Treatment of joints with folk remedies and medicines, the basic principles of therapy if joints hurt

Most joint diseases are usually chronic in nature and are accompanied by severe pain syndrome, which leads to limited mobility, increased muscle tone and impaired peripheral blood flow in the affected area of ​​the musculoskeletal apparatus. But drug treatment of joints is aimed not only at eliminating the symptoms of pathology.

Modern drugs allow, to a certain extent, to restore the impaired functions of the connective tissue and accelerate its regeneration. Potent drugs are prescribed only in the acute period; during clinical remission, the patient is recommended therapy in specialized sanatoriums, which includes the application of healing clay or mud, physiotherapy, balneological treatment joints.

Some patients consider effective traditional medicine based on compresses and ingestion of herbal decoctions, consumption of baking soda according to a special scheme. Grated horseradish and garlic lotions are especially popular. Treatment of joints without fail includes diet therapy. The main product in the diet is gelatin in all its types (jellied meat, sweet jellies, etc.).

For the prevention of exacerbations, doctors recommend a complex of gymnastics and rehabilitation procedures (for example, developed by doctor V. Dikul). Portable devices for ultrasound and magnetic therapy of arthritis, arthrosis, osteochondrosis and other inflammatory and deforming lesions of the connective tissue have earned universal recognition.

However, with acute pain, drugs come to the fore. Unlike the methods of alternative medicine, they have proven efficacy and are characterized by rapidity of action.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Treatment of joints with NSAIDs is the basis for the treatment of almost all connective tissue lesions. Due to the combination of analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects, drugs in this group are widely used not only with chronic pathologies, but also with sprains, rupture of ligaments, bruises and other traumatic injuries of the musculoskeletal apparatus.

For the pharmacist and specialized specialists, the classification of NSAIDs is of great importance, based on the belonging of the main active substance of the drug to a specific chemical group. However, the practitioner is based on the division of NSAIDs into selective and non-selective inhibitors of the enzyme cyclooxygenase. Normally, several types of COX are present in various human tissues.

They provide certain physiological processes, and with the development of inflammation, they contribute to the release specific biologically active compounds that provoke pain, hyperthermia, increased permeability blood vessels, edema.

Most nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs act simultaneously on two types of cyclooxygenase - COX 1 and COX 2. This affects the severity of various undesirable reactions, the main of which is a decrease in the resistance of the mucous epithelium of the digestive tract to a highly acidic environment. Therefore, recently, doctors prefer to prescribe selective COX 2 inhibitors, although they, in turn, negatively affect the functions of the cardiovascular system.

But the final choice of this or that remedy, which will be used to treat the joints, depends on the general health of the patient, his age and financial capabilities.

Typically, the following NSAIDs are prescribed for oral administration:

• Artrosilene (Italy), the active ingredient is non-selective ketoprofen. Assign 1 capsule up to 4 times a day. In severe chronic diseases of the connective tissue, the duration of treatment can be 3 to 4 months.
• Voltaren Rapid (Switzerland), active ingredient - diclofenac potassium. Unlike the more common diclofenac sodium, potassium salt has greater therapeutic availability and better tolerance. The "rapid" form is almost completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and quickly eliminates the main symptoms of the inflammatory process. Prescribe 2 - 3 tablets per day, but this medication is intended to be taken for a short time (up to 2 weeks). If joint treatment lasts longer, other NSAIDs are preferred.
• Movalis (Germany), the main component is meloxicam, a selective COX inhibitor of the second type. The advantages of this remedy include the possibility of taking it only once a day. The drug is available in the form of tablets of 7.5 or 15 mg. Moreover, for rheumatism and other diseases of a similar etiology, Movalis is first prescribed in the maximum dose (15 mg), which is gradually reduced to 7.5 mg.
• Ksefokam (Austria), the active ingredient is lornoxicam. A relatively new drug from the NSAID group, which has a pronounced analgesic activity. For acute symptoms due to lesions of the ankle, knee meniscus and other joints appoint 1 tablet twice a day, for chronic gonarthrosis and other diseases, use 1 capsule per day.

