Therapy of hip arthrosis

The therapy options for hip arthrosis are very diverse. In the initial stage, anti-inflammatory and painkilling medication is administered. Weight reduction can also have a positive effect on the healing process, as each reduction of about 5 kilograms of weight reduces the risk of osteoarthritis by about 50 percent.

In addition, orthopaedic shoes or insoles can help to change the load on the leg axis and thus protect the joint. Heat or cold application can also help to alleviate the symptoms. Hip arthrosis is particularly well treated by a lot of exercise and sporting activity, but little stress on the hip joint (e.g. swimming and cycling are ideal).

Exercise helps to combat the pain caused by arthrosis, stabilises the cartilage and strengthens the muscles, thus relieving the strain on the cartilage. In advanced stages of the disease, surgical therapy for hip arthrosis must often be used. Arthrosis causes, such as limited cartilage damage, can be removed by arthroscopy.

However, in some cases it may also be necessary to correct a malposition by repositioning the hip joint, using a hip cap or a complete replacement of the hip joint. Arthrosis in the hand is associated with a major limitation for many patients, as simple activities such as eating or writing often become a torture. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out an adequate therapy for osteoarthritis in the hand.

First of all, if the patient suffers from osteoarthritis, he should try to move his hand as much and as well as possible in order to prevent osteoarthritis. This is mainly for prophylaxis. However, it is important to move the wrists correctly.

With the help of occupational therapy, the patient can learn which movements are good for the hand and which only put more strain on the joints and thus lead to a worsening. If the thumb saddle joint is affected, it often helps to have this joint splinted by a doctor. This is a very simple therapy for arthrosis in the thumb saddle joint, but at the same time it is a very effective and inexpensive one.

Another simple therapy for osteoarthritis in the hand is to rub in a pain-relieving gel or cream containing non-steroidal anti-rheumatic drugs (NSAIDs), such as a Proff® pain cream. By massaging the joints and the pain-relieving effect, the patient usually has quick and good results and is able to move the hand halfway well again. Especially in the early stages, the patient can also be helped by taking pain-relieving and/or anti-inflammatory medication (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).

However, it is important to avoid injecting painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs directly into the affected joint in the hand, as this will only cause more damage to the joint in the long term. Cortisone therapy is also not recommended, as this only leads to a short-term improvement and could additionally demolish the surrounding cartilage in the joint, which would then only further promote the progress of the arthrosis and thus ultimately lead to more complications. However, since medications and gels are usually not sufficient therapy for osteoarthritis over a longer period of time, the patient should consider after some time whether to try alternative healing methods.

For example, heat applications help many patients and contain the arthrosis over a longer period of time. Acupuncture also works very well as a therapy for many patients with osteoarthritis in the hand. There are also biostimulation with a soft laser and magnetic field therapies.

However, these alternative healing methods are usually not recognised by health insurance companies as therapy for arthritis in the hand and therefore usually have to be paid out of their own pocket. A very effective therapy for osteoarthritis in the hand is the radiosynoviorthesis. Here, radioactively charged particles are injected directly into the wrist affected by arthrosis.

These particles now inhibit the inflammatory process directly in the joint. In order not to damage surrounding tissue by the radioactive particles, only short-range radioactive particles are used, which are then mainly distributed in the affected joint. Especially the pain that is caused by arthrosis in the hand can thus be reduced very well and over a longer period of time.

Depending on the severity of the arthrosis in the hand, the only remaining therapeutic option is surgery. If the patient still has a joint space with inflammatory cells, arthroscopy can be used to attempt to remove only this part of the inflammatory site and thus reduce the patient’s pain. However, if the patient has an advanced stage of osteoarthritis in the hand, the doctor may have to cut the pain fibres completely during the operation so that they can no longer transmit the information “pain” to the brain.

This therapy option should always be the last resort and is also associated with certain risks. Nevertheless, the patient’s freedom from pain is the highest priority. Once all other therapy options have been exhausted, the only last resort is to cut the pain fibres as a therapy for advanced arthrosis in the hand. and surgery for finger arthrosis