Osteoarthritis - in whatever joint it is localized - is a degenerative-dystrophic alteration of the cartilage tissue of the joint. The term "arthro" itself means that the pathology of the disease is not inflammatory in nature. Often in the diagnosis they write "gonarthrosis".
The prefix "gon-" indicates the location of the lesion - this term means knee in translation from the Greek. In some cases, the term "osteoarthritis" is used - this name is more familiar to British and American doctors.
Gonarthrosis most often develops in women over the age of 40. Factors that increase the likelihood of the onset of the disease are obesity and hormonal extinction. The disease can develop as one-sided and bilateral.
The disease can develop up to 40 years of age. In young people, deforming osteoarthritis of the knee is most often caused by injury.
With gonarthrosis, the cartilage is first covered with microfractures, then it becomes thinner and more layered. When bending the knee, pain appears, which gradually increases. If, with gonarthrosis of the knee joint, you do not start treatment at the first signs, you can limp and thus completely lose the ability to move.
Gonarthrosis of the knee - symptoms
Symptoms of the disease depend on the extent of the lesion. But there is also a 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 minor effusion may appear - the accumulation of fluid in the joint cavity. At rest, the pain disappears, there are no external changes in the knee, sometimes edema is formed, which also disappears on its own.
With 2nd degree gonarthrosis, pain appears not only after exertion. At rest, discomfort may occur after changing the position of the lower limb. Now the knee joint needs a long rest. The knee swells periodically, and a creak may appear when bent. Bending and bending the leg becomes problematic. If synovitis or bursitis develops against the background of arthrosis - the accumulation of synovial fluid in the joint cavity or bursa (bursa) - the knee swells and becomes hyperemic.
X-ray shows significant damage to cartilage tissue, narrowing of the joint space, initial deformation of the bones.
With 3 degrees of gonarthrosis, the severity of symptoms increases. The leg is already bent with difficulty, the maximum curvature is 130-1400. . . The deformity of the joint is already expressed externally. The pain does not subside during rest, it becomes almost constant. It is impossible to fall asleep without painkillers.
The x-ray shows a narrow joint space, deformed joint bones, numerous osteophytes (spines that appear due to salt deposits) in the joint cavity.
Lack of treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee joint significantly worsens the quality of life: the ability to assume an upright posture is lost.
Causes of gonarthrosis of the knee joint
The disease can be triggered by the following reasons.
- Injuries: dislocations, fractures, muscle sprains and ligament ruptures in the joint area, meniscus injuries.
- Illiterate treatment of injuries: prolonged immobilization or the absence of drugs to restore blood supply in the therapeutic regimen causes a violation of the trophism of the joint.
- Increased stress during sports or professional activities.
- Obesity. The most rapid development of arthrosis appears when obesity is combined with varicose veins - a violation of the trophism of soft tissues + 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 useful substances in the required volume.
- Inappropriate nutrition - including diets - not enough nutrients from food.
- Hormonal changes.
- Emotional instability and stressors.
- Bad habits: smoking, drug and alcohol use.
- Hypothermia.
- Intoxication of the body.
The last 2 points cause relapses of arthrosis, as they worsen the general condition of the body.
Knee gonarthrosis - treatment
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 tests - X-rays (required), CT, MRI.
An ultrasound may be needed to assess the condition of the vessels.
Usually, osteoarthritis of the knee is treated at home - in most cases referral to a hospital is required for patients who are recommended for surgery - excision of the damaged joint capsule and endoprosthesis. If the disease begins to be 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:
- Immobilization of the affected limb during exacerbation.
- Elimination of pain with drugs of various groups:
- NVP;
- analgesics, including those containing narcotic ingredients - are used once for intolerable pain;
- anesthetics in the form of injections.
- The most commonly prescribed non-steroidal drugs. They are made in various forms: as a 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 soft tissue spasm and restore trophism, muscle relaxants are used.
- Prescribe drugs that restore peripheral blood supply.
- Vitamin therapy - B vitamins are administered in the form of injections.
- To stop bone deformation and restore cartilage tissue, chondroprotectors are used. At the initial stage, they are injected into the joint cavity, 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, magnetotherapy.
- Massage.
- Physiotherapy exercises - otherwise it is impossible to restore movement in the lower limb.
Modern treatment of arthrosis is complemented by the following methods
Ozone therapy (against the background of glucocosteroid treatment). Injections of saline, enriched with ozone, are injected into the affected joint, which causes the restoration of trophism and the elimination of pain.
Kinesitherapy. Special exercises help restore the amplitude of the affected joint - the load is selected individually for each patient.
Home treatment with folk remedies cannot eliminate osteoarthritis of the knee joint, but it helps to keep it in remission for a long time.
Folk remedies for external action are ointments and rubs, which are homemade from natural products and remedies that have a local irritating effect. The knee joint is rubbed with alcoholic tinctures infused with red pepper, horseradish and onion peels. Compresses of white cabbage and a honey cake are applied to the knee, the leg hovers in coniferous baths or infusion of comfrey.
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 expand the drinking regime.
Only comprehensive treatment of gonarthrosis will help eliminate painful sensations in the joint and lead the disease to long-term remission.