Modern medicine knows dozens, if not hundreds, of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. However, often the population of our country is diagnosed with "arthritis" and "arthrosis, " especially during the summer, when people, forgetting any precautions, plant beds from morning to evening. What does this mean, and most importantly, how can you avoid arthritis?
Arthritis and arthrosis: what is the difference
There is a big difference between arthritis and arthrosis. The ending "-itis" in Latin, which is considered the mother tongue of medicine, always indicates that there is an active inflammatory process in the body. This, relatively speaking, is the first stage of joint disease.
But arthrosis in most cases is a natural result of arthritis.
Dmitry Tarasov gave an analogy, comparing joint disease with fresh and old calluses. In the first case, fluid accumulates under the skin - the wound becomes inflamed and causes discomfort. Old calluses don't hurt - the skin over them is dead and therefore not sensitive. It is the same with joints: in the final stage of arthrosis, there are no cartilage cells left, only the bone itself forms the joint — this is called osteoarthritis.
The terms "arthritis" and "arthrosis" are used for all joints. Their pathology can be divided into several groups:
- diseases of large joints, namely hips and knees;
- spinal pathology related to radicular syndrome, intervertebral disc and facet joints;
- arthritis and arthrosis of small joints;
- diseases of the wrist, elbow and radiocarpal joints.
As stated by Dmitry Tarasov, joint pathology in the early stages is treated conservatively. Anti-inflammatory drugs and chondroprotectors are prescribed - drugs that improve the function of damaged joints and limit the load on them using crutches or crutches.
The main task of the doctor is to reduce the manifestations of the process and "smooth out" arthritis.
Arthrosis, unlike arthritis, cannot be cured by conservative methods. There is only one way out - endoprosthetics, joint replacement. This 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 the joint. With age, cartilage becomes thinner and destroyed. Therefore, doctors say that almost every old person can be diagnosed with this disease.
However, arthritis can occur for other reasons. Often - as a result of diseases related to metabolic disorders. Or, let's say, a person catches a cold, falls ill, and the causative agent of the disease enters the joint, causing its inflammation - this is also arthritis, but its nature is different.
The most common is arthritis after stress and injury. I arrived at the dacha, dug a bed or went to the gym - and the next day my knee joint was swollen. After a few days, the pain gradually subsided. This is post-exercise arthritis.
A sedentary lifestyle is also harmful to the joints. Moreover, the phrase "movement is life, " according to experts, is said mainly about the joints. They need to move to function properly. And if a person is inactive, then his muscles and ligaments - everything that makes up the stability of the joints - begin to weaken. And at the slightest load they can fail.
What to do if you are shot in the back
Everyone knows the feeling of being shot in the back. As a rule, the pain lasts for a few minutes - and then the person happily forgets about the unpleasant incident. Until next time.
In fact, shooting pain in the back can be attributed to many serious reasons, and therefore should not be ignored. First of all, you need to contact a neurologist or orthopedic specialist. The doctor will prescribe certain research methods: x-ray or MRI. After this, the algorithm of further 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 lumbago in the back is associated with damage to the intervertebral disc, the formation of protrusions and hernias - then emergency treatment will be required, including surgery.
It is important to know that the treatment of spinal pathologies is often performed by neurologists and spine surgeons rather than orthopedic surgeons. And this is logical, considering how close the spine and nervous system are to each other.
Will vitamins and orthopedic protection help?
Many people take vitamins for bones and joints without a doctor's prescription. However
Dmitry Tarasov warned that in this case they will not help, but rather harm. For example, increasing calcium intake will strengthen bones, but may have a negative effect on kidney function. That is why, before starting a course of vitamins, you should definitely consult a doctor - an endocrinologist or a therapist.
Another way to protect your joints is to buy orthopedic products: knee pads, corsets, orthoses, bandages. However, such products "take over" part of the functions performed by the human muscle-ligament apparatus. If he is healthy, then wearing an orthosis will lead to the fact that the ligaments and muscles will begin to become "lazy" and weak. And this can cause serious pathology. There is only one conclusion: before you buy "protection" for joints, consult a doctor.
When engaging in active sports, always wear elbow and knee protectors. They will not save you from serious joint injuries, but they will minimize their harm and also protect the skin from damage.