Signs of arthrosis of the knee joint: causes, stages of the disease, how to treat it

Signs of arthrosis of the knee joint are often found in elderly people.Athletes and obese patients are also at risk.

Why does arthrosis of the knee joint occur?

Arthrosis is deformation of joint cartilage.Cartilage plays the role of shock absorbers and facilitates the movements of the human body.When they are destroyed, mobility gradually decreases and any load brings pain.Over time, the knee becomes completely immobile and the person may become disabled.

All cartilage thins and wears out with age, so the disease in various stages appears in 70-85% of people over 60 years old.First of all, these are overweight women.Other common causes of osteoarthritis:

• Intense sports and physical overload contribute to premature wear of cartilage at a young age.
• Injuries, fractures, dislocations.
• Genetic predisposition.
• Congenital disorders, lack of intra-articular fluid.
• A circulatory disorder in which the cartilage receives little oxygen and nutrients.
• Joint diseases associated with inflammation.
• Violation of hormone production and metabolism.

A type of arthrosis that affects the knee joint is called gonarthrosis, from the ancient Greek "goni" - knee.

Classification of arthrosis of the knee joint

In this condition, there are 3 stages, depending on the degree of development of arthrosis.The earlier the disease is detected, the more successful and simpler the treatment will be.Characteristics of different stages of arthrosis:

1. At this stage, bone deformation is not pronounced.Deviations are visible on X-rays, but few people pay attention to minor symptoms and come to the doctor.
2. Bone changes and thickening are visible on x-rays with the naked eye.Quality of life is reduced due to constant worry.
3. The patient is clearly limited in movement.Ligaments and cartilage are completely destroyed.

Many old people endure pain until the last moment and suffer from diseases, because they get used to the diseases of age and consider these symptoms as normal.However, in the initial stage you can cope with conservative methods, and in the final stage only surgery will help.

Main symptoms

The disease does not start suddenly, but develops over several years.A slight pain in the knee is initially felt only under heavy loads, when going up and down stairs.If arthrosis is not treated, over time the pain symptom becomes permanent, the knee joint takes an unnatural shape and outline, and the leg may bend to the right or left.

In phase 1

Long before arthrosis develops seriously, a person may begin to feel slight discomfort in the knee after walking.Occasionally, stiffness of movement and jerking occurs.These symptoms should not be overlooked, as with timely examination, treatment can be started and serious consequences can be prevented.

In phase 2

At this stage, the patient feels pain almost constantly.It is most pronounced in the morning, calms down after a short walk, but the condition worsens in the evening.The patient's gait slows down, accompanied by a constant creaking noise.Often, redness and swelling of the skin appear in the knee area, which indicates an inflammatory process.X-ray shows marked changes.

Diagnosing

An orthopedist examines and identifies arthrosis of the knee joint.Diagnosis includes laboratory and instrumental research methods.These include:

• Blood and urine tests.Show the level of hormones in the body and the presence of inflammation.
• Radiography.It helps in assessing the type of joint and determining the stage of the disease.
• Magnetic resonance imaging.It shows the condition of soft tissues, meniscus, cartilage, which is impossible with radiography.
• Ultrasound of joints.Like MRI, it shows the condition of the cartilage and surrounding tissues.It is a more subjective method, the result depends on the qualifications of the specialist.Therefore, ultrasound should be performed in addition to magnetic resonance.
• Personal inspection.Sometimes the doctor completely relies on the result of an X-ray or MRI and does not consider it necessary to check it himself.At the same time, manual examination can show missed details and identify comorbidities that also require treatment.

If gonarthrosis is suspected, it is preferable to carry out all examinations and be observed by a doctor in a specialized orthopedic clinic.

How to treat osteoarthritis of the knee joint

All treatment methods are selected individually and used in combination.You cannot use regular joint oil as self-medication, as its effect will be temporary and will not eliminate the cause of the disease.It is optimal to combine medication, physical therapy, proper nutrition and physiotherapy.

Hormonal drugs

Steroid medications have a wide range of effects on the body, including pain relief and anti-inflammatory.Such drugs are used as injections into the joints at the time of exacerbation of the disease to quickly relieve pain and swelling.Disadvantages of the method include side effects, limited frequency of use (preferably no more than once every 2 weeks).In addition, hormonal injections do not eliminate the causes of the disease, but relieve symptoms in combination with other methods and cannot be considered a complete treatment.

Chondroprotectors

This is a group of drugs that act on cartilage tissue, restoring and nourishing it, improving the quality of the lubricating fluid.

The most effective in the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint are preparations with glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.These substances are included in some medicines.

The attitude towards chondroprotectors among doctors and patients is unclear.Some patients, thanks to advertising, expect unrealistic fast results from the treatment.Not finding them, they become disappointed and begin to consider this group of drugs useless.

In fact, chondroprotectors require long-term course use in combination with other treatment methods.

These drugs are much more effective in stages 1-2 of the disease, and not when the cartilage tissue is already severely damaged.

Hyaluronic acid

Sodium hyaluronate is a natural moisturizing component produced in the human body.With intra-articular injections, hyaluronic acid deeply nourishes dry and thin cartilage, restores joint mobility and acts as an effective natural lubricant.Disadvantages of the method include the undesirability of use during periods of deterioration, inflammation and high price.At the same time, a well-designed course of hyaluronic acid can replace surgical intervention, which can be even more expensive.

ointment

Gels and ointments with analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect are not able to affect the cause of the disease, but they can greatly relieve the patient's condition.Warming preparations improve blood circulation, improve the nutrition of the diseased area and help the general treatment.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory ointments are widely used to relieve pain, despite the relatively small amount of the active substance that can penetrate the skin in the joint.

