Arthritis and arthrosis are inflammatory diseases that affect joints. At first glance, it may seem that they are very similar - in both cases the articular tissue is affected, painful sensations appear, an unpleasant crunch, stiffness of movements. Despite the consonance of names and the similarity of symptoms, these are various diseases that require a different approach to treatment.
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Diagnosis of diseases
When the first symptoms appearthe disease must immediately go to a specialist who can correctly diagnose and prescribe therapy. First you need to decide which doctor treats arthritis and who to go to, to help. If you are experiencing this problem for the first time, you should contact your therapist. The specialist will appoint a comprehensive medical examination and the delivery of tests, the results of which will send a narrower profile to the doctor.
Differential diagnosis includes:
- biochemical blood test;
- X-rays of joints and sacroiliac joints;
- UAC;
- tests for rheumatic test;
- MRI and CT;
Depending on the symptoms and results of the diagnosis, the patient is referred to a rheumatologist, a nutritionist, an orthopedist, a surgeon, a traumatologist or a physician-arthrologist.
IMPORTANT! Before starting treatment, it is necessary to find out the cause of the disease and differentiate arthritis from other diseases.
How to distinguish arthrosis from joint arthritis
Arthrosis is an age-related disease, expressed in the deformation of joints. The disease affects only the articular membrane, the rest of the body does not suffer from this disease. Most often with arthrosis affects the hip and knee joints, as well as the joints of the thumbs on the legs. Pain sensations are not strong and manifest after exercise or movement. Therefore, patients do not hurry to the doctor, and begin to engage in self-medication. Very often the disease is neglected arthritis.
WARNING! Self-medication can further exacerbate the disease.
Arthritis is an inflammatory disease in which not only the joints are affected, but the entire body as a whole. The kidneys, heart, liver most often suffer. The disease can begin to manifest itself at a fairly young age - after 30 years. Inflammation is expressed in the swelling of the joints, redness and severe pain, which are worse at night. This inflammatory process is explained by the presence of infection or a malfunction of the immune system, which directs all forces against its own organism.
Among the varieties of arthritis most often isolated: rheumatoid arthritis of the lower extremities, in particular, arthritis of the knee and foot, as well as arthritis of the fingers. Arthritis and arthrosis can be distinguished by a doctor who treats these diseases.
IMPORTANT! With improper treatment of arthritis of the lower extremities, complications can occur in the form of gonarthrosis or coxarthrosis.
Causes of the disease
The disease can develop very slowly( chronic form) or quickly and unexpectedly( acute phase).The cause can be any pathological process in our body. That is why it is very important to seek help from a specialist and find out which doctor is treating the disease.
Medical research identifies several main causes of arthritis:
- infectious diseases;
- supercooling;
- injury of the limbs;
- specific lesions of the joint tissue;
- gout;
- immune system disorder;
- heredity.
Treatment of
The main therapy is aimed at the removal of pain, inflammation, recovery of motor function, as well as revealing the cause of the disease. Often after the treatment of the underlying disease, a remission and complete recovery occurs.
The classic regimen for the treatment of arthritis of any etiology includes:
- Medication.
- LFK.
- Diet.
- Orthopedic aids.
- Physiotherapy.
- Admission of vitamin complexes.
IMPORTANT! Treatment with folk remedies is allowed, but only during a calm period of the disease.
Medication therapy
In the treatment of arthritis, non-steroidal drugs, antibiotics, chondroprotectors are used. Anti-inflammatory drugs relieve inflammation, reduce swelling and pain. If necessary, the puncture of the inflamed area is performed, and antibiotics and steroid hormones( Dexamethasone, Kenalog) are injected into the articular cavity. Affected cartilaginous tissue is restored with the help of chondroprotectors. Arthritis of the foot and fingers is successfully treated with ointments, gels, creams with anti-inflammatory and cooling effect.
In advanced cases, surgery is possible with the replacement of a sick joint of artificial materials. So, with arthritis of the knee joint, replantation or reconstructive surgery will help restore the joint and prevent the further development of the disease.
IMPORTANT! During treatment, it is necessary to reduce the burden on sick joints as much as possible: long walking, lifting of weights is excluded.
LFK and physiotherapeutic procedures
Medical treatment should be carried out in conjunction with physiotherapy and exercise therapy.
Physiotherapy procedures include:
- diadynamic;
- electrophoresis;
- magnetotherapy;
- mud - and paraffin treatment.
IMPORTANT! All activities are conducted in the process of remission. When arthritis stops exercise is only in prone position.
Orthopedic fixtures
Treatment of arthritis of the knee joint and feet never passes without auxiliary orthopedic adaptations and footwear. Normal cane, knee, tight bandage will help reduce the load on the inflamed place and reduce pain.
Special energy-absorbing footwear should be on a rigid or convex sole.
Diet
An important aspect of treating arthritis is proper nutrition. Nutritionist will help to make the right daily diet, which will include vegetables, fruits, cereals, cooked on the water, as well as foods rich in calcium. It is better to refuse from consumption of fatty, salty foods, meat, and sub-products.
Folk remedies
Traditional methods allow the use of folk methods of treatment. At home, you can apply warming applications, baths with a solution of iodized salt, ingestion of herbs.
IMPORTANT! In acute phase of the disease, warm compresses are strictly contraindicated.
Conducting a comprehensive examination, establishing the correct diagnosis will help determine which doctor treats arthritis and arthrosis in order to start treatment as soon as possible and to exclude surgery.