Arthritis disease. Alcohol and arthritis - Arthritis Let's win! Associated diseases and complications of arthritis

Arthritis is a disease that affects thousands of people around the world and is widespread. The disease gets its name from the word “athron”, which means “joint” in Greek.

The first mentions of the signs of the disease and its treatment date back to the period of the life and work of Hippocrates. It turns out that even in those distant times, doctors, in collaboration with traditional healers and healers, took the first steps to combat this disease.

At the same time, if earlier doctors called arthritis any disease that in one way or another affected the joints and musculoskeletal system of the body, already in the sixteenth century arthritis, as a pathology, received its own classification. The stages of the disease and types of arthritis were first determined at that time.

Therefore, when talking about arthritis today, doctors mean a number of diseases that have common unique features.

According to the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, every hundredth resident of this country suffers from arthritis. Moreover, joint disease affects any age group, there are no exceptions. Arthritis does not depend on a person’s gender. This lack of framework makes the disease not just an ailment, but a real problem for modern society.

Scientific observations and studies, at the same time, confirm that arthritis poses a greater threat to middle-aged females.

Arthritis and its causes

Despite the fact that arthritis has been known as a disease for a very long time, in the 21st century the causes of its occurrence have only been partially studied by doctors. Genetic predisposition is the most likely reason why arthritis may develop.

Therefore, theoretically, every person can have a hereditary predisposition to this disease. Moreover, it is not at all necessary that he himself will suffer from arthritis. Typically, a genetic predisposition to arthritis is passed down from generation to generation and the disease becomes fully manifest in descendants.

The second cause of arthritis, confirmed by scientists, is pathology of the lymph nodes, in the presence of which immune cells simply cannot detect viruses and begin to fight them in a timely manner.

In this regard, arthritis is a very insidious disease, since impaired immune cells can detect the presence of a problem in the body, but in the process of neutralizing it they can make mistakes and destroy their own healthy joint cells (autoimmune reaction).

The third reason for the development of arthritis is complications after infectious diseases. In this regard, the absolute leader is the flu or acute respiratory infection (as the disease is often called in professional medical slang).

According to statistics, in 40% of cases, arthritis and its symptoms arise precisely as a result of a previously suffered acute respiratory infection.

It may seem strange to some, but emotional stress can also cause the development of arthritis at any age. Every person, regardless of his social status, experiences emotional “shocks” from time to time, as a result of which the patient’s psychological background sharply deteriorates. A similar factor could be dismissal from work or the death of a loved one.

After suffering shocks, people often experience character changes, and the more pronounced these changes, the higher the likelihood of developing arthritis. This cause of the disease was first proposed as theoretical more than 100 years ago and in the 20th century it was fully confirmed by the scientific work done by American physicians Alexander, Shapir, and Johnson.

It also happens that emotional stress that contributes to the appearance of arthritis occurs for no apparent reason, that is, there is no critical situation. This is explained by the fact that the person has been subjected to minor but regular oppression over a fairly long period, for example, from family members or superiors at work. At the same time, the person restrains himself, masks his irritability, but suffers greatly emotionally.

In such situations, stress becomes a time bomb:

1. tension gradually increases;
2. negativity accumulates;
3. then an emotional explosion occurs and all the ensuing consequences.

This reason, in fact, leads to the fact that middle-aged women suffer from arthritis more often than other people. Therefore, men who are concerned about the health of their “halves” should avoid the politics of domestic dictatorship and appreciate and love their wife.

Another very common reason for the development of arthritis is prolonged stress on the same group of joints. There is nothing eternal in the world; human joints are no exception to this rule.

Pay attention! In addition to women, athletes are also at risk for developing arthritis. During training and competitions, athletes' joints experience enormous stress. In addition, emotional excitement before competitions and untreated injuries also play a significant role.

There are many reasons for the development of arthritis; the list of them can be endless. Here are the most common ones:

• poor nutrition, which is characterized by a lack of vitamins;
• metabolic disorders in the patient's body;
• drinking alcohol, smoking;
• unfavorable ecological atmosphere;
• blood supply problems.

What are the symptoms of joint disease?

A range of symptoms are typical for arthritis. Some of them should be considered in more detail:

Joint pain at night. If a patient experiences severe pain in the joints during a night's rest, and these sensations are not associated with heavy physical labor, arthritis is most likely developing in the body.

However, discomfort in the joints associated with changes in posture is not a symptom of arthritis. But if a person wakes up in the middle of the night from severe pain, he should immediately consult a doctor. This condition indicates a severe degree of arthritis.

The disease is characterized by stiffness in the joints after waking up, especially in the hands. This sensation is called “glove syndrome” in medicine. And the assumption that after sleep the body needs time to wake up is more than naive. To perform the simplest everyday manipulations in the morning (open a water tap, turn on the kettle), a person does not need to warm up.

Swelling and inflammation of the wrist joints. When these symptoms appear on both hands at once (see photo), we can say with 99% confidence that these are signs of arthritis.

Swelling and inflammation of the metacarpophalangeal joints at the base of the fingers (see photo). These manifestations, in the absence of recent injuries, also guarantee the presence of an inflammatory process in the joints. This does not apply to martial arts athletes.

Deformation of the fingers on the upper and lower extremities. The term “deformity” implies redness and swelling of a large area (see photo) lasting 10 days or longer.

