Osteoarthritis - in any joint that is localized - is a degenerative-dystrophic change in the cartilaginous tissue of the ankle. The term "arthro" itself means that the pathology of the disease is not inflammatory in nature. Often in diagnoses write "gonarthrosis".
The prefix "gon-" indicates the location of the lesion - this term means knee translated from the Greek. In some cases, the term "osteoarthritis" is used - this name is better known to English and American doctors.
Gonarthrosis most often develops in women over 40 years old. Factors that increase the likelihood of developing the disease are obesity and hormonal disappearance. The disease can develop both unilaterally and bilaterally.
The disease can develop up to 40 years. In young people, deforming knee osteoarthritis is most often caused by injuries.
With gonarthrosis, the cartilage is initially covered with microcracks, then becomes thinner and layered. When you bend 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.
Knee gonarthrosis - symptoms
The symptoms of the disease depend on the degree of the lesion. But there is also a common symptom - pain.
It grows gradually.
Class 1 is characterized by mild painful sensations that occur when the load on the knee joint increases. A small discharge may appear - accumulation of fluid in the joint cavity. At rest, the pain goes away, there are no external changes in the knee, sometimes edema forms, which also disappears on its own.
With grade 2 gonarthrosis, the pain appears not only after exercise. At rest, discomfort may occur after changing the position of the lower limbs. Now the knee joint needs a long rest. The knee swells periodically and when bent, a crack may appear. Bending and unrolling of the foot becomes problematic. If synovitis or bursitis develops against the background of osteoarthritis - the accumulation of synovial fluid in the articular cavity or bursa (bursa) - the knee swells and becomes hyperemic.
X-rays show significant damage to cartilage tissue, narrowing of the joint space, initial deformation of the bones.
With 3 degrees gonarthrosis, the severity of symptoms increases. The foot is already bent with difficulty, the maximum flexion is 130-1400. . . The deformation of the joint is already expressed from the outside. The pain does not subside during rest, it becomes almost constant. It is impossible to fall asleep without pain relievers.
Radiography shows a narrowed joint space, deformed joint bones, numerous osteophytes (thorns appearing due to salt deposits) in the joint cavity.
Lack of treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee joint significantly worsens the quality of life - loses the ability to stand upright.
Causes of gonarthrosis of the knee joint
The disease can be caused by the following reasons.
- Injuries: dislocations, fractures, muscle spasms and ruptures of ligaments in the joint area, meniscus injury.
- Illiterate treatment of injuries - prolonged immobilization or lack of medication to restore blood supply to the therapeutic regimen causes a violation of joint trophism.
- Increased stress during sports or professional activities.
- Obesity. The most rapid development of osteoarthritis occurs when overweight is combined 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 provoked 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 beneficial substances in the required volume.
- Inadequate nutrition - including diets - does not provide enough nutrients from food.
- Hormonal changes.
- Emotional and stressful instability.
- Bad habits - smoking, drug use and alcohol.
- Hypothermia.
- Intoxication of the body.
The last 2 points cause recurrence of osteoarthritis, as they worsen the general condition of the body.
Knee gonarthrosis - 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 examinations - x-ray (required), CT, MRI.
An ultrasound scan may be required to assess the condition of the blood vessels.
Usually, osteoarthritis of the knee is treated at home - hospital referral is in most cases required for patients who are recommended surgery - removal of the damaged joint capsule and endoprosthetics. If the disease begins to be treated in stages 1-2, then it can be brought to a state of remission by conservative methods.
The following therapeutic measures and medications are prescribed:
- Immobilization of the affected limb during irritation.
- Elimination of pain with drugs of different groups:
- NVPS;
- analgesics, including those containing narcotic ingredients - they are used once for intolerable pain;
- anesthetics in the form of injections.
- The most commonly prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They are made in different forms - like creams, ointments, suppositories, injections, solutions; you can use them as you wish.
- Corticosteroids are used - they are also injected into the joint cavity.
- Muscle relaxants are used to eliminate soft tissue spasm and restore trophism.
- Prescribe drugs that restore the peripheral blood supply.
- Vitamin therapy - B vitamins are administered in the form of injections.
- Chondroprotectors are used to stop bone deformation and restore cartilage tissue. In the initial stage, they are injected into the articular cavity, 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 movement in the lower limb.
Modern treatment of osteoarthritis is complemented by the following methods
Ozone therapy (against the background of glucocorticoid treatment). Injections of saline solution, enriched with ozone, are injected into the affected joint, which causes the trophism to return and the pain to be eliminated.
Kinesitherapy. Special exercises help to restore the amplitude of the affected node - the load is selected individually for each patient.
Home treatment with folk remedies can not eliminate osteoarthritis of the knee joint, but helps to keep it in remission for a long time.
Popular remedies for external action are ointments and rubs, which are made at home from natural products and medicines that have a local irritating effect. The knee joint is rubbed with alcoholic tinctures filled with chili pepper, horseradish and onion peel. Cabbage compresses and a honey cake are applied to the knee, the foot flies in the coniferous bath 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 daily menu;
- give up hot spices;
- reduce the amount of purine-rich foods;
- increase the amount of fermented milk and plant foods (excluding sorrel, legumes, spinach);
- to extend the drinking regime.
Only a comprehensive treatment of gonarthrosis will help eliminate painful sensations in the joints and lead the disease to long-term remission.