This type of arthrosis occurs more often in women whose age ranges from forty years and older (especially with the onset of menopause). In fact, it is a degenerative, dystrophic disease of a chronic nature that affects the interphalangeal joints. Arthrosis is characterized by functional disorders of the hands, their spindle-shaped or axial nodular deformity.

With arthrosis of the fingers, cracking and drying of the articular tissues is observed, which is explained by disturbances in the division of intercellular substances.

Arthrosis can affect not only the hands, but also any other joints, such as the shoulder, hip, toes, knee, etc.

Finger arthrosis clinic

Osteoarthritis of the fingers is also rightly called deforming osteoarthritis, because in the later stages of the disease, in addition to the articular cartilage, deformation of the bones adjacent to it begins.

As a rule, arthrosis of the fingers affects their final segment. In this case, a thickening forms on the affected joints. It is called Heberden's or Bouchard's node. The joints of the thumb are much less commonly affected.

With advanced arthrosis, bone tissue gradually becomes denser, and later growths appear on it, which deform the joints themselves. These growths seriously interfere with joint movements and cause inflammation. At the same time, the patient tries to move his fingers less in order to avoid severe pain.

Subsequently, the muscles atrophy, and the joints of the fingers undergo irreversible changes. Both professional and everyday skills are gradually lost, and the patient’s quality of life deteriorates significantly.

Causes of arthrosis

Quite a number of factors can provoke the occurrence of arthrosis.

• Elderly age
• Menopause (women)
• Weakened immunity
• Past hand injuries (sprains, bruises or fractures)
• Frequent respiratory infections
• Genetic disorders that cause defective development of joints
• Physical labor associated with increased stress on the hands and fingers
• Irradiation
• Some acquired diseases, for example, gout, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid diseases, diabetes mellitus, rheumatism, etc.
• External environment - vibration, cold, etc.
• Allergic processes
• Heredity
• Disturbed material metabolism in the body
• Past infectious diseases, such as chlamydia

Symptoms of arthrosis of the hands

Most often, incipient arthrosis of the fingers can be recognized by certain signs:

1. A specific crunching sound in the joint area when moving your fingers.
2. Frequent pain in the joints of the fingers, especially with any load. These pains are aching, intermittent and become more intense at night.
3. Peculiar seals that appear on the joints and are noticeable even from the outside of the palms.
4. Swelling, swelling of the periarticular tissues.
5. The periarticular muscle tissues are in constant tension.

These signs appear at the I (initial) stage disease, while the articular cartilage itself gradually loses its elasticity.

With achievement II stage of arthrosis the cartilage of the fingers becomes very thin, and defects begin to appear in it. In addition, inflammation of the synovial membrane begins, and it is chronic. Symptoms appear:

1. Regular severe pain.
2. The mobility of the fingers becomes significantly limited, the so-called. stiffness.
3. The affected areas turn red, and when you touch them, you feel an increase in temperature.
4. Previously appeared swellings and indurations increase.
5. Muscular atrophy of the inflamed finger and sometimes the hand appears.

Stage III(or polyosteoarthrosis) is the most severe form of finger arthrosis. The cartilage is completely destroyed. In this case it is observed:

1. Constant intense pain
2. Severe curvature of the fingers, and in some patients their length changes.
3. Seals and swellings at the site of destroyed cartilage transform into Heberden's and Bouchard's nodes. It should be noted that Bouchard's nodes are located on the middle joints of the fingers, and Heberden's nodes on the joints closest to the nails.
4. There is practically no mobility.
5. There is obvious deformation of the bones and articular surfaces.

Read also about the stages of arthrosis in the article

Articular cartilage loses its shock-absorbing functions, and bone spurs appear on the periarticular bones. If the disease is neglected, the result will be ankylosis - complete immobilization of the joint.

Along with Bouchard's and Heberden's nodes, arthrosis often develops, affecting the thumb, i.e. its foundation. This disease is called rhizarthrosis. It is characterized by similar symptoms and stages.

Treatment of finger arthrosis

It is worth noting that although arthrosis leads to complete deformation of the hands, it does not at all affect the condition of the body as a whole and the functionality of its internal organs. Treatment of the disease is based on the following stages:

Use of medications

First of all, the doctor prescribes anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs that have an inhibitory effect on cartilage inflammatory processes (ketanov, nimesulide, diclofenac, meloxicam, ortofen, etc.). Additionally, drugs are used to restore cartilage - chondroprotectors (glucasamine, chondroxide, etc.).

Physiotherapy

This includes procedures such as laser therapy, electrophoresis, magnetic therapy, paraffin baths, ozokerite baths, etc. This treatment significantly reduces pain and also accelerates the metabolism of cartilage.

In addition to drug treatment, doctors also recommend special exercises. One of the effective techniques is tapping your fingers on the table top. When doing this exercise, you should, as it were, drum with your fingers.

Equally beneficial are such actions as fingering a rosary, clenching and unclenching fists, or bending and straightening fingers. Before exercises, for greater effectiveness, you need to keep your hands in a warm bath.

Exercise therapy for arthrosis activates metabolic processes in the affected joint and also increases its motor functions.

Massage

Another quite effective method for treating arthrosis of the fingers. Massage, of course, should be carried out in a gentle manner, because excessive overload of the affected joints is fraught with various injuries, which will significantly accelerate the development of the disease.

Here, tapping the hand (percussion massage), light stroking and rubbing will be optimal. This treatment method improves blood supply and nutrition of cartilage tissue, and also relieves muscle spasms.

Folk remedies

In folk medicine there are remedies that deserve special attention. These are various compresses with honey and salt, warm clay. Warm baths with larkspur root, hay dust, essential oil, salt and pine baths are useful.

In addition, various decoctions and infusions based on birch, fern, and cinquefoil leaves have a healing effect. The brushes should be dipped in the broth and kept in it for some time. Doctors advise rubbing your hands with ointments based on flax seeds, wax, or propolis. Often in the treatment of arthrosis, compresses with a mixture of bischofite, medical bile and dimexide are used.

Thanks to traditional medicine, material metabolism in joint tissues improves and pain syndrome decreases, and the dosage of necessary painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs is significantly reduced.

Gerudotherapy

In recent years, this method has been used quite often in medicine. It has established itself as a highly effective remedy against arthrosis. Studies have shown that the saliva of a medicinal leech contains many active biological substances that promote complete recovery from arthrosis.

Surgery

Surgical treatment, as a rule, is most often used for rhizarthrosis (arthrosis of the thumb). It consists in immobilizing the joint. This is necessary in order to relieve pain. This operation is called arthrodesis.

In addition, surgeons perform joint plastic surgery or excise extensive growths.

Diet

With arthrosis, it is very important to follow a certain diet. It is based on alkaline foods: goat milk, whey, rye bread, bone broth, cabbage juice, wild berries, etc. The benefits of birch sap and fresh vegetables should be specially noted.

Treatment of this disease takes quite a long time, so for patients with arthrosis of the fingers it is very important to be patient and strictly follow the recommendations of doctors.

Prevention would also be useful. Try not to expose your hands to hypothermia, strong physical exertion, avoid possible injuries, and also maintain a healthy lifestyle and eat right.

1. Symptoms of arthrosis of the hand

2. How to treat arthrosis of the fingers?

3. The use of traditional medicine for arthrosis of the hand

Arthrosis of the fingers

Arthrosis of the fingers (osteoarthrosis) is a disease of the interphalangeal joints, which is degenerative-dystrophic in nature. The tissue of the joints cracks and shrinks due to a disorder of cell division. There are two forms of arthrosis: nodular - thickenings on the joints of the fingers, and rhizarthrosis - the base of the thumb suffers. But do not think that this disease affects only the hands. The shoulder, knee, hip and toes may also be affected. The causes of arthrosis are varied: aging, weakened immunity, various injuries, frequent acute respiratory infections, genetic predisposition, allergies, excessive exercise, excess weight, smoking and alcohol abuse. Women get sick more often with the onset of menopause, which brings even more inconvenience associated with these conditions.

1. Symptoms of arthrosis of the hand:

There are three stages of the disease. In the first stage, a person is bothered by minor pain in the joints of the hands at night and swelling. At the second stage, the pain becomes constant at night, a crunch appears in the fingers and the joints increase in size. At the third stage, the mobility of the fingers is limited, as the cartilage tissue begins to break down and deformity develops.

2. Arthrosis of the fingers: how to treat

Treatment of arthrosis of the fingers implies four mandatory stages:

1. Drug treatment.

2. Physiotherapy.

3. Physiotherapy.

4. Massage.

When hand arthrosis is diagnosed, treatment first of all begins with the use of anti-inflammatory drugs in tablet form or in the form of ointments, creams, gels (Nimesil, Ortofen, Ketanov, Ketarol, Diclofenac, etc.). These are broad-spectrum products and can be used without a doctor’s prescription. There is a group of non-steroidal drugs with an anti-inflammatory effect, designed specifically to combat the symptoms of arthrosis - Celecoxib, Lumiracoxib, Rofica. They are very effective, but have a number of contraindications, so their use requires careful supervision by the attending physician. Tablets containing chondroitin and glucosamine are also prescribed to try to restore cartilage tissue. Treatment of arthrosis of the fingers has positive dynamics with the use of hyaluronic acid, which is injected directly into the joint.
There are many physiotherapeutic procedures aimed at treating arthrosis of the hands (fingers): UHF therapy, ultraviolet irradiation, ultrasound, mud and radon baths, phonophoresis, electrophoresis, paraffin therapy. If most of the procedures listed above are carried out in special medical institutions, then paraffin is convenient to use at home. These can be paraffin baths or so-called “paraffin gloves,” similar to those used in nail salons. Heat helps improve blood flow and improves joint mobility.

Treatment of arthrosis of the fingers

Arthrosis of the joints of the fingers, which can only be treated in a complex manner, responds well to massage, since rubbing improves the flow of blood and lymph to the tissues.

