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Ointments for osteoarthritis
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 03.07.2025
Arthrosis is considered a complex and severe rheumatological disease, which is quite difficult to treat. To get rid of this disease, the patient is recommended complex therapy, which necessarily includes various ointments. With their help, you can quickly cope with the main symptoms of the pathology.
Indications for the use of ointments for arthrosis
Various remedies used to treat this disease are recommended by doctors at different stages of the disease. Patients can use drugs sold in pharmacies, as well as all kinds of ointments and pastes from medicinal herbs and other components.
Of course, ointments will not help to cure arthrosis completely, but thanks to them you can easily speed up recovery, prevent exacerbation. What are the healing properties of ointments for arthrosis?
- Relieving inflammation.
- Relief of pain.
- Elimination of muscle spasm.
- Blood circulation in the tissues located around the affected joint improves.
- They warm up.
- The nutrition of cartilage tissue returns to normal.
- They have an antimicrobial effect.
Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics
Let's consider the pharmacodynamics of ointments for arthrosis using the example of the popular drug "Chondroxide".
This product stimulates cartilage tissue regeneration. It has a combined effect: it helps relieve inflammation, slow down the progression of the disease, and reduce pain. The components that make up the drug enhance the effect of chondroitin. Thanks to this ointment, the patient can significantly reduce the dose of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Affected joints become more mobile. Degeneration processes are slowed down.
Chondroxide ointment is absorbed into the skin quite quickly and easily. Due to the fact that the drug includes dimethyl sulfoxide, chondroitin sulfate penetrates the affected joint much faster. The main component of the drug is excreted from the cartilage tissue in two phases. The first, rapid phase occurs within one hour after applying the ointment to the skin. The second lasts about five hours.
Names of ointments for arthrosis
Today, pharmacies offer a wide variety of names for ointments for arthrosis. Conventionally, they are all divided into two large groups:
- Vasodilating and warming preparations help improve blood circulation in the affected area, reduce pain, enhance the work of other therapeutic agents, and normalize tissue nutrition.
- Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs – reduce or completely eliminate inflammation, reduce swelling, lower temperature, improve mobility of the damaged joint.
It is worth noting that anti-inflammatory ointments for arthrosis have low penetrating ability (up to 7% of the active substances of the product), so they should be used only in the early stages of the disease or during an exacerbation. To achieve a long-term effect, ointments with a warming effect are usually used.
The most popular ointments for arthrosis today are:
- Vishnevsky ointment.
- Traumeel ointment.
- Heparin ointment.
You can find out more information about these tools below.
Vishnevsky ointment for arthrosis
The composition of this drug includes the following active substances: tar, xeroform (antiseptic substance), castor oil. It is due to them that the ointment has its unique properties. Firstly, the product has a local irritant and warming effect, which creates a specific film on the skin, reducing heat transfer and irritating nerve endings. This intensifies the inflammatory process, so the pustules mature and disappear faster.
Vishnevsky ointment is often used to treat arthrosis, as well as boils, abscesses, burns (especially infected), periculitis, colpitis (chronic form), ulcers, abscesses.
Typically, this product is applied under compresses or bandages, which should be changed at least three to five times a day.
The ointment is contraindicated in a number of cases: in case of intolerance to its components, in case of inflammation, when it is necessary to avoid suppuration, during active cleansing of wounds, in case of contaminated diseases.
Heparin ointment
This drug has an antithrombotic effect. The active ingredients of the ointment are: sodium heparin, benzyl nicotinate, benzocaine. The product acts on the inflamed area, gradually releasing heparin.
Apply the preparation only to the affected joints in a thin layer. Then gently rub in with massage movements. Apply up to three times a day until all symptoms of arthrosis disappear. The therapy usually takes three to seven days.
The main negative effects when using the ointment are: allergy, rash, swelling. It is not recommended to use in ulcerative necrotic processes, intolerance to components, skin surface disorders.
