How to detect and treat arthritis of the joints of the foot in time?

For effective realization of motor function, a person uses feet.

They provide shock absorption during walking and with loads, allow you to jump, run, maintain balance.

Therefore, the value of healthy feet for adequate work of the body can not be overestimated. Accordingly, arthritis struck the joints of the feet, then this must be immediately addressed in order to remedy the situation as soon as possible.

What is the disease

Inflammation of the articular components of the foot, is called arthritis. To understand the mechanism of the process, it is necessary to understand the structure of the joint.

Structurally the foot consists of:

• of several bones( in the foot there are 26);
• of the osseous articular surface;
• shock absorbing layer - cartilage;
• capsule joint, lined with synovial coating;
• of the articular cavity: places between cartilage and bag.

The inflammatory process affecting cartilaginous tissue is commonly called arthritis. The disease is divided into two types:

1. Primary arthritis affects an absolutely healthy organism often absolutely suddenly. Identify the root cause of a malfunction is quite difficult.
2. Secondary type, as a rule, provokes an adjacent ailment, which affected the body earlier. Provocators can act: gonorrhea, tuberculosis, acute respiratory conditions, influenza, syphilis. Infection caused by these diseases, freely enters the cavity of the joint, infecting it.

What provokes the development of the disease

Arthritis can affect people of any age, depending on the type of disease.

Causes of the disease are different, but it is worth highlighting the main groups:

1. Autoimmune processes .Not fully studied form, when the body directs its own immunity to destroy the itself.
2. Infections of the .Often the causative agents of the disease are such infectious agents as: gonococcus, chlamydia, Koch's stick, streptococci.
3. Traumatic effects of .Usually, this happens to professional athletes, from a directional strike, from an accident or accident. Arthritis can also occur when wearing poor-quality footwear.
4. Genetic causes of .Addiction to the disease arthritis can be inherited.
5. Articular cartilage damage caused by specific causes of .This happens when parasitic life forms are in the body, excessive amount of salts( gout) is collected, changes occur against the background of psoriasis.

The provoking factors are:

• metabolic disorders : the metabolism is able to affect all organs and systems, and it may well provoke a disorder;
• weakening of the immune defense : this condition can occur due to hypothermia, alcohol and smoking abuse, chronic fatigue;
• overweight : with obesity, there is a serious pressure on the lower limbs, which adversely affects the condition of the joints;
• age-related changes : banal aging of the joint parts can cause illness.

Features of clinical picture

As a rule, patients turn to the clinic after the onset of the second stage of arthritis, when the disease begins to affect the quality of life.

In this case, the symptoms of foot arthritis can be divided into two main groups specific and nonspecific.

Specific signs peculiar only to such a disease as arthritis of the joints of the foot:

• stiffness of movements in the mornings;
  

  Inflammatory process - one of the signs of arthritis of foot

• expressed painful syndrome in the region of the foot;Valgus changes in the foot;
• multiple lesions( in the infectious nature of the disease);
• rash and congestion.

Nonspecific symptoms are inherent in a number of different conditions, including arthritis:

• articular function disorder;
• specific, crisp sound when driving;
• acute pain;
• swelling and redness;
• general intoxication: weakness, chills, fever, lack of appetite.

Classification of the disease

To determine an adequate strategy of treatment, it is necessary to know to which type of disease the particular type of foot arthritis belongs.

Allocate:

1. Rheumatoid arthritis .This type is due to autoimmune nature. This disease is very difficult to treat, as it tends to recur. The struggle of the organism with its own cartilaginous tissue can be triggered by the presence of a flat-valgus feet, excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, excess nicotine.
2. Osteoarthritis .This type of disease occurs in the case of tissue degeneration. Relapses are possible with the deposition of salts and when the deformation of the joint remains unnoticed for a long time. Often grows into a chronic form.
3. Traumatic .Occurs when injuries or disproportionate loads on the feet. May occur due to fracture, sprain, or bruise. All age groups suffer. In childhood, it is important to choose the right treatment strategy so as not to harm the immature organism.
4. The risk of developing with reactive arthritis is high after a severely infectious disease. Before the direct treatment, the doctor must prescribe a course of antibiotics.
5. Calling gouty arthritis is capable of metabolic disorders, because of which excess urate salts settle in the joint cavity of the thumb on the leg. The disease is characterized by suddenness and sharp bouts of pain that block movement and paralyze the habitual way of life of the affected person.

