OSTEOARTHRITIS
DEFINITION:-
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition that occurs in old age and affects the
weight-bearing joints such as hip, knee, ankle, inter vertebral and shoulder
joints.
AETIOLOGY OR CAUSES:-
The disease is more commonly affects at
after 40 years of age. Main causes are
-
Obesity.
-
Age - on old age above 40 years of aged people.
-
Both sexes equally affect.
-
Trauma or injury.
-
Chondrocalcinosis.
-
Systemic lupus erythematosus.
-
Gout.
-
Rheumatoid arthritis.
PATHOLOGY BEHIND OSTEOARTHRITIS:-
The
primary affection occurs in the joint cartilage. The central part of the joint
cartilage is affected early followed by the peripheral parts. This is followed
by hypertrophy of the peripheral part of the concerned bones which presents as
osteophytes projecting out of the bones or lying as loose bodies inside the
joint space. Repeated effusions occur in the affected joints especially after
minor trauma or twists. The movement of the affected joint is limited initially
due to pain and muscular spasm and later due to capsular fibrosis, osteopyte
formation and bony deformity.
SYMPTOMS:-
-
Pain.
-
Swelling.
-
Stiffness.
-
Stiffness and pain are worst in the morning or
at initiation of movement but are relived on rest or continuation of movement.
-
Pain is greater at the time of getting up from
bed or from sitting position.
-
Restricted movements due to stiffness.
-
The weight bearing bigger joints are mostly
affected.
EXAMINATION:-
-
The joint is swollen.
-
On palpitation grunting or crepitations can be heard.
On bending the joint while keeping the palm over it, a crackling feeling is
felt (crepitations) underneath the palm.
INVESTIGATIONS:-
- Radio-logical signs:
a.
Marked prominence of Tibial tuberosity.
b.
Reduction of joint space with destruction of
articular cartilage.
c.
Presence of osteophytes.
TREATMENT:-
1.
Physiotherapy is useful.
2.
Use of analgesics in severe pain.
3.
Surgery.
HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES:
BRYONIA ALBUM:-
This
is one of the best remedy for Osteoarthritis. Knee joint is stiff and painful,
hot swelling of feet, pain worse at least movement and better by rest. Every
spot is painful on least touch. Dryness all over the body, chilly patient,
business minded, money minded person. Painful stiffness on nape of the neck.
Restricted movements.
CALCAREA CARB:-
The
patients are obese, fat, fair and flabby. These remedy will act well on bones,
rheumatoid pain after exposure to wet, cold knees cramps on calf muscle,
swelling of joints esp. on knee joint, sweats on hands, weakness of
extremities, stiffness of knee joint, chilly patient, desires for sweets and
eggs, insecurity.
DULCAMARA:-
Paralysis of single part, stiff neck, stiffness around the neck and
shoulders, after getting cold and wet, pain in shin bones, perspiration on palms,
rheumatism alternates with diarrhea, rheumatic complaints after acute skin
eruptions, all complaints get worse at damp weather. Swelling of knee joint
with stiffness, chilly patient.
FER RUM PHOS:-
Its
one of the best remedy for fever, stiff neck, stiffness on knee joints,
articular rheumatism, rheumatic pain of
the shoulder and pain extends to chest and wrist, hands swollen and palms feels
hot, restless and sleeplessness, pain worse at motion, and better by cold
applications.
GUAIACUM OFFICINALE:-
Stiff neck and shoulders, contractive pain in between scapulae,
stitching between scapulae and occiput, rheumatic pain in shoulders, hands,
knees, immovable stiffness, joints are swollen, painful and intolerance of
pressure, can bear no heat, stinging pain in limbs, ankle pain extends up the
leg, cause lameness, worse from heat, motion, cold wet weather and better by
pressure.
KALMIA:-
It’s a rheumatic remedy, deltoid rheumatism especially right side, pain
from hip to knee and then legs, pains affects large part of the limbs
especially all joints, and pass through quickly, weakness, prickling, numbness
and sense of coldness in limbs, pains along ulnar nerve and index finger,
joints red, hot and swollen, tingling and numbness of left arm, sleeplessness
wakes up very early morning.
LEDUM PAL:-
The ledum rheumatism starts on feet and travels upwards, swollen, hot
and pale in joints, throbbing in right shoulder, cracking in joints worse by
heat of the bed, soles painful, can hardly step on them, easy spraining of
ankle. Better by putting feet in cold water, worse at night and warmth of bed.
RHUS TOXICUM:-
It
is the wonderful remedy for rheumatism and arthritis, chilly patient, extreme
restless, hot, painful swelling of joints, pains tearing in tendons, ligaments,
rheumatic pain more on nape of neck, loins and extremities, better by motion,
limbs stiff paralyzed, tenderness about knee joint, loss of power in forearm
and fingers, crawling sensation in the tip of the finger. Tingling in feet.
SILICEA:-
It
is one of the best immunizer in homeopathy, its good remedy for bone diseases,
ill effects from vaccination, cramps in calves and soles, loss of power in legs, in growing nails in toes, icy cold and sweaty
feet, pain in knee as if tightly bounded, pain beneath toes and soles, sore
soles, offensive perspiration on soles and palms, chilly patient.
Some of other drugs are aconite, apis, arnica, lyco, caustic um colocynth, kali carb, iodum, kali iod, Natrum Mur, Natrum sulph,
sepia and sulphur.