Not only a specialist, but also the patient himself can perform various forms of massage. This does not require special preparation.

Circular rubbing of each individual finger and the hand itself will help relieve pain. Rubbing your palms will also be helpful. But you should remember that severe pain is a signal to stop any manipulation.

Exercise therapy is one of the mandatory stages for deformation of the fingers, the treatment of which will not be complete without performing a series of exercises aimed at developing joint flexibility. Although there are some restrictions. You cannot engage in physical activity during the period of exacerbation of the disease, since inflammation and unbearable pain will not allow full movement.

Treatment of arthrosis

A rheumatologist individually selects a set of exercises and monitors the correct execution the first couple of times. Further classes are quite possible on your own at home. The main thing is that it is a well-ventilated room and the exercises are performed daily in 2-3 approaches. But there are also several exercises, which can be performed by absolutely everyone at any convenient time:

• tapping your fingers on a hard surface as if you were playing the piano;

• “walking” with widely spaced fingers on the table;

• Any finger games used for the development of children will also be useful for people suffering from arthrosis.

3. The use of traditional medicine for arthrosis of the hand

Treatment of arthrosis of the fingers with folk remedies is more of an auxiliary measure and not at all necessary, but due to its accessibility and effectiveness it has become widespread among patients with arthrosis.

Treatment of arthrosis of the fingers with folk remedies is varied, convenient and low-cost. Here it is possible to use a wide variety of decoctions and infusions, freshly squeezed juices, compresses, rubs and baths. Linden and nettle teas have a diuretic effect, comfrey helps cleanse the body, and St. John's wort relieves inflammation. A decoction of bay leaves will remove salts from the body, which are involved in the development of many diseases of the musculoskeletal system. And baths using eucalyptus or calendula essential oil will help you relax and relieve tension in sore joints. An ordinary cabbage leaf applied to an inflamed joint for 15 minutes will relieve swelling. Green potatoes, which should not be eaten, in the form of a night compress of gruel will relieve joint pain.

Gelatin is also used orally and in the form of compresses to restore bone tissue. A variety of dishes using gelatin will turn the fight against deformation of the joints of the fingers into a tasty and enjoyable treatment. After all, there are a lot of recipes for jellied meats, jellied dishes, fruit and milk jellies, cheesecakes and pastries.
It is important to always remember that arthrosis of the joints of the fingers is a very insidious disease, treatment of which with folk remedies, like any other manipulations, should be carried out only under the strict guidance of the attending physician. But timely contact with a specialist and responsible implementation of all instructions will help you get rid of this unpleasant illness forever.

Often, age can be judged not only by the face, but also by the appearance of the hands. Knobby fingers, willy-nilly, add a couple of decades to their owner. And, as luck would have it, diseases of the fingers are ten times more common in women than in men. It is the beautiful half of humanity, whose caring hands are the guardians of the hearth. Arthrosis of the fingers has another name - deforming osteoarthritis or polyosteoarthrosis (multiple arthrosis of the fingers).

The disease affects not one joint, but several at once (interphalangeal, metacarpophalangeal). What happens? In joints affected by arthrosis, a pathological process begins, loss of synovial (lubricating) fluid, thinning, cracking and inflammation of cartilage tissue. The joints become deformed and begin to hurt, and osteophytes grow - new growths on the edges of the bones. Fine motor skills are severely impaired; in advanced cases, a person is unable to unscrew the cap on a bottle or pick up a fork.

Reasons for the development of arthrosis of the fingers

The first and main reason for the development of the disease is genetic predisposition. If your parents and grandparents' fingers were affected by arthrosis, then you need to worry about the beauty and health of your hands in your youth. Moreover, it is not the disease itself that is inherited, but the characteristics of metabolism, the structure and density of bones and cartilage tissue.

Another reason why cartilage is destroyed is increased stress on the fingers. Among the increased risk of developing arthrosis are such professions as: massage therapist, pianist, as well as office workers who have to type a lot of text on the computer.

Sugar can cause the disease diabetes, endocrine diseases and other metabolic disorders and pathologies.

Hormonal changes in women (menopause) contribute to the fact that the body, along with a decrease in estrogen levels, begins to actively lose moisture, as a result of which the cartilage tissue becomes thinner, joints and bones more fragile.

The most common cause of arthrosis is injuries to the flanks of the fingers and wrist joints, especially if inflammatory processes begin after injury.

Smoking and alcohol abuse also leads to the development of pathological changes in tissues in the body.

Symptoms of the disease

Patients turn to specialists already at the stage of the disease when lumps called Heberden and Bouchard nodes appear on their hands. However, development begins long before their formation.

The first signals indicating arthrosis are aching pain in fingers, predominantly appearing at night and retreating during the day, as well as slight swelling, while the movement of the joints is not yet limited, but may already appear unpleasant crunch. With increasing development of pathology and destruction of cartilage tissue, seals on joints. Heberden's nodes usually form in the first to third interphalangeal joints of the hand and look like dense neoplasms the size of a grain of rice to a pea. Sometimes the nodules burst and the contents spill out, but if no breakthrough occurs, the lumps harden and become almost painless. During their growth, the skin turns red, and the patient feels a burning sensation and pain (not observed in all patients). Bouchard's nodes appear on the lateral surface of the joints, usually together with Heberden's nodes. These tumors lead to deformation of the finger joints.

Diagnosis of arthrosis of the fingers

To diagnose a disease, the doctor conducts visual inspection, palpation affected areas and, in order to avoid mistakes in making a diagnosis, the patient is referred to radiography And blood tests– clinical and rheumatic tests (from a vein). X-ray images show narrowing of the joint spaces of the affected joints, bone deformations, and osteophytes. There should be no abnormalities in blood tests, but if they are still present, this indicates the development of more serious diseases (for example, arthritis).

Treatment of arthrosis

Treatment of arthrosis involves restoring the motor function of joints, preventing the development of pathological processes, reducing pain, and improving blood circulation in the affected joints. It is very important to be systematic and regular when treating.

Comprehensive treatment of arthrosis includes:

• – use of analgesics;
• – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• – glucocorticosteroid hormonal drugs;
• – chondroprotectors;
• – vitamin complexes;
• – intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid;
• – baths with decoctions of medicinal plants;
• – physiotherapeutic methods (magnetic therapy, electrophoresis, laser therapy, ozokerite and paraffin applications, mud therapy);
• – massage and manual therapy to improve blood supply to tissues;
• – special physical exercises to maintain joint mobility (squeezing an expander or rubber ball);
• – methods of traditional medicine.

If treatment does not bring results, they resort to surgical interventions (arthroscopic operations, osteotomy). In the most advanced cases, the affected joints are completely replaced with prostheses.

Treatment of arthrosis with traditional methods

Before using compresses, infusions and baths, you must consult with your doctor, rule out allergic reactions to the components and ensure the quality and safety of the ingredients used.

1. Honey and table salt must be mixed in equal parts until smooth, and then used as a compress on sore joints (apply before bed, remove in the morning).
2. Clay applications on the fingers give good results for the condition of the skin and cartilage tissue. Apply them for 20 minutes daily, after which the skin is lubricated with glycerin.
3. Tincture from the string is used as an anti-inflammatory and wound-healing agent. Pour 2 tablespoons of the plant into a glass of boiling water, leave for twenty minutes, filter and drink 2 tablespoons three times a day. Course 1 month.
4. 40 grams of crushed horseradish root are mixed with fifty grams of Vaseline and lubricated sore joints. The ointment helps relieve inflammation and reduce pain in the fingers.
5. Burdock leaves are crushed, then applied fresh to the fingers, and the compress is insulated.
6. For arthrosis, restorative teas for the body from rose hips, thyme, mint, and lingonberries help.
7. Lump chalk is ground, a little kefir is added to make a paste and applied to the fingers overnight as a compress.
8. Elecampane (20 g) is mixed with vodka (100 g) and left in a dark place for 12 days. Then rub the joints of the fingers.

Prevention of arthrosis

Watch your diet to avoid excess weight and metabolic disorders. Avoid bad habits (tobacco and alcohol). Spend more time in the fresh air to saturate your tissues with oxygen. To improve blood supply to the joints, massage your hands and take baths with medicinal plants. Spend a few minutes a day doing exercises with an expander or ball. These simple measures will help reduce the risk of developing arthrosis of the fingers and maintain their beauty and health.

Arthrosis of the hand and fingers is a type of deforming arthrosis. This degenerative-dystrophic disease is characterized by the progressive destruction of cartilage tissue, accompanied by impaired functioning of the joint, as well as damage to periarticular structures, such as the synovial membrane, articular ligaments, periarticular muscles and their tendons.

There are a huge number of reasons leading to the development of this disease.

Among the most common of them are:

• injuries;
• diabetes;
• hormonal imbalance;
• overweight.

Deforming arthrosis of the hand and fingers is manifested by pain during movements and their disappearance after rest. Thus, patients suffer more at the end of the day, but feel better in the morning. Another sign of the disease is stiffness in the joint that occurs after prolonged rest, for example, after sleep. With deforming arthrosis, it goes away within half an hour after waking up.

There are three main directions in the treatment of this disease - medication, surgery and rehabilitation. Drug treatment, in turn, is divided into symptomatic and pathogenetic. Great importance is attached to eliminating the causes and risk factors, since this stage can independently significantly slow down the progression of the disease and delay the development of complications associated with it.

The prognosis of the disease is determined by the age at which it first appears and the rate of its progression. Arthrosis deformans is a disease that occurs in one direction. In other words, it can be considered incurable because once it appears, it will recur (

repeat

) more often, leading to increasingly pronounced destructive changes in the articular cartilage.

Sooner or later, arthrosis deformans manifests itself in all people who have reached old age. Thus, the changes occurring in the joint are irreversible and therefore correspond to the norms of human development and involution. This condition becomes pathological when it manifests itself earlier than expected. Moreover, the earlier this disease debuts, the more aggressive its course is expected and the worse the prognosis.

