Periarticular osteoporosis of the hands and feet: treatment and prognosis

What is periarticular osteoporosis?

The consequences of the disease are quite serious - the joints are gradually destroyed, their surfaces are covered with bone growths

Periarticular osteoporosis is diagnosed quite often. In most cases, women over 50 years old face this pathology. This is due to hormonal changes that begin in the body after menopause. This disease also occurs in men, but several times less frequently.

The pathology is characterized by destructive changes in bone tissue, as well as in the joint and tissues around it. The pain syndrome is initially localized only in the bone, then moves to the joint, the pain becomes very pronounced.

The progression of the disease can lead to the formation of growths on the bones, so it is necessary to carry out timely treatment of periarticular osteoporosis.

How to diagnose

At your first visit, your doctor will examine and feel your knee joint to determine the cause of the disease. A specialist may prescribe the following procedures:

X-ray. The images allow us to determine the presence of osteophytes and irreversible processes in cartilage.
Absorptiometry. Examination of the knee using two x-rays, revealing bone density and the area of dangerous changes.
Biochemistry of blood. Allows you to determine disruptions in the metabolism of calcium and hormones of the female reproductive system.

Sometimes a specialist sends a patient to undergo an MRI in order to identify the nature of changes in the bones.

Causes

The cause of the disease depends on its type:

Primary. The disease develops independently. Hormonal and age-related changes, metabolic disorders, calcium and phosphorus deficiency can provoke.
Secondary. It is a consequence of other pathological processes. In most cases, it occurs with diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, thyrotoxicosis and periarticular fibrositis.

Osteoporosis is considered idiopathic if the cause of its formation cannot be determined.

Prevalence

Periarticular osteoporosis is also divided into 2 groups depending on the prevalence: diffuse and focal.

Diffuse

Only affects the limbs. It is the most common form of periarticular osteoporosis. It has a long asymptomatic period, so it is almost always diagnosed in advanced stages. This form of pathology can affect not only the elderly, but also children.

Diffuse osteoporosis in the later stages is characterized by almost constant pain, which intensifies when walking. The most severe pain is observed with periarticular osteoporosis of the hands.

Local

Local osteoporosis is characterized by a decrease in mineralization and strength of one bone. Density can be lost due to bruises, fractures and other injuries. The bone may be depleted evenly.

Most often, this type of osteoporosis affects the hip area; older people are especially predisposed to it.

Treatment of local osteoporosis occurs much faster than diffuse osteoporosis. The pathological process progresses more slowly, and complications occur less frequently.

Long-term manifestations of menopause

Many women have a greater fear of breast cancer than they do of heart disease or osteoporosis. However, statistics show that priorities are often simply confused:

Only one in seven or nine women gets breast cancer, and every second or third gets heart disease.
30% of all women die from heart disease (aged 75-80 years), 3% from complications of osteoporosis and 3% from breast cancer.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women over 65 years of age, but a third of all deaths from cardiovascular disease occur in women under 65 years of age.

Symptoms

The severity and nature of the signs of osteoporosis directly depend on the degree of its development

Symptoms of pathology depend on the degree:

Primary degree. At this stage, there are practically no signs. At the beginning of the development of the pathological process, only a deterioration in the condition of hair and nails and an increase in heart rate are noticeable. Cramps may occur in the area where osteoporosis is progressing. As a rule, cramps occur at night.
Average degree. At this stage, pathological changes become more pronounced. All symptoms are noticeable even without special diagnostic measures. There is almost constant pain in the affected joint, which gets worse with any movement. In addition, swelling and crunching appear in the joint, and it becomes limited in movement.
Neglected degree. At this stage, the joint is highly deformable and movement is difficult. Complete damage to the hands or knee is possible. At this stage, the patient feels constant malaise, aching pain is difficult to relieve with painkillers.

Signs of the disease

The disease may manifest itself with the following symptoms:

reaction of joints to weather fluctuations;
night cramps;
delamination of the nail plates.

If you do not pay attention to these symptoms, the disease will gradually move to the second stage and will be characterized by:

regular pain;
spasms while walking;
inflammatory processes with swelling of the knee area;
pain when palpating the knees.

