Osteoarthritis is a disease that leads to the deformation of the cartilage of the joints. As a result, the cartilages gradually become thinner and lose their integrity, which can lead to the separation of the tissues into fibers. For a progressive disease, the exposure of the bone body and the appearance of small cracks are more characteristic.
In addition, acute and slow inflammatory processes are observed. Asking the question of how to cure arthrosis, it is necessary to take into account all the specifics of the course of the disease, the cause of which is often the aging of the body as a whole or the presence of various joint injuries in the past.
What determines the effectiveness of osteoarthritis treatment?
Treatment of osteoarthritis can be very effective if all necessary measures are taken in a timely manner. At first, the doctor prescribes a series of diagnostic measures to determine the presence of injuries and their severity. This can take a long time and even patience and stamina on the part of the patient. Depending on the degree (stage) of the disease, a detailed treatment plan is drawn up.
Treatment of osteoarthritis requires an integrated approach. Sometimes, maximum efficiency can be achieved through the simultaneous and competent use of traditional medicine, drugs and a special diet necessary when a certain disease is detected.
The most relevant anti-inflammatory drugs: steroid and non-steroidal drugs that can relieve inflammation and stop further tissue damage. However, sometimes even traditional medicine shows a good result, allowing you to rid the body of a disease without resorting to chemicals and physiotherapy.
The effectiveness of the treatment of arthrosis largely depends on the degree of tissue damage: on the abandonment of the disease, as well as on a well-designed treatment program and an integrated approach.
That is why it is so important not to miss the moment of the onset of the development of the disease in order to avoid problems in the future.
Osteoarthritis: treatment methods
Today, there are many different ways to treat osteoarthritis.
These include:
- reduce the load on aching joints;
- orthopedic mode;
- physiotherapy exercises;
- physiotherapy: laser and shockwave therapy, electromagnetic pulsed therapy, magnetotherapy, etc. ;
- intra-articular oxygen therapy, or saturation of the tissues of the joints with oxygen;
- decompression of the metaepiphysis and constitution of intraosseous blocks;
- pharmacotherapy, including non-steroidal and steroidal hormonal drugs, as well as anti-inflammatory drugs;
- specific diet;
- Spa treatment.
It must be admitted that the classic scheme for the treatment of osteoarthritis is long-term.
Pharmacotherapy can include non-steroidal and non-hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as taking steroids and other drugs that the patient will have to drink for a fairly long period of time.
Many experts agree that the best cure for osteoarthritis is to measure physical activity and adherence to a special diet that includes foods that are beneficial to the body.
Diet for arthritis
Diet is the most important step in the treatment of osteoarthritis. After all, often one of the factors that complicate the course of the disease is excess weight. The main goal of the diet, in this case, is to provide the body with all the necessary substances, including vitamins and trace elements, and at the same time prevent weight gain. It can supplement non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and, to a greater extent, help increase the effectiveness of the treatment.
It is important to include protein-rich foods in the diet. Promotes the restoration of cartilage tissue. The use of dairy products, lean meats, legumes, as well as oatmeal and oat dishes is welcome. Drinking milk and kefir, with osteoarthritis, is also useful because it contains calcium, so necessary for maintaining healthy bones and joints.
A separate niche is occupied by products rich in gelatin and collagen: aspic, jellies, bone broths, etc. In folk medicine, the treatment of arthrosis with gelatin is extremely popular, for the simple reason that it is the lack of such an important substance as natural gelatin in the tissues of the joint and ligament apparatus that leads to the development of the disease. Reviews about the treatment of osteoarthritis with gelatin, in general, are very positive.
Folk methods for the treatment of arthrosis
There are several folk ways to cure the disease. Among the most popular and effective:
- gelatin treatment. All depending on the degree of the disease, gelatin is able to somehow improve the situation, relieving the patient's suffering. Furthermore, the non-steroidal drugs used in traditional medicine are unable to cause any harm to the body. So, folk healers recommend drinking swollen jelly prepared according to a very simple recipe: a teaspoon of dry gelatin should be diluted in a glass of warm water, mixed thoroughly, allowed to ferment. You need to drink this drug once a day, in the morning, on an empty stomach. Gelatin is unable to fully replace anti-inflammatory drugs, but it could be a great addition to your prescribed course of treatment. In addition, in this way it is possible to prevent the development of the disease at an early stage.
- Fir oil, to a greater or lesser extent, helps to get rid of unpleasant symptoms. It is very useful, especially at an early stage in the development of the disease. First, you need to warm the joint with a warm compress with sea salt. Further, the skin in the place of the affected area is rubbed with fir oil, massage movements. A waterproof insulating bandage is applied to the upper part to improve the degree of absorption of useful microelements and achieve the intended purpose. Such rubbing should be done no more than 1-2 times a day.
- The nettle and juniper ointment has received numerous positive reviews from grateful patients. It can be purchased at the pharmacy or you can do it yourself. For this, you will need: green juniper berries, freshly harvested nettle leaves, sheep oil. By weight, all ingredients must be presented in equal volumes. The leaves and berries must be carefully chopped, mixed with oil, transferred to a glass dish and placed in the refrigerator. Depending on the degree of damage and the patient's well-being, this ointment should be rubbed into the affected areas 1-2 times a day. The duration of treatment is symptomatic.