Age or age
Osteoarthritis (bone and joint erosion) associated with wear and tear and therefore gradually happen as you get older. The first symptoms occur since the age of 50 years and is increasing over time. An estimated 75 to 90% of those suffering from osteoarthritis i.e. people over the age of 75 years.
Overweight (obesity)
Obesity can also have an influence on the onset of osteoarthritis, especially knee and hip joint erosion. Obesity provides a higher pressure on joints and speed up the porous.
The role of menopause
While osteoarthritis occurs almost equally in men and women before the age of 50 years, it seems that osteoarthritis is more common in women after the age of 50 years. According to certain studies, this could be caused by menopause. Menopause is associated with a sharp decline in estrogen and it seems to have a protective effect on the function of cartilage cells.
Osteoarthritis: genetic factors
Hereditary genetic factors seem to play a role. Osteoarthritis does indeed seem to be switching from mother to daughter. The sister of a woman with osteoarthritis of the fingers of the hand are having a three times greater risk of damage to the joints.
Porous bones: sometimes it is a consequence of indirect
Liming disease or osteoarthritis can also be the indirect result of a genetic disease or other descent. For example, Dysplasia, hemophilia and hemokromatosis that can cause what is called secondary osteoarthritis and usually quite severe. In this case, precautions can be taken to protect the joints, are known to be more vulnerable, as much as possible. Because of the hereditary condition, this weighting aus prematurely (especially in the case of hip dysplasia, by the accumulation of blood in the joints in Hemophilia and by overloaded with iron on haemochromatosis).
Repeated trauma
Some of the physical workload of repeat or top-level sport can also contribute to the onset or worsening of osteoarthritis. Movements and loud repetitive shocks pressed joints and cartilage causing a washed out prematurely and that ensuring mobility and bone protection.
As an example of joint erosion at a young age, we often hear of osteoarthritis in the legs or hips ex-football player. And osteoarthritis can start in a professional sport that is very young. Old trauma (such as fractures, knee bone erosion disease history, etc.) are also prone to the development of osteoarthritis.
Abstinence liming joints: Abnormalities in posture
Bad posture due to malformations such as scoliosis or physical work could also be additional risk factors are experiencing osteoarthritis. Because of this very bad put pressure on the joints, causing cartilage wear out more quickly.
Examination of bone erosion Tests: osteoarthritis
Clinical research
Often the first diagnosis of osteoarthritis can be done on the basis of a clinical examination of the patient. Doctors check the joints are sore and trying to move it. If this stiff joints or cracks or shows malformation, these are signs of osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis in x-rays
Osteoarthritis diagnosis can often be confirmed by radiography. Then the four major signs of osteoarthritis become clear:
- narrowing of the joints due to degradation of the cartilage,
- a hole in the bone (geodes), around joints,
- bone growth or osteophytes,
- compaction of the bone under the cartilage.
But despite these signs indicate the presence of osteoarthritis, there is the possibility that there are no symptoms at all. In other words, many people already have signs of radiological osteoarthritis is painless.
With osteoarthritis, the blood test is not unreasonable. Although osteoarthritis is sometimes accompanied by inflammation, it is localized and the resulting damage to the cartilage. If there are signs of inflammation in the blood test results, one should think of another diagnosis such as poliartritis for example. There is indeed a common inflammation (systemic).
How to prevent erosion of the bone joints: prevent the pain
Regular physical activity is very important to prevent muscle relaxation and to prevent bad posture. In the study, pointed out that doing an hour of physical activity three times a week is beneficial for osteoarthritis of the knee. It is ideal to choose a sport or activity that naturally you want to do, other than that which is also most auspicious for joints, such as swimming, walking on a flat surface (mainly Nordic walking) or cycling. A sport that gives a lot of risk on certain joints must be avoided.
Keep your joints
In everyday life it is necessary to avoid sudden movements, excessive load or standing too long. Also note the specific relaxation activities such as gardening where you have to bend or crouch down.
