Similar-sounding diseases actually differ significantly in the way they are treated. Arthritis means joint inflammation, but the term is used to describe around 200 conditions that affect joints. The cause of the inflammation can be an infection, sometimes harmless, like a cold. Arthritis occurs at different ages, but the most severe and dangerous of them – rheumatoid – most often affects people aged 30 to 50 years. Women get sick three times more often than men since periods of hormonal changes increase inflammation. With arthritis, the joint becomes swollen, hot, and stiff. If arthritis is left untreated, the likelihood of being disabled is 70%.
Arthrosis is a separate group of diseases that affect the entire joint. Most often, deformity occurs for one of three reasons – congenital joint inferiority, injury or inflammation. With age, microtrauma of the cartilage lining the joint accumulates. The result is pain and movement restrictions.
These days, joint pain has become such a common occurrence that many people no longer pay attention to the early signs of the disease. All kinds of ointments, rubbing, warming up and massages are used. Admirers of traditional medicine tie burdock, horseradish, nettle to sore joints, soar them in hay, turpentine and other baths, and even use warm manure. At the first stage, adherents of traditional medicine prefer to take pain relievers from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), in particular ibuprofen and diclofenac.
Modern medicine is not yet able to cure these diseases, doctors do not even know what causes them, but if you consult a specialist at an early stage, you can significantly reduce pain.
“Self-medication is dangerous because the pain can actually be relieved for a while, but it does not cure the disease itself,” explains Adrian Bhatt, a rheumatologist. – I see many patients with neglected diseases. The most severe arthritis becomes chronic within only three months. But if treatment is started in a timely manner, then it can be completely cured – in recent years, this result has been achieved in about half of the patients. A neglected disease is much more difficult to treat. In addition, natural remedies can never be compared with modern ones in terms of effectiveness. ”
According to Dr. Bhatt, doctors are well aware that the main thing for patients is to get rid of pain, and only then they agree to treatment with the so-called basic means. To relieve pain and reduce inflammation, rheumatologists use NSAIDs – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
“However, these drugs have side effects, and some of them are serious, such as gastric bleeding.
Dr. Bhatt explained that he and his colleagues from usually advise their patients to use warming ointments. They contain substances that have a vasodilating effect and irritate sensitive nerve endings, relieving pain.
However, there are rules for the safe use of warming ointments that you need to be aware of.
“Any such ointment must first be tested for skin sensitivity. Squeeze out 0.5 cm of the ointment and apply to the skin, check the reaction after a few hours. If the drug is easily tolerated and you have no rash, redness or swelling, you can use it for sore joints by applying about a teaspoon of this remedy. When you feel warm, rub in the ointment. If the rubbing area is too painful and sensitive, you can rub it a little higher or lower, ”explains Dr. Bhatt.
According to the expert rheumatologist, the first time the warming ointment must be applied at bedtime. If the next day there is no redness, the product should be applied three times a day at the same dosage. After the procedure, sore joints should be wrapped in something warm. In case of severe burning sensation, the lubricated area of the skin should be moistened with petroleum jelly. The warming ointment should not touch the mucous membranes, therefore, it is recommended to wash your hands with warm water and soap after using it.
© 2024 www.ketteringjointcenter.org. All rights reserved.