OSTEO ARTHRITIS(SANDHIGATA VATA)

Osteo arthritis also known as degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease.It is mechanical abnormalities  involving degradation of joints including articular cartilage & subchondral bone.

Symptoms may include joint pain, tenderness,stiffness, locking & symptoms of effusion.

A variety of causes hereditory, developmental,metabolic & mechanical deficits may intiate process leading to loss of cartilage.When bone surfaces become less well protected by cartilage bone may be exposed and damaged.As a result of decreased movement secondary to pain , regional muscles may atrophy & ligaments maybecome more loose.

Signs & symptoms

The main symptom is pain, causing loss of ability & often stiffness.Pain is generally described as a sharp ache or a burning sensation in the associate muscles & tendons.OA can cause a crackling noise(called crepitus).When the affected joints is moved or touched & patients may experience muscle spasm & contractions in the tendons.

Causes

Mechanical stress on joints underlies all OA with many & varied sources of mechanical stress including misalignments of bones caused by congenital or pathogenic causes,mechanical injuries , over weight, loss of strength in muscles supporting the joints, impairment of peripheral  nerves leading to sudden or coordinated movements that overstress joints.

Diagnosis

General diagnosis is made with reasonable certainity based on history & clinical examination.

X rays may confirm the diagnosis.Typical changes seen on x ray include joint space narrowing,subchondral sclerosis(bone formation around the joint), subchondral cyst formation & osteophytes.

Sandigata vata is the commonest form of articular disorder.

It is a type of vatavyadhi which mainly occurs in vriddhavasta due to dhatukshaya.

It being a vatavyadhi located in marmastisandhi & its occurence in old age makes it kasta sadhya.

Treatment

Abhyanga.

Nadi sweda, upanaha sweda, janu vasti.

Vasti (Anuvasana & kashaya vastis).

Vatanashaka dravyas.