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 the elderly.Athletes and obese patients are also at risk.

Why does arthrosis of the knee joint occur?

Arthrosis is a deformation of the cartilage of the joints.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 immobilized and the person may remain disabled.

All cartilage thins and wears out with age, so the disease in various stages occurs 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 the premature wear of cartilage at a young age.
• Injuries, fractures, dislocations.
• Genetic predisposition.
• Congenital anomalies, lack of intra-articular fluid.
• A circulatory disorder in which the cartilage receives little oxygen and nutrients.
• Joint diseases accompanied by inflammation.
• Disruption 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

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

1. At this stage, the bone deformity is not pronounced.Abnormalities are noticeable 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 decreases due to constant discomfort.
3. The patient is significantly limited in movement.Ligaments and cartilages are completely destroyed.

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

Main symptoms

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

At stage 1

Long before osteoarthritis develops seriously, a person may begin to feel slight discomfort in the knee after walking.Sometimes there is stiffness of movements and crunching.These symptoms should not be ignored, because with a timely examination, treatment can be started and serious consequences can be prevented.

In stage 2

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

Diagnosis

The orthopedist examines and identifies arthrosis of the knee joint.Diagnostics 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 to assess the type of joint and determine the stage of the disease.
• Nuclear magnetic resonance.It shows the state of soft tissues, meniscus, cartilage, which is impossible with radiography.
• Ultrasound of the joints.Like an MRI, it shows the condition of the cartilage and surrounding tissue.This is a more subjective method, the result depends on the qualification of the specialist.Therefore, ultrasound should be performed as an adjunct to MRI.
• Personal check.Sometimes the doctor completely relies on the result of an X-ray or MRI and does not consider it necessary to recheck it himself.At the same time, a manual examination can show missed details and identify co-morbidities that also require treatment.

If gonarthrosis is suspected, it is preferable to perform all the tests and be monitored by a doctor in a specialized orthopedic clinic.

How to treat arthrosis of the knee joint

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

Hormonal drugs

Steroid drugs have a wide range of effects on the body, including anti-inflammatory and pain relief.Such drugs are used as injections into the joint during an exacerbation of the disease to quickly relieve pain and swelling.The 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 the symptoms in combination with other methods and cannot be considered a complete treatment.

Chondroprotectors

This is a group of drugs that act on the 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 many medicines.

The attitude towards chondroprotectors among doctors and patients is ambiguous.Some patients, thanks to advertising, expect unrealistically fast treatment results.Not finding them, they get frustrated and begin to consider this group of drugs useless.

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

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 that is produced in the human body.With intra-articular injections, hyaluronic acid deeply nourishes dry, thinned cartilage, restores joint mobility and acts as an effective natural lubricant.The disadvantages of the method include the undesirability of use during periods of exacerbation, inflammation and high cost.At the same time, a well-developed course of hyaluronic acid can replace surgical intervention, which can be even more expensive.

Ointments

Gels and ointments with an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect are not able to affect the cause of the disease, but they can significantly alleviate the patient's condition.Warming preparations improve blood circulation, strengthen the nutrition of the affected area and support the overall treatment.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory ointments are widely used to relieve pain, despite the relatively small amount of active substance that can penetrate through the skin into the joint.

Diet therapy

Scientists have studied the relationship between eating certain foods and joint osteoarthritis for many years.It has been suggested that the increased risk of disease is influenced by the consumption of meat, processed foods and excess salt, but these assumptions have not been confirmed.The only thing that has a connection between food and osteoarthritis is being overweight.Therefore, the principles of diet therapy in 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 foods, fast food and give preference to home-cooked meals from simple products.
• Maintain a healthy salt intake limit of no more than 1 teaspoon per day.
• Limit sweets, fatty foods, carbonated drinks and flour products.
• The diet should be varied, with most of it being fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products, nuts, eggs (especially protein), and lean meats.
• On the recommendation of your doctor, you can take a complex of vitamins and nutritional supplements.

If the patient with arthrosis of the knee is already overweight, a nutritionist should be consulted.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, tinctures, decoctions, compresses from medicinal herbs and other components are used to treat joints.With the doctor's permission, these drugs can supplement the main treatment or be used for the prevention of gonarthrosis at the first signs of discomfort and arthrosis of the knee joint.

A few folk recipes:

• Turpentine rubbing.Mix the egg yolk, one teaspoon of turpentine, one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.The mixture is rubbed into the sore spot overnight, wrapping it with a woolen cloth.Use 1-2 times a week.
• Honey and mummy.For 100 g of honey, you need to add 3-4 g of mumio.Rub into knees before bed.
• Dandelion infusion.To prepare half a liter of alcohol or vodka, pour into a container of dark glass.Fill it with yellow heads and refrigerate for at least a month.Rub the strained remedy into the sore spot 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 apparatus massage, manual therapy are ideal for overweight people, sedentary people with arthrosis.If there is excess fluid accumulation in the joint, lymphatic drainage is indicated.All types of massage go well with physical therapy and are used to relax muscles after exercise.Contraindications for massage are acute inflammations.

Physiotherapy

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

Most often, the doctor prescribes:

1. Shock wave therapy.The method involves special targeting of 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 spasms and muscle tension and maintain the mobility of the knee joint.
3. Phonophoresis.This therapy combines the local effect of ointments and gels with ultrasound.Due to this, the penetration of useful substances into the skin increases.

Cryotherapy, paraffin therapy, laser therapy, magnetotherapy and other techniques are used less frequently.

Kinesitherapy

Popular techniques include physical therapy and joint traction.The complex of exercises is prescribed individually by a rehabilitator.It can include weight training, medical devices, and self-paced gymnastics.Some exercises should be done in the morning while still in bed, others - 3-4 times a day.The effectiveness of therapeutic exercises largely depends on the responsibility of the patient and his desire to recover.When done correctly, such physical training helps to stop deterioration and prevent surgery.

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

Surgical treatment

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

1. Arthroscopy.Modern methods allow the operation to be performed 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 destroyed cartilage and tissue fibers.
2. Puncture.It refers to low traumatic interventions.This involves pumping excess fluid out of the joint with a syringe.It allows you to relieve swelling, inflammation and increase mobility.
3. Endoprosthetics.If at the last stage of arthrosis the joint is already severely damaged, it can be replaced with a titanium one that is compatible with the body.This is the most extensive intervention followed by long-term rehabilitation.They resort to it in the most difficult cases, when there are no other options.

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

Preventive measures for arthrosis of the knee joint

You need to 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 the right sport and load, based on your capabilities.
• Wear comfortable, high-quality shoes with low heels.
• Swimming that evenly loads 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 correction, timely treatment of congenital characteristics of joint development, for example, various deformities and dislocations, is important.

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