Traumeel ointment
This homeopathic remedy is widely used in the treatment of arthrosis. The active ingredients of the ointment are: arnica montana, calendula, echinacea, witch hazel, chamomilla, symphytum, bellis perennis, belladonna, hypericum, aconitum, millefolium.
The drug can be used from the age of three. Apply a small amount only to the affected areas two or three times a day. Rub in with light movements. Can be applied under a gauze bandage. The course of therapy is prescribed by the doctor individually.
In some cases, Traumeel ointment can cause various allergic reactions, in which case its use should be suspended. The drug is contraindicated if you have been diagnosed with: leukemia, tuberculosis, collagenosis, autoimmune diseases, multiple sclerosis, HIV, intolerance to components.
Ointment from Valentina Seimova for knee arthrosis
This ointment must be prepared independently. The main components are: natural beeswax, vegetable oil and yolk. To prepare, you need to find a clean enamel bowl, pour vegetable oil into it, add beeswax (a small piece in the shape of a matchbox) and put it on the fire. You need to wait until the wax melts completely.
While you are melting the wax, hard-boil one egg and take out half of the yolk. Crush the yolk with a fork until you get a homogeneous mass. Gradually throw the crushed yolk into the oil with wax. Stir. After that, strain the resulting product through cheesecloth and store in a cool place.
Lubricate the joints affected by arthrosis under gauze at night. The therapy is carried out until the main symptoms disappear.
Ointments for arthrosis of the knee joint
To cure arthrosis of the knee joint (gonarthrosis) it is recommended to use the following ointments.
Finalgel. This is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, the active component of which is considered to be piroxicam. The drug has a good analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. It is applied to the affected joints in a small dose (approximately like a hazelnut) three times in 24 hours. The course of therapy is individual and depends on the severity of the disease.
Very rarely, when using this drug, patients are diagnosed with shortness of breath, nausea, severe headaches, allergies. The ointment cannot be used in kidney diseases, in childhood (14 years), in the first trimester of pregnancy, intolerance to the components.
Finalgon. This drug has an analgesic and irritating effect. The active ingredients of the ointment are: nicoboxil and nonivamide.
Before treatment, the patient's individual reaction to the components of the product is assessed. To do this, the ointment is applied in a thin layer to a small area of skin. This is done to find out how much of the drug the patient needs for a sufficient warming effect.
The ointment comes with a special applicator. No more than 0.5 mm of the product is used for application, and rubbed in with light movements. Use up to three times a day. With long-term therapy, the effect of the ointment may decrease, so the doctor may increase the dose.
Side effects of the ointment include: paresthesia, anaphylactic reaction, burning sensation on the skin, shortness of breath, cough, allergy. Finalgon ointment is not recommended for people with intolerance to its main components, for children under 12 years of age.
Ointment for ankle arthrosis
For the treatment of ankle arthrosis, ointments are used that contain non-steroidal and steroid components. The most effective remedy today is considered to be "Deep Relief".
It is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug whose active ingredients are levomenthol and ibuprofen.
Apply up to four times a day in a small amount above the inflammation site and lightly rub into the skin. If the hands were not the object of treatment, they should be washed thoroughly after using the ointment. It is not recommended to use the drug for more than ten days.
No serious side effects from using the ointment have been identified. In some cases, allergic reactions on the skin may occur. Do not use the product during breastfeeding, pregnancy, damage to the integrity of the skin, bronchial asthma, intolerance to the components, up to 14 years of age.
Ointment for arthrosis of the foot
For arthrosis of the foot, a variety of ointments are used that help to combat the inflammatory process and improve the condition of the joint. The most popular drug in this area is "Viprosal B".
The ointment has an analgesic and irritating effect. It is based on the action of active components: camphor, salicylic acid, gum turpentine and the venom of the common viper.
Apply only to painful areas once a day in a small dose (approximately one teaspoon). If the pain is too strong, you can use it twice a day until the pain disappears.