Inflammation of diarthrosis is sequential: first one joint is affected, after a short period of time another, then a third, until the disease covers all joints.

Causeless but regular inflammation of the joints and tumors of the big toes (see photo), ankles and knees are 90% guaranteed to have arthritis.

Another sign of arthritis is a decrease in pain in the joints during active movements. You should not hope that the pain has disappeared because the body has warmed up and warmed up. It is very important to find the original cause of its occurrence. Arthritis is highly likely to be the cause.

Stiffness in the lower back that lasts a very long time. If a patient cannot fully rotate his body for several months and experiences extremely unpleasant sensations or even pain when turning, he should immediately consult a doctor.

Other symptoms:

1. “Peas” and tumors on the elbows under the skin (see photo).
2. Long-term inflammation of the eyes (conjunctivitis).
3. Frequent chills and increased sweating.
4. Increased body temperature that lasts for one to two months.

Types of Arthritis

When talking about the types of arthritis, you need to know that this disease has both acute and chronic forms.

The acute form of arthritis is inflammation of varying severity, which is a one-time phenomenon. Acute arthritis is caused by an infection that has entered the body. Usually the disease is easy to treat and rarely leads to any complications.

The situation is somewhat different with chronic arthritis. The chronic form of the disease, unlike the acute form, is not exclusively infectious in nature. Most often, the disease develops as a result of any disorders in the body:

• deposits of calcium salts;
• injuries;
• excessive stress on the joints and other reasons.

Treatment of chronic arthritis, due to the complexity of the disease, must be thorough and often takes more than one month.

There are many types of arthritis depending on the nature of the disease. The most common of them:

1. reactive;
2. gouty;
3. gonorrheal;
4. chlamydial;
5. rheumatoid.

Psoriatic is a chronic joint disease caused by psoriasis. This form of arthritis is a less studied type of disease. Therefore, treatment is carried out strictly under the supervision of a doctor and is accompanied by numerous tests.

Reactive – inflammation of the joints, which is caused by previous illnesses. Accompanied by pain of varying degrees. Treatment of reactive arthritis can be either medicinal or non-medicinal.

Gout is a gouty form of arthritis. The disease is quite common and is associated with the deposition of uric acid salts. Men are more susceptible to gout, but sometimes the disease also affects women. In a hospital setting, it is cured in one to two weeks.

Gonorrheal arthritis is an infectious disease, characterized by inflammation of the joint capsule, which causes increased activity of gonococci. Typically, the gonorrheal form of arthritis affects the knee joints and significantly limits the patient's mobility.

Chlamydial is a joint pathology caused by the bacterium chlamydia (see photo). The chlamydial form of arthritis develops against the background of a previous history of:

• prostatitis;
• urethritis;
• conjunctivitis;
• pneumonia.

There are other causes, but they are all related to chlamydia. Signs of chlamydial arthritis are swelling, acute pain in the joints, enlarged lymph nodes, and elevated body temperature.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a very serious joint disease, which is characterized not only by severe pain and significant limitation of mobility, but also by a number of different complications. Pathology most often appears in middle-aged women.

Important! Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis involves the patient undergoing a whole range of therapeutic procedures, which are carried out under the supervision of a rheumatologist. It is highly undesirable to treat the disease yourself.

There are other forms of the disease that are much less common - infectious-allergic and “tick-borne” arthritis, scientifically known as Lyme disease.

Treatment of the disease

Methods for treating arthritis can be divided into three groups:

1. medicinal;
2. non-medicinal;
3. treatment with folk remedies.

Drug treatment consists of prescribing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (indomethacin, acetylsalicylic acid, ibuprofen) in combination with antibiotics that suppress the activity of bacteria harmful to the human body.

For the treatment of arthritis, periarticular and. They are usually prescribed to patients with chronic arthritis. In addition, drug treatment includes the use of the following drugs: D-penicillamine, Chloroquine, Levamisole.

Non-drug therapy for arthritis consists of undergoing procedures that are not related to certain medications. Treatment without medications is advisable for mild forms of arthritis and in the final stages of medication.

These procedures include shock wave therapy, ultrasound, mud therapy, massage, magnetic therapy, and therapeutic exercises. Therapeutic methods for arthritis include maintaining a proper diet and adequate alternation of sleep and wakefulness.

Folk remedies for treating arthritis include:

• salty hot baths;
• hot shower;
• cold therapy.

Arthritis is the general name for inflammatory joint diseases. The disease is widespread, with incidence rates increasing over time. In Africa and Asia, arthritis is not as widespread as in Europe and North America.

Arthritis: causes and development factors

The causes of arthritis can be very different. Most often we are talking about infectious processes, allergic reactions, disorders of the immune system, and mental trauma. One of the causes of arthritis is the natural wear and tear of the joints.

Provoking factors in the development of arthritis can be poor environmental conditions, an unbalanced diet, a sedentary lifestyle, excess weight and genetic predisposition. Some types of so-called “occupational” arthritis develop as a result of many years of stress on the same groups of muscles and joints of the musculoskeletal system.

Now let's take a closer look at the main causes of arthritis:

• Infectious diseases. When bacteria, viruses and fungi enter the body, a natural protective reaction is triggered. However, malfunctions in the functioning of the immune system lead to the fact that immune cells destroy not only pathogenic microorganisms, but also damage their own cells, in particular, joint cells.
• Joint injuries that lead to the development of a chronic inflammatory process in the joint.
• Excess body weight, which places excessive stress on the joints.
• Congenital joint injuries (for example, congenital hip dislocation).
• Disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine system. In particular, hormonal imbalances during menopause in women contribute to the development of arthritis.
• Hereditary predisposition.
• Some diseases, for example, and others.
• Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages.
• Exposure to biological poisons of insects.
• Insufficient intake of nutrients into the body.