But with the consequences of injuries, edema, provoked by a change in the rheological properties of the synovial fluid, long-term treatment of joints with the help of tablets is inappropriate. Therefore, NSAIDs are prescribed topically in the form of ointments or gels. The agent is applied directly to the affected joints up to three times a day.

As a rule, with synovitis, bursitis of the phalangeal joints of the fingers and other joints, severe pain syndrome of a different etiology is prescribed:

• Diclofenac. The most common and affordable drug.
• Ketonal (Slovenia), the main active ingredient is ketoprofen.
• Nimulid (India), the active ingredient is nimesulide.
• Revmonn (Germany), the active ingredient is etofenamate.

Treatment of joints with NSAIDs in the form of tablets is contraindicated in severe disorders of the blood coagulation system, diseases digestive tract in the stage of exacerbation, liver and kidney pathologies, allergic reactions and individual intolerance medicines. Ointments with NSAIDs cannot be used on skin areas with visible damage to the epidermal cover, dermatoses of any etiology.

Preparations for activating peripheral blood flow

Connective tissue diseases are almost always accompanied by peripheral vascular spasm. This contributes to an increase in edema and an increase in the intensity of the inflammatory process. In addition, as a result of impaired blood flow, the connective tissue does not receive enough nutrients and oxygen necessary for regeneration.

Therefore, joint treatment almost always includes the use of vasodilators. However, potent drugs can negatively affect the state of the cardiovascular system, which is especially dangerous for patients with concomitant hypotension and other similar diseases.

Therefore, agents with moderate effectiveness are prescribed:

• Actovegin (Germany). The safest medicine that has practically no contraindications and does not cause side effects. It can even be used during pregnancy (of course, after consulting a doctor). Prescribed for 1 - 1.5 months, 1 - 2 tablets three times a day.
• Trental (India). Unlike the safer Actovegin, Trental is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation, acute heart attack, extensive bleeding and hemorrhage, in children and adolescents under 18 years of age. With caution, the drug is prescribed for pathologies of the cardiovascular system, liver and kidneys. To assess the tolerance, the intake is started with one tablet 2 - 3 times a day, then the dose is doubled. The duration of therapy is determined by the doctor.
• A nicotinic acid (vitamin PP). It does not belong to potent drugs and is significantly inferior in effectiveness to Trental and Actovegin. They take the medicine for a month, but it should not be drunk during pregnancy, lactation, gout, hypertension and some other pathologies. The daily dosage is 0.5 g (this amount is divided into 3 to 4 doses).

To reduce the drug load on the body, treatment of joints with vasodilators is possible during remission. They are usually prescribed after a course of NSAIDs or steroid hormones to continue therapy at home after discharge from the hospital.

Preparations for reducing muscle tone

Treatment of joints with muscle relaxants is carried out only according to strict indications. The fact is that this group of drugs does not have selectivity of action, therefore, eliminating spasm striated muscle tissue in the lesion, these medications also affect other muscles, which is fraught with side effects.

An increase in muscle tone aggravates pain, contributes to an even greater deterioration in blood flow and leads to an incorrect distribution of the load on the joint, which causes its further deformation.

Such processes are especially active in epicondylitis of the joints of the connective tissue of the legs, lesions of the hip, shoulder joints, osteochondrosis and spondylitis of the spine.

Typically, joint treatment is performed with one of the following muscle relaxants:

• Mydocalm (Hungary), the active ingredient is tolperisone hydrochloride. The drug can be used in children from three years of age (the dosage is calculated individually, depending on the weight of the child). For adults, the drug is given at 50 mg 2 to 3 times a day, if necessary, this amount is increased to 150 mg three times a day. The medicine is contraindicated in myasthenia gravis, and it is also not recommended to prescribe it if the treatment of joints is carried out during pregnancy and lactation.
• Baklosan (Poland), the active ingredient is baclofen. The medicine is contraindicated at an early age, during childbearing and breastfeeding, damage to cerebral vessels, ulceration of the mucous epithelium of the digestive tract. In order to avoid complications, the medicine is started to drink with a daily dosage of 15 mg (divided into three doses), then, with good tolerance, it is increased to 75 mg per day.
• Sirdalud (Switzerland), the active ingredient is tizanidine hydrochloride. The medicine should not be taken during pregnancy, lactation, childhood, liver damage. However, the drug is usually well tolerated. Depending on the severity of clinical symptoms, the medicine is drunk 1 - 2 tablets up to 3 times a day.