Interesting Facts

• The incidence of deforming arthrosis of the hands and fingers is highest at the age of 55–75 years.
• Every thousandth resident aged 25 to 35 years is sick with this pathology, at the age of 65 - every tenth and at the age of over 75 years - every third.
• Among European residents, deforming arthrosis of the hand and fingers is registered in 10% of cases aged 40 to 49 years and in 92% of cases over the age of 75 years. Thus, the peak of the disease occurs on average at the age of 50–65 years.
• Up to 55 years (the average age of menopause in women), the incidence of deforming arthrosis is the same in both men and women. However, after 55 years, this disease affects women twice as often.
• Patients whose relatives suffered from the idiopathic form of the disease are advised to avoid stress on the arms (weightlifting, wrestling, boxing, etc.). Their type of activity should be associated with a high dynamic load on the hand and fingers (pianist, programmer, etc.).

Anatomy of the joints of the hand and fingers The hand is the most distant part of the hand. From a functional point of view, this part of the body is the most anatomically developed, since it performs the largest range of movements.

The brush is divided into three sections:

• wrist;
• metacarpus;
• fingers.

Wrist The wrist consists of two adjacent rows of small, complexly shaped bones. The proximal (near) row consists of the scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum and pisiform bones. The distal (far) row consists of the polygonal, trapezoid, capitate and hamate bones.

Pastern The five metacarpal bones are tubular bones, with their bases attached to the articular surfaces of the distal row of carpal bones. The heads of the metacarpal bones form joints with the bones of the proximal phalanges of the fingers.

Fingers of the hand The fingers of the hand consist of three phalanges, with the exception of the thumb, which consists of only two phalanges. The proximal phalanges are always shorter than the distal ones. Each phalanx consists of a base, body and head.

Clinically important joints are:

• wrist joint;
• carpometacarpal joints;
• metacarpophalangeal joints;
• interphalangeal joints.

The wrist joint is perhaps one of the most complex joints in the human body. It is formed by the articular surfaces of the radius and the proximal row of carpal bones. This joint allows movements such as flexion, extension, adduction and abduction. Pronation and supination occur together with the bones of the forearm. The articular capsule covers the entire cartilaginous part of the joint and covers 1–2 cm of bone tissue.

The carpometacarpal joints are formed by the articular surfaces of the distal row of carpal bones and the heads of the metacarpal bones. In these joints, adduction and expansion are carried out. The range of motion in these joints is minimal due to the tight arrangement of the ligaments around them. The only exception is the joint of the first metacarpal finger, which has a wide range of motion.

The metacarpophalangeal joints are formed by the articular surfaces of the heads of the metacarpal bones and the bases of the proximal phalanges of the fingers. These joints belong to the group of spherical joints, so they produce flexion, extension, adduction, abduction and minor rotational movements.

The interphalangeal joints are block-shaped in shape, so movements in them occur only around one axis. Thus, only flexion and extension are carried out in them.

Causes of arthrosis of the joints of the hand and fingers

Deforming arthrosis of the hand and fingers belongs to the group of so-called heterogeneous diseases. In other words, there are a huge number of reasons for its development, and the clinical course, morphological and biological changes are always the same.

According to the etiological factor, this disease is divided into:

• primary (idiopathic);
• secondary.

The diagnosis of primary deforming arthrosis of the hand and fingers is established only after all possible causes of the secondary form of this disease are rejected. In other words, idiopathic deforming arthrosis of the hand and fingers is a diagnosis of exclusion.

Among the forms of primary deforming arthrosis of the hand and fingers there are:

• nodular form (Bouchard's and Heberden's nodes);
• non-nodular form (erosive deforming osteoarthritis of the interphalangeal joints);
• rhizarthrosis (deforming arthrosis of the first carpometacarpal joint).

Among the forms of secondary deforming arthrosis of the hand and fingers there are:

• post-traumatic form (acute and chronic);
• congenital anomalies of skeletal development (bone dysplasia);
• diseases associated with the deposition of calcium salts (calcium pyrophosphate and calcium hydroxyapatite);
• endocrine diseases (acromegaly, hyperparathyroidism, diabetes mellitus, obesity; hypothyroidism, etc.);
• other pathological conditions (frostbite, decompression sickness, Kashin-Beck disease, various hemoglobinopathies, etc.)

Pathogenesis of arthrosis of the hand and fingers As mentioned earlier, there are a huge number of factors leading to the formation of arthrosis. Each of these factors, according to its own special mechanism, leads to the destruction of cartilage. However, all mechanisms can be roughly divided into those associated with defective cartilage and those associated with high loads on healthy cartilage.

In the first scenario, disturbances occur at the molecular level. One of the many causes is a mutation in the gene encoding the formation of type 2 collagen. Since this type of collagen is part of the hyaline of cartilage, its inferiority will significantly affect their functionality. A decrease in the functions of cartilage is manifested in a decrease in shock-absorbing properties, an increase in friction force and, consequently, earlier abrasion of the cartilage.

Also, a violation of the integrity of the articular cartilage is possible if the loads experienced by it increase. In this case we are talking only about static load, but not dynamic. In other words, wrestling, boxing and weightlifting are more dangerous for joints than dancing, gymnastics and swimming. Increasing pressure on the cartilage increases the friction between the articular surfaces and also compresses the microscopic channels inside the cartilage through which it receives nutrients.

The result of the above mechanisms is layer-by-layer abrasion of cartilage. At the same time, free nerve endings are exposed, the irritation of which manifests itself as pain. As the cartilage layer thins, its shock-absorbing properties also decrease. Thus, under the same loads as before, the cartilage will wear out more. Over time, microscopic cracks appear on its surface, which deepen as arthrosis progresses, sometimes reaching the underlying bone tissue.

However, long before the cartilage undergoes such destruction, microscopic cracks also form in the subchondral bone layer. Over time, these cracks are filled with intercellular fluid and unite with each other, forming small cysts, often detected by x-rays of the joint. These cysts compress the intraosseous blood vessels that feed the cartilage. For this reason, it does not receive enough nutrients and plastic substances necessary for self-healing, which again negatively affects the progression of the disease as a whole. When the blood supply to cartilage deteriorates so much that it does not provide even the minimum needs of the latter, aseptic necrosis develops. This complication is the most severe and is associated in 95% of cases with complete loss of the joint.

The addition of the inflammatory process to a dystrophic-degenerative disease, which is arthrosis of the hand and fingers, leads to an increase in the rate of destruction of cartilage. The destructive effect in this case is mediated by the direct aggressive influence of inflammatory mediators on the cartilage protein – collagen. Under the influence of inflammatory mediators (

interleukins, leukotrienes, prostaglandins, tumor necrosis factor, etc.

) collagen loses its usual fibrous structure and releases a significant amount of water. As a result, such cartilage becomes less smooth.

As inflammation progresses, connective tissue becomes attached to the cartilage irregularities.

Which gradually thicken and begin to impede movement in the joint. When examining a patient, this manifests itself in limited movement in the joint along one or more of its axes.

As a compensatory reaction, cartilage tissue grows excessively in those areas of the joint that are less susceptible to destruction. Typically, these areas are the edges of the articular surfaces. First, cartilage tissue actively grows, forming so-called chondrocytes (

). Then the chondrocytes calcify, become more dense, until they are completely rebuilt into full-fledged bone tissue, after which they become called

osteophytes

Diagnosis of arthrosis of the joints of the hand and fingers Diagnosis of deforming arthrosis of the hand and fingers is based on:

• medical history;
• general examination of the patient;
• laboratory tests;
• paraclinical instrumental examinations.

When questioning a patient with arthrosis of the joints of the hand and fingers, you should pay attention to the following important points:

• slow onset and progression of pain intensity (months and years);
• increased pain when clenching your fist or straining your fingers;
• the appearance of pain at rest indicates the addition of an inflammatory process (arthritis, synovitis, tendinitis, etc.);
• a gradual increase in size of the diseased joint compared to the symmetrical joint of the other hand;
• morning stiffness of the affected joint for less than 30 minutes (with concomitant inflammation, stiffness is longer-lasting);
• a crunching sound when moving the joint, which appeared long before the onset of pain.

It is also important to consider the following factors predisposing to this disease:

• female gender – more severe pain syndrome, as well as a more aggressive course of the disease after menopause;
• middle age – less severe pain is observed in young and old people, that is, the most pronounced pain syndrome is observed in middle-aged people (40 – 60 years);
• psychological status – in people with a tendency towards depression and a strong reaction to stress, arthrosis deformans is more often recorded.

General examination of the patient When studying the described disease, it was discovered that long before the onset of clinical manifestations, significant structural changes occur in the cartilage and subchondral bone tissue. Thus, the disease begins much earlier than its first symptoms appear.

The following symptoms are characteristic of deforming osteoarthritis of the joints of the hand and fingers:

• the appearance of pain in the joint when putting pressure on it;
• reduction or complete disappearance of pain after rest;
• morning stiffness in the affected joint for less than 30 minutes (with concomitant arthritis, this time usually increases);
• decreased functionality of the diseased joint;
• discomfort when palpating the joint;
• dense swelling at the edges of the affected joint due to marginal osteophytes and thickening of the joint heads;
• a characteristic crunch during passive and active movements in the joint, caused by unevenness of the adjacent articular surfaces;
• an increase in the volume of the diseased joint due to a reactive increase in the amount of intra-articular fluid;
• decreased range of motion in the joint;
• jamming of the joint in a certain position due to residual bodies (fragments of osteophytes, calcifications, separated parts of the menisci) located between the articular surfaces;
• the appearance of play (an area of ​​pathological free movement of the joint), displacement of the axes, the appearance of habitual dislocations due to joint remodeling.

Laboratory tests Laboratory tests for deforming arthrosis of the joints of the hand and fingers are of only approximate secondary importance. Without appropriate paraclinical studies, laboratory data reveal changes characteristic of too many diseases.

