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

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

Why does arthrosis of the knee joint occur?

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

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

• Intense sports and physical overload contribute to premature cartilage wear 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 accompanied by inflammation.
• Violation of hormone production and metabolism.

The 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 simpler the treatment will be.Characteristics of different stages of arthrosis:

1. In this phase, bone deformation 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 is reduced due to constant discomfort.
3. The patient is significantly limited in movement.Ligaments and cartilage are completely destroyed.

Many elderly people endure pain until the last moment and suffer from diseases because they have become accustomed to age-related diseases and consider these symptoms to be normal.However, in the initial stage, you can cope with conservative methods, and in the last 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 during heavy loads, when climbing and descending stairs.If arthrosis is not treated, over time the pain becomes permanent, the knee joint takes on an unnatural shape and contours, and the leg can bend to the right or left.

In phase 1

Long before osteoarthritis develops seriously, a person may begin to feel slight discomfort in the knee after walking.Stiffness of movement and creaking occur occasionally.These symptoms should not be ignored, because with a timely examination, treatment can be started and serious consequences can be prevented.

In phase 2

In this phase, the patient feels almost constant pain.It is most pronounced in the morning, it subsides after a short walk, but the condition worsens in the evening.The patient's gait slows down, accompanied by constant crunching.Redness and swelling of the skin often appear in the knee area, which indicates an inflammatory process.X-ray shows pronounced changes.

Diagnostics

An orthopedist examines and identifies arthrosis of the knee joint.Diagnostics includes laboratory and instrumental research methods.This includes:

• 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.
• Magnetic resonance.It shows the condition of soft tissues, meniscus, cartilage, which is impossible with radiography.
• Ultrasound of joints.Like MRI, it shows the condition of cartilage and surrounding tissues.It is a more subjective method, the result depends on the qualifications of the expert.That is why ultrasound should be used in addition to magnetic resonance.
• Personal review.Sometimes the doctor completely relies on the result of the X-ray or magnetic resonance and does not consider it necessary to check it himself.At the same time, a manual examination can show details that have been missed and identify co-morbidities that also require treatment.

If gonarthrosis is suspected, it is advisable to undergo all examinations and be under the supervision of 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, because its effect will be temporary and will not remove the cause of the disease.It is optimal to combine medicines, physical therapy, proper nutrition and physiotherapy.

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 at the time of exacerbation of the disease for rapid relief of pain and swelling.Disadvantages of the method include side effects, limited frequency of use (preferably no more than once every 2 weeks).In addition, hormone injections do not eliminate the causes of the disease, but alleviate the symptoms in combination with other methods and cannot be considered a complete treatment.

Chondroprotectors

This is a group of drugs that act on cartilaginous tissue, restore and nourish 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 several medicines.

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

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

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

Hyaluronic acid

Sodium hyaluronate is a natural moisturizing component 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.Disadvantages of the method include the undesirability of use in periods of deterioration, inflammation and high cost.At the same time, a well-designed course of hyaluronic acid can replace surgical intervention, which can be more expensive.

Fats

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

Diet therapy

For years, scientists have studied the connection between the consumption of certain foods and arthrosis of the joints.It is assumed that the increased risk of morbidity is influenced by the consumption of meat, processed food and excess salt, but these assumptions have not been confirmed.The only thing that has anything to do with food and arthritis is excess weight.Therefore, the principles of dietary therapy for this diagnosis are based on the general rules of a healthy diet, as well as on 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-cooked meals made from simple products.
• Stay within the limits of a healthy norm of salt intake - no more than 1 teaspoon per day.
• Limit sweets, fatty foods, carbonated drinks and flour products.
• The diet should be varied, mostly fruits, vegetables, cereals, dairy products, nuts, eggs (especially protein) and lean meat.
• You can take a complex of vitamins and dietary supplements according to the doctor's recommendation.

If a patient with knee arthrosis 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, infusions, decoctions, herbal compresses and other components are used to treat joints.With the doctor's permission, these drugs can supplement the main treatment, or be used to prevent gonarthrosis, at the first signs of discomfort and arthrosis of the knee joint.

A few folk recipes:

• Rubbing with turpentine.Mix egg yolks, one teaspoon of turpentine, one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.Rub the mixture into the affected area overnight, wrapping it in a woolen cloth.Use 1-2 times a week.
• Honey and mummy.It is necessary to add 3-4 g of mummy to 100 g of honey.Rub into knees before bed.
• Dandelion infusion.To prepare, pour half a liter of alcohol or vodka into a dark glass container.Fill it with yellow heads and leave it in a cool place for at least a month.Rub the strained product into the painful area before going to bed.

Such prescriptions 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 obese, sedentary people with arthrosis.If excess fluid accumulates in the joint, lymphatic drainage is indicated.All types of massage go well with physical therapy and are used to relax muscles after training.Contraindications for massage are acute inflammation.

Physiotherapy

Numerous types of procedures using heat, cold, electric current, ultrasound and laser beams slow down the progression of arthrosis, improve blood circulation in the diseased area, have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.

Most often, the doctor prescribes:

1. Shock wave therapy.The method involves specifically directing sound waves to the area of the affected 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 mobility of the knee joint.
3. Phonophoresis.This therapy combines the local effects of ointments and gels with ultrasound.This increases the penetration of useful substances into the skin.

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

Kinesitherapy

Popular techniques include physical therapy and joint traction.The exercise therapy complex is prescribed individually by the rehabilitation doctor.It can include exercises with weights, medical devices 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 largely depends on the patient's responsibility and desire for recovery.When done properly, 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 load on the painful knee.

Surgical treatment

Arthrosis surgery is a method of influencing 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 intervention options:

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 bear and the recovery is faster.During the operation, the surgeon removes pieces of destroyed cartilage and tissue fibers.
2. Puncture.It refers to low-traumatic interventions.It involves pumping excess fluid out of the joint using a syringe.It helps reduce swelling, inflammation and increase mobility.
3. Endoprosthetics.If in the last stage of arthrosis the joint is already seriously 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 the very beginning.There is no need to endure pain in the knee joint and other signs of arthrosis with painkillers for years.

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 preventive measures are needed.Athletes and overweight people should pay special attention to the musculoskeletal system.

To prevent arthrosis of the knee joint, you must:

• Choose sports and loads correctly, based on your capabilities.
• Use comfortable, high-quality shoes with a low heel.
• Swimming, which evenly 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 innate characteristics 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.