Taking muscle relaxants helps to reduce pain, restore motor activity. But the treatment of joints with muscle relaxants is sometimes accompanied by dizziness, muscle weakness, nausea, sleep disturbances, and heart rhythm disorders.

Hormonal drugs

Steroid hormones are powerful enough that they are prescribed only for severe symptoms. Medicines of this group are especially effective for autoimmune lesions of the connective tissue. For degenerative diseases and diseases caused by excessive salt deposition and injuries, steroids are not prescribed. Because of the high risk of side effects, they are prescribed for a short period and in the lowest possible dose. After the patient's condition is normalized, hormones are canceled.

Despite the wide variety of steroid hormones on the modern pharmaceutical market, in practice, the treatment of joints is carried out either by Prednisolone or its more effective form - the medication Metipred (active substance - methylprednisolone).

Steroids are contraindicated in some pathologies of the endocrine system; with extreme caution, such drugs are used during the period of growth and development. It should also be borne in mind that the drugs have immunosuppressive activity, so the patient is more susceptible to various viral and bacterial diseases.

Of the side effects, weight gain, disorders of carbohydrate metabolism, complications from the nervous system and the digestive tract are most often noted. It is also possible a violation of pigmentation, the appearance of a pustular rash, etc.

Chondroprotectors

Treatment of joints with drugs of this group entered clinical practice relatively recently. Usually, combined chondroprotectorswhich contain two active components - chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine hydrochloride. These substances are present in the connective tissue of the joints, so their intake helps to accelerate cell regeneration cartilage, restoration of the rheological properties of synovial fluid, normalization of collagen and hyaluronic acid production acid.

Chondroprotectors are used orally (in the form of tablets) or parenterally (in the form of injections). Doctors note good results when using such products as Mucosat, Teraflex, Structum, Artron Chondrex, etc. Reception begins after the relief of an acute condition and continues for several months, alternating with calcium preparations.

Treatment of joints with chondroprotectors has practically no contraindications and restrictions. Also, such drugs only in isolated cases cause undesirable reactions. Subject to the conditions of dosage and duration of treatment, the risk of exacerbations of chronic joint diseases decreases, crunching, pain and other symptoms of the inflammatory process decrease.

The drug therapy regimen can be supplemented with analgesics, cytostatics and other drugs. However, before prescribing a particular medicine, the doctor conducts a comprehensive examination of the patient to make an accurate diagnosis. Identification of the etiology of the inflammatory process and determines the further treatment of the joints. For example, in pain syndrome caused by a cyst or malignant neoplasm, the principles of drug therapy are fundamentally different.

Joint pain: treatment with physiotherapy, nutrition and surgery

Non-invasive and non-drug methods of therapy are carried out both during an exacerbation and during remission of connective tissue diseases. Physiotherapy is especially effective. Its disadvantage is the need to be carried out in a polyclinic, however, 10 procedures are usually enough for the onset of a therapeutic result.

Regardless of the specific method, all physiotherapy procedures have the following effect:

• anti-inflammatory;
• accelerates the metabolism and regeneration of connective tissue cells;
• improves microcirculation;
• eliminates spasm of striated muscles;
• pain relievers;
• decongestant.

The most common and effective procedure is electrophoresis. It is designed to improve and accelerate the delivery of certain drug components to diseased tissues. This method is not accompanied by any painful sensations. Napkins soaked in a solution of a medicinal substance (NSAIDs, hormonal agent or local anesthetic), electrodes are applied on top, which produce a current of a certain strength and frequency.

If the joints hurt, treatment with ultrasound is no less effective.

Exposure to vibrations is a kind of mini-massage that improves blood circulation, has muscle relaxant effect and stimulates the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to cartilage cells fabrics. Procedures based on exposure to magnetic waves and laser radiation have a similar effect.

