Osteoarthritis - regardless of the joint where it is located - is a degenerative-dystrophic change in the cartilage tissue of the joint. The term "arthro" itself means that the pathology of the disease is not inflammatory in nature. Often in diagnoses they write "knee osteoarthritis".
The prefix "gon-" indicates the location of the lesion - this term means knee in translation from Greek. In some cases, the term "osteoarthritis" is used - this name is more familiar to English and American doctors.
Knee osteoarthritis develops more often in women over 40. The factors that increase the likelihood of the onset of the disease are obesity and hormonal extinction. The disease can develop unilaterally and bilaterally.
The disease can develop up to 40 years. In young people, deforming osteoarthritis of the knee is more often caused by injury.
With knee osteoarthritis, the cartilage is first covered with microcracks, then it thins and stratifies. When bending the knee, pain appears, which gradually increases. If with gonarthrosis of the knee joint you do not start treatment at the first signs, you may limp and then completely lose the ability to move.
Gonarthrosis of the knee - symptoms
Symptoms of the disease depend on the extent of the lesion. But there is also a common symptom - pain.
It grows gradually.
Grade 1 is characterized by mild painful sensations that occur when the load on the knee joint is increased. Minor effusion may appear - the accumulation of fluid in the joint cavity. At rest, the pain goes away, there are no external changes in the knee, sometimes edemas are formed, which also go away on their own.
With 2nd degree knee osteoarthritis, the pain does not appear only after exertion. At rest, discomfort may occur after a change in the position of the lower limb. Now the knee joint needs a long rest. The knee periodically swells, and when bent, a crunch may appear. Bending and unfolding the leg becomes problematic. If synovitis or bursitis develops against the background of osteoarthritis - the accumulation of synovial fluid in the joint cavity or bursa (bursa) - the knee swells and becomes hyperemic.
The x-ray shows significant damage to cartilage tissue, narrowing of the joint space, initial deformation of the bones.
With 3 degrees of knee osteoarthritis, the severity of symptoms increases. The leg is already bent with difficulty, the maximum flexion is 130-1400. . . The deformation of the joint is already expressed on the outside. The pain does not subside with rest, it becomes almost constant. It is impossible to fall asleep without pain relievers.
The x-ray shows a narrowed joint space, deformed joint bones, many osteophytes (spines that appear due to salt deposits) in the joint cavity.
The lack of treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee joint significantly worsens the quality of life - the ability to stand is lost.
Causes of gonarthrosis of the knee joint
The disease can be triggered by the following reasons.
- Injuries: dislocations, fractures, muscle sprains and ligament tears in the joint, meniscus injury.
- Illiterate treatment of injuries - prolonged immobilization or the absence of drugs to restore blood supply in the treatment regimen causes a violation of the trophism of the joint.
- Increased stress during sports or professional activities.
- Obesity. The fastest development of osteoarthritis appears when obesity is associated with varicose veins - a violation of soft tissue trophism + a constant increased load.
- Violation of the structure of the ligament apparatus, its injuries.
- Inflammatory processes in the body of various etiologies that provoke the development of arthritis. Against the background of arthritis - an inflammatory process - osteoarthritis develops in the future.
- Disruption of metabolic processes in the body, which does not allow the absorption of useful substances in the required volume.
- Inappropriate nutrition - including diets - not enough nutrients from food.
- Hormonal changes.
- Emotional instability and stressors.
- Bad habits - smoking, drug and alcohol use.
- Hypothermia.
- Intoxication of the body.
The last 2 points cause relapses of osteoarthritis, as they worsen the general condition of the body.
Gonarthrosis of the knee - treatment
Diagnosis of the disease consists of several stages:
- collection of anamnesis;
- visual inspection;
- laboratory tests - general and specific blood and urine tests;
- diagnostic equipment and examinations - Radiography (compulsory), CT, MRI.
An ultrasound may be necessary to assess the condition of the vessels.
Usually, osteoarthritis of the knee is treated at home - referral to a hospital is in most cases required for patients recommended for surgery - excision of the damaged joint capsule and stent graft. If the disease begins to be treated in stages 1-2, it can be brought to a state of remission by conservative methods.
The following therapeutic measures and drugs are prescribed:
- Immobilization of the affected limb during the exacerbation.
- Elimination of pain with drugs of various groups:
- NVPS;
- pain relievers, including those with narcotic ingredients - they are used once for intolerable pain;
- anesthetics in the form of injections.
- The most commonly prescribed nonsteroidal drugs. They are made in various forms - such as cream, ointment, suppositories, injections, solutions; you can use them as you want.
- Corticosteroids are used - they are also injected into the joint cavity.
- To eliminate soft tissue spasms and restore trophism, muscle relaxants are used.
- Prescribe medications that restore the peripheral blood supply.
- Vitamin therapy - B vitamins are given as injections.
- To stop bone deformation and restore cartilage tissue, chondroprotectors are used. At the initial stage, they are injected into the joint cavity, and then taken in the form of tablets. The course of treatment is long - up to 6 months.
- Physiotherapy: paraffin, ozokerite, hydrocortisone electrophoresis, exposure to currents of different frequencies, magnetotherapy.
- Massage.
- Physiotherapy exercises - otherwise, it is impossible to restore the movement of the lower extremity.
Modern treatment of osteoarthritis is supplemented by the following methods
Ozone therapy (against the background of glucocosteroid therapy). Injections of saline solution, enriched with ozone, are injected into the affected joint, which causes the restoration of trophism and the elimination of pain.
Physiotherapy. Special exercises help to restore the amplitude of the affected joint - the load is selected individually for each patient.
Home treatment with folk remedies cannot eliminate osteoarthritis of the knee joint, but it helps to keep it in remission for a long time.
Folk remedies for external action are ointments and rubs, which are made at home from natural products and remedies with a local irritant effect. The knee joint is rubbed with alcohol tinctures infused with hot pepper, horseradish and onion peels. Compresses of white cabbage and honey cake are applied to the knee, the leg flies in coniferous baths or infusion of comfrey.
When treating osteoarthritis of the knee joint, it is necessary to follow a special diet - it is necessary:
- reduce the amount of salt in the daily menu;
- abandon the hot spices;
- reduce the amount of foods high in purines;
- increase the amount of fermented milk and plant foods (excluding sorrel, legumes, spinach);
- to extend the drinking regimen.
Only comprehensive treatment of knee osteoarthritis will help eliminate painful sensations in the joint and lead the disease to long-term remission.