Diagnostic measures

In case of sudden pain and swelling in the ankle, it is necessary to urgently consult a rheumatologist.

The doctor will conduct an examination and collect anamnesis. An orthopedist or rheumatologist will assess the condition of the injured foot, the degree of its deformation, mobility, the nature of the patient's gait.

If there is a trauma, it is possible to bring a traumatologist to the examination.

Methods of diagnosis:

• X-ray;
• ultrasound;
• magnetic resonance method;
• computed tomography.

Be sure to conduct a general blood test, and a test for the detection of sugar. In rare cases it is necessary to make a joint puncture.

Arthritis should be differentiated from such diseases as: interluminal neurinoma, bursitis of the foot.

Complex of therapeutic measures

After the cause of arthritis of the foot is identified and the diagnosis is correct, the doctor proceeds to treat the disease.

It is divided into three main groups:

• basic( medicamental);
• auxiliary;
• popular.

Medication

Treatment of arthritis involves the use of:

1. Anti-inflammatory drugs non-steroidal type: Diclofenac, Revmoxicam. These drugs are used for pain relief, swelling and as immunostimulants.
2. Also rheumatologists practice basic ( Azathioprine, Methotrexate) and hormonal drugs( Prednisolone).
3. The specific treatment of , in the form of antibiotics, chondroprotectors, antiviral drugs, will depend on the underlying disease that caused arthritis.

Additional measures of therapy

In the acute phase of the disease, a gypsum tire can be applied.

Auxiliary methods of treatment of the disease are:

• physiotherapy procedures;
• special gymnastics;
• massage;
• mud treatment;
• amplipulse therapy;
• magnetotherapy;
• hirudotherapy is used in case of metabolic disorders.

Wearing special shoes also gives positive results.

In the advanced stage of arthritis, surgical intervention may be necessary: ​​arthroplasty or arthroplasty.

With significant deformation of the thumb, resection is desirable.

Nontraditional therapies

Before deciding on the use of folk remedies for the treatment of foot arthritis at home, it is necessary to consult a doctor and the specialist's approval of the methods chosen.

Apply several well-known folk remedies:

• turpentine baths : effective analgesic;
• herbal tinctures : normalize metabolic rate, and cedar tincture is excellent for gout;
• lotions and compresses : relieve edema;the classic superposition on a sore spot of cabbage leaf has helped many patients;
• essential oils : strengthens the immune system and improves well-being.

Also helps to get rid of pain and improve blood flow - massage with honey, which is carried out after visiting the bath.

Question of nutrition

Among other things, a patient with foot arthritis should balance their diet, taking into account the doctor's recommendations, the recommended diet is .

Regarding diet, opinions vary. Stricter restrictions on the intake of certain foods, such as red meat, are established with gout.

In other cases, you need to include more vitamins and minerals in the menu, and eliminate harmfulness: fatty, fried, smoked, give up alcohol and nicotine, carbonated drinks and fast food.

Rehabilitation period

It is better to carry out a recovery period in a sanatorium, where qualified specialists will select an individual rehabilitation program for the patient.

In general, the prevention of the disease is to comply with the following rules:

• refusal from alcohol and smoking;
• selection of comfortable shoes;
• preventing the appearance of excess weight;
• Avoid overwork;
• strengthening of immunity;
• timely treatment of diseases;Caution when driving and performing physical exercises.

It is important to remember: self-medication can lead to a complicated course of the disease, and even to a subsequent disability.