Osteoarthritis is often associated with arthritis, causing corresponding changes in laboratory tests. For this reason, in the table below, the changes expected for arthrosis and arthritis will be described together.

Laboratory diagnosis of arthrosis/arthritis

Analysis	Target	Indicators	Norm	Changes characteristic of arthrosis/arthritis
General blood analysis	Exclusion of the inflammatory process or assessment of its severity.	Hemoglobin	Men – 130 – 160 g/l. Women – 120 – 150 g/l.	Without changes.
		Red blood cells	Men – 3.9 – 5.2 x 1012/l. Women – 3.7 – 4.9 x 1012/l.	Without changes.
		Hematocrit (ratio of cellular and liquid parts of blood)	Men - 0,40 – 0,48. Women – 0.36 – 0.46.	Without changes. With severe inflammation, an increase may be observed.
		Platelets	180 – 320 x 109/l.	No changes or slight thrombocytosis (increased number of platelets in the blood).
		Reticulocytes	2 – 10 ‰.	Without changes
		Leukocytes	4 – 9 x 109/l.	No changes or leukocytosis (increased number of leukocytes in the blood) with arthritis.
		Band neutrophils	0 – 6%.	0 – 20 %.
		Segmented neutrophils	47 – 72%.	No change or relative decrease (due to an increase in other types of leukocytes).
		Eosinophils	1 – 5%.	No change or eosinophilia (increased number of eosinophils in the blood) in rheumatoid arthritis or allergic arthritis.
		Basophils	0 – 1%.	Without changes.
		Lymphocytes	19 – 37%.	No changes or lymphocytosis (increased number of lymphocytes in the blood) in viral and autoimmune arthritis.
		Monocytes	6 – 8%.	Without changes
		ESR	Men – 2 – 10 mm/hour. Women – 2 – 15 mm/hour.	No change or increase to 25 – 30 mm/hour.
General urine analysis	Exclusion of renal pathology as a rare cause of deforming arthrosis.	Wednesday	Slightly acidic.	No change or alkaline.
		Transparency	Transparent.	Unchanged or cloudy.
		Protein	Less than 0.033 g/l.	No change or proteinuria (increased protein content in urine).
		Glucose	Absent.	Present.
		Relative density	1.012 – 1.033 g/l.	No change, decrease or increase.
		Renal epithelium	There are less than 1 – 2 men in sight. There are less than 3 – 4 women in the field of view.
		Leukocytes	None.	No change or increase, up to complete coverage of the field of view with leukocytes.
		Red blood cells	Less than 10 in sight.	No changes or hematuria (the presence of whole red blood cells in the urine is more than normal).
		Cylinders	None.	No change or single hyaline casts present.
		Slime	Absent.	Unchanged or present (measured by the number of pluses from 1 to 4).
		Bacteria	None.	No changes or present (measured by the number of pluses from 1 to 4).
Blood chemistry	To assess the degree of the inflammatory process, differential diagnosis and control of side effects from the treatment.	C-reactive protein	10 mg/l.	No change or increase, especially with arthritis of a rheumatic nature.
		Fibrinogen	2 – 4 g/l.	No change or increased.
		Rheumatoid factor	Different for each laboratory.	Without deviations from the norm or increased.
		ASL-O (Antistreptolysin-O)	Less than 200 U/ml.	No abnormalities or increased in rheumatoid arthritis.
		Bilirubin	General – 8.5 – 20.5 µmol/l. Free – less than 15.4 µmol/l. Direct – 5.1 µmol/l.	No change, increase or decrease.
		AlAT	Less than 0.42	No change or increase.
		ASAT	Less than 0.46.	No change or increase.
		Urea	2.2 – 7.2 mmol/l.	No change or increase.
		Creatinine	44 – 106 µmol/l.	No change or increase.

In addition to the above methods, joint puncture is often used for differential diagnosis with other diseases. Then punctate (

fluid obtained as a result of puncture

) is examined for the detection of urate salts, pus, bacteria and blood. If a tumor formation is suspected, it makes sense to send part of the punctate specimen for cytological examination to detect atypical cells.

Instrumental diagnostics

To establish a diagnosis of deforming arthrosis of the joints of the hand and fingers, the following instrumental methods are used:

• radiography;
• magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography;
• ultrasound examination of the joint;
• arthroscopy;
• scintigraphy or thermography.

Radiography Radiography is the most commonly used method for diagnosing and monitoring the dynamics of the disease under discussion. The x-ray is performed in two projections - frontal and lateral. Moreover, pictures are taken not only of the diseased part of the body, but also of the healthy part for comparison.

Direct signs of osteoarthritis on an x-ray are:

• narrowing of the interarticular space due to thinning of the cartilage;
• subchondral sclerosis;
• osteophytes;
• pseudocysts in the subchondral space.

Indirect signs of osteoarthritis on an x-ray are:

• subluxations;
• partial calcification of articular cartilage;
• residual bodies;
• metaplasia (degeneration of one tissue into another - a precancerous condition) of the synovial membrane.

Magnetic resonance and computed tomography Modern and clearest methods for visualizing joints and their internal structure. Magnetic resonance imaging is absolutely harmless. With its help, it is possible to clearly display soft tissues with a high water content. Computed tomography works on the principle of x-rays, so it better contrasts hard bone structures containing calcium salts. Unlike magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography carries a certain harm, consisting in irradiating the patient with x-rays. However, this should not be a cause for concern, since the dose of radiation received in this case, provided that modern tomographs are used, is slightly greater than with conventional fluorography. The only disadvantage of the above studies is the high cost.

Ultrasound examination of the joint Ultrasound examination of joints is a new and quite promising method for diagnosing diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Its advantages are non-invasiveness (no tissue damage), low cost and availability.

Using ultrasound, it is possible to obtain the following information about the joint:

• subchondral bone structure (ulcerations, trabeculae, cysts, etc.);
• synovial membrane thickness;
• condition of the tendon-ligamentous apparatus;
• condition of the menisci, the presence of osteophytes and residual bodies;
• detection of exudate and Baker's cysts (popliteal cyst).

Arthroscopy Arthroscopy is a modern invasive method for examining the joint cavity using a miniature video camera mounted on the end of a flexible, high-precision LED fiber. The advantage of this research method is the visualization of the joint as it actually is through the eyes of the researcher in real time. With the help of an arthroscope, it is possible to capture the menisci, ligamentous apparatus and synovium. It is also used to perform endoscopic operations to remove residual bodies from the synovial cavity, remove chondrocytes and osteophytes. If suspicious space-occupying formations are detected using an arthroscope, it is possible to separate part of them and take it for histological examination (biopsy).

Scintigraphy and thermography Scintigraphy is a paraclinical study in which a contrast agent (technetium-99) is injected into the body intravenously, distributed evenly and concentrated in areas of greatest vascularization. As a rule, malignant tumors are such areas of increased vascularization.

Thermography is a study in which the patient spends some time in a special, highly sensitive chamber, where readings of their temperature are taken from every square centimeter of their body. At the end of the procedure, the data is processed by a computer and the result is produced in the form of an image in which hotter lesions appear in shades of red, and cooler lesions appear in shades of green and blue. The hottest foci correspond to a tumor and inflammatory process.

Treatment of arthrosis of the joints of the hand and fingers

Treatment of osteoarthritis of the joints of the hand and fingers is conventionally divided into three levels, from the simplest to the more complex measures.

The first level includes measures aimed at reducing the factors leading to the onset of the disease and accelerating the rate of its progression.

The first stage measures include:

• studying the causes and mechanism of development of the disease;
• regular physical exercise and water treatments to maintain the tone of the periarticular muscles;
• bringing weight to the recommended level according to the height-weight scale.

The second stage measures include both mechanical and medicinal interventions:

• wearing additional bandages and supports;
• the use of ointments based on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and inflammatory response;
• the use of chondroprotectors - substances that restore the correct structure of cartilage.

The third stage measures include the following medical and surgical interventions:

• systemic use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, in combination with proton pump inhibitors (to prevent complications such as gastric and duodenal ulcers);
• local warming and cooling dressings;
• the use of weak and strong opioid painkillers in accordance with the severity of the pain syndrome;
• intra-articular injections of glucocorticosteroids;
• surgical arthroplasty and prosthetics as a last resort.

When using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, preference is given to selective and superselective COX-2 (cyclooxygenase type 2) blockers due to less pronounced side effects on the gastrointestinal tract. The duration of treatment for deforming osteoarthritis of the joints of the hand and fingers takes, on average, 2 to 3 weeks. If particularly necessary, drugs in this group can be used for a longer period of time.

Selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs include:

• meloxicam (7.5 – 15 mg/day);
• nimesulide (100 – 200 mg/day);
• etoricoxib (60 – 120 mg/day);
• celecoxib (100 – 200 mg/day);
• rofecoxib (12.5 – 25 mg/kg).

Local symptomatic treatment is carried out with the following drugs:

• diclofenac;
• ibuprofen;
• lotions with a 50% solution of dimethyl sulfoxide diluted with water in a ratio of 1:3.

The use of glucocorticoid hormones is practiced only intra-articularly and externally. Externally, the drug is used in the form of ointments and creams. Its constant use is not recommended due to skin atrophy. In this regard, hormonal ointments are used in courses of 1 week during periods of increased pain, when the effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is insufficient.

Intra-articular administration of hormones is resorted to only in the case of gonarthrosis (

arthrosis of the knee joint

). With arthrosis of the wrist joint, this manipulation is dangerous due to the close location of large blood vessels and nerves in this area. However, if absolutely necessary, intra-articular injection can be performed under ultrasound guidance. Long courses of injections are not practiced. A maximum of 2–3 injections into one joint is allowed throughout life. A larger number of injections poses a risk of microorganisms entering the joint cavity with the development of purulent arthritis.

