Arthrosis - in whatever joint it is located - is a degenerative-dystrophic change in 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 diagnoses they write "gonarthrosis".
The prefix "gon-" indicates the location of the lesion - this term means knee in translation from Greek. In some cases, the term "osteoarthritis" is used - this name is more familiar to English and American doctors.
Gonarthrosis develops more often in women over 40 years of age. Factors that increase the likelihood of the onset of the disease are obesity and hormonal decline. The disease can develop as unilateral and bilateral.
The disease can develop up to 40 years of age. In young people, deforming arthrosis of the knee is more often caused by injuries.
With gonarthrosis, the cartilage is first covered with microcracks, then it becomes thinner and stratified. When bending the knee, pain appears, which gradually increases. