How to restore cartilage tissue

Cartilage is a connective tissue with a soft texture that serves as a support for the joints, allowing them to move freely and not touch when moving. To learn how to repair cartilage, you need to find out what cartilage is made of and what contributes to its destruction.

Cartilage tissue consists of chondrocytes and matrix, an intercellular substance. The content of chondrocytes is very small - only 2-3% of the total amount of cartilage tissue, so it is difficult to restore.

The cartilage of the spine is nourished by the perichondrium, while the cartilage of the joints grows and is nourished by the synovial fluid within the joint.

How do cartilage diseases develop?

Cartilage tissue can be destroyed due to hereditary diseases of the body, as a result of which the very composition of cartilage tissue leads to accelerated destruction. Another important factor is congenital diseases: flat feet, dysplasia, hypermobility.

In addition, the destruction of cartilage contribute to:

• injuries, fractures, increased stress on the joints;
• violation of metabolic processes;
• diseases of the endocrine system;
• lack of vitamins and minerals;
• autoimmune diseases: rheumatoid arthritis, gout, psoriasis, chondrocalcinosis, hemochromatosis;
• hormonal disorders during menopause;
• vascular disorders: atherosclerosis of the lower extremities, obliterating endarteritis, varicose veins.

A sedentary lifestyle and excess weight play a large role in the destruction of cartilage.

If these factors have caused the destruction of cartilage tissue, recovery can take a long time. Treatment is long and not always successful.

Diseases caused by the destruction of cartilage are arthrosis, osteoarthritis, hernia and protrusion of the intervertebral discs. As a rule, it is almost impossible to get rid of such diseases, any treatment gives a temporary effect.

Symptoms of problems in the joints are a crunch, which is accompanied by pain in the back and joints, decreased mobility.

How to restore cartilage tissue

All tissues in the body are capable of self-healing. Cartilage does not have this property to the full extent: they can only be restored halfway. The reason for this is that the cartilaginous tissue is devoid of capillaries, due to which all tissues usually feed.

Cartilage tissue receives nutrition through the synovial fluid, which is responsible for the processes of nutrition, development and removal of cartilage waste products.

With a thickening of the synovial fluid, a decrease in its amount, these processes slow down. Therefore, the body needs a large amount of water in order for this fluid to maintain the necessary texture.

Hyaluronic acid is the main component of synovial fluid and intercellular space of cartilage tissue. With an insufficient amount of this fluid, a change in its composition, hyaluronic acid preparations are used.

Their main function is fluid retention in the joint. They belong to the group of chondroprotectors. Chondroprotectors are biologically active substances and medicines for restoring cartilage tissue and maintaining it in a healthy state.

Cartilage regeneration is a very long process. Due to the slow metabolic capacity of cartilage cells, injury to these areas is almost irreversible.

How to treat joints

Restoration of cartilage occurs in the treatment of joints and spine. This is the creation of new cells instead of old damaged and destroyed ones.

Recovery is a complex process:

• changing eating habits;
• drug treatment;
• application of traditional medicine methods;
• physiotherapy;
• physiotherapy.

Drug treatment

To know how to restore cartilage, you should find out which drugs are effective at different stages of the disease and for what purposes they are used.

In the early stages, treatment with chondroprotectors is necessary. They are ineffective in the later stages. They contain substances corresponding to cartilage tissues, eliminate pain, relieve inflammation.

With their use, the structure of the cartilage improves, the process of destruction slows down. Chondroprotectors include drugs containing:

• glucosamine sulfate (found in Flexamine, Artron);
• chondroitin sulfate (found in Chondroxide, Mukosat);
• mucopolysaccharides (Arteparon).

Movex, Triactiv and Teraflex contain several active ingredients at the same time. The drug Rumalon is an effective drug with an active ingredient of animal origin, made from calf cartilage. Restores cartilage, improves blood flow, relieves pain, inflammation.

Arteparon - restores cartilage, articular bag, helps the production of joint fluid, increases mobility.

Chondroxide - stimulates the production of proteoglycans, accelerates recovery processes, increases the production of synovial fluid.

Artron - relieves inflammation, anesthetizes. It is effective when taken orally with chondroitin. It has many contraindications and side effects.

Teraflex - a pronounced chondroprotective effect, anti-inflammatory effect.

Recovery of synovial fluid

Modern drugs that help restore intra-articular fluid and have proven effective:

1. Fermatron. Inserted into the joint. Reduces inflammation, relieves pain, increases mobility, stimulates the production of hyaluron. 1 injection is made per week, in total - 3-4. Almost no side effects.
2. Synokrom. Improves the production of synovial fluid. Course 5-6 injections. There are side effects.
3. Hyalur. A drug that replaces intra-articular fluid. Relieves pain, increases mobility. It is not recommended in the presence of an infectious lesion of the joint.
4. Synvisc. Gel, replaces or replenishes synovial fluid. Ostenil, Piascledin have the same effect.

Injections into the joints of painkillers or hormonal drugs should be done in extreme cases. It is impossible to say for sure whether cartilage tissue is restored with injections into the joint, but they relieve inflammation and eliminate infections. They are used if inflammation cannot be removed by anything else.

These are slow-acting drugs, so the course of treatment is long: from several months to a year. They are used only as directed and under the supervision of a physician. An injection in one thigh can be done no more than 3 times with an interval of 2 weeks.

Painkillers

To reduce pain, painkillers are used: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: Paracetamol, Diclofenac. In addition, the latest drugs: Meloxicam, Nimesulide, Celecoxib.

But they have a negative effect on cartilage, destroying it. First, the composition of these drugs contributes to the destruction. Secondly, without feeling pain, a person begins to load the damaged joint more, which can lead to further destruction.

Therefore, such drugs are not drugs for the restoration of cartilage, they should be taken only at times of severe pain,

Popular Indomethacin is better not to take because of the many side effects, it accelerates the destruction of cartilage.

With severe pain in the later stages, centrally acting analgesics are prescribed, the most effective of them is Tramadol.

Additional funds

In addition, creams and ointments are used. But it is impossible to restore cartilage tissue with ointments. They can have a local warming and analgesic effect, improve blood supply, relieve inflammation.

Additional treatments include:

1. Physiotherapy. To enhance the effect of drug treatment, magnetotherapy, UHF, ultrasound, electrotherapy, phototherapy, laser are used.
2. Massage. Strengthens muscles, relieves pain, spasms.
3. Treatment with paraffin, healing mud.
4. Acupuncture.

Folk remedies

Traditional medicine has in its arsenal a lot of tools to keep the joints in working condition, but they cannot completely replace drugs to restore cartilage tissue.

1. Chicken cartilage. Eat 1 tsp daily on an empty stomach. boiled chicken cartilage.
2. Burdock and elecampane in the form of tincture. Grind 200 g of grass, pour 1 liter of alcohol. Insist 3 weeks in a dark place. Use in the form of compresses 3 times a week.
3. Propolis tincture for lotions.
4. Chestnut tincture. Traditional medicine knows two ways to restore cartilage with chestnut:

• Rubbing. Grind 600 g of chestnut, pour 1 liter of vodka. Infuse for 2 weeks, shake occasionally. Rub into the joints in the evenings.
• Grind 150 g of chestnut fruits and 50 g of flowers, pour half a liter of vodka. Insist 2 weeks.

5. Tincture of hazelnut (hazel). Take 100 g of leaves, pour 500 ml of alcohol, insist for 3 weeks.
6. Horseradish or radish. Grind, rub into sore spots.
7. Salt compress with fir oil. Take 10 ml of warm oil, moisten a piece of cloth in it, pour a pinch of salt on top. Tie to a sore spot, on top - a plastic film, wrap with an elastic bandage. Repeat for 7 days.
8. Diuretic teas serve as an excellent aid in cartilage repair. You can buy kidney tea at the pharmacy. And you can independently brew 10 g of one of these herbs in a glass of boiling water: dandelion root, nettle, horsetail, corn stigmas.
9. Rye for oral administration. Take 1 glass of rye grain, pour 2 liters of water, boil for 10 minutes, cool, strain. Add 0.5 liters of vodka and honey, 1 tbsp. l. chopped barberry. Leave for 21 days in a dark cool place. Drink 3 tbsp. spoons 3 times a day before meals.

In addition, honey compresses, compresses with burdock, dandelion tincture on vodka are effective.

You can not consider folk remedies an effective way to cure. This is an addition to the main treatment. They serve as an excellent alternative to expensive creams and ointments to restore cartilage tissue from a pharmacy.

Such funds contribute to the cooling or heating of the joints, relieve minor inflammation, reduce pain when the weather changes.

Nutrition

Nutrition for the restoration of cartilage tissue has its own characteristics and rules.

Mucopolysaccharides and collagen can be provided to the body by consuming:

1. Jellied meats, jellied dishes. These products contribute to the synthesis of cartilage tissue.
2. A strong broth made from fish, poultry, red meat with bones has the same property. The main thing at the same time is not to throw away cartilage, ligaments, tendons, bones, which are the richest in mucopolysaccharides.
3. Another product rich in mucopolysaccharides is gelatin. It can be used to make jelly, jelly.

To find out whether cartilage tissue in the joints is restored when the nature of nutrition changes, you need to find out what substances are necessary for the proper nutrition of cartilage tissue. These substances include:

• vitamins (raw vegetables, fruits);
• vitamin C: red pepper, rosehip, sesame, lemon, currant, sea buckthorn;
• vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids: salmon, trout, sardine, mackerel;
• selenium and sulfur for the formation of collagen (eggs, chicken, cod, radish, cabbage, garlic);
• polyunsaturated fatty acids (vegetable oil, which also has an anti-inflammatory effect).

Mineral water and just water are necessary to remove toxins and salts. Drink 1 glass of grapefruit juice daily

Exclude: fried, smoked, fatty, marinades, fatty meat, dried fish, fast food, carbonated drinks.

Sport

The restoration of cartilage and joints depends on physical activity. Excessive physical activity leads to damage and injury to the joints. But in order for the joint to be always healthy and in working condition, moderate exercise is necessary.

The joint must constantly be in motion so that the synovial fluid can penetrate the cartilage tissue and nourish it.

Remedial gymnastics is necessary to restore cartilage tissue. You can choose passive exercises that are accessible even to the elderly or debilitated. Exercises are selected by the doctor.

Yoga can help, it stops progression, improves motor ability and well-being.

Exercise therapy, dosed loads, constant movement are the most effective methods of joint restoration in addition to drug treatment.

Cartilage repair is a labor intensive process. And it does not always lead to the desired effect. It must be remembered that the joint is a very hardy, but at the same time vulnerable place in the body. Destruction can begin even at a very young age. Well, after 45 changes in cartilage are inevitable.

If you do not engage in prevention, do not be in constant motion, the destruction is irreversible. And untimely treatment can lead to serious consequences.

Cartilage restoration - video