Glucocorticoid hormones for intra-articular administration are:

• betamethasone (2 – 4 mg);
• triamcinolone (20 – 40 mg);
• methylprednisolone (20 – 40 mg).

Chondroprotectors are a promising group of drugs, the mechanism of action of which is associated with improving the shock-absorbing properties of cartilage, its nutrition and protection. As a rule, the effect of these drugs is not immediate, so patients often neglect them, not seeing immediate results. However, according to clinical studies, with long-term regular use, chondroprotectors can significantly slow down the destruction of cartilage and delay the complications of osteoarthritis.

Drugs from the chondroprotector group include:

• glucosamine sulfate and hydrochloride;
• chondroitin sulfate;
• combination drugs based on the first two;
• low molecular weight and high molecular weight derivatives of hyaluronic acid;
• proteolytic enzymes (Wobenzym).

In addition to the above measures, there is also rehabilitation treatment in health resorts using mineral waters, therapeutic mud, clay, salt baths, etc.
Complications of arthrosis of the joints of the hand and fingers

Due to the fact that the course of this disease is unidirectional, it is believed that all patients sooner or later survive until the appearance of certain complications. Treatment of osteoarthritis also takes a long time and in advanced stages of the disease can be quite intense.

In connection with the above, complications of deforming arthrosis are conventionally divided into 2 groups:

• complications of the disease itself;
• complications caused by treatment.

Complications of deforming osteoarthritis of the joints of the hand and fingers include:

• aseptic necrosis;
• joint deformity;
• ankylosis;
• pronounced functional impairment.

Aseptic necrosis Aseptic necrosis is the necrosis of subchondral bone tissue, and then of the cartilage itself with a severe acute or chronic disruption of its blood supply. In this case, inflammation is initiated by tissue hypoxia, and not by microorganisms, so the inflammation is called aseptic, that is, microbial-free.

Joint deformity The full functioning of the joint directly depends on the degree of compliance of all articular surfaces. With cartilage degeneration, zones of incomplete conformity of articular surfaces appear in the joint, gradually leading to an uneven redistribution of the load on the remaining parts of the cartilage. Thus, the areas of greatest friction are destroyed faster than other parts of the articular cartilage, leading to even more pronounced deformation of the articular surfaces.

As a result, a vicious circle is formed, each turn of which leads to more pronounced loosening of the joint as a result of displacement of its physiological axes.

Ankylosis Ankylosis is a pathological condition in which a joint affected by arthrosis, being without movement for a long time, ossifies. During its ossification, two adjacent bones fuse, turning into one. In most cases, such a joint cannot be restored. The only way out of the situation is to destroy the joint and replace it with an artificial prosthesis.

Severe functional impairment Destructive changes in one or more joints of the hands or fingers significantly narrows the range of work performed. On top of this, the patient experiences severe pain when moving the damaged joint, which forces him to spare the part of the body affected by the disease, and also reduces the pace and quality of the work performed.

Complications caused by drugs include:

• lesions of the gastrointestinal tract;
• toxic kidney damage;
• toxic damage to the pancreas;
• toxic liver damage;
• inhibition of the hematopoietic system;
• allergic reactions, etc.

Lesions of the gastrointestinal tract This complication occurs mainly after treatment with non-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In parallel with the therapeutic effect, the synthesis of prostaglandins, substances that protect the gastric mucosa through the release of thick mucus and bicarbonates, is blocked. As a result, erosions and ulcers of the stomach and duodenum are formed. Typical complications for such complications are pain on an empty stomach in the epigastric (supra-umbilical) region, nausea, vomiting of food eaten or blood the color of coffee grounds. To prevent these complications, it is recommended to take drugs that reduce the acidity of gastric juice in parallel with the treatment. The most modern drugs prescribed for this purpose are PPIs (proton pump inhibitors) of the 4th and 5th generations - pantoprazole and esomeprazole, respectively.

With long-term treatment

antibiotics

septic arthritis against the background of deforming arthrosis is rare, but such a serious complication as pseudomembranous colitis occurs. With this complication, antibiotics destroy all useful

microflora

intestines, but there remains an anaerobic bacterium called Clostridium difficile, which is sensitive only to very narrowly targeted drugs. As it multiplies in the thick

intestines

severe inflammation develops, manifested by excruciating pain,

bloating

Massive

with admixtures of blood and mucus.

Toxic kidney damage Due to the fact that the kidneys are the main organs for removing drugs and their metabolites from the body, their damage in this disease seems quite natural. It becomes more likely when the patient is simultaneously taking medications for another disease, such as diabetes or hypertension. In this case, the patient’s blood contains a mixture of several drugs, which is excreted by the kidneys more slowly than each drug would be excreted separately. Slow elimination of drugs leads to their partial sedimentation in the renal tubules and inflammation. Inflammation, in turn, leads to a decrease in the function of the kidneys as organs and general toxic damage to the body.

Toxic damage to the pancreas The pancreas is one of the organs most sensitive to aggressive factors. As practice shows, this organ is almost always in reactive inflammation when there is another inflammatory focus in the body. In addition, many medications themselves can be harsh on the pancreas.

Toxic liver damage In some cases, with massive treatment of deforming arthrosis or arthritis with a large number of drugs, reactive hepatitis occurs. Moreover, such hepatitis often occurs at lightning speed, destroying the liver in a few weeks or even days. In this regard, during treatment, it is necessary to carry out a biochemical blood test weekly to determine markers of liver inflammation (ALAT, AST, GGTP, bilirubin and its fractions, alkaline phosphatase, etc.)

Inhibition of the hematopoietic system This complication is recorded quite rarely, given the fact that none of the drugs for the treatment of arthrosis should suppress the hematopoietic system. Moreover, glucocorticoid hormones, on the contrary, enhance hematopoiesis in most blood diseases. However, such complications have been reported and should be kept in mind.

Allergic reactions Allergic reactions can develop to almost any substance. In the treatment of osteoarthritis of the joints of the hands and fingers, a wide range of medications are used, some of them even of biological origin. However, the frequency of allergic reactions when using drugs in the treatment of this disease does not differ from that for other diseases.

Prevention of arthrosis of the joints of the hand and fingers

Preventive measures are conventionally divided into primary and secondary.

Primary prevention includes measures aimed at preventing the onset of the disease by identifying people with a genetically severe medical history and excluding modifiable risk factors from them.

For the purpose of primary prevention of arthrosis of the joints of the hand and fingers, it is recommended:

• from early childhood, minimize static (power) and increase dynamic load on the hands;
• do daily gymnastics aimed at strengthening the ligamentous-muscular system of the joints;
• take a shower daily, gradually reducing the water temperature to slightly warm;
• introduce regular swimming lessons;
• choosing a profession that would require active movements in the joints of the hand and fingers.

Is arthrosis of the hand and fingers completely curable? Unfortunately, deforming arthrosis is one of the dystrophic-degenerative diseases. In other words, once manifested, it will steadily progress.

According to the latest data from the scientific world, arthrosis deformans refers to both physiological and pathological conditions of the body. It is physiological because sooner or later it develops in all people, representing one of the stages of aging of the body. Arthrosis is considered pathological if its manifestations occur at an earlier age.

There are many reasons for the development of arthrosis. Among them are lifestyle, habits, body constitution, injuries, genetic predisposition and much more. However, the result, or rather the mechanism of development of this disease, is always the same. Cartilage is known to be the natural shock absorbers of the human skeleton. In other words, they absorb sharp shocks due to their elasticity. For the cartilage itself, such shocks are practically harmless, since after each next impulse the cartilage restores its previous shape. However, with age, microcracks form in the subchondral bone layer, which accumulate synovial fluid, turning into microcysts. These cysts multiply and merge, forming large cysts. Larger cysts compress the capillaries that supply blood to the cartilage, preventing access to nutrients.

As the cartilage lacks the necessary components for self-healing, its shock-absorbing properties decrease. In other words, with each next impulse, the cartilage does not return to its original position, but is compressed. Thus, the structure of the cartilage changes, which complicates the second way of feeding it - through the diffusion of microelements found in the synovial fluid.

Subsequently, the cartilage deprived of nutrients slowly but steadily breaks down. The congruence of the articular surfaces is lost, causing deviations from the usual axes of the joint. As a pathological regenerative mechanism, so-called chondrocytes are formed - funnel-shaped outgrowths along the edges of the articular surfaces. After some time, the chondrocytes undergo calcification, turning into osteophytes - bone growths or spines. When these spines break off for one reason or another, they form residual bodies that move freely in the joint cavity. When the residual body enters the joint space, the joint often becomes jammed in a certain position.

Returning to the original question, it should be noted that there is no need to despair about the irreversibility of this disease. With the right approach to its prevention and treatment, deficits in the function of the diseased part of the body and even unpleasant sensations can be completely avoided.

The first thing you need to do is eliminate risk factors. You will have to exclude any activity related to static load. It is also necessary to part with contact sports to avoid injuries. Excess weight needs to be lost, even if it seems that it has no effect on the development of arthrosis of the hands and fingers. The tone of the periarticular muscles must be increased with the help of daily gymnastics and water treatments. Swimming has an extremely beneficial effect on joints, so your personal schedule should include at least two swims per week lasting from half an hour to two hours. It is also advisable to combat stress, since it has been proven that they also lead to aggravation of deforming arthrosis.

More specific means of reducing the rate of disease progression include the use of so-called orthoses - products for external fixation of the joint (

for example, bandages, corsets, orthopedic shoes, insoles, etc.

). For arthrosis of the hand and fingers, elastic bandages and finger guards are actively used. Pharmacological agents include drugs from the group of chondroprotectors, such as chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine sulfate and hydrochloride, hyaluronic acid derivatives and proteolytic enzymes.

Symptomatic therapy is carried out with anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs. Among anti-inflammatory drugs, preference is given to systemic selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (

meloxicam, nimesulide, etoricoxib, etc.