Types of disease: classification of arthritis

Depending on the causes, infectious, dystrophic, traumatic arthritis, as well as arthritis associated with other diseases are distinguished. Depending on the number of affected joints, monoarthritis (when one joint is affected) and polyarthritis - inflammation of several joints at once.

Arthritis can be acute or chronic. Acute arthritis occurs suddenly and is accompanied by severe pain in the joints and increased body temperature. Chronic arthritis is characterized by a slow course and gradual progression. In some cases, acute arthritis becomes chronic.

Depending on the causes of occurrence, the following types of arthritis are distinguished:

• Infectious arthritis. This type of disease develops against the background of an infectious process, which causes inflammation in the body. There are primary and secondary forms of infectious arthritis. In the first case, the cause of the disease is a wound through which an infection enters the body. As for secondary infectious arthritis, the cause of its development is infection from the blood or nearby organs. For example, this type of infectious arthritis includes gonorrheal arthritis, tuberculosis, gonococcal, dysentery, chlamydial, viral and others.
• . This is an infectious-allergic form of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis causes chronic inflammation of the joints of the extremities. During exacerbations, the patient experiences difficulties even when performing minor physical work. As a rule, rheumatoid arthritis develops in middle-aged and elderly people.
• Gouty arthritis. Arthritis caused by gout develops as a result of the deposition of uric acid salts, which accumulate in the cavities of the joints. Excess uric acid is not excreted in the urine and does not dissolve in the blood. Over time, uric acid crystallizes, which accumulates in the joints, which leads to an inflammatory process.
• Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Another name for this pathology is Still's disease. This disease occurs in children under 16 years of age. The cause of juvenile arthritis still remains unknown. The disease is chronic and constantly progressive. In severe cases, juvenile arthritis is accompanied by damage to internal organs, which leads to disability of the child.
• Arthritis caused by injury. Traumatic arthritis can develop long after a joint injury. Naturally, after a bruise or other injury, swelling and redness will appear in the joint area. All this will pass with time, and we can assume that the problem is solved. However, this trauma can make itself felt after several years and even decades! The joint may begin to hurt, and gradual destruction of the bones will occur. Therefore, be extremely careful, take care of your joints and try not to get injured.
• Osteoarthritis. This form of arthritis (like many others) is clearly degenerative. With osteoarthritis, cartilage tissue is gradually destroyed, which leads to pain. With osteoarthritis, the shape of the joint changes and bone growths occur. In this case, independent restoration of bones and cartilage of the joint is impossible.
• Rheumatism of the joints. This is a chronic disease in which there is inflammation of the connective tissues. Rheumatism mainly affects the tissues of the joints and heart.
• Arthrosis. This is a fairly common form of arthritis. Compared to rheumatoid arthritis, the symptoms of arthrosis are not as severe. With the help of medications, this type of arthritis responds quite well to symptomatic treatment.

Symptoms of arthritis: how the disease manifests itself

The symptoms of arthritis are the same. The patient feels pain and stiffness in the affected joint. There may be swelling in the area of ​​the affected joint, restriction of its movement and a local increase in temperature. In some cases, arthritis is accompanied by changes in clinical and laboratory parameters: the appearance of fever, increased ESR levels,.

Patient Actions for Arthritis

The presence of discomfort and pain in the joints is a reason to consult a doctor. Moderate physical activity, special exercises for arthritis and weight control will help alleviate the patient's condition.

The patient should strictly adhere to all the doctor’s recommendations, including regarding diet.

Diagnosis of arthritis

Diagnosis of arthritis includes taking a medical history, external examination of the patient for the presence of characteristic signs of an inflammatory process in the joints, as well as laboratory and instrumental research methods. A blood and joint fluid test can reveal the presence of an inflammatory process, and radiographic studies reveal characteristic signs of joint inflammation. Computer and magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound are also used in the diagnosis of arthritis. Recently, arthroscopy has also begun to be used, which allows for a thorough examination of the joint cavity, as well as sampling synovial fluid for subsequent laboratory tests.

Treatment for arthritis should be comprehensive and include both drug therapy and lifestyle modification, physiotherapy and spa treatment. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Nise, Nurofen, Nimesulide, Ibuprofen, Meloxicam, etc.) are the main medications used in the treatment of arthritis. To eliminate inflammatory processes in the most affected joints, corticosteroid and glucocorticoid drugs are used (). In the absence of extra-articular manifestations, try not to prescribe corticosteroids. Intra-articular administration of corticosteroid drugs is advisable in the absence of a therapeutic effect from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as in the presence of fever. Enzyme preparations can be used to improve blood circulation and its rheological properties (and others).

Complications of arthritis

Complications of arthritis can be early and late. Early complications include phlegmon, panarthritis (acute purulent arthritis). Late complications include osteomyelitis, sepsis, contractures and pathological dislocations.

Prevention of arthritis

Prevention of arthritis comes down to avoiding and eliminating all possible triggering factors. A healthy lifestyle, weight control, a balanced diet, avoidance of excessive alcohol consumption and regular preventive examinations with a doctor will significantly reduce the likelihood of developing arthritis.

