Modern medicine knows dozens, if not hundreds, of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. However, most often the residents of our country are diagnosed with "arthritis" and "osteoarthritis", especially during the summer season, when people, forgetting about all precautions, cultivate the beds from morning to night. evening. What could this mean and, most importantly, how can joint diseases be avoided?
Arthritis and osteoarthritis: what is the difference?
There is a big difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis. The ending "-itis" in Latin, considered the native language of medicine, always indicates that there is an active process of inflammation in the body. This, relatively speaking, is the first stage of joint disease.
But osteoarthritis in most cases is a natural consequence of arthritis.
Dmitry Tarasov offers an analogy by comparing joint diseases with fresh and old calluses. In the first case, fluid accumulates under the skin: the wound becomes inflamed and causes discomfort. An old callus does not hurt: the skin has died and is therefore insensitive. The same thing happens with a joint: in the last stage of osteoarthritis there are no cartilage cells left, only the bone itself that forms the joint — this is called osteoarthritis.
The terms "arthritis" and "osteoarthritis" apply to all joints. Its pathologies can be divided into several groups:
- diseases of the large joints, specifically the hip and knee;
- spinal pathologies associated with radicular syndromes, intervertebral discs and facet joints;
- arthritis and osteoarthritis of small joints;
- Diseases of the wrists, elbows and radiocarpal joints.
As Dmitry Tarasov notes, joint pathologies in the early stages are treated conservatively. Anti-inflammatory and chondroprotective drugs are prescribed - drugs that improve the functions of damaged joints and limit the load on them with crutches or a cane.
The main task of the doctor is to reduce the manifestation of the process and "soften" the arthritis.
Osteoarthritis, unlike arthritis, cannot be cured with conservative methods. There is only one way out: endoprostheses, joint replacement. That is why it is so important to take care of your joints throughout your life, from a young age, and not just when they start to hurt.
Causes of arthritis
The most common cause of arthritis is the natural course of life of the joint. With age, cartilage becomes thinner and destroyed. Therefore, doctors say that almost all older people can be diagnosed with this disease.
However, arthritis can occur for other reasons. Most often, as a consequence of diseases associated with metabolic disorders. Or, say, a person catches a cold, becomes ill, and the causative agent of the disease enters the joint and causes its inflammation; This is also arthritis, but of a different nature.
The most common are arthritis after stress and injuries. I arrived at the dacha, dug up the beds or went to the gym, and the next day my knee joints swelled. After a few days, the pain gradually subsided. This is post-exertional arthritis.
A sedentary lifestyle is also harmful to the joints. Furthermore, the phrase "movement is life", according to the expert, refers mainly to the joints. They need to move to function properly. And if a person is not active, his muscles and ligaments - everything that forms the stability of the joint - begin to weaken. And at the slightest load they can fail.
What to do if they shoot you in the back?
Everyone knows the feeling of being shot in the back. As a rule, the pain lasts a couple of minutes and then the person happily forgets about the unpleasant incident. Until next time.
In fact, stabbing pain in the back can be associated with many serious reasons and therefore should not be ignored. First of all, you should consult a neurologist or orthopedist. The doctor will prescribe certain research methods: X-ray or MRI. After this, the further algorithm of actions will become clear.
So, if the examination shows that the back pain is muscular, the doctor will exclude certain movements and recommend reducing physical activity. However, it is possible that low back pain is associated with damage to the intervertebral discs, the formation of bulges and hernias; then emergency treatment, including surgery, will be required.
It is important to know that the treatment of spinal pathologies is often carried out by neurologists and spinal surgeons rather than orthopedic surgeons. And this is logical, given the proximity between the spine and the nervous system.
Will vitamins and orthopedic protection help?
Many people take bone and joint vitamins without a prescription. However
Dmitry Tarasov warns that in this case they will not help, but harm. For example, higher calcium intake will strengthen bones, but can have a negative impact on kidney function. Therefore, before starting vitamin treatment, it is imperative to consult with a doctor, endocrinologist or therapist.
Another way to protect your joints is to buy orthopedic products: knee pads, corsets, orthoses, bandages. However, these products "take over" part of the functions performed by the human muscle-ligamentous apparatus. If you are healthy, wearing orthotics will cause your ligaments and muscles to begin to become "lazy" and weaken. And this can cause serious pathologies. There is only one conclusion: before buying "protection" for the joints, consult a doctor.
When playing active sports, always use elbow and knee protection. They will not save you from serious joint injuries, but they will minimize your damage and also protect your skin from damage.