What is osteoarthrosis? Are bone spurs and degenerative bone arthritis the same thing?
In fact, bone spurs, degenerative bone disease, osteophytes and osteoarthritis are all the same thing, and are common chronic joint diseases, commonly known as osteoarthropathies.
The normal joint surface has a layer of cartilage to protect the underlying bone tissue from wear and tear, while osteoarthrosis is characterized by the continuous wear and tear of the joint cartilage to the point where the underlying subchondral bone wears and grows, resulting in bone spurs.
What kind of people are prone to bone spurs?
First of all, at a certain age, all organs and tissues of the body degenerate, and bone tissue is no exception. Therefore, degeneration is the basis for bone spurs, together with congenital genetic factors, congenital abnormalities in joint structure, acquired unevenness of the joint surface, injury or mechanical wear, poor joint alignment due to extra-articular deformities, joint instability, etc., which make the degree of bone growth different for each individual.
What are the symptoms of osteoarthrosis?
First of all, from the age of onset, 40-50 years old, the onset of the disease is slow, and the joint may feel sore, swollen or dull pain at first due to cold, exertion or minor trauma, and then gradually worsen, and there may be joint friction pain. If the joint is in a certain position for too long, temporary stiffness, inflexibility and pain when changing position may occur. As a result, patients often have pain in the morning when they move, and after a period of activity, they become more flexible and have less pain, but excessive activity can aggravate the symptoms. Patients often feel a creaking sound when moving the joint. If the spur is dislodged and forms a free body, the joint may become stuck. The interval between attacks decreases over the years, and eventually the symptoms may become persistent.
Externally, the joint may not be swollen or mildly swollen, and in some cases, the joint may be internally and externally abducted, which is called internal and external deformity. There may be painful pressure on the joint with hand pressure and no or partially restricted movement. Various degrees of muscle atrophy or muscle spasm may be seen. When the knee joint is associated with synovitis, swelling may be increased and intra-articular fluid may be present.
X-rays can confirm the extent of the bone spur.
Do bone spurs get better as they are worn down?
Some people believe that the more they wear their spurs, the better they get and the less painful their joints become. As a result, some elderly people start to practice climbing, going up and down steps, walking and running for long periods of time, hoping to grind away the bone spurs through these exercises, but as a result, instead of grinding away the bone spurs, the remaining good cartilage and normal bone are also worn away, which worsens the clinical symptoms and even causes bone defects, causing great problems for future joint surgery.
How to treat bone spurs and can drugs eliminate them?
Bone spurs are normal bone tissue and cannot be eliminated by medication. Clinical symptoms caused by less serious bone spurs can be solved by drugs, joint injections, physiotherapy and physical therapy; however, arthritis caused by serious bone spurs can only be solved by joint cavity cleaning and surface replacement of artificial joints.
Does an artificial joint replacement involve replacing the entire joint?
No, it is not. It is simply the removal of the worn-out layer of bone from the femur, tibia and patella at the knee joint and its replacement with a metal articulating surface, just as we normally do with a dental implant, with a polymer polyethylene pad separating the two metal articulating surfaces. The metal materials used are t-molybdenum and titanium alloys, which have good histocompatibility with human tissue and are not reactive.
How can I prevent or delay the onset of bone spurs?
Take care to maintain an appropriate weight to reduce the pressure on the joint.
Necessary physical exercise, especially of the muscles around the joint, to increase joint stability.
Avoid overloading the joints, too long runs on hard surfaces, and inappropriate climbing and stair climbing exercises to reduce the wear and tear on the joint surfaces.
Pay attention to keeping warm, especially when the seasons change, and do not let electric fans and air conditioners blow directly on joint parts in summer.
When joint pain arises, go to the hospital in time and carry out treatment and exercise under the guidance of a doctor. Most patients with osteoarthrosis can relieve and alleviate symptoms and reduce and delay the occurrence of bone spurs.