Do your knees hurt, have your joints become larger or have started to become deformed? Does walking cause difficulty and pain? Do you feel a crunch in your knees? All this may indicate the presence of arthritis. We will talk about this disease today. But let's start with the definition...

What is arthritis?

Arthritis(Latin arthritis - aching joints) is a collective designation for inflammatory diseases of the joints, the main symptom of which is pain in the joints, especially when walking or using physical force.

Description of the disease

Arthritis can affect fingers, elbow joints, knee joints, ankle joints, hip joints, spine, and also characterizes more than 100 rheumatoid pathologies. In addition, in addition to joints, changes in arthritis lead to disturbances in the functioning of the heart, liver and kidneys, sometimes even causing a threat to a person’s life.

Arthritis develops due to exhaustion, and as a result of the loss of articular cartilage, which plays an important role in the normal functioning of any of the human joints. The disorders themselves occur due to injuries, infections, increased stress on the joints, and the age of the patient. After the cartilage wears out, adjacent bones begin to rub against each other, thereby forming pathological changes at the joints, swelling, pain and loss of motor functions of the joint. Sometimes the skin that covers the sore spot (joint) begins to turn red.

The sooner you contact a specialist at the first signs of arthritis, the better the prognosis for its treatment.

Experts note that several tens of millions of people on our planet suffer from arthritis, and this number is increasing from year to year. It is also noted that most people with arthritis are people over 65 years old. At the same time, this disease is increasingly damaging the health of young people, because The lifestyle of many people today is far from ideal.

Arthritis ICD

ICD-10: M00-M25
ICD-9: 710-719

Arthritis is divided according to localization:

— monoarthritis– arthritis of one joint;
— polyarthritis– arthritis of several joints at the same time.

according to the nature of the disease:

— acute arthritis– develops quickly, causing sudden, severe and acute pain;
— chronic arthritis– develops slowly, at the beginning practically without revealing itself, only sometimes aching in certain joints. Over time, the pain intensifies and torments the patient for long periods of time.

due to the origin of the disease:

Symptoms of arthritis depending on the cause of the disease

Rheumatoid arthritis. In the first stages, small joints of the arms, elbows, wrists, legs, feet and lower legs are affected, and simultaneously on both arms or legs. Gradually, the disease spreads to larger joints - knees, shoulders. The patient begins to experience pain, giving him a feeling of stiffness, especially in the morning, which disappears as he is physically active. The skin around the affected joint may swell and turn reddish. Then the person loses his appetite, he loses weight, his body temperature periodically rises, and he feels ...

Under the skin, in the area of ​​diseased joints, nodules with a diameter of no more than 2 cm can be periodically observed, which feel like compacted fatty deposits to the touch. These nodules can move under the skin and appear on the back of the head, forearms, and internal organs. Due to joint deformation, blood circulation is disrupted, which leads to muscle atrophy, making a person powerless and immobile.

Sometimes there may be pain in the eyes, numbness of the limbs, difficulty breathing, especially with deep sighs, increased sweating, and inflammation of the salivary glands. When the weather, atmospheric pressure and seasons change, the pain intensifies.

Reactive arthritis at the initial stage it is characterized by general weakness, headaches, increased body temperature up to +38°C. Unlike rheumatoid arthritis, reactive arthritis develops asymmetrically. In parallel, symptoms of inflammation of the genitourinary system and inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes may appear ().

Gouty arthritis. In most cases, the first joint of the big toe is affected, although the disease can occur in the knee and elbow. The site of inflammation becomes red, swollen and very painful. The main reasons are the consumption of large amounts of alcohol, meat and fatty foods. The pain is most noticeable at night.

Infectious arthritis begins with intoxication of the body and develops rapidly: body temperature rises, muscle pain appears. Sometimes they can be accompanied by and. The affected joint swells and changes its shape. The skin around the affected joint becomes warm. The pain intensifies with movement. Symptoms are most pronounced in children; in older people, symptoms are muted.

Osteoarthritis is often an asymptomatic disease. The patient may not experience pain even after X-ray confirmation of the disease. If symptoms do appear, they are aching and poorly localized pain, sometimes turning into acute painful attacks. With increased stress on the joints, the pain intensifies, at the same time, it often torments the patient in the morning, making it difficult to move the whole body. Swelling is observed in joints, especially large ones (hip, knee and spinal joints). When complications occur, bone growths (knots) appear on the joints, which can be either quite painful when touched or practically not bother the carrier of the disease.

Psoriatic arthritis Characterized by the following symptoms: gradual development of the disease, starting with swelling of the affected area and a local increase in temperature. Red, itchy and flaky spots appear on the skin and scalp, also called psoriatic spots, or. In this case, the nail plates are affected and begin to split. Most often, psoriatic arthritis manifests itself in the fingers, which begin to swell, resembling a sausage shape. At the initial stage, pain does not appear, and if it is present, it is in the morning.

Traumatic arthritis develops in the same way as osteoarthritis. The symptoms are the same: pain, swelling and crunching in the inflamed area.

Degrees of Arthritis

Experts have identified several degrees of arthritis progression, each of which has its own characteristics. The higher the degree of arthritis, the further the pathological process of the disease has progressed. Let's consider them...