The average course of therapy is ten days. If your condition has not improved during this time, you should consult a doctor.
In isolated cases, when using Viprosal B, patients develop allergic reactions. The drug is not recommended for use in active tuberculosis of the skin, skin infections, fever, liver and kidney failure, during pregnancy and lactation, as well as in case of intolerance to its components.
Ointments for hip joint arthrosis
To improve the patient's condition with hip arthrosis, doctors recommend using homeopathic remedies. The most popular among them is Dimexide ointment.
This drug has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. The main component is dimethyl sulfoxide. Can be used from the age of 12. It is necessary to apply up to two times a day to achieve maximum effect. Therapy continues for up to two weeks. If there is no relief by this time, you should consult a doctor.
The main side effects of Dimexide include: contact dermatitis, bad breath, allergies, pigmentation of the skin, burning and dryness. Do not use the drug in case of severe kidney and liver damage, angina, myocardial infarction, stroke, atherosclerosis, cataracts, glaucoma, under 12 years of age, during lactation and pregnancy.
Ointment for hand arthrosis
For arthrosis of the hands, a wide variety of ointments are used. The most effective of them is "Diclofenac".
This is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is based on the action of a phenylacetic acid derivative. It has anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and analgesic effects.
It is used in a small dose (up to 4 g), applied to the affected areas three to four times a day. The duration is determined by the attending physician and depends on the severity of the disease.
Diclofenac ointment has quite a few side effects that you should know about before using it. Patients often experience allergic reactions, vomiting and nausea, discomfort and pain in the abdomen, diarrhea or constipation, headaches and dizziness, depression, sleep disorders, anemia, kidney dysfunction, hair loss.
Do not use the drug if you are intolerant to any of the components, have erosive and ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, or have hematopoietic disorders.
Ointment for arthrosis of fingers
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are most often used for arthrosis of the fingers. In particular, the ointment "Dolgit" has received wide application.
The active ingredient of the drug is ibuprofen, due to which the ointment has a good analgesic effect. It also has an anti-inflammatory effect.
The ointment is applied to the affected skin in a thin layer, and then rubbed in with light massage movements until the preparation is completely absorbed into the skin. It is used up to four times a day. It can be used under bandages. The duration of treatment depends on the severity of the disease.
The main side effects from using the ointment are: allergies, bronchospasms, rash, skin swelling, tingling sensation. The drug should not be applied to wet wounds, eczema, abrasions and infected wounds, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, at an early age (up to one year).
Ointment for arthrosis of the shoulder joint
Treatment of arthrosis of the shoulder joint begins with the elimination of inflammation and pain relief. For this purpose, various ointments are used, among which special attention should be paid to the ointment "Nimesulide".
This is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is based on the action of a sulfonylide derivative (nimesulide). The dosage for adults is at least 100 mg of the drug twice a day. Children are recommended to use up to 1.5 mg two to three times a day.
In some cases, the ointment may cause side effects: heartburn, nausea, abdominal pain, headache, dizziness, allergies, oliguria.
The ointment should not be used in case of gastric and duodenal ulcers, acute gastrointestinal bleeding, renal and hepatic insufficiency, during pregnancy and lactation.
Pain-relieving ointments for arthrosis
The main components of pain-relieving ointments for arthrosis are those substances with which you can quickly relieve inflammation: naklofen, diclofenac, indomethacin, ketoprofen, nimesulide, ibuprofen, dimethyl sulfoxide. The doctor himself prescribes the duration, dosage and frequency of use of the drug depending on the severity of the disease and the individual characteristics of the patient's body.
The list of basic ointments for pain relief in arthrosis includes:
- Diclofenac ointment, which is based on the substance diclofenac (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug).
- Ointment "Fastum", which is based on the action of the active substance ketoprofen.
- Indomethacin ointment is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with indomethacin.
- Ointment "Nise", which is based on the action of the active substance nimesulide.
