Arthropathy is a pathology that occurs in joints due to destruction of cartilage tissue covering the head of bones entering the joint. Osteoarthritis can occur in the joints of the limbs and spine, especially this disease often affects the knee joint (knee joint disease) and hip joint (hip joint disease).
It is also important to understand what joint disease is, so as not to aggravate the development of the disease due to improper measures.
Causes of joint disease
Basically, the cause of arthropathy is related to the aging of cartilage cells, so in most cases, arthropathy is diagnosed in the elderly. Excessive stress can also cause premature aging of joints. Athletes and people who often do heavy physical labor are also at risk.
In addition, the cause of joint disease is usually related to insufficient nutrition of the joints or slowed metabolism. This may be the result of joint damage or impaired blood supply to the tissues around the joint.
The destruction of cartilage tissue can also cause diseases such as psoriasis. In this case, doctors will observe a specific form of psoriatic arthropathy: the skin of the diseased joint is covered with psoriatic plaques and the skin turns gray.
Long-term inflammation (arthritis of the joints) can lead to joint arthropathy; without proper treatment, the long-term inflammatory process in the joints can threaten complex forms of osteoarthritis.
Overweight may also be the culprit in the development of the disease, because the heavier the weight, the greater the constant load on the joints.
Studies have also shown that genetic factors are sufficient to cause joint disease. Therefore, for example, the incidence of joint disease in the interphalangeal joints of women's hands is 10 times that of women.
symptom
The common symptoms that indicate the occurrence of arthropathy are pain syndrome and stiffness of movement.
In most cases, the pain syndrome associated with arthropathy occurs when the joint is under load, and the discomfort disappears during rest. In addition, pain may occur when you move suddenly or turn around, but this pain is short-lived and only reappears during the next awkward movement. These signs of joint disease are good reasons to see a doctor right away.
In the later stages, the pain syndrome may become permanent. In addition, over time, symptoms such as joint tightening and muscle tension around the joints may appear. A rash in the joint area is characteristic of psoriatic arthritis.
Types of joint disease
Depending on which joint in which part of the body is affected, arthropathy is:
- hip joint;
- Knee joint
- hand;
- spine;
- stop.
Psoriatic arthritis mainly affects the knee and hand joints.
There are four stages of arthropathy. The fourth stage is also called osteoarthropathy. When the pathological changes of the joint become irreversible, the joint itself has actually been destroyed and ceased to perform its function.
If the pathology affects multiple joints at the same time, it is diagnosed as polyarthropathy.
Psoriatic arthritis can be diagnosed when the common symptoms of arthropathy are complementary to a specific rash.
diagnosis
It is almost impossible to make a correct diagnosis, let alone prescribing an appropriate treatment plan. The most likely way is to see a doctor. Modern diagnostic methods enable experts to apply the best treatment direction.
Main diagnosis types
- X-ray: The picture shows the degree of joint deformation;
- Laboratory test: Confirming that there are pathological processes in the joints will increase the ESR in the blood;
- Synovial fluid analysis and histological examination of the synovial membrane: Allow the doctor to determine whether there is pathology in the joint.
In addition, the doctor needs to examine and palpate the affected joint. Therefore, visual inspection will reveal signs of psoriatic arthritis. Only the method of comprehensively studying the test results can provide the true condition of the disease and confirm the diagnosis.
Onset and course
Usually, patients do not notice the onset of joint disease, the pain at the beginning of the disease is almost imperceptible, and it does not cause any major concern. Patients usually first feel the discomfort after a long period of rest, such as short-term stiffness of the joints when they wake up in the morning. Over time, the link between physical activity and joint pain began to be tracked. The slight pain caused by the exertion began to increase. In subsequent stages, pain during night rest may also be disturbing. The frequency of pain in arthropathy is different, it will increase during the worsening period, and may not appear at all during the remission period.
In most cases, patients will go to the doctor when they have already had a very obvious pain syndrome and restricted mobility, which prevents them from leading a normal life. The late stage of arthropathy is also manifested by symptoms such as joint claudication and subluxation. The occurrence of these symptoms is related to the appearance of large joint deformities and the degradation of cartilage tissue.
treatment
The sooner treatment is started, the more likely it is that the joint will begin to function fully again, although modern medicine is not talking about the complete disappearance of the disease. The main factor in the treatment of arthropathy is its complexity and consistency. Doctors need to consider many different factors: the stage of the disease, the details of the clinical manifestations, the reasons for its occurrence, and the degree of impairment of the musculoskeletal system. If acute joint disease is diagnosed, treatment begins with the prescribed pain relief medication.
The treatment is carried out in three stages:
- Relieve joint tension.
- Relieve synovitis.
- Rehabilitation and preventive measures are aimed at slowing the further development of the disease.
In each case, a separate method is required. Drugs affect each organism with varying degrees of effectiveness. In addition, the tolerability and side effects of such drugs must be considered. In many cases, this disease develops in the context of an existing infection in the body. So in the case of psoriatic arthritis, measures are taken to eliminate psoriasis.