Arthritis - 1st degree

The onset of the disease (grade 1 arthritis) can be practically asymptomatic. The patient experiences some stiffness in movement, whether walking or turning on a water tap. Slight swelling may appear on your feet, which will make putting on your shoes somewhat difficult. When bending or straightening the joints, mild intermittent pain appears. Fatigue increases day by day. With psoriatic arthritis, pain may worsen at night. In the case of arthritis in the shoulder or knee joints, the pain can be so unnoticeable that it seems as if ordinary fatigue or age-related fatigue has occurred.

In children, grade 1 arthritis can be identified by the following signs: the child has become inactive, often falls, and also refuses to play active games.

When you consult a doctor at this stage, the percentage of positive results in the treatment of arthritis is the highest.

Arthritis - 2nd degree

Stage 2 arthritis is characterized by more severe pain in the areas of the affected joints, especially at night and in the morning, with visible swelling thereof. Pathological processes begin in the body, erosion is observed on the bones. Sometimes a distinct crunching of bones is heard when moving. On the knees, stage 2 arthritis manifests itself in the form of reddened skin that is hot to the touch. A large amount of synovial fluid is formed in the affected joints.

Arthritis of the hip joint stage 2 can radiate pain to the knees and cause lameness when moving. Arthritis of the shoulder joint makes it difficult for the patient to lift his arm.

Arthritis - 3rd degree

Arthritis of the 3rd degree is characterized by severe deformation of the affected joint, which causes serious problems when the patient moves, both when walking and when rotating with arms, fingers, etc. Pain is present around the clock, even at rest. At this level, the patient may be assigned a disability.

Arthritis - 4th degree

Arthritis of the 4th degree leads to almost complete immobility of the damaged joints, with severe round-the-clock pain. It is impossible to move independently. Negative changes in bones and joints are already becoming irreversible. When the knees are affected, muscle contractures form.

The clear and exact cause of arthritis has not yet been determined, but doctors have identified some factors that can trigger the development of arthritis. Let's look at them:

— infections caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses;
— ;
- metabolic disorders;
- injury;
— ;
- insufficient intake of nutrients into the body
— diseases of the nervous system;
— disturbances in the functioning of the immune system;
- excessive load on the joints;
— unhealthy diet, incl. consumption of alcoholic beverages;
- overweight;
- disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine gland;
- genetic predisposition;
- insect bites, for example, bees, etc.;
— ;
- some diseases: gonorrhea.

Diagnosis of arthritis

Diagnosis of arthritis is carried out by several specialists: traumatologist, phthisiatrician, infectious disease specialist, etc.

Diagnosis of arthritis includes examination (conversation, inspection, testing for sensitivity and mobility of joints), laboratory tests (tests) and instrumental diagnostic methods, and only on the basis of this a course of treatment for the patient is prescribed. Let's take a closer look at the methods for diagnosing arthritis.

Laboratory research

To protect the gastrointestinal tract for the irritating effects of NSAIDs, gastroprotectors and proton pump inhibitors are prescribed - Omeprazole.

If arthritis is caused by a fungus, antifungal drugs are prescribed.

To relieve pain use ointments, gels ("Diclofenac" - gel) and creams, as well as local injections (anesthetics).

For severe inflammation and pain hormonal injections are prescribed into the joint cavities, which bring quick relief to the patient.

To relieve muscle spasms that occur during joint pain use muscle relaxants and sometimes anticonvulsants.

To remove deposited salts anti-gout drugs are used: Allopurinol, Allomaron, Milurit.

To restore cartilage tissue they use chondroprotector drugs: Alfutop, Arthra, Artradol, Glucosamine, Teraflex, Chondroitin sulfate, as well as mineral preparations containing Vitrum, Centrum, Unicam.

To relieve swelling, pain syndrome and normalization of blood circulation, compresses based on Dimexide are used, which penetrate deeply into the inflamed joint tissues and have a beneficial effect on the healing process.

Surgical intervention It is advisable to use it if the joint has collapsed and antibiotics have not helped. A prosthesis is placed in place of the removed joint.

The complex prescribes:

— warming up;
— restorative massage courses;
— ultrasound treatment;
- mud treatment;
- diet;
- physical therapy.

Nutrition for arthritis should be aimed at restoring and strengthening the immune system: saturating the body with useful substances and microelements - manganese, copper, molybdenum, selenium, sulfur, zinc, amino acids - arginine, methionine.

Of course, for this, the diet must include vegetables, root vegetables and fruits, preferably fresh.

But heat treatment of food should be kept to a minimum, because... with it, a large number of vitamins and microelements are destroyed.

In addition to vegetables and fruits, you should eat: cereals, dairy products (cottage cheese, sour cream, kefir, fermented baked milk, etc.), fish, poultry and other lean meats.

It is necessary to minimize the consumption of: salt, sugar, fatty meats, legumes, seafood, offal and alcoholic beverages.

Additionally, your doctor may prescribe vitamin complexes.

For treatment to be effective, it is necessary to control the presence of extra pounds, because excess weight causes excess stress on the joints, which adds to the overall picture of the patient’s pain.

This disease is quite common nowadays: several million people on the planet suffer from arthritis.

Arthritis? Of course, this is the first question a person has when he hears his diagnosis from a doctor.

