Osteoarthritis is a chronic arthritis caused by joint degeneration and destruction of joint cartilage. Patients are mostly middle-aged and elderly people over 45 years of age. The onset of the disease is slow and often multi-joint. There may be persistent vague pain in the affected joints, which is aggravated by activity and improves after rest. Sometimes there may be acute pain episodes with joint stiffness and a popping sound when the joint is moved. The joint stiffness increases after sitting for a long time and improves after a little activity. In the late stage, there may be swelling and enlargement of the joint and limitation of movement. Osteoarthritis is a rheumatic disease with a high incidence and is associated with aging, trauma, inflammation, obesity, metabolic disorders and genetics.
Self-diagnosis of osteoarthritis
It is important to detect the disease early and take preventive and control measures, while pain, stiffness, swelling, and making friction sounds are all symptoms of the disease. If measures are taken in the early stages of the joint lesion, the treatment effect will be more satisfactory. However, when the condition worsens, permanent loss of motion is likely to occur. Therefore, some of the following symptoms should be taken into consideration.
First, whether joint movement is restricted. If one or more joints in the body begin to seem to move uncomfortably, you should think that you may have osteoarthritis, and that it may be in its early stages.
Stiffness of the joints. People with osteoarthritis often feel stiffness in their arms and legs. Some people suddenly feel as if some joints are “locked” after sitting for a long time. This is especially noticeable in the morning after waking up, and after a long period of inactivity.
Clicking or other frictional sounds when the joint moves. In the later stages of osteoarthritis, as the cartilage in the joint degenerates and peels off, the bone under the cartilage is exposed. When the joint moves, the bones under the cartilage at both ends are exposed and make a sound when they touch each other.
Fourth, whether the joint is enlarged and deformed. When a joint is degenerated, the synovial membrane of the joint often becomes inflamed. Since there are many nerve endings distributed on the synovial membrane as pain receptors, after these pain messages are transmitted to the cerebral cortex, the synovial membrane will secrete more synovial fluid to lubricate and nourish those damaged synovial tissues. The increased fluid accumulation in the joint space causes swelling, making the pain worse and even making it difficult to rotate the joint.
Although osteoarthritis theoretically affects joints throughout the body, it is the more active, weight-bearing joints, such as the fingers, knees, hips, cervical spine, lumbar spine, and ankles, that are most affected. When discomfort, inflexibility, pain, stiffness and swelling occur in the above-mentioned joints, it is important to go to a regular hospital in time to receive a diagnosis from a specialist.
Precautions for patients with osteoarthritis.
1. Weight bearing and substantial activities of the joints should be reduced as much as possible to slow down the process of lesions.
2, obese people, should reduce weight to reduce the load on the joints.
3, lower limb joints with lesions, the use of crutches or canes to reduce the burden on the joints.
4, the attack period should follow medical advice to take anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs, as far as possible after meals; joint local can use wet heat compress.
5.The lesioned joint should be protected by a sheath.
6, pay attention to weather changes, avoid moisture and cold.
Prevention of osteoarthritis.
Although it is not yet possible to completely prevent the occurrence of osteoarthritis, but through a number of measures, can reduce or delay the occurrence of osteoarthritis. These include reducing body weight, avoiding high heels, protecting the joints from injury, such as avoiding repetitive impact or torque on the joints, and minimizing the need for frequent ascending exercises. If there is meniscal damage, it should be repaired or sutured through arthroscopy, if there is joint ligament damage, it should be treated promptly, and intra-articular fractures should be surgically repositioned anatomically. If there is deformity around the joint, surgery should be performed to correct the deformity in time. In addition, Vit A, Vit C, Vit E and Vit D supplementation can also have a preventive effect on osteoarthritis.
Prevention in daily life: 1.
1, should try to reduce the weight bearing and large activities of the joint to slow down the process of the disease.
2, obese people, should reduce weight to reduce the load on the joints.
3, lower limb joints with lesions, the use of crutches or canes to reduce the burden on the joints.
4.Take anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs as prescribed by the doctor during the attack period, and try to take them after meals. The joints can be applied locally with moist heat.
5.The diseased joint should be protected by a sheath.
6, pay attention to weather changes, avoid moisture and cold.