Osteoarthritis: slow the wear in shoulder, hip, spine and hands

Arthrosis, degenerative joint disease, "rheumatism": the same wear under different names

Degenerative joint disease is the progressive loss of cartilage with bone remodeling. It affects 10–15% of people over 60 and shows up as pain, stiffness, limitation, swelling and deformity depending on the joint: cervical (neck), glenohumeral (shoulder), thumb base, hip, knee.

The goal of treatment is to improve function and quality of life by slowing joint destruction.

How it shows up

• Pain that grows with use and eases with rest
• Morning stiffness under 30 minutes
• Cracking and limited range of motion
• Intermittent swelling
• Progressive deformity (finger nodules)
• Loss of strength to open jars or climb stairs

Painkillers and anti-inflammatories control the symptom while cartilage keeps wearing away. Ozone acts on the inflammation and oxidative stress that accelerate the wear.

Intra-articular ozone, joint by joint

Oxygen-ozone is injected into the affected joint (shoulder, hip, facet spine, hands, ankle or knee). It reduces synovial inflammation, neutralizes free radicals, improves cartilage oxygenation and provides lasting pain relief. In the knee it is combined with hyaluronic acid; when several joints are involved we add autohemotherapy for a systemic effect.

How the treatment works

1. Evaluation: joint exam and X-ray review to define the grade and priority joints.
2. Injection cycle: weekly 20-minute sessions per joint.
3. Systemic ozone: autohemotherapy when multiple joints or an inflammatory component are involved.
4. Maintenance: periodic boosters and a low-impact exercise program.

Who is a candidate?

People with osteoarthritis in any joint, at any grade, who want less pain and to postpone surgery. Joints with a prosthesis or active infection are evaluated individually.