At the end of each bone forming the joints, there is cartilage tissue covering the bone. The cartilage creates a soft, slippery surface for the joint to move freely and acts like a cushion between the bones. It prevents bones from rubbing against each other.
Calcification (osteoarthritis); It is the result of loss and damage of cartilage in joints and is a progressive and dysfunctional disease with degeneration. It causes pain in the joints.
Cartilage structure begins to change as age progresses. With age, cartilage also ages. Cartilage is more easily damaged in an overused or diseased joint. The duration of this cartilage damage varies from person to person.
In addition to cartilage damage, the fluid secreted by the joint membranes in the joint loses its normal feature and as a result, joint damage progresses. In calcification, joint fluid may not be present in sufficient amount and its properties may be impaired. These changes may be one of the causes of cartilage destruction and symptoms in the joint.
The most common joints with calcification are the knee and hip joints.
Knee joint calcification (Gonarthrosis)
Genetic factors play a role in calcification, but factors such as advanced age, weight, heavy work, meniscus tears, repetitive strains and traumas in the joints can accelerate calcification and cause it to occur. . Calcification is more common with age and affects both men and women.
Signs and symptoms You may feel a friction or pulling sensation in your joints when you move. You may also feel tenderness and pain in the knee joint area. Going up and down any stairs, getting up from a chair, or sitting down can be painful. While the pain is milder at first, it may increase as you walk and prevent you from walking. There may be weakening and wasting in the muscles around the knee due to pain and inactivity.
Hip arthritis (Coxarthrosis)
Hip arthritis is the most common cause of hip pain. It may be an additional disease (congenital hip diseases, previous hip joint infection, slip of the growth cartilage in the hip joint, rheumatic diseases), a previous trauma or steroid use, or it may occur spontaneously without any additional disease. If there is arthrosis in the family, the probability of its occurrence increases. Arthrosis of the hip joint is more common in middle and advanced ages and in men.
Signs and symptoms The first sign of hip arthrosis is discomfort and stiffness in the hip joint. This discomfort initially occurs with waking up and getting out of bed in the morning. The pain increases with movement and load on the joint, and is relieved a little at rest. As the disease progresses, pain and other complaints do not go away with rest. The patient reduces his activities due to pain. The joint space becomes narrower. Hip movements are restricted and there is a limp. The pain can sometimes hit the knee. For this reason, patients who come with knee pain should definitely be evaluated in terms of hip joint.
How is joint calcification treated?
A good treatment program helps reduce joint pain and stiffness, increase joint movements and make your life easier. Physical therapy, weight control, patient education and prolotherapy should be planned together. Surgery may only be considered when these are not helpful. The treatment program is organized depending on the severity of the disease, the severity of your complaints, your age and other health problems.
How does ‘Prolotherapy’ work in Joint Calcifications?
Prolotherapy application is the application that works most effectively on chronically damaged tissues. The narrowing of the joint space associated with joint degeneration results from joint instability. In a person who presents with pain and loss of function due to calcification, joint examination is performed and connective tissue elements causing instability are detected. It is precisely these weakened bonds that are the target of prolotherapy. Prolotherapy application improves the laxity in your joint by strengthening the ligaments and tendons that have become unable to support the joint in this process. Thus, the joint membrane begins to produce joint fluid again and, contrary to popular belief, the joint cartilage can renew itself.