Allow to rest
You have to rest when there is pain, especially if you have to use the joint it to your work. But be careful: calmness doesn't mean that you have to stay in bed, but you should avoid burdening the painful joints. The use of a stick while, can help relieve pain knee or hip joints.
How to treat bone and joint erosion: Medications for pain
Pain medication
Paracetamol are pain care at the base, which was prepared by the World Health Organization (WHO). These medications are usually effective and can be tolerated well. If only with paracetamol severe pain not relieved, can be combined with mild opiates drugs.
Osteoarthritis treatment: anti-inflammatory Drugs
Anti-inflammatory drugs have the advantage of relieving the pain while also combating inflammation resulting from mechanical damage to the cartilage. Anti-inflammatory drugs-non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) used most often on osteoarthritis. The drug is called "non-steroidal " because they do not contain cortisone.
But beware: they can have side effects such as inflammation of the stomach (the risk of ulcer) and intestines as well as an increase in blood pressure.
Drug infiltration
If the previously mentioned treatments don't relieve the pain, your doctor can give you an injection with corticosteroids with duration of work that long in the joints: these are the infiltration. These injections are effective in intensive surge. This means that the process of inflammation that is located at the base of the pain could indeed be slowed or completely stopped. This effect is usually up to one to two months, but it is not recommended to give it more than three times per year on the same joint. And they can not be given for each case: only a doctor can determine its usefulness.
Treating osteoarthritis: Glucosamine
Other medications that seem to be able to relieve the pain, these include glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate, extracts of avocado and diacerhein. Glucosamine is a derivative of pharmaceutical molecules that exist naturally in cartilage and synovial fluid. Glucosamine is available as a dietary supplement and as a medicine. But the only drug that can guarantee the desired therapeutic effect. Because to get the effect of a good dose of cure, as well as quality Glucosamine should be strict control.
How to treat joint erosion: injection with hyaluronic acid
When injecting hyaluronic acid, synovial fluid from the joints especially in knee replaced by a gel with similar properties. Synovial fluid which is then smoked ' sick ' and replaced it with a gel containing hyaluronic acid. Three to five injections with an interval of a week is required. The results are controversial: in some research confirmed that pain and inflammation is reduced and that the function of the joint is better and for a relatively long period of time: on average between 6 months sampai12. But in other studies of people less optimistic. In it, there is no better value shown on the techniques that are expensive compared to treatment with paracetamol or NSAIDS. If doctors deem it necessary, he should only use this injection for pain that does not meet the other treatments (a painkiller or infiltrating the drink), provided there are no protrusions on the membrane of the joints.
Treatment of osteoarthritis with surgery
If the pain is getting unbearable, stiffness so bad that it is almost impossible to move and injury in radiography is very pronounced, then the doctor can decide the operation. This choice also depends on the patient's age, profession, other diseases, and others.
The treatment of knee and hip bone erosion: preventive Surgery
Preventive surgery can be done to reduce deformities that can cause Osteoarthritis: congenital dislocation or hip deformities, mechanical abnormalities of the knee (genu varum, valgum) or the consequences of trauma.
Between preventive and curative surgery, arthroscopy, in which a probe is inserted into the joint, damage to the joints can be checked and each piece of bone and cartilage which can cause inflammation.
Conservative operation
In the case of osteoarthritis of the knee joint erosion, the surgeon can also perform osteotomy. In this operation, a piece of bone is cut to change the axis of the joint. After the bone is cut, they straightened out and secured with screws, staples or plate. The main purpose of this procedure is to stabilize conditions and also to reduce the pain.
The treatment of knee or hip joint erosion: Placing a prosthesis
As a last resort when the joints are too badly damaged, surgeons can put a complete prosthesis on the hips or knees. The disadvantage of the prosthesis is not stand too long: around 15 years. Therefore, only placed in people who are older, while younger patients prefer other treatment methods.
Rehabilitation
The experts who prepared the recommendation agreed: treatment with drugs should always be combined with a non-pharmacological actions such as rehabilitation. A physiotherapist can propose an interesting exercise in these areas customized for each case.