Osteoarthritis of the foot: symptoms and treatment

This article details considered so common and hard portable the illness as arthrosis of the foot. In addition, lit the symptoms and treatment of the disease.

The arthrosis is a degenerative joint disease, along with lesions of the cartilage is concentrated in muscle and bone fibers. Most often, the disease manifests itself in the metatarsal phalangeal part of the thumb. Thus there is deformation, which cause subsequent negative changes in the structure of the feet.

The specificity of the disease consist in a special configuration of the foot, which consists of a considerable number of small joints, plexus of nerves and the vascular system. As a rule, patients suffering from this disease for about 45 years.

What distinguishes osteoarthritis from arthritis?

And arthritis and arthritis are diseases that affect human joints, which leads to a significant deterioration in the patient's lifestyle. Despite the consonance of the names, these two diseases have fundamental differences.

Arthrosis is a pathology of the articular cartilage and the adjacent bone tissue, leading to a systematic degeneration of the joint under the action of the workers of physical activity. The disease mainly characteristic of the older generation. Among the many reasons for the progression of osteoarthritis is traumatic, excessive exercise that took place prior to the beginning of the degenerative process.

Arthrosis can not be called inflammation. However, today many professionals claims that the inflammatory process is one of factors of occurrence and progression of osteoarthritis. Joint and nearby tissues over time are rearranged due to the presence of loads that they are no longer able to withstand. This deviation has a very slow development.

Arthritis is an inflammatory process in the joint. During the development of the pathology is destruction of the articular cartilage under the influence of inflammatory agents and immune system. This disease is prevalent among the most healthy and young people.

Most often, the arthritis progresses due to autoimmune factors, that is to defeat the immune system tissue of the body. This is the result of genetic abnormalities or infectious lesions.

Infection plays a key role in causing arthritis, as by bacteria, antigens which is similar to the human protein, the antibody synthesis, damaging their tissue. Usually the negative impact affects not only the joints but also heart and kidneys.. that is why you need to treat or get rid of tonsils with recurrent tonsillitis to avoid further complications on the heart and other organs.

Unlike flat feet, arthritis is the acute course with pronounced clinical manifestations. Patients present temperature, local swelling, severe pain in the place of sickness and other related symptoms.

A scenario for further development depends on the kind of arthritis. Mainly after acute start of the disease stops, but acquired anatomical changes in the joints are, increasing the likelihood of further progression of osteoarthritis. Sometimes there are recurrences of acute phase with pain in joints, elevated temperature, etc.

Because osteoarthritis is an inflammatory disease, it is possible to stop taking anti-inflammatory drugs. Osteoarthritis to cure is difficult because it is chronic, gradually progressive destructive changes in the joints.

The causes of arthrosis

The causes of arthrosis of the joints of the foot are mainly poor blood flow, deterioration of supporting tissue due to injury or age-related changes.

For effective treatment we need to know what is osteoarthritis of the foot. The following describes its main root causes:

1. The individual characteristics of the foot: a large width, curvature of fingers, flat feet. In addition, the reason may be the different length of the legs.
2. Excessive mechanical load of the limbs, characteristic for people who prefer an exhausting physical work or some sports.
3. Traumatic lesions of the feet, stretching.
4. The constant action of cold.
5. Too much weight increases the pressure on the joints of the feet.
6. Deterioration of bone and cartilage.
7. Genetic predisposition.
8. Walking in close or large shoes.
9. Wearing of high heels.

In addition, there are the following causes of arthrosis:

• hormonal and endocrine disorders in the body;
• the lack of useful and vital elements;
• chronic infectious lesions of the extremities;
• allergies and autoimmune diseases;
• offset or congenital irregular shape of the hip bones.

To cure this disease fully not possible, but to significantly improve the quality of life of the patient, by stopping any further degenerative tendencies – is quite real. In this regard, the flat feet of the legs needs to be treated after identifying the primary signs of the disease.

The symptoms of arthrosis

For all physicians is very important question: "How to identify arthritis of the foot?".

The disease gives himself the presence of the following symptoms:

1. Pain in the result of a long walk, finding in vertical position, and after heavy loads.
2. Swelling or redness of the skin in the affected segment. Sometimes it may also increase body temperature.
3. The joint is sensitive to weather changes, as well as on the interaction with the cold water.
4. Foot crunch (a typical phenomenon in the second stage of the disease).
5. Legs get tired quickly.
6. Stiffness in the feet in the morning.
7. On the soles of the feet have corns.

Since pathology is the cause of the deformation of the joints, in the future, the patient usually observed gait disturbance.

In addition, the disease is osteoarthritis of the foot characterized by the following features:

• pain – may be itchy or a burning sensation;
• the presence of bone growths in the form of osteophytes;
• digitus thickening of bones.

Since this disease affects not only cartilage, bone fibers, but the muscle tissue, signs of arthrosis also include changes in the structures of the muscles.