Arthritis is the nature of which can be different. However, there is always an inflammatory process as a reaction to exposure, external or internal. What is arthritis is clear, but what are its causes? They are different. In addition to those directly causing the disease, predisposing factors are also taken into account. They are as follows:

• age of the patient - the older the person, the greater the likelihood of the disease;
• heredity and gender - pathology is more common in women and can be transmitted to children from parents;
• excess body weight and low mobility - the more weight, the greater the load on the joints. Exercises strengthen the muscle corset around the joint, thereby reducing the load on it;
• allergies are a risk factor for the development of rheumatoid arthritis;
• joint damage.

Types of arthritis

Medicine distinguishes many types of arthritis. Among them, the most common are infectious, gout, and osteoarthritis. Based on the number of joints affected, monoarthritis (one joint is affected) and polyarthritis (several joints) are distinguished. Arthritis is also classified by the name of the joint in which there is pathology. So it will be clear: to the question of what this is, there is only one possible answer - this is its inflammation.

How does the disease manifest itself?

There are classic signs of inflammation that doctors memorize like a mantra: pain, heat, redness, and dysfunction. All of them are characteristic of arthritis. Severe chronic arthritis is manifested by joint deformation, and a local increase in temperature and change in skin color are atypical for them.

Monoarthritis usually affects large joints, such as the knees and hips. Elbow and rarely suffer. Characterized by polyarthritis of the small joints of the hands.

Arthritis and arthrosis, their differences

Many people at a doctor’s appointment ask the same questions: “What is arthritis and arthrosis? How are they different? Or is it the same thing? Of course not. These are completely different processes. Having discussed above what arthritis is, we realized that it is essentially inflammation.

Arthrosis is a degenerative process that leads to cartilage degeneration. It is primary if it occurs on an intact joint due to a violation of the biomechanics of its movement (age-related, after injuries of any location, as a result of physical inactivity, high physical activity). Secondary arthrosis develops in an organ that has already been changed due to genetic abnormalities or injury.

Of course, the sooner the doctor finds out whether his patient has arthritis or arthrosis, and the sooner adequate treatment is started, the higher the chances of restoring the structure and function of the joints. Determining the cause and nature of the process plays a significant role in this.

(lesions) of the joints. It may be an underlying disease (for example, spondylitis) or a manifestation of another disease (for example, rheumatism). It occurs in acute and chronic forms with damage to one or more (polyarthritis) joints. Among the causes are infections (tuberculosis, brucellosis), metabolic disorders (for example, gout), injuries, etc.

Epidemiology

Arthritis is a widespread disease in the human population. In the United States alone, more than 42 million people suffer from arthritis, and one in six are disabled as a result of the disease. It should be noted that among the causes of disability in this country, arthritis ranks first. Arthritis has “about the same effect on the U.S. economy as a mild economic downturn,” with the disease costing Americans more than $64 billion annually, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. These losses are associated with treatment costs and decreased productivity. As for developing countries such as Brazil, India, Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Mexico, Thailand, the Philippines and Chile, according to studies cited by the World Health Organization, arthritis and similar diseases cause “no less harm there than in rich countries.” countries."

Over time, the number of people suffering from arthritis is gradually increasing. In Canada, it is believed that the number of patients will increase by 1 million over the next ten years. Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#property" was not found. )]][[K:Wikipedia:Articles without sources (country: Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#property" was not found. )]] Although arthritis is not as widespread in Africa and Asia as in Europe, the number of people suffering from this disease is growing rapidly in these parts of the world. Due to the prevalence of arthritis, the World Health Organization declared the period from 2000 to 2010 the “Decade to Fight Bone and Joint Diseases.” During this time, doctors and healthcare professionals are focusing their efforts on making life easier for those suffering from musculoskeletal diseases, including arthritis.

Etiology

The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not known with certainty. Currently, the most common immunogenetic theory of the occurrence of rheumatoid arthritis, according to which the presence of a genetically determined defect of the immune system is assumed, leading to a pathological reaction to provoking factors.

Pathogenesis

The pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis is based on autoimmune disorders, mainly dysregulation of the synthesis of rheumatoid factor (which is antibodies to immunoglobulins) and immune complex processes leading to the development of synovitis, and in some cases generalized vasculitis. Deformation of joints in rheumatoid arthritis is caused by the formation and growth of granulation tissue in the synovial membrane, which gradually destroys cartilage and subchondral bones, formation of usurs (erosions) occurs, with the development of sclerotic changes, fibrous, and then bone ankylosis. Characteristic subluxations and contractures are partly due to changes in the tendons, serous bursae and joint capsule.

Classification

Treatment

One of the treatment methods is therapeutic exercises. With the implementation of the entire exercise therapy program, the patient will improve the mobility of joints and strengthen the muscular-ligamentous apparatus. Exercise for arthritis should not cause severe pain. All movements must be performed within the permissible amplitude.

In the absence of extra-articular manifestations, they begin with the selection nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: acetylsalicylic acid (2-3 g/day), indomethacin (100-150 mg/day), Diclofenac (100-150 mg/day), brufen (1-2 g/day); Therapy with these drugs is carried out for a long time (not courses), for years.

At the same time, corticosteroid drugs (hydrocortisone, Triamcinolone) are injected into the most affected joints. Progression of the disease, despite the indicated therapy, is an indication for the addition of basic drugs: Aurotioprol (34 mg of gold, contained in 2 ml of 5% or 1 ml of 10% solution of the drug, 1 time per week IM), D-penicillamine (300 -750 mg/day), Chloroquine (0.25 g/day), levamisole (150 mg/day). These drugs act slowly, so they must be taken for at least 6 months, and with a significant therapeutic effect, even more, sometimes for years. Therapy with gold preparations is currently considered insufficiently effective, and if more advanced drugs are available, this treatment regimen is not used.