Diet therapy

Scientists have been studying the connection between eating certain foods and osteoarthritis for many years.It has been suggested that the increased risk of morbidity is influenced by the consumption of meat, processed foods and excess salt, but these assumptions have not been confirmed.The only thing that has to do with food and osteoarthritis is excess weight.Therefore, the principles of dietary therapy for this diagnosis are based on the general rules of healthy eating, as well as reducing and controlling body weight.

Recommendations for patients with knee arthrosis:

• Limit the consumption of ready-made food, fast food and give preference to home-made dishes made from simple products.
• Keep your salt intake within a healthy limit - no more than 1 teaspoon per day.
• Limit sweets, fatty foods, carbonated drinks and flour products.
• The diet should be varied, the majority should be fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy products, nuts, eggs (especially protein) and lean meat.
• With your doctor's recommendation, you can take a complex of vitamins and dietary supplements.

If a patient with knee arthrosis is already overweight, he should consult a nutritionist.The specialist will be able to give advice based on the patient's age, lifestyle and other indicators.

Folk remedies for the treatment of arthrosis

In folk medicine, infusions, decoctions, compresses from medicinal herbs and other ingredients are used to treat joints.With the doctor's permission, these drugs can complement the main treatment, or be used to prevent gonarthrosis, at the first signs of discomfort and arthrosis of the knee joint.

Some popular recipes:

• Rubbing turpentine.Mix the yolk, a teaspoon of turpentine, a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.Rub the mixture on the affected area at night, wrapping it in a woolen cloth.Use 1-2 times a week.
• Honey and mumiyo.For 100 g of honey you should add 3-4 g of mumiyo.Rub it on your knees before bed.
• Dandelion infusion.To prepare half a liter of alcohol or vodka, pour it into a dark glass container.Fill with yellow heads and leave in a cool place for at least a month.Rub the strained product on the sore area before going to bed.

Such recipes help relieve pain and inflammation in complex treatment, but do not replace it.Illiterate self-medication can worsen your condition.

Massage

Manual and hardware massage, manual therapy are perfect for overweight, sedentary people with arthrosis.If there is excessive accumulation of fluid in the joint, lymphatic drainage is indicated.All types of massage go well with physiotherapy and are used to relax muscles after exercise.Contraindications for massage are acute inflammation.

Physiotherapy

Many types of procedures that use heat, cold, electric current, ultrasound and laser rays slow down the progression of arthrosis, improve blood circulation in the diseased area and have an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect.

Most often, the doctor prescribes:

1. Shock wave therapy.The method involves specifically directing sound waves to the area of the diseased joint.This effect relieves swelling, improves cartilage nutrition and destroys salt deposits.The most effective method of physiotherapy for arthrosis.
2. Myostimulation.Electrical impulses relieve muscle spasms and tension and maintain the mobility of the knee joint.
3. Phonophoresis.This therapy combines the local effects of ointments and ultrasound gel.Due to this, the penetration of useful substances into the skin increases.

Less commonly used are cryotherapy, paraffin therapy, laser therapy, magnetic therapy and other techniques.

Kinesitherapy

Popular techniques include physical therapy and joint traction.The complex of exercise therapy is prescribed individually by a rehabilitation doctor.May include exercises using weights, medical equipment and gymnastics for independent performance.Some exercises should be done in the morning, while you are still in bed, others - 3-4 times a day.The effectiveness of therapeutic exercises depends mainly on the responsibility of the patient and his desire to recover.When performed correctly, such physical training helps stop deterioration and prevent surgery.

A special orthopedic device is used for traction.The method allows you to widen the gap between the joints, reduce their friction and the load on the injured knee.

Surgical treatment

Surgery for arthrosis is a method to affect the cause of the disease, and not just the symptoms.It is used in stages 2-3 of arthrosis, when other methods are ineffective.There are several intervention options:

1. Arthroscopy.Modern methods make it possible to perform the operation through small incisions with thin instruments under the supervision of a video camera.This type of surgery is easier to tolerate and recovery is faster.During the operation, the surgeon removes parts of the cartilage and fibers of the destroyed tissue.
2. Daughter.Refers to low trauma interventions.It involves pumping excess fluid from the joint with a syringe.It allows you to relieve swelling, inflammation and increase mobility.
3. Endoprosthetics.If in the last stage of arthrosis the joint is already severely damaged, it can be replaced with a titanium that is compatible with the body.This is the most extensive intervention, followed by long-term rehabilitation.They turn to her in the most difficult cases, when there are no other options.

To avoid surgery, you should monitor your health and start treating diseases at their beginnings.There is no need to endure for years and drown the pain in the knee joint and other signs of arthrosis with painkillers.

Preventive measures for arthrosis of the knee joint

You should start taking care of the health of your knee joints early.The older you are, the more preventative measures you should take.Athletes and overweight people should pay special attention to the musculoskeletal system.

To prevent arthrosis of the knee joint, you should:

• Choose sports and loads correctly, based on your abilities.
• Wear comfortable, high-quality shoes with low heels.
• Swimming, which equally strains and relaxes all muscles and joints.
• Avoid joint injuries and complete their treatment.
• Avoid excessive weight gain and keep it normal.

In addition to lifestyle adjustments, timely treatment of congenital features of joint development, for example, various deformities and dislocations, is important.

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint can occur not only in the elderly, but also in young patients.The disease takes a long time to develop and with the right approach it is possible to recover and avoid serious health consequences.