In advanced stages of the disease:

the knee will not actually bend;
joints increase in size.

Treatment

Modern medicine offers many ways to treat periarticular osteoporosis. The basis is drug treatment; in addition, traditional medicine, exercises and massage are used.

Medicines and drugs

A special vitamin and mineral complex that helps strengthen bones, joints and prevents the development of diseases of the musculoskeletal system

Medicines for the treatment of osteoporosis are used from several groups:

Painkillers – to relieve pain.
NSAIDs - to relieve acute inflammation.
Bisphosphonates – for bone tissue restoration.
Steroid anti-inflammatory drugs in advanced stages of pathology.
Intra-articular injections, if other drugs do not relieve pain.

In addition, it is recommended to use special balanced vitamin-mineral complexes, where the basis is calcium and vitamin D. Minerals will help increase the therapeutic effect of other medications. It is worth considering that only a specialist can prescribe medications and their dosage. Self-medication is strictly prohibited.

Exercises and gymnastics

A sedentary lifestyle negatively affects the condition of the entire skeleton. Special exercises will help quickly restore motor function. But it is worth considering a few rules:

Avoid physical overload.
Do not make sudden movements.
Do not use weights.
Do not put heavy load on the affected joint.
Charging time should not exceed 60 minutes.

If physical exercise causes pain or discomfort, then the activity must be stopped.

Massage

The massage procedure accelerates blood circulation, which promotes the fastest regeneration and restoration of cartilage tissue.

Proper technique helps eliminate pain. If it is not possible to visit a qualified massage therapist, then the procedure must be carried out independently. For this, it is additionally recommended to use warming and analgesic ointments.

Massage movements should be smooth and not cause discomfort.

Folk remedies

Traditional methods are allowed to be used as an additional method of treatment, but they cannot replace medications. Among the traditional medicines in the treatment of periarticular osteoporosis, the following are widely used:

Adding ground eggshells to food.
Using walnut tincture with alcohol.
Eating parsley and dill with sour cream.
Rubbing the affected area with a decoction of herbs with an anti-inflammatory effect.
Applying a leaf of white cabbage to the affected area.

Diet

Fermented milk products are indispensable for osteoporosis

Periarticular osteoporosis does not require a strict diet. A minor dietary adjustment is enough.

It is necessary to consume foods rich in phosphorus and calcium in large quantities. These include: cottage cheese, cilantro, celery, eggs, milk, legumes and nuts.

It is necessary to minimize the consumption of table salt, spicy and smoked foods. It is also recommended to avoid baked goods, milk chocolate, mayonnaise and sauces.

Joint replacement

Joint replacements are extremely rare. It is advisable if alternative methods do not give the desired result.

Joint replacement surgery requires a rehabilitation period, during which time it is very important to perform a complex of exercise therapy in order to completely restore the affected area.

Modern medicine allows the use of the latest prosthetic techniques, so the artificial joint takes root easily and does not cause discomfort.

Prevention

To prevent illness, follow these recommendations:

Proper nutrition and an active lifestyle. The diet should include calcium-containing foods (cheeses, yoghurts). Vitamin D is taken in the form of tablets, which are sold at any pharmacy.
Quitting bad habits that destroy bone tissue and harm the body.
Monitoring of general condition. Regular medical check-ups every six months.
Sports activities (fitness, recreational gymnastics). Avoid jumping and heavy loads.
Getting rid of excess weight, since this is what provokes the development of the disease.
Getting rid of traumatic items in the house.
Refusal of uncomfortable shoes. Treatment of diffuse osteoporosis is a long process.

Compliance with preventive measures will help prevent the disease. Timely prescribed drug therapy can prevent the development of the disease.

Forecast

With timely treatment of periarticular osteoporosis, the prognosis is favorable. Modern methods make it possible to completely restore the affected joint, so in the future the person can return to their normal lifestyle.

In old age with an advanced stage of pathology, the prognosis is not so positive. The disease can lead to fractures, which will negatively affect the further functioning of the bones and joints. In rare cases, fractures lead to disability.

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