). Topical ointments such as diclofenac and ibuprofen are used. Hormonal drugs are used exclusively locally in the form of ointments and intra-articular injections. Glucocorticoid ointments are based on betamethasone, hydrocortisone, prednisolone, dexamethasone, etc. Intra-articular injections are carried out no more than 2-3 times in one joint with drugs such as betamethasone, triamcinolone and methylprednisolone.

Pain relief is achieved by reducing the rate of the inflammatory reaction through the use of the above drugs. When their actions become insufficient, they resort to weak opioids (

tramadol

), and then to strong opioids (

morphine, buprenorphine, nalbuphine, pentazocine, etc.

The last stage of treatment for arthrosis of the hand and fingers is surgical prosthetics of the problem joint. This area has been actively developing in recent decades, which has led to significant progress in the technique of surgical intervention performed and the quality of the polymers used. The effectiveness of such operations reaches 85%.

Are there traditional methods for treating arthrosis of the hand and fingers?

Using the healing properties of plants can be an excellent addition to the main treatment prescribed by your doctor. Traditional methods of treatment will help eliminate pain, relieve inflammation and speed up the process of restoration of damaged tissues.

However, do not forget that each plant has both positive and negative effects. In addition, they may be incompatible with some medications that are part of the main therapy, so it is recommended to discuss the use of traditional recipes with your doctor.

For arthrosis of the hands and fingers, you can use:

• Honey and salt compress. To prepare it, 100–200 g of honey is mixed with 50–100 g of salt, after which gauze swabs are soaked in the mixture and applied to the affected joints overnight. This procedure can be performed regularly for 7 to 10 days.
• White cabbage juice compress. Using this compress at night will help reduce joint pain. To obtain 300 - 400 ml of juice, you need to take 1 - 2 heads of cabbage with a total weight of about 1 kilogram, wash under running water and chop with a knife or grater, then pass through a juicer or a regular meat grinder. You need to soak gauze swabs in the resulting juice and apply them to the joints of your hands and fingers overnight. Cabbage juice can also be taken orally, as it contains many vitamins (C, PP, group B) and microelements (potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron).
• Baths with hay dust. This recipe helps with joint pain. You need to take 200 g of hay dust into a fabric bag and place it in a pan with 2 liters of water. Then the water must be brought to a boil and kept on low heat for 20 minutes, then cooled to body temperature and put your hands in the resulting broth for 5 - 10 minutes. The procedure can be performed daily for 10 – 12 days.
• Willow bark decoction. Willow bark contains tannins, one of which is salicin, which has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. To prepare a decoction, pour 1 full teaspoon of crushed bark into 500 ml of water, bring to a boil and boil for 10 minutes. After cooling, take half a glass (50 ml) orally 4 times a day. Also, a decoction of willow bark can be used to prepare baths. In this case, 150 grams of crushed raw materials need to be poured with 5 liters of water and boiled for half an hour. After cooling to body temperature, 200–500 ml of the resulting broth is poured into a pan or bowl and hands are immersed in it for 15–20 minutes.
• Infusion of lingonberry leaves. To prepare the infusion, place 2 tablespoons of fresh crushed lingonberry leaves in a thermos, pour 500 ml of boiling water and leave for 10 - 12 hours. Take 100 ml warm 3-4 times a day before meals. The resulting product has a systemic anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect.

Is there a difference between arthrosis and arthritis of the hands and fingers? Arthrosis and arthritis are two diseases that differ in the mechanism of occurrence, clinical manifestations and treatment methods. Arthritis is an inflammatory lesion of the joints of the hands and fingers, which can be acute (occurring suddenly) or chronic (developing gradually). Typically, arthritis is a manifestation of other diseases and pathological conditions (infections, injuries, rheumatic diseases), when eliminated, inflammatory phenomena in the joints also subside. Arthrosis is usually called a chronic, long-term progressive disease of the joints, which occurs against the background of metabolic disorders in the articular surfaces of the bones and is characterized by their damage and deformation.

Comparative characteristics of arthritis and arthrosis of the hands and fingers

Criterion	Arthritis	Arthrosis
Cause of occurrence	infection; injury; hypothermia; reactive arthritis; gout.	The cause of the occurrence has not been definitively established. Predisposing factors are: presence of genetic predisposition; excess body weight; previous joint surgeries; increased load on the joint; joint injuries; rheumatic diseases; elderly age; female gender (women get sick more often than men).
Nature of joint damage	Under the influence of a causative factor, an inflammatory process develops in the damaged tissue, causing the clinical manifestations of the disease.	As a result of prolonged disruption of metabolic processes, thinning and destruction of the articular surfaces of bones occurs. The inflammatory process may be very weakly expressed or completely absent.
Clinical manifestations	the pain is usually sharp, stabbing, occurring at rest or with the slightest movement in the joint; increased temperature in the area of ​​the inflamed joint; redness of the skin over the inflamed joint. swelling of tissue in the area of ​​the inflamed joint; limited mobility in the joint due to severe pain.	joint pain occurs with movement and high loads, but may not be present at rest; crunching and “clicking” sounds that occur as a result of friction of deformed articular surfaces against each other during movements; progressive limitation of joint mobility due to thinning of the joint space (the space between the two articular surfaces of the bones); joint deformation caused by bone growths (osteophytes) and changes in the shape of the bones involved in the formation of the joint.
Principles of treatment	eliminating the cause of the disease; limited mobility in damaged joints; prescription of anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications; physiotherapy; physiotherapy.	anti-inflammatory medications; hormonal drugs; chondroprotectors (drugs that protect articular cartilage from the aggressive effects of various factors); physiotherapy; physiotherapy; massage; surgical intervention.

Which doctor treats arthrosis of the hands and fingers?

Doctors directly involved in the treatment of osteoarthritis are an orthopedist and a traumatologist. However, quite often treatment for this disease can be prescribed by a family doctor, rheumatologist or general practitioner. Patients with terminal (

last

) the stage of the disease is operated on by surgeons.

An orthopedic doctor deals with the treatment, or more precisely, the correction of disorders of the osteoarticular system that arise as a person grows and ages. A traumatologist treats osteoarthritis caused by serious injuries. Also, the scope of activity of a traumatologist includes the treatment of complications of this disease.

However, due to the fact that arthrosis of the joints of the hand and fingers is a very common disease, family medicine has also been involved in its treatment. Thus, almost 80% of patients receive treatment for this disease from a family doctor for a long time.

The remaining 20% ​​are redirected to specialists for treatment. Preventive treatment of patients with moderate osteoarthritis falls to the doctors of the general therapy department. The traumatologist and orthopedist mentioned above see patients with moderate and severe forms of the disease. Patients whose deforming arthrosis is associated with reactive arthritis come to the rheumatologist,

systemic lupus erythematosus

or other rheumatological disease.

Finally, a trauma surgeon treats patients with severe manifestations of the disease, when joint replacement is the only way to restore the previous functionality of the diseased part of the body and reduce pain. The surgeon sends the patient for x-ray and ultrasound examination of the joint, and then determines the parameters of the future prosthesis. Once the prosthesis is made, the surgeon operates on the patient and implants the prosthesis. If the prosthesis is attached externally to the stump, and does not completely replace the joint, then the surgeon prepares the stump for the most intimate contact with the prosthesis.

Is a diet necessary for arthrosis of the hands and fingers?

Arthrosis deformans does not require any special foods to slow the progression of the disease. However

may be required if the patient is overweight.

Many patients with arthrosis of the hands and fingers doubt the advisability of losing weight to reduce pain, arguing that weight has nothing to do with arthrosis of these parts of the body. However, this point of view is incorrect. In everyday life, the hands bear the load from 30% to 70% of the body weight, which is quite a lot, considering the fact that the joints of the hands are at least half the size of the joints of the legs.

In this case, diet means not only avoiding one type of food and preferring others, but also modifying the regime and method of eating.

A diet for deforming arthrosis of the joints of the hand and fingers involves:

• creating a diary with weekly weight control;
• increasing dynamic loads during the day (walking, swimming, jogging);
• increasing the frequency of meals up to 5 – 6 times a day;
• the size of each portion should be such that it fits in your palms folded together;
• 20 minutes before meals you need to drink a glass of water or juice;
• You need to chew food thoroughly and eat slowly, since in this case the patient has time to eat less food before becoming full;
• the proportion of fats in the diet should be reduced, and preference should be given to unsaturated fatty acids contained in vegetable oil, fish, etc.;
• each meal should contain on average one fruit or vegetable;
• while eating, you need to think about food, and not about extraneous problems;
• try not to eat later than 19.00 – 20.00;
• sleep at least 8 hours a day, otherwise the body will need more nutrients.

Often, a person’s age is revealed not only by his face, but also by the appearance of his hands. The curvature of the fingers willy-nilly adds to their owner's twenty years. Unfortunately, deformation of the joints on the fingers is more common in the fair half of humanity than in men. It is women whose caring hands carefully preserve the family hearth every day.

Arthrosis of the fingers also has other names - polyosteoarthrosis or deforming osteoarthritis (multiple arthrosis of the fingers). The disease affects not one joint, but several at the same time (interphalangeal, metacarpophalangeal).

What is the deformation mechanism? In joints affected by arthrosis, a pathological process develops, cracking and inflammation of the cartilage tissue, its thinning, and loss of synovial (lubricating) fluid. The joints become deformed and begin to hurt, and the growth of osteophytes (new growths on the edges of bones) is observed.

In this case, fine motor skills of the fingers are significantly impaired. In complicated situations, the patient is unable to pick up a fork or unscrew the cap on a bottle.

The first and main reason for the development of the disease is genetic predisposition. If the patient’s parents or grandparents had fingers affected by arthrosis, such a person should take care of the health and beauty of his hands from his youth.

However, it is not arthrosis itself that is inherited, but the structure and density of cartilage tissue and bones; metabolic features.

