " and the spine is curved.
The creaking in the joints in the initial stages is almost invisible, but as the disease progresses during movement, it becomes constant. This symptom psychologically worries patients with osteoarthritis even more than pain, since it indicates serious disorders, aging of the body and of the musculoskeletal system in particular.
In the later stages of osteoarthritis, joint deformation occurs, which is associated with the loss of all curved joint surfaces, bony growths, decreased amount of joint fluid, and joint subluxation.
Stages
Depending on the severity of the symptoms, several stages of osteoarthritis are distinguished.
In the first stage, pain at rest and with moderate exertion is absent, it appears only after a high load (fitness, carrying heavy loads, running) or after a prolonged static position. A person does not experience movement restrictions and difficulties. Pharmacological treatment is not required.
In the second stage, the pain is pronounced and constant, quickly arises under the influence of provoking factors (prolonged walking, physical activity), does not go away on its own. The patient has limited movement, the mobility of certain joints is very limited: the knee, the hip and others. Medical assistance is required, a treatment regimen should be prescribed, including drugs and non-pharmacological methods.
In the third stage, the patient moves with difficulty, needs constant care, the pain is unbearable. As a general rule, to restore the quality of life, surgical treatment (endoprosthesis) and massive physiotherapy are necessary.
The symptoms of osteoarthritis appear at an early age, and in this case it is necessary not to ignore them, but to consult a doctor. Prompt treatment will support normal joint function and help prevent the rapid progression of the disease.