Knee osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis - in whatever joint 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 of an inflammatory nature. Often they write "osteoarthritis of the knee" in the diagnoses.

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.

Gonarthrosis is more common in women over 40 years of age. Factors that make the disease more likely to break out include obesity and hormonal extinction. The disease can develop unilaterally and bilaterally.

The disease can develop up to 40 years of age. In young people, deforming osteoarthritis of the knee is more often caused by injuries.

In osteoarthritis of the knee, the cartilage is initially covered with microcracks, then it becomes thinner and layered. When bending the knee, there is pain, which gradually increases. If you do not start treatment at the first signs of osteoarthritis of the knee joint, you can limp and then lose mobility completely.

Knee osteoarthritis - symptoms

The symptoms of the disease depend on the extent of the lesion. But there is also one 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. A slight effusion may occur - the accumulation of fluid in the joint cavity. At rest, the pain goes away, there are no external changes in the knee, sometimes an edema forms, which also disappears on its own.

With 2nd degree osteoarthritis of the knee, pain does not only occur after exertion. Discomfort may arise at rest after changing the position of the lower extremity. Now the knee joint needs a long break. The knee regularly swells, and a crunch may occur when it is bent. Bending and bending the leg becomes problematic. When synovitis or bursitis develops against a background of osteoarthritis - the accumulation of synovial fluid in the joint cavity or bursa (bursa) - the knee swells and becomes hyperemic.

X-ray shows significant damage to the cartilage tissue, narrowing of the joint space, initial deformation of the bones.

At 3 degrees osteoarthritis of the knee, the severity of the symptoms increases. The leg is already bent with difficulty, the maximum bending is 130-140⁰. . . The deformity of the joint is already expressed externally. The pain does not subside in rest, it becomes almost constant. Falling asleep without pain medication is not possible.

The x-ray shows a narrowed joint space, deformed joint bones, numerous osteophytes (spines that are formed by salt deposits) in the joint cavity.

A lack of treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee joint significantly worsens the quality of life - the ability to maintain an upright posture is lost.

Causes of osteoarthritis of the knee joint

The disease can be triggered by the following reasons.

1. Injuries: dislocations, fractures, muscle sprains and torn ligaments in the joint area, meniscus injuries.
2. Illiterate treatment of injuries - prolonged immobilization or the absence of drugs to restore blood supply in the therapeutic scheme leads to a violation of joint trophism.
3. Increased stress during sports or professional activities.
4. Obesity. The fastest development of osteoarthritis occurs when obesity is combined with varicose veins - a violation of soft tissue trophism + an ever-increasing load.
5. Violation of the structure of the ligamentous apparatus, its injuries.
6. Inflammatory processes in the body of various etiologies that provoked the development of arthritis. Against the background of arthritis - an inflammatory process - osteoarthritis develops in the future.
7. Disruption of metabolic processes in the body, which does not allow the absorption of useful substances in the required volume.
8. Inappropriate nutrition - including dieting - not getting enough nutrients from food.
9. Hormonal changes.
10. Emotional instability and stressors.
11. Bad habits - smoking, drug and alcohol use.
12. Hypothermia.
13. Poisoning of the body.

The last 2 points cause osteoarthritis relapses as they worsen the general condition of the body.

Knee osteoarthritis treatment

The diagnosis of the disease consists of several stages:

• Collection of anamnesis;
• Visual inspection;
• Laboratory tests - general and specific blood and urine tests;
• Hardware and diagnostic exams - X-ray (required), CT, MRI.

An ultrasound scan may be needed to assess the condition of the vessels.

As a rule, knee osteoarthritis is treated at home - if surgery is recommended, referral to a hospital is required in most cases - excision of the damaged joint capsule and endoprosthetics. If the disease is treated in stages 1-2, it can be brought into a state of remission by conservative methods.

The following therapeutic measures and drugs are prescribed:

1. Immobilize the affected limb during the exacerbation.
2. Elimination of pain with drugs of different groups:
• NVPS;
• Analgesics, including those containing narcotic ingredients - they are used once for excruciating pain;
• Anesthetics in the form of injections.
• The most commonly prescribed non-steroidal drugs. They are made in various forms - such as cream, ointment, suppositories, injections, solutions; You can use them as you like.
• Corticosteroids are used - they are also injected into the joint cavity.
• To eliminate spasms of soft tissues and restore trophism, muscle relaxants are used.
• Prescribe drugs that restore the peripheral blood supply.
• Vitamin therapy - B vitamins are given in the form of injections.
• Chondroprotectors are used to stop bone deformation and restore cartilage tissue. 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, electrophoresis with hydrocortisone, exposure to currents of different frequencies, magnetic field therapy.
• Massage.
• Physiotherapy exercises - otherwise it will be impossible to restore movement in the lower extremity.

Modern osteoarthritis treatment is supplemented by the following methods

Ozone therapy (against the background of glucocosteroid treatment). Injections of saline solution enriched with ozone are injected into the affected joint, which restores trophism and relieves pain.

Kinesitherapy. Special exercises will help restore the amplitude of the affected joint - the load is selected individually for each patient.

Home treatment with folk remedies can not get rid of osteoarthritis of the knee joint, but will help keep it in remission for a long time.

Folk remedies for external action are ointments and rubs, made at home from products and natural remedies that have a local irritant effect. The knee joint is rubbed with alcoholic tinctures enriched with hot pepper, horseradish and onion peel. White cabbage compresses and a honey cake are applied to the knee, the leg floats in needle baths or comfrey infusion.

When treating osteoarthritis of the knee joint, it is necessary to adhere to a special diet - it is necessary:

• reduce the amount of salt in the menu of the day;
• do without hot spices;
• reduce the amount of foods rich in purine;
• increase the amount of fermented milk and plant foods (except sorrel, legumes, spinach);
• to expand the drinking regime.

Only comprehensive treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee will help eliminate painful sensations in the joint and bring the disease to long-term remission.