Another reason why bone destruction can occur is excessive stress on the fingers. The group at increased risk of the disease includes people in the following professions: pianists, massage therapists, office workers who type large amounts of text on the computer every day.

Note! Arthrosis of the fingers can be triggered by diabetes mellitus, endocrine system disorders and other pathological metabolic processes.

Menopause (hormonal disorders in women during menopause) causes the body to actively lose moisture, along with a decrease in estrogen levels. Because of this, cartilage tissue becomes thinner and bones and joints become more fragile.

The most common cause of arthrosis is injuries to the wrist joints and phalanges of the fingers. It is especially dangerous when inflammatory processes develop after injuries.

Bad habits (alcohol and smoking) are also causes of pathological changes in tissues.

Signs of illness

Unfortunately, patients seek medical help only at that stage of arthrosis when the joints of the hands already have obvious seals, called Bouchard’s and Heberden’s nodes. However, the development of the disease begins long before their appearance.

The first signs of arthrosis are aching pain in the fingers, which occurs mainly at night and subsides during the day. Swelling is also added to these symptoms. Although a characteristic crunch may already appear, joint mobility is not yet limited.

As the disease progresses, hardening may be observed on the joints. Heberden's nodes most often appear in the first to third interphalangeal joints and they resemble dense neoplasms, ranging in size from a grain of rice to a pea.

Sometimes these nodules can burst, then their contents flow out. If a breakthrough does not occur, the seal hardens and becomes almost painless.

During the period when the nodules grow, the skin turns red, and the person experiences pain and burning (not observed in all patients). Bouchard's nodes begin to appear on the lateral surface of the joints, often simultaneously with Heberden's nodes. These tumors cause deformation of the finger joints.

Diagnosis of hand arthrosis

To make a diagnosis, the doctor must perform a visual examination of the patient, palpate the affected areas, prescribe blood tests (rheumatic tests from a vein and clinical) and radiography. The latter research method is necessary to exclude errors in diagnosis.

On X-ray images you can see narrowing of the joint spaces, osteophytes, and bone deformation.

There should be no deviations from the norm in the results of blood tests; if they are all there, this signals the presence of more serious diseases.

Treatment of hand arthrosis

Treatment of arthrosis is necessary to restore motor activity of the joint, reduce pain, prevent the development of pathological processes, and improve blood circulation in the affected joints. When treating, it is extremely important to be systematic and regular.

Complex treatment of arthrosis involves the use of:

• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• analgesics;
• chondoprotectors;
• glucocorticosteroid hormonal drugs;
• intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid;
• vitamin complexes;
• baths with decoctions of medicinal plants;
• manual therapy and massage (to improve blood supply to tissues);
• physiotherapeutic methods (laser therapy, electrophoresis, mud therapy, ozokerite and paraffin applications, magnetic therapy);
• special physical therapy to maintain joint mobility (squeezing a rubber ball or expander);
• methods of traditional medicine.

If conservative treatment does not bring the desired result, surgical interventions (osteotomy, arthroscopic surgery) are resorted to.

In advanced cases, destroyed joints are completely replaced with implants.

Treatment of arthrosis using alternative medicine methods

Before you start using infusions, baths and compresses, you must consult your doctor, make sure that the ingredients used are safe and of good quality, and rule out allergic reactions to the components.

1. Table salt and honey must be mixed in equal proportions until a homogeneous paste is obtained. The mixture is used for compresses on sore joints (at night).
2. Clay applications provide good results. They improve the quality of cartilage tissue and skin condition.
3. An infusion prepared from the string is used as a wound-healing and anti-inflammatory agent. 2 tablespoons of dry raw materials are poured with a glass of boiling water and left for 20 minutes. Drink the strained tincture 2 tbsp. spoons 3 times a day. Treatment lasts 1 month.
4. Chopped horseradish in the amount of 40 g. mixed with Vaseline (50 g.) This composition is used to lubricate sore joints. Treatment helps reduce finger pain and inflammation.
5. Burdock leaves are twisted with a meat grinder and applied fresh to the fingers, the compress is insulated.
6. Teas made from rosehip, mint, lingonberry, and thyme are good for arthrosis.
7. Lump chalk is crushed and a small amount of kefir is added to it (to the consistency of thick sour cream), and applied as a compress to the finger joints overnight.

Preventive methods to combat arthrosis

It is necessary to carefully monitor your diet, this is also included in the treatment. The appearance of extra pounds on the body is unacceptable. Bad habits, such as smoking and alcohol abuse, should be abandoned.

Every day you need to take walks in the fresh air, at this time the tissues are saturated with oxygen. Baths with medicinal plants and hand massage are needed to improve blood supply to the joints.

A few minutes a day should be devoted to simple exercises with a ball or expander. These measures will significantly reduce the likelihood of developing arthrosis and keep your hands beautiful and healthy.

Arthritis is a very insidious disease, because it can burst into your life completely unexpectedly, against the background of relative health. This is its acute form. But even worse is chronic arthritis, which occurs almost unnoticeably, slowly and can progress over years. Symptoms of the disease:

• acute arthritis is accompanied by severe pain, high fever and swelling of the joints;
• rheumatoid arthritis manifests itself symmetrically, with numbness and tingling of the wrist;
• general symptoms appear: fatigue, malaise, prolonged morning pain and stiffness;
• the appearance of subcutaneous nodules;
• creaking in joints;
• joint deformation.

The disease initially affects a small number of joints, most often the fingers and toes. Fingers can take on several forms that are typical of rheumatoid arthritis: spindle-shaped fingers, swan neck type, and contracture of fingers with skin necrosis.

With such curvature of the fingers, a person sometimes cannot even fasten buttons or hold a glass in his hand, in a word, serve himself.

Symptoms of arthrosis of the fingers

A preliminary diagnosis can be made based on the following signs. Firstly, the appearance of a crunch when moving your fingers.

Secondly, the patient feels aching pain when moving his fingers, which becomes constant over time. The joints thicken, this becomes noticeable from the outside, and swelling appears in the affected area.

The periarticular muscles are in constant tension. These symptoms can be noticed already at the first stage of the disease, when the joint capsule loses its elasticity.

At the next stage of development of the disease, thinning of the cartilage and its deformation occurs. In addition, the synovial membrane of the joint begins to become inflamed.

Constant pain appears, finger mobility is limited, redness appears in the affected area, accompanied by an increase in temperature. The swelling that appeared earlier increases.

The finger, and sometimes the entire hand, loses sensitivity.

The last stage of the disease is polyostearthrosis, in which complete destruction of cartilage occurs. It is accompanied by constant severe pain, deformation of the fingers and changes in their length.

Edema and swelling in the affected area turn into Bouchard's and Heberden's nodes. The former are formed on the outer joints of the fingers, the latter - on the middle ones.

Bones and joints are deformed, mobility is practically absent. Since there is no cartilage, growths appear on the periarticular bones.

In the absence of adequate treatment, the disease can progress to ankylosis - complete immobility of the arm. The formation of nodules is often accompanied by the development of rhizarthrosis - damage to the base of the thumb.

Its symptoms are similar to ordinary arthrosis.

At the initial stage, arthrosis can occur without any special symptoms; the discomfort goes away after a short warm-up and rest. But there are certain signs that you should pay attention to in order to begin treatment in a timely manner.

The main symptoms of arthrosis:

• fingers often crack when moving;
• aching pain appears that becomes more and more prolonged;
• the joints thicken, swelling appears;
• the periarticular muscles are constantly under tension.

As the disease develops, the cartilage tissue begins to thin and deform, and the synovial joint membrane becomes inflamed. The pain becomes severe and constant, the fingers lose mobility and sensitivity, the affected areas turn red, and the temperature rises.

At the last stage, the cartilage is completely destroyed, the pain becomes unbearable, and the fingers change length and shape.

Diagnosis of arthrosis of the finger joints

Before you find out how to treat arthrosis of the fingers, you need to undergo an examination at a medical institution and confirm the diagnosis. For diagnosis, both initial examination and palpation and radiography are used, which allows one to see degenerative changes in tissues in the image.

To establish the functional state of the joints and the severity of the disease, special tests are used, based on calculating the number of points and percentages for each sign or symptom.

Treatment with folk remedies

Before you start treating arthrosis of the finger joints using traditional methods, you should consult your doctor. An experienced specialist will suggest the most effective methods of therapy and eliminate components that may cause an allergic reaction.

The best results for the disease are provided by various compresses, baths, rubs and ointments, which are prepared from the leaves and roots of herbs, pharmaceuticals, spices and some foods.

• Table salt is mixed with honey in equal proportions, and then applied to sore joints at night as a compress.
• Raw and green potatoes are grated, after which the resulting mixture is applied to strips of polyethylene and wrapped around the fingers. Put warm mittens on top and leave overnight. The procedure is performed every day for several weeks.
• Two tablespoons of camphor are mixed with 100 ml of alcohol and two tablespoons of dry mustard. Next, the prepared mixture is beaten with two egg whites and rubbed into the joints overnight.
• Clay applications give a good effect. Warm clay is applied to the fingers for 20 minutes, and then washed off and lubricated with glycerin.
• Pour two tablespoons of the string into a glass of boiling water, leave for 20–30 minutes, filter and drink two tablespoons three times a day for a month.

Arthrosis, although it deforms the bones of the hand, does not affect the general condition of the body. The internal organs work the same as before.

Treatment of the disease is divided into several stages. First of all, the doctor prescribes a course of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (diclofenac, ortofen, ketanov), which eliminate inflammatory processes in the joint capsule.

They are taken in combination with chondroprotectors - drugs for cartilage restoration.

Physiotherapeutic methods of treatment include electrophoresis, paraffin and laser treatment, and ozokerite baths. This type of therapy helps relieve pain and speed up the restoration of cartilage.

Drug treatment should be combined with physical therapy exercises.

