Osteoarthritis of the arcuate joints of the spine and features of its treatment

The arcuate( facet) joints play an important role in the functioning of the vertebral body system.

The presence of facet joints causes the possibility of various movements. Due to this, the spine is a flexible and mobile structure.

Facet arthropathy is a disease that occurs in a permanent form in older patients( after 45 to 50 years).

Often arthrosis of the arcuate joints is manifested by pain in the cervical or lumbar region of the spine, and more rarely - in the thoracic region.

Causes and Risk Factors

The main cause of the development of this disease isexcessive load on the cervical and other parts of the spine.

But spondyloatrosis is also able to develop and together with other diseases of the spine( scoliosis, lordosis, etc.).

Risk factors:

• age of the patient( about 50 - 60 years);
• large physical exertion on the joints;
• long standing of a person in a sitting or standing position;
• metabolic disorders and endocrine diseases;
• eating disorder( consequence - cartilage dystrophy).

Clinical picture

One of the main symptoms of facet joint arthrosis is the appearance of pain in the cervical, lumbar or thoracic spine.

Also, the patient should be alerted to the presence of unpleasant sensations and pressure in the spine.

Over time, there may be difficulties in turning and tilting the head.

Diagnostic methods

The doctor can diagnose the presence of the facet pain syndrome in the patient at the first reference to the hospital.

The diagnosis is easily confirmed by X-ray examination, but to clarify the diagnosis an experienced doctor can prescribe a computer or magnetic resonance imaging.

Objectives and methods of traditional therapy

Only the doctor will be able to make an accurate diagnosis, determine the phase of the pathology, prescribe a treatment that will fully suit the patient and take into account the individual characteristics of his body.

Aggregate methods of struggle will help to eliminate pain and improve the quality of movement in the fastest time.

Condition one - adherence to the regime

It is necessary to adhere to bed rest for 1 to 3 days after the aggravation of the disease. This method will relax tensioned muscles.

This will increase the flow of blood to the affected parts of the spine, and the nutrition of the cells will return to normal.

Over time, the pain will disappear, and the patient is again able to move.

But even if the condition improves, you should not lift heavy objects, so you can start the process of exacerbation of facet arthrosis.

Medications

A drug blockade of pain occurs with the use of drugs such as hormones, chondroprotectors and corticosteroids.

These medicines are carefully introduced into the spine departments, where the maximum level of pain is observed.

It is also appropriate to use different types of injections, tablets, ointments, gels and creams.

The main purpose of the use of medications is to minimize the inflammation process, to start the process of restoring the cartilaginous tissue and to alleviate the symptoms of the disease in humans.

Intravenous droppers( injections) contribute to a qualitative improvement in the metabolic process( metabolism), provide good microcirculation in nerve cells, and also suspend possible negative reactions of the body to various drugs during treatment.

The use of vitamin complexes

In the daily diet of the patient suffering from the disease, there must be vitamin complexes.

Vitamins fight the disease indirectly, that is positively affect the process of joint repair and the structure of cartilaginous tissue.

Group B vitamins are the main helpers in the fight against the disease. To achieve a good and fast result, this group of vitamins should be consumed in the complex.

Methods of physiotherapy

These methods are widely used for the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with facet arthrosis, since they are the safest.

One of the methods of physiotherapy is a therapeutic physical culture. Doing physical exercises is necessary to strengthen the muscular framework in the area of ​​the facet joints, as well as to enhance the microcirculation of blood in them.

Also in the treatment of the disease, various types of massage are suitable.

In case of arthrosis, massage is useful because in its process, heating occurs and blood supply in the joints improves, painful sensations in the affected areas of muscles occur.

Acupuncture

Patients are referred to such a method as needle reflex therapy to eliminate muscle spasms around affected joints and to activate recovery processes.

The peculiarity of this method is that by affecting only 1 point, it is possible to effectively influence the functions and some human organs.

But, like all methods, acupuncture has some contraindications.

Leeches on the health of joints

In the treatment of arthrosis of the facet joints, you can use the method of hirudotherapy, that is, treatment with leeches.

In order to understand whether this type of treatment will be effective, taking into account the individual characteristics of the body, it is necessary to hold at least 1 session of hirudotherapy.

If, after visiting the first session, the patient's state of health has improved, then it makes sense to undergo a full course of treatment.

Treatment with leeches should not be used if the patient has:

• anemia;
• hypotension;
• pregnancy;
• poor blood coagulability;
• as well as poor health and weakening of the body.

Hirudotherapy has a complex effect on the body and affected tissues.

Traditional medicine recipes

Facet arthropathy in all parts of the spine is quite easy to treat with folk remedies.

Compresses, tinctures, belts with anti-inflammatory effect are used:

1. Tincture from eucalyptus leaves .Slice finely 100 gr.eucalyptus and pour 500 ml.of vodka. Stir thoroughly and put in a dark place for 5-7 days. After the tincture is ready, rub the sore spot with light circular motions before going to bed. Ointment from mustard seeds .To prepare this ointment, take 100 gr.mustard in powder and 200 gr.any salt. It is worth adding a little kerosene to make the mixing process easier. The ointment obtained is rubbed into the affected area before going to bed.

These drugs can have a warming and anti-inflammatory effect, reduce pain, and also stop the development of the disease.

The health of your joints is in your hands and feet

Exercise will help keep the joints healthy and workable. The best thing for this is walking or swimming.

As a result of the motor load, microcirculation of blood around the articular cartilage increases, which leads to the preservation and improvement of joint health as a whole. Therefore, sports training is an assistant in the prevention of disease.

Overweight is one of the main enemies of joints.

For the prevention of arthrosis of the facet joints of , the body mass index must be carefully monitored. Obesity greatly increases the load on the joints, which sooner or later will lead to the development of the disease.

Therefore, the patient should think about reducing excess weight, which adversely affects the health of all body systems.

The organization of safety of movement and exclusion of injuries is also one of the important factors.

Too frequent and exorbitant physical activity can cause microtraumas of joints, tears and ligament ruptures. As a result, the muscular framework weakens and the joint becomes weak.

Given all of the above facts, it should be noted that the facet pain syndrome is a serious disease that must be carefully treated.

It is not necessary to postpone the visit to the doctor, since arthrosis of the articular joints can easily pass into the chronic form with constant pain manifestations.