Arthrosis Remedies

Arthrosis (osteoarthritis) is a degenerative arthropathy.
It is a joint disease that causes the progressive loss of the typical anatomical parts of the joints.
It can affect the spine, hips, upper and lower limbs.
Osteoarthritis causes wear on the articular cartilage and the replacement of chondroid tissue with bone. It causes pain and limitation in movement.
The onset of osteoarthritis and the onset of symptoms increase with age. It is identifiable (at least in one district) in most of the forties and almost all of the seventies. The greatest incidence is found between the ages of 75-79.
It is the most important cause of joint pain and disability among Italians (over 4 million). Males suffer most by age 45 and females beyond. The prevalence of osteoarthritis progresses with old age.
Many risk factors for osteoarthritis are the same as for osteoporosis.

The material published is intended to allow quick access to advice, suggestions and general remedies that doctors and textbooks usually dispense for the treatment of "Osteoarthritis; these indications must in no way replace the opinion of the treating physician or other healthcare specialists in the field who are treating the patient. you should contact your doctor immediately. The latter will prescribe an imaging survey (usually X-rays or MRI or Computed Tomography) and the results will be interpreted by the radiologist. However, it is also necessary to consult an orthopedist who:

• It will analyze the presence or absence of the pathology.
• It will carry out a differential diagnosis.
• He will prescribe a cure.

NB. Once osteoarthritis has been identified (due to symptoms or even for random reasons) it is very important to understand whether it is a primary or secondary form.

In milder cases it is useful to adopt a conservative therapy, which allows to optimize the joint condition by postponing the surgery:

• Mild motor activity: it serves to maintain articular excursion, lubrication, muscular and even bone trophism (preventive for osteoporosis).
• When needed, use of mild anti-inflammatories.
• Taking cartilage supplements.
• Application of medical treatments with heat, ultrasound and mud.
• Infiltration of chondroprotectors and hyaluronic acid.

In the most serious cases, however, it is necessary to optimize the quality of life in view of the surgery:

• Preventive-conservative physiotherapy activity: involves mobilization and some motor exercises necessary to preserve muscle tone.
• Taking anti-inflammatory drugs by mouth or rarely by injection.
• Cartilage surgery or transplant.
• Physiotherapy and functional motor rehabilitation.

Once the prosthesis is installed, it is necessary to maintain adequate musculoskeletal fitness throughout life.

, practice heat, mud or ultrasound therapy.

Do not infiltrate chondroprotectors and hyaluronic acid.

Do not take anti-inflammatory drugs.

Refuse surgery.

Do not practice physiotherapy before and after surgery.

Not maintaining adequate motor function throughout life.

. However, a nutritional deficiency could participate in the wear and tear of the articular cartilage.

When the weight is excessive it becomes essential to practice a weight loss diet. This is a low calorie type. The basic principles are:

• Consume an adequate amount of calories, which is 70% of normal calories.
• Choose foods with a suitable metabolic impact (whole foods and foods without refined carbohydrates) by preventing spikes in blood sugar and insulin.
• Get a good amount of dietary fiber. It helps to keep blood sugar under control, modulates fat absorption and positively affects estrogen levels.
• Keep the fraction of simple carbohydrates no more than 10-16% of total calories (it is sufficient to eliminate all sweet foods by keeping 4-6 servings of fruit and vegetables, as well as 1-3 servings of milk and yogurt).
• Keep the fat fraction no more than 25-30% of total calories, preferring the "good" ones (raw vegetable oils and medium-fat blue fish) over the "bad" ones (saturated, hydrogenated, bi-fractionated, etc.).

In the event that advanced arthrosis inflames one or more joints, it could be useful to increase the supply of nutrients with a strong anti-inflammatory function:

• Omega 3: they are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic (DHA) and alpha linolenic (ALA). They have an anti-inflammatory role. The first two are biologically very active and are found mainly in: sardines, mackerel, bonito, sardinella, herring , alletterato, tuna belly, garfish, seaweed, krill etc. The third is less active but constitutes a precursor of EPA; it is mainly contained in the fat fraction of certain foods of vegetable origin or in the oils of: soy, linseed, seeds of kiwi, grape seeds etc.

Antioxidants:

• Vitamins: the antioxidant vitamins are carotenoids (provitamin A), vitamin C and vitamin E. Carotenoids are contained in vegetables and red or orange fruits (apricots, peppers, melons, peaches, carrots, squash, tomatoes, etc.); they are also present in crustaceans and milk. Vitamin C is typical of sour fruit and some vegetables (lemons, oranges, mandarins, grapefruits, kiwis, peppers, parsley, chicory, lettuce, tomatoes, cabbage, etc.). Vitamin E can be found in the lipid portion of many seeds and related oils (wheat germ, corn germ, sesame, kiwi, grape seeds, etc.).
• Minerals: zinc and selenium. The first is mainly contained in: liver, meat, milk and derivatives, some bivalve molluscs (especially oysters). The second is mainly contained in: meat, fish products, egg yolk, milk and derivatives, enriched foods (potatoes, etc.).
• Polyphenols: simple phenols, flavonoids, tannins. They are very rich: vegetables (onion, garlic, citrus fruits, cherries, etc.), fruit and relative seeds (pomegranate, grapes, berries, etc.), wine, oil seeds, coffee, tea, cocoa, legumes and whole grains, etc.

around 30% and leaving the balanced distribution unchanged:

• It is advisable to eliminate junk foods and drinks, especially fast food and sweet or savory snacks.
• It is also necessary to reduce the frequency of consumption and the portions of: pasta, bread, pizza, potatoes, derivatives, fatty cheeses, fatty meats and fish, cured meats, sausages, sweets, etc.