You can knead your joints by tapping your fingers on the surface of the table, fingering your rosary, bending and straightening your fingers. Before performing exercises, it is useful to hold your hands in a warm bath. Therapeutic exercises for arthrosis help speed up metabolic processes and restore joint mobility.

Arthrosis therapy requires an integrated approach; it uses different methods that are aimed at eliminating inflammation, pain, and restoring cartilage tissue.

Main treatment methods:

1. The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - Rofecoxib, Nimesulide, Diclofenac and Ibuprofen ointments. They help eliminate pain, but negatively affect the functioning of the digestive system. The duration of therapy is no more than 14 days.
2. Drugs that improve the synthesis of cartilage tissue in joints. Contains chondroitin, hyaluronic acid derivatives and glucosamine. Help restore cartilage, eliminate pain and inflammation. Treatment is long-term – 4–6 months.
3. Percussion massage. Tapping joints with a gradual increase in intensity. The procedure helps improve blood circulation, nutrition, and accelerates the healing process.
4. Physiotherapy. It is carried out only if the disease is not in the acute stage. To improve the condition of cartilage, electrophoresis with paraffin and ozokerite and magnetic therapy are used.
5. Physical exercises and water treatments to improve the condition of the periarticular muscles.

Additionally, it is necessary to fix the diseased joints using calipers and bandages. At the last stage of the disease, it is necessary to regularly take anti-inflammatory drugs together with proton pump inhibitors - this will help avoid the development of ulcers.

Apply warming and cooling compresses; in case of severe pain, use ointments based on glucocorticosteroid hormones. With complete loss of finger mobility, surgical arthroplasty and prosthetics are resorted to.

Important! It is possible to cure deforming arthrosis of the finger joints and restore cartilage tissue only at the initial stage of development of the disease. In the later stages, irreversible processes in tissues begin - therapy is aimed at preventing the spread of pathology to bone tissue.

It takes a lot of time to eliminate the manifestations of arthrosis, so patients often ask how to treat the disease at home, is it possible to use unconventional methods?

Most alternative treatments are not aimed at eliminating symptoms, but at restoring metabolic processes and strengthening protective functions. They will not help cure arthrosis in the later stages, but they will significantly alleviate the condition and increase joint mobility.

Important! Alternative treatment can only be started after prior consultation with a doctor - many harmless herbs cannot be combined with anti-inflammatory drugs.

A good anti-inflammatory effect is provided by decoctions, compresses and baths with medicinal herbs and other useful products.

Honey-salt compress - mix 150 ml of liquid honey with 75 g of fine salt, lubricate small pieces of gauze with the mixture, fix on the affected joints, and leave overnight. Duration of therapy is 1–2 weeks.

Regular cabbage copes well with pain and inflammation. You can apply fresh leaves to your fingers at night - first beat them off a little and grease them with honey.

Or prepare juice, use it for compresses and take it orally - the drink contains large amounts of potassium, calcium, iron, and ascorbic acid.

Willow bark contains salicin, which has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. To prepare a decoction of 5 g of crushed raw materials, brew 500 ml of boiling water and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes.

Take 50 ml 4 times a day. To prepare a solution for baths, you need to pour 120 g of crushed bark into 4 liters of water and simmer for 30 minutes.

After cooling, pour 400–450 ml into a convenient bowl and immerse the brushes for a quarter of an hour.

Preventive actions

Do not suffer from colds “on your feet” and treat infectious diseases in a timely manner. Play sports and strengthen your body.

Do not overload your joints; to do this, watch your own weight. Minimize your consumption of salt and sugar, alcohol and tobacco.

Eat a few cloves of garlic daily. Replace black long tea and coffee with green tea or herbal drinks.

Ginger tea is very good for arthritis. Avoid hypothermia and joint injuries.

Remember that movement is life, and giving up excesses means reducing deprivation!

It is important to take care of your health and prevent the onset of illness. It is easier to prevent the occurrence of a disease than to eliminate it.

Therefore, prevention is especially important. There are a number of rules that are designed not only to prevent the development of complications, but also to avoid the occurrence of arthrosis of the fingers.

It is important to follow the correct steps and avoid injury.

It is necessary to select a moderate load without exhausting your body and without harming your fingers.

Nutrition of cartilage tissue occurs precisely during movement, so this factor plays a big role.

Warmth is a beneficial friend for joints. Therefore, most often, arthrosis of the fingers occurs in people who are forced to come into contact with the cold due to the characteristics of their profession: builders, cleaners, dishwashers.

The fact is that frequent contact with moisture leads to hypothermia of the hands. Therefore, following one proverb, you need to keep not only your feet, but also your hands warm.

Chondroprotectors can be used as prevention. They restore areas with minor damage that may be in the structure of cartilage tissue.

In addition, it is important to watch your diet. It is necessary to focus on dishes that contain collagen in large quantities.

It is also necessary to eliminate bad habits, such as alcohol and smoking.

Thus, eliminating arthrosis of the fingers has a number of features. If signs of the disease appear, you should not start treatment on your own, but immediately contact a specialist.

He will determine the cause of the disease and prescribe competent measures that will help restore the activity of the fingers and avoid the development of complications. Patients should not forget about prevention.

Diet for arthrosis of the finger joints

Patients suffering from arthrosis of the fingers are recommended to eat a diet containing a large amount of protein. It is known that protein foods help restore cartilage tissue and increase immunity, so you should include fermented milk products, hard cheeses, cottage cheese, legumes, and fish in your diet.

An important role is played by B vitamins, which promote the absorption of nutrients, are responsible for tissue regeneration and restore the structure of nerve fibers.

People with this disease need to eat potatoes, bananas, and lentils. At the same time, fatty meats, flour and sweets are excluded from the menu, the consumption of butter and foods rich in purines (rich broths, offal) is limited.

Deforming arthrosis of the index finger and other joints of the hands is a very serious disease that requires long-term treatment on an outpatient basis.

The sooner therapy begins, the higher the likelihood that the patient, if not completely cured, will at least get rid of pain and remain able to work.

People with this disease must adhere to a special diet that includes large amounts of proteins that help restore cartilage tissue.

This is also the prevention of arthrosis. Dairy proteins are considered the most beneficial, so include fermented milk products and cheeses in your diet.

There is a lot of protein in meat, fish and legumes. Give preference to lean meat and steamed fish.

An equally important role is played by B vitamins contained in potatoes, bananas and eggs. Do not use fatty meats for cooking.

If arthrosis is combined with diabetes, it is recommended to use corn oil. It is recommended to limit the consumption of butter.

Don't overeat, eat only as many calories as your body needs. Excess weight contributes to the development of many diseases.

At the beginning of the diet, you may be tormented by a feeling of hunger, which you can get rid of by eating food more often, but in small portions. You should not have dinner before bed; the time from dinner to bed should be at least 2 hours.

These simple rules will help cope with hunger and improve digestive processes in the body.

In addition to the main methods of treatment, it is necessary to adhere to a special diet, which is aimed at restoring cartilage tissue and normalizing body weight.

Take vitamin complexes high in calcium. You cannot starve or use strict diets - nutrition must be balanced and contain all useful microelements.

Basic rules of nutrition for arthrosis:

• fried food, fast food - dishes should be boiled, baked, stewed and steamed;
• meals should be fractional, portions small;
• After eating, you need to move a little - take at least 100 steps at a slow pace;
• limit the amount of salt - add salt to dishes after cooking;
• consume more medium-fat dairy products;
• give up fast carbohydrates, sweets, fatty meats
• the diet should contain a sufficient amount of complex carbohydrates - whole grain bread and cereals;
• fats should be ingested through foods of plant origin and fish.

Aspic, jelly and jelly restore cartilage tissue well - these dishes contain a lot of gelatin and collagen, which is very beneficial for joints. It is imperative to observe the drinking regime - drink at least 2 liters of clean still water per day.

megan92 2 weeks ago

Tell me, how does anyone deal with joint pain? My knees hurt terribly ((I take painkillers, but I understand that I’m fighting the effect, not the cause... They don’t help at all!

Daria 2 weeks ago

I struggled with my painful joints for several years until I read this article by some Chinese doctor. And I forgot about “incurable” joints a long time ago. That's how things are

megan92 13 days ago

Daria 12 days ago

megan92, that’s what I wrote in my first comment) Well, I’ll duplicate it, it’s not difficult for me, catch it - link to professor's article.

Sonya 10 days ago

Isn't this a scam? Why do they sell on the Internet?

Yulek26 10 days ago

Sonya, what country do you live in?.. They sell it on the Internet because stores and pharmacies charge a brutal markup. In addition, payment is only after receipt, that is, they first looked, checked and only then paid. And now everything is sold on the Internet - from clothes to TVs, furniture and cars

Editor's response 10 days ago

Sonya, hello. This drug for the treatment of joints is indeed not sold through the pharmacy chain in order to avoid inflated prices. Currently you can only order from Official website. Be healthy!

Sonya 10 days ago

I apologize, I didn’t notice the information about cash on delivery at first. Then, it's OK! Everything is fine - for sure, if payment is made upon receipt. Thanks a lot!!))

Margo 8 days ago

Has anyone tried traditional methods of treating joints? Grandma doesn’t trust pills, the poor thing has been suffering from pain for many years...

Andrey A week ago

No matter what folk remedies I tried, nothing helped, it only got worse...

Ekaterina A week ago

I tried drinking a decoction of bay leaves, it didn’t do any good, I just ruined my stomach!! I no longer believe in these folk methods - complete nonsense!!

Maria 5 days ago

I recently watched a program on Channel One, it was also about this Federal program to combat joint diseases talked. It is also headed by some famous Chinese professor. They say that they have found a way to permanently cure joints and back, and the state fully finances the treatment for each patient

Elena (rheumatologist) 6 days ago

Yes, indeed, a program is currently underway in which every resident of the Russian Federation and the CIS will be able to completely cure diseased joints. And yes, the program is personally supervised by Professor Park.