Each method of physiotherapy has its own contraindications.

However, the general limitations to this method of treatment of therapy are:

• pregnancy (in some cases, and the period of breastfeeding);
• tuberculosis;
• exacerbation of chronic diseases;
• fever, especially if the cause of these symptoms is unclear;
• severe damage to the cardiovascular and endocrine system;
• extreme depletion of the body;
• mental disorders accompanied by nervous excitement;
• disorders of the blood coagulation system.

For the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, the method of kinesitherapy is also widely used. This method is based on performing certain physical exercises. The most common is the complex developed by the famous doctor S.M. Bubnovsky.

If the joints hurt, the treatment by the method of kinesitherapy is selected individually, depending on the general state of health of the patients, the presence of concomitant lesions (especially of the cardiovascular system). The set of exercises does not involve lifting weights or intense loads. However, the correct sequence of movements facilitates flexion and extension of the upper and lower extremities, restores blood flow and functional activity in the affected joints.

You can engage in kinesitherapy individually, since there are many video tutorials on the Internet on this issue. However, doctors recommend starting training under the supervision of an experienced professional.

If the joints hurt, treatment, regardless of the method chosen, should be combined with an appropriate diet. As with any chronic disease, with lesions of the connective tissue in the diet should be present all essential minerals, vitamins, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, and other nutrients.

In addition, being overweight exacerbates the course of such diseases, so it is advisable to adhere to the principles of proper nutrition and calorie counting. Preference should be given to raw, steamed or stewed vegetables and fruits with a minimum amount of oil. Be sure to include saturated meat broths, jellied meat, jelly in the diet. Also, don't forget about meat and fish. But it is better to steam or boil them, it is better to refrain from frying and batter.

Surgical intervention is carried out according to strict indications, when drug therapy either does not bring the desired result or is inappropriate. Currently, partial restoration of the function of the joints or their complete prosthetics is possible (such an operation is often performed in the treatment of lesions of the jaw joint).

With inflammatory or destructive changes in the elbow joints or knees, which bear the main load, resection is performed. In the course of such an intervention, the affected areas are removed, which leads to the resumption of their functional activity. In some cases, arthroplasty is indicated (partial restoration of destroyed foci of cartilage tissue).

Treatment of joints with folk remedies: recipes for alternative medicine

Undoubtedly, the use of alternative medicine is effective, but the result of such therapy is developing rather slowly.

Therefore, they are advised to use either in combination with pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs, or outside the acute period after the pain impulses and other pronounced symptoms have subsided for prevention relapse.

Treatment of joints with folk remedies can be carried out using the following recipes:

• You need to take a tablespoon of ordinary flour, butter, honey and freshly squeezed onion juice. Mix everything and use for compresses on the affected area. Wrap it on top with a warm scarf. Course - 7 - 10 procedures. This remedy is especially effective for bursitis.
• Mix in 2 tbsp. l. cinquefoil herbs, alder cones, aspen bark and 100 g of birch buds, pour all 700 g of vodka. Insist in a dark place for 3 weeks and drain. Use as a grind for crunching joints.
• Prepare a flat cake from freshly chopped birch leaves and juniper fruits (about 20 pieces). Apply to problem areas, especially good for the defeat of the ankle of the foot and knees. Simultaneously with this procedure, it is advised to drink a decoction of burdock or celery roots (1 tbsp. l. crushed raw materials for 0.5 l of water) with the addition of 1 tsp. l. honey.
• With polyosteoarthritis, a decoction of sunflower roots is effective. To prepare the product, 100 g of plant materials are passed through a meat grinder, poured with a liter of cold water, brought to a boil and simmered over low heat for 10 minutes. Insist until refrigerated and drink throughout the day.

Medication, physiotherapy or joint treatment with folk remedies should be carried out under the supervision of a physician. Certain lesions of the connective tissue are fraught with serious complications in which surgery is indicated. Therefore, it is better to start therapy at the first symptoms of the disease after a comprehensive examination and an accurate diagnosis.