Oral corticosteroids in the absence of extra-articular manifestations should be prescribed as rarely as possible, usually only for severe joint pain that is not relieved by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and intra-articular corticosteroids, in small doses (no more than 10 mg/day of prednisolone), for a short period of time and in combination with basic means that subsequently allow you to reduce the dose of hormones or completely cancel them. Corticosteroids (prednisolone 20-30 mg/day, sometimes up to 60 mg/day) are absolutely indicated in the presence of high fever.

Prevention

With age, the risk of arthritis only increases, so prevention should begin at a young age.

Arthritis is caused by:

• overweight;
• poor nutrition;
• frequent injuries and fractures;
• heavy load on joints associated with working conditions.

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Forecast

The prognosis is conditionally unfavorable, the disease is chronic and slowly progressive, treatment only slows down the rate of its development. The outcome is loss of function of the affected joints and disability of the patient.

In 2009, American physician Donald Unger was awarded the Ig Nobel Prize for his discovery in the field of medicine. He experimentally proved that clicking joints does not lead to arthritis. For sixty years he clicked the knuckles of his left hand - and never with his right.

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Notes

Links

• Arthritis // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg. , 1890-1907.
• . Arthritis.info. Retrieved June 27, 2009. .

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Excerpt describing Arthritis

Her name was Veronica. And, as it turned out, this sad and such a beautiful woman died of cancer almost a year ago, when she was only thirty years old, and her little six-year-old daughter, who thought that her mother had abandoned her, did not want to forgive her for this and is still very deeply suffered from this. Veronica's son was too young when she died and did not understand that his mother would never return again... and that now he would always be put to bed at night by someone else's hands, and his favorite lullaby would be sung to him by some stranger... But he I was still too young and had no idea how much pain such a cruel loss could bring. But with his six-year-old sister, things were completely different... That's why this sweet woman couldn't calm down and just leave while her little daughter was suffering so deeply and childishly...
- How will I find her? – I asked.
“I’ll take you,” the answer whispered.
Only then did I suddenly notice that when she moved, her body easily seeped through furniture and other solid objects, as if it were woven from dense fog... I asked if it was difficult for her to be here? She said yes, because it was high time for her to leave... I also asked if it was scary to die? She said that it’s not scary to die, it’s scarier to watch those you leave behind, because there’s so much you still want to tell them, but, unfortunately, nothing can be changed... I felt very sorry for her, so sweet, but helpless, and so unhappy... And I really wanted to help her, but, unfortunately, I didn’t know how?
The next day, I was calmly returning home from my friend, with whom we usually practiced playing the piano together (since I didn’t have my own at that time). Suddenly, feeling some strange inner impulse, I, for no apparent reason, turned in the opposite direction and walked along a completely unfamiliar street... I didn’t walk for long until I stopped at a very pleasant house, completely surrounded by a flower garden. There, inside the courtyard, on a small playground, sat a sad, absolutely tiny girl. She looked more like a miniature doll than a living child. Only this “doll” for some reason was infinitely sad... She sat completely motionless and looked indifferent to everything, as if at that moment the world around her simply did not exist for her.
“Her name is Alina,” a familiar voice whispered inside me, “please talk to her...
I went to the gate and tried to open it. The feeling was not pleasant - as if I was forcibly breaking into someone’s life without asking permission. But then I thought about how miserable poor Veronica must have been and decided to take a risk. The little girl looked up at me with her huge, sky-blue eyes and I saw that they were filled with such deep melancholy that this tiny child simply should never have had one. I approached her very carefully, afraid to scare her away, but the girl had no intention of being scared, she just looked at me in surprise, as if asking what I needed from her.
I sat down next to her on the edge of the wooden partition and asked why she was so sad. She didn’t answer for a long time, and then finally whispered through her tears:
- My mother left me, but I love her so much... I guess I was very bad and now she will never come back.
I was confused. And what could I tell her? How to explain? I felt that Veronica was with me. Her pain literally twisted me into a hard, burning ball of pain and burned so hard that it became difficult to breathe. I wanted to help them both so much that I decided that whatever happens, I won’t leave without trying. I hugged the girl by her fragile shoulders and said as softly as possible:
– Your mother loves you more than anything in the world, Alina, and she asked me to tell you that she never abandoned you.
- So she lives with you now? – the girl bristled.
- No. She lives where neither you nor I can go. Her earthly life here with us is over, and she now lives in another, very beautiful world, from which she can watch you. But she sees how you suffer and cannot leave here. And she can’t stay here any longer either. That's why she needs your help. Would you like to help her?
- How do you know all this? Why is she talking to you?!.
I felt that she still didn’t believe me and didn’t want to recognize me as a friend. And I couldn’t figure out how to explain to this little, ruffled, unhappy girl that there was an “other”, distant world, from which, unfortunately, there was no return here. And that her beloved mother speaks to me not because she has a choice, but because I was simply “lucky” to be a little “different” than everyone else...
“All people are different, Alinushka,” I began. – Some have a talent for drawing, others for singing, but I have such a special talent for talking with those who have left our world forever. And your mother speaks to me not at all because she likes me, but because I heard her when no one else could hear her. And I am very glad that I can help her in at least something. She loves you very much and is very suffering because she had to leave... It hurts her very much to leave you, but it is not her choice. Do you remember she was seriously ill for a long time? – the girl nodded. “It was this illness that forced her to leave you.” And now she must go to her new world in which she will live. And for this she must be sure that you know how much she loves you.