It is also crucial to eliminate alcohol: these drinks are related to an increase in the incidence of osteoarthritis. They also promote overweight and impair pharmacological metabolism.

: is an amino monosaccharide which structures: glycoproteins, glycosaminoglycans, hyaluronic acid and heparan-sulfate. They are all involved in the composition of the cartilage matrix and participate in the functional maintenance of the joints.

Chondroitin sulfate: is a macromolecule belonging to the glycosaminoglycan family.

Hyaluronic acid: is a molecule responsible for the hydration and protection of joint tissues.

MSM - Methylsulfonylmethane

Natural anti-inflammatories (e.g. boswellia)

Mud baths: they are useful in reducing joint pain but do not act on the triggering cause.

and specific for cartilage preservation.

• Opiates (e.g. morphine): have a very powerful pain reliever effect but are addictive.
• NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: systemic to be taken orally. They reduce pain and facilitate joint mobility; fairly short courses of therapy are recommended due to potential side effects (stomach and liver compromises). They are most used:
• Paracetamol or acetaminophen: for example Acetamol, Tachipirina, Efferalga.
• Ibuprofen: for example Brufen, Moment and Subitene.
• Naproxen: for example Aleve, Naprosyn, Prexan and Naprius.
• Indomethacin: for example Difmetre, Indom and Liometacen.
• Nabumetone: for example Nabuser, Artaxan and Relifex.
• Piroxicam: for example Feldene, Piroxicam EG and Artroxicam.
• Celecoxib: for example Aleve, Naprosyn, Prexan and Naprius.
• Topical or local infiltration pain control drugs:
• Capsaicin: for example Qutenza.
• Methylprednisolone acetate: for example Medrol, Urbason and Solu-Medrol.
• Sodium hyaluronate: for example Artz injectable.
• Cortisones: systemic to be taken orally or locally by injection. Generally not recommended because they increase the osteoarthritis process, they are used ONLY in the case in which the inflammation from bone rubbing (depleted cartilage) is at very high levels.
• Hyaluronic acid and chondroprotectors: injection rooms. They will also be described in the paragraph on medical treatments.

fundamental to the synthesis of cartilage and synovial fluid. Some indications are the same as those mentioned in the Osteoporosis Diet.

Prevent overweight or lose weight in case of obesity (limit chronic functional overload).

Following an active lifestyle and practicing motor activity: helps prevent overweight, strengthens muscles and consequently reduces functional overload in the long term. It also improves joint lubrication and preserves its mobility.

Don't overdo it with competitive sport; the volume and intensity of training can inflame, consume or worsen joint pain (limit chronic functional overload).

Know any congenital or acquired deformities to limit their degeneration.

As far as possible, avoid joint trauma.

Avoid systemic or joint infectious processes.

Treat or prevent or contain inflammatory processes.

If necessary, make orthopedic corrections.

If necessary, use medical treatment at the first signs of osteoarthritis.

. The methods are: heating pads, paraffin baths, exercises in a heated pool.

Tecar therapy: it is a therapeutic method that uses an electric capacitor to treat joint muscle injuries. The mechanism of tecar therapy is based on the restoration of the electrical charge in the injured cells to ensure that they regenerate more quickly.

Ultrasound: this system uses high frequency acoustic waves. It is very useful as an anti-inflammatory, stimulant of edematous reabsorption and to dissolve the adhesions that form during healing. It produces heat and increases the permeability of cell membranes.

Infiltrations: injections of hyaluronic acid and chondroprotectors can help preserve the affected joint, so as to postpone any surgery as much as possible. Not all joints are suitable for this kind of treatment. Furthermore, when the cartilage is totally necrotized. they no longer play a decisive role.

Cartilage and chondrocyte transplant: can be performed with different surgical techniques:

• Perichondrium or periosteum implant: these are membranes that cover the cartilage.
• Mosaicoplasty or osteochondral graft: uses cylinders of osteochondral tissue taken from the joint of the same patient and inserted under pressure into the cartilage defect.
• Autologous chondrocyte transplant: cartilage cells are taken from the patient and cultured in the laboratory for 2-4 weeks using biotechnological techniques. At this point the lesion is cleaned and covered with the periosteum leaving a small hole through which the cultured cells will then be injected.

Surgery: it is essential when the pain becomes disabling. In the past there was a tendency to use it as late as possible; today the priority of functional maintenance is recognized. Especially in mature or elderly subjects, being bedridden significantly compromises functional capacity and greatly lengthens recovery after surgery. It may only include the insertion of a titanium or ceramic plate to coat the joint or provide for the removal and replacement of entire joint heads. Today, the transplant patient is able to move the joint one day after the operation. It is less used for the spine.

Physiotherapy: useful both before and after surgery. Optimizes functional recovery.