Classification

As noted above, the foot consists of many small joints. For this reason, a destructive trend is possible in any place. By its localization, arthrosis of the foot is divided into various types. In particular:

• disease of the subtalar ligaments;
• disease of the cuboid-calcaneal joint;
• pathology of the metatarsal phalangeal joint and the ligaments;
• thumb osteoarthritis.

In addition, according to the source, the degree of development of arthrosis is divided into the following types:

1. Primary. Is a result of pathology of the foot or in case of its damage.
2. Secondary. Occurs with diseases that have no direct relationship to the ailments of the feet. In this case, the source of the disease may be hormonal and other violations.
3. In polyarthrosis. This disease has several joints.

According to the type of joint destruction by a physician chosen a specific set of actions.

Types of development of the disease

To the elimination of arthrosis is successful, the pathology you need to correctly identify. Each stage of disease progression involves a complex therapeutic measures. In particular, there are three stages of progression:

1. Is characterized by rapid fatigue of the legs and the occurrence of pain after constant walking or significant physical overload. Mainly in the first stage, patients will not feel any difficulty in moving, so not visiting the doctor, complicating further treatment.
2. The symptoms are more acute – prolonged and severe pain. Observed thickening of the knuckles, have corns on the heels.
3. There is a serious configuration change prohibere joints. The patient was constantly limping. At the same time, the motor ability of the joint is significantly reduced. Radiography of this phase of the disease show a significant reduction or disappearance between the articular slits.

Diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the foot consists of the following procedures:

• the study of medical history, considering all his complaints;
• x-ray examination to assess condition of the joint and determine the type of degenerative changes in it;
• aims in addition to cartilage and bone tissue to assess the structure of the muscles;
• laboratory tests – assess the nature of the inflammation.

In addition, a sizing of the foot.

Treatment of arthrosis of the joints of the foot

To finally cure this disease at the moment, medicine not. But patients definitely need to undergo therapies in order to avoid the complete loss of the possibility of movement of the joint.

When the drug treatment the following drugs:

1. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory. They not only successfully overcome the inflammation, but also prevent the appearance of pain. Typically, these funds are designated for the courses. The doctor will determine the dosage and length of treatment.
2. Painkillers – used when you experience acute pain. When the unbearable pain suffering from disease can be made an injection of corticosteroids. Such injections can be carried out not more often than once per week and no more than a few times a year.
3. Chondroprotectors are among the main drugs used in the treatment of joint arthrosis. Perform the recovery function to damaged cartilage and protect them from further destruction.
4. Means on the basis of hyaluronic acid injected in the damaged joint disease. Such injections increase the mobility of joint and reduce friction.
5. Ointments and creams that are improving impact.

Along with drugs in medicine widely used non-pharmacological ways of dealing with the disease:

1. A plaster "boot". Effective in severe disease – if you need relief any movement of the foot.
2. Wearing orthopedic insoles and arch support that increases blood flow to the joint, as well as tissue metabolism.
3. Massage treatments are available. Can be done with extreme caution and only after a period of exacerbation. To apply this method allowed for the different stages of the disease.
4. Laser and magnetic therapy, phonophoresis, UHF. These methods increase the efficiency of drug treatments.
5. Mud. This method allows you to provide the joint needed "building" materials and to remove the tension in the movements.
6. Surgery. Applies if the disease has moved into the last stage, when other methods do not bring the desired effect. Surgery offers the absolute merging or changing some parts of the joint. In the first case the stop will not be moving, but the second method involves preservation of motor activity, but with the changing shape of the limb.

Physiotherapy (physical therapy). This method is useful at any stage of the disease. You need to remember that gymnastics is the key to cure and prevention of osteoarthritis of the foot. Therefore, such procedures are mandatory for patients with such a diagnosis.

Prevention and quality of life

Arthrosis of the joints of the foot is a complex disease, with specific symptoms and treatment. The success of the medical procedures depends on the patient doing the correct lifestyle. First, you need to exclude alcohol, unhealthy foods and also stop Smoking. To eat in small doses, with the best will five meals a day. A day the patient should drink at least one and a half liters of fluid.

Preventive measures involve simple exercises that will have on the musculoskeletal system strengthening effect.

Besides, medicine recommends a series of preventive measures against the emergence and further development of arthrosis. In particular:

• weight loss body, and therefore the level of loading of the joints;
• increase the protective properties of the organism that prevent the appearance of infectious lesions and inflammation;
• reduction of salt intake;
• timely elimination of chronic abnormalities in the body;
• protection from trauma, bruises, and successful recovery after surgery;
• wearing the ideal sized Shoe with a little lift. The model should be made of quality materials, the amounts and options are fully fit especially feet;
• caution when wearing high heels – it must be remembered that from their height depends on the load on the joints;
• daily exercises for legs;
• movement barefoot on earth or sand.

This disease can significantly spoil the life of any person, often leading to disability. But greatly enhance the patient's ability can only prevent the disease and its timely treatment.