The girl looked at me sadly and quietly asked:
– She now lives with the angels?.. Dad told me that she now lives in a place where everything is like on the postcards that they give me for Christmas. And there are such beautiful winged angels... Why didn’t she take me with her?..
- Because you have to live your life here, dear, and then you will also go to the same world where your mother is now.
The girl beamed.
“So I’ll see her there?” – she babbled joyfully.
- Of course, Alinushka. So you should just be a patient girl and help your mom now if you love her so much.
– What should I do? – the little girl asked very seriously.
– Just think about her and remember her, because she sees you. And if you don't be sad, your mother will finally find peace.
“Does she see me now?” the girl asked and her lips began to twitch treacherously.
- Yes, honey.
She was silent for a moment, as if gathering herself inside, and then tightly clenched her fists and quietly whispered:
- I’ll be very good, dear mommy... you go... please go... I love you so much!..
Tears rolled down her pale cheeks like large peas, but her face was very serious and concentrated... Life dealt her a cruel blow for the first time and it seemed as if this little, so deeply wounded girl suddenly realized something for herself in a completely adult way and now I tried to accept it seriously and openly. My heart was breaking with pity for these two unfortunate and such sweet creatures, but, unfortunately, I couldn’t help them anymore... The world around them was so incredibly bright and beautiful, but for both it could no longer be their common world. ..
Life can be very cruel sometimes, and we never know what the meaning of pain or loss is in store for us. Apparently, it is true that without losses it is impossible to comprehend what fate gives us, by right or by luck. But what could this unfortunate girl, cowering like a wounded animal, comprehend when the world suddenly fell upon her with all its cruelty and the pain of the most terrible loss in her life?..
I sat with them for a long time and tried as best I could to help them both find at least some kind of peace of mind. I remembered my grandfather and the terrible pain that his death brought me... How scary it must have been for this fragile, unprotected baby to lose the most precious thing in the world - her mother?..
We never think about the fact that those whom fate takes from us for one reason or another experience the consequences of their death much deeper than we do. We feel the pain of loss and suffer (sometimes even angry) that they left us so mercilessly. But what does it feel like for them when their suffering multiplies thousands of times, seeing how we suffer from this?! And how helpless should a person feel, not being able to say anything more and change anything?..
I would have given a lot back then to find at least some opportunity to warn people about this. But, unfortunately, I didn’t have such an opportunity... Therefore, after Veronica’s sad visit, I began to look forward to when I could help someone else. And life, as always usually happened, did not take long to wait.
Entities came to me day and night, young and old, male and female, and everyone asked me to help them speak with their daughter, son, husband, wife, father, mother, sister... This continued in an endless stream, until, in the end, I I felt that I had no more strength. I didn’t know that when coming into contact with them, I had to be sure to close myself with my (and very strong!) defense, and not open up emotionally, like a waterfall, gradually giving them all my life force, which was then still Unfortunately, I didn’t know how to make up for it.
Very soon I literally had no strength to move and went to bed... When my mother invited our doctor, Dana, to check what had happened to me again, she said that it was my “temporary loss of strength from physical fatigue”... I I didn’t say anything to anyone, although I knew very well the real reason for this “overwork.” And as I had been doing for a long time, I simply honestly swallowed any medicine that my cousin prescribed for me, and, after lying in bed for about a week, I was again ready for my next “exploits”...
I realized long ago that sincere attempts to explain what was really happening to me gave me nothing but headaches and increased constant monitoring of me by my grandmother and mother. And to be honest, I didn’t find any pleasure in this...
My long “communication” with the essences of the dead once again “turned upside down” my already quite unusual world. I could not forget that endless stream of deep human despair and bitterness, and I tried in every possible way to find at least some way to help them. But the days passed, and I still couldn’t come up with anything on my own, except, again, to act in the same way, only this time spending my life force on it much more carefully. But since I couldn’t take what was happening calmly, I still continued to make contacts and tried to help, as best I could, all the souls who despaired of their helplessness.
True, sometimes there were funny, almost funny cases, one of which I wanted to talk about here...

It was a gray cloudy day outside. Low lead clouds, swollen with water, barely dragged themselves across the sky, threatening at any moment to burst into a “waterfall” downpour. The room was stuffy, I didn’t want to do anything, just lie there, staring at “nowhere” and not think about anything... But the fact is that I never knew how not to think, even when I honestly tried to relax or rest. So I sat in my dad’s favorite chair and tried to drive away my “dreary” mood by reading one of my favorite “positive” books.
After some time, I felt someone else’s presence and mentally prepared to greet the new “guest”... But instead of the usual soft breeze, I was almost glued to the back of the chair, and my book was thrown to the floor. I was very surprised by such an unexpected violent manifestation of feelings, but decided to wait and see what would happen next. A “disheveled” man appeared in the room, who, without saying hello or identifying himself (which everyone else usually did), immediately demanded that I “immediately go with him” because he “urgently needs me”... He was so nervous and “boiling” that it almost made me laugh. There was no smell of sadness or pain, as happened with the others. I tried to pull myself together to look as serious as possible and calmly asked: