Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (gonarthrosis) is a fairly common disease, surpassed in frequency only by coxarthrosis.
Statistics show that one in five people on the planet suffers from gonarthrosis (about 22%).There is a certain connection between this pathology and a person's gender: women suffer from this disease twice as often as men.If we talk about age, the risk group includes patients over 40 years old.
Degenerative changes occur at the molecular level, but over time, when the disease begins to progress, damage to the structure of the cartilage tissue is observed.If timely treatment is not initiated, there is a real danger of bone exposure and destruction of the cartilage itself.
Causes of osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
To understand the details of the disease, it is extremely important to know why gonarthrosis develops.It is necessary to understand that the knee joint experiences enormous stress every day due to the weight of the human body.The natural wear and tear of tissues that occurs as people age causes changes in the structure of the joints.That is why middle-aged and elderly people most often suffer from this disease.
Additionally, knee osteoarthritis can occur for the following reasons:
- Damage and injuries.These factors most often influence the development of the disease at a young age.
- Constant loads.We are talking about practicing active sports, despite contraindications and advanced age.
- Overweight.This factor negatively affects the condition of the menisci.In addition, there is increased pressure on the knee joints, which causes the development of the disease.
- Varicose veins of the lower extremities.
- Poor metabolism.The lack of minerals negatively affects the condition of cartilage.
- Arthritis and other specific and inflammatory joint pathologies.
Symptoms of gonarthrosis
The early stages of knee osteoarthritis are characterized by the presence of low-intensity pain.As a rule, a person does not take any measures for treatment, ignoring the initial signals of the body.This condition can last for several years until it worsens.
A person feels great discomfort when trying to get up after sitting for a long time.Similar sensations arise in the morning when you wake up.
In addition to pain of varying degrees of intensity, osteoarthritis of the knee joint is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Burning in the lower extremities.The condition worsens when climbing stairs.
- Decreased muscle tone.
- Insufficient joint mobility.
- Characteristic crunch.
Specific symptoms depend on the stage of the disease.It is clear that the more advanced the problem, the more pronounced the manifestations of the pathology.
First degree osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint of the first degree is characterized by a satisfactory condition of the patient, so he may not experience any discomfort.The only thing that may bother the patient is limited mobility upon awakening and fatigue in the lower extremities.
The pain is practically absent or mild.Diagnosis of the disease at this stage is only possible through an X-ray examination or MRI.The image shows a narrowing of the space between the articular surfaces, as well as slight irregularities in the cartilage.
Unfortunately, patients rarely seek help at this stage of the disease.Most people are accustomed to not paying attention to minor concerns, which often leads to worsening of the disease and rapid progression of the disease.
Second degree osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint of the second degree manifests itself more clearly.The pain appears immediately after any effort or directly during lifting heavy objects.This condition disappears after rest, but the discomfort returns again when physical activity is resumed.
This stage is also characterized by other symptoms:
- Characteristic crunch.It is quite acute and very often accompanied by painful sensations.
- Synovitis is a condition in which there is inflammation and swelling of the synovial membranes of the joint.
- Deformations.In the initial stages, swelling is noted in the knee area, but the situation can worsen significantly without proper treatment.
- Insufficient mobility of the knee joint.The patient experiences basic problems bending or straightening the leg.
All these symptoms gradually increase if no treatment is taken.The joint gradually loses its properties, its structure begins to change, which is noticeable upon visual inspection.
Third degree osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint of grade 3 is characterized by the presence of severe pain, which can occur both under heavy loads and at rest.Many patients are worried about similar symptoms at night.
Meteorological dependence appears, so sudden changes in weather cause significant inconvenience to the person.The joint loses its ability to bend, so the patient's movement becomes extremely difficult.
Pathological changes become visible to the naked eye.The x-ray shows acute narrowing of the joint space and multiple bony growths.
Fourth degree osteoarthritis.
Arthritis of the knee joint of the fourth degree is characterized by severe destruction of the joint, an almost complete absence of movement in it and severe pain.
Diagnosis of the disease.
To prescribe a suitable treatment regimen, the doctor conducts a consultation.The patient talks about his complaints, at what time of day the pain worsens, at rest or when performing some action.After that, the doctor proceeds directly to the examination, palpating the knee area.
Osteoarthritis can be suspected in later stages even without the use of instrumental diagnostic methods.When bending the knee, a characteristic crunch will be heard and the patient will experience quite unpleasant sensations.The palpation process itself is also accompanied by pain.
To obtain a clearer picture, the patient is sent for X-ray examination. To clarify the diagnosis, the use of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging is also practiced.
Treatment methods for osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
The treatment of knee osteoarthritis may include several techniques, the effectiveness of which depends on the stage of the disease:
- Drug therapy.
- Massage treatments.
- Manual therapy, physiotherapy treatment, physiotherapy.
- Operation.
The main goal of treatment is to relieve pain and increase the range of motion of the joint.
Conservative treatment shows quite high effectiveness results, especially in the early stages.If there is no positive dynamics during treatment, the decision is made to perform surgical intervention.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
The initial goal of any treatment is to relieve pain.Medicines from the NSAID category alleviate the patient's condition, reducing not only pain, but also eliminating the inflammatory process in the problem area.Only after eliminating these symptoms can you move on to other treatment methods.
Medicines from this group are first aid for this disease.Its effectiveness depends on the severity of the clinical picture, as well as the individual characteristics of the patient's body.
Hormonal agents
If the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs does not bring positive results, the patient may be prescribed hormonal drugs in the form of injections.This is a much more effective remedy with which you can quickly eliminate unpleasant symptoms.
The difficulty of such treatment lies in the fact that these drugs have a rather aggressive effect on the human body, so great care must be taken when using them.The doctor should prescribe short-term treatment and only if the patient experiences a buildup of joint fluid.Administration of injections is possible no more than once every 5 to 7 days.
Chondroprotectors
The drugs in this group act directly on the very cause of osteoarthritis.They are designed to restore the structure of damaged cartilage tissue, as well as to normalize the production of joint fluid.This is very important in complex treatments, when it is necessary to influence not only the symptoms, but also the root cause of the pathology.
Recently, the use of hyaluronic acid injections directly into the joint has been practiced.This procedure prevents premature wear of the cartilage.It is very important that the medication is administered by a qualified specialist.
Using other methods
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint can be carried out not only with the help of medications in the form of tablets and injections, but also with other methods:
- Ozone therapy.This method has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect and also helps to normalize blood circulation.Particularly effective in complex therapies, together with other treatment methods.
- External media.Various creams and gels help eliminate pain, swelling and inflammation.The exact list of medications must be prescribed by your treating doctor, so we do not recommend self-medication.
If you suffer from this disease, you should contact the clinic for qualified help.Our specialists have the necessary level of knowledge, as well as extensive medical practice, so they can help you solve your problems.
Remember that in the treatment of osteoarthritis the main key to success is punctuality, so be more attentive to your health and the signals that your body gives you.