- The ointment "Dolobene", which has an anti-inflammatory effect, is based on the substance dimethyl sulfoxide.
- Dolgit ointment based on ibuprofen.
It is important to remember that all these products should not be used longer than described in the instructions or prescribed by the attending physician. The active ingredients of these ointments can also lead to undesirable negative effects if used for too long.
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Warming ointments for arthrosis
Such ointments have different effects, which depend on the active ingredients that are included in their composition. In warming ointments for arthrosis, you can find snake venom, bee venom, and extracts of medicinal plants.
The list of the most popular ointments with a warming effect includes the following preparations:
- Ointment "Apizatron", which is based on the action of bee venom.
- Voltaren ointment with snake venom.
- Ointment "Espole", which contains red pepper extract.
- Ointment "Menovazin".
- Ointment "Gevkamen", which is based on the action of essential oils of cloves, eucalyptus, and menthol.
- Niklofex ointment with salicylate, capsaicin and ethyl nicotine.
Such ointments should not be used on open wounds and abrasions, or if there is an allergy to some of the components that make up the preparations. They should also not be applied during a severe inflammatory process.
List of ointments for arthrosis with chondroitin
Among the most popular ointments for arthrosis with chondroitin, it is worth highlighting:
- Chondroitin-Akos is a product that helps improve metabolism in cartilage tissue. It is based on the action of the active substance chondroitin sulfate. It should be applied up to three times a day to the affected joints. Rub the drug in for about two minutes. The course of therapy can last from two weeks to two months. May cause allergic reactions. It cannot be used in case of acute inflammation in wounds, tissue necrosis, intolerance to the components.
- Artrin - this drug affects the metabolism of phosphorus and calcium in cartilage tissue. It is used up to two times a day for no more than two weeks. If there is no relief, you should consult a doctor. May cause allergies. The drug is not recommended for use in case of intolerance to the components, thrombophlebitis, bleeding tendency, during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Chondroxide - the product improves the regeneration of cartilage tissue, and also reduces inflammation. Relieves pain, swelling of the joint, stimulates its recovery. Apply up to three times a day over the affected joint. Rub in for up to two minutes until the ointment is completely absorbed. Duration of therapy is two weeks. May cause an allergic reaction. Do not use the drug if you are intolerant to its components.
Method of administration and dosage
Ointments for arthrosis are applied only to the affected areas of the skin in a thin layer. Sometimes they need to be rubbed in to improve efficiency. Therapy can last from ten days to two months, depending on the severity of the disease and individual characteristics.
Use of ointments for arthrosis during pregnancy
Most ointments for arthrosis can be taken during pregnancy with special care and only after a full examination by a doctor.
Contraindications for use and side effects of ointments for arthrosis
Before using ointments for arthrosis, it is necessary to carefully read the instructions, which describe contraindications for use. As a rule, all such drugs cannot be used if there is intolerance to their active substances, as well as in a number of other cases (renal and liver failure, abrasions, tissue necrosis, gastrointestinal ulcers).
Most often, when using ointments for arthrosis, the following side effects are detected:
- Allergic reactions (rash, itching, burning, contact dermatitis).
- Headaches and dizziness.
- Stomach upset, dyspepsia.
It is necessary to carefully study the instructions to be prepared for possible side effects.
Storage conditions and shelf life
Ointments for arthrosis should be stored in a place inaccessible to children, which is completely protected from light. At the same time, the air temperature should be from 2 to 20 degrees Celsius.
Usually, the shelf life of ointments for arthrosis is three years. Remember that you cannot use the drug after this period.
Attention!
To simplify the perception of information, this instruction for use of the drug "Ointments for osteoarthritis" translated and presented in a special form on the basis of the official instructions for medical use of the drug. Before use read the annotation that came directly to medicines.
Description provided for informational purposes and is not a guide to self-healing. The need for this drug, the purpose of the treatment regimen, methods and dose of the drug is determined solely by the attending physician. Self-medication is dangerous for your health.