In the treatment of degenerative joint diseases, therapies are still being sought that will not only help with pain relief, but also protect the patient from permanent disability. Each treatment must be selected individually.

Cartilage Nourishing Supplements

There are great hopes for substances that reduce the destruction of articular cartilage. One of them is glucosamine, which is the building block of joint cartilage.

Glucosamine is an amino sugar naturally present in our body. Unfortunately, over the years and during increased physical exertion, the body strains the joints due to being overweight, and the body produces less glucosamine than it needs.

If it is missing, the joints are not working properly. Therefore, it is necessary to supplement the shortages.

Natural sources of glucosamine are:

  • crayfish,
  • prawns,
  • crabs,
  • mussels.

Glucosamine:

  • strengthens the joints,
  • stimulates collagen synthesis, thanks to which it is possible to regenerate damaged or strained articular cartilage,
  • also protects tendons, ligaments, joint capsules and bone tissue,
  • has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties,
  • prevents bone decalcification,
  • inhibits degenerative changes.

Glucosamine sulphate has the greatest therapeutic value because it is highly bioavailable. This means that 98% of the active substance passes into the bloodstream. This substance does not interact with other medications, which is of great importance especially for people who have to take many medications due to other ailments.

Treatment with glucosamine should last at least 4 weeks (you should take 1.5 g per day). Studies have shown that after this time many patients can stop taking painkillers.

Remember about diet

Diet beneficial for joints is the one low in animal fats and carbohydrates (e.g. bread, pasta, cakes). The menu should include products rich in:

  • protein (soy),
  • vitamins A, B and D (vegetables and fruits, white meat, fatty fish, liver, milk and its products, egg yolk),
  • potassium (tomatoes, baked potatoes, spinach, beans),
  • calcium (milk and its products, sardines with bones),
  • iron (liver, egg yolks).

Take care of a he althy body weight - everyonea new kilogram is an additional burden on the joints. In order not to overload them, do not bear heavy loads.

Physical therapy

In the case of degenerative changes, treatment with low temperatures, i.e. cryotherapy, works well. People who do not have problems with the circulatory system should use a cryochamber. For others, local cryotherapy can be used, i.e. cooling the joints with liquid nitrogen vapors.

If it is not possible to take advantage of cryotherapy, the relief will be:

  • ice packs,
  • cool baths in the pond,
  • cold showers.

Such treatments even endure severe pain. When the symptoms are less or the acute inflammation in the joint has passed, you can use warm compresses on the joints, peat and paraffin baths, and illuminate the painful areas with the sollux lamp.

Magnetotherapy is also helpful, that is, acting on the joint with a pulsating magnetic field of low frequency. The limb with the painful joint is placed for 10-15 minutes in a special hoop that creates an alternating magnetic field.

The effect is the expansion of blood vessels, and thanks to this, the blood flows faster through them, the tissues are better oxygenated and nourished.

The treatments also work on the nerves, making us feel less painful. For the treatment of joints, low-energy and biostimulating lasers are also used. A beam of polarized laser light sweeps the painful area.

The treatment is painless, we can only feel the heat in the area of ​​the pond illuminated by the laser. Laser therapy improves blood circulation, relaxes the muscles and relieves pain.

Injection directly into the joint

Hyaluronic acid is often used in the treatment of joint ailments. The preparation is administered with a needle directly into the affected joint. Various preparations containing this active ingredient are available in pharmacies.

What is the difference between them? First of all, the concentration of the active substance, and thus - the number of necessary injections and the price. Some contain 1%, others 1.5%, and others 2.5%.

Preparations with a lower concentration must be administered from 3 to 5 times, and those with a higher concentration - only once. The prices of preparations with hyaluronic acid range from 70 to 700 PLN per injection. So the treatment can be adapted to the size of your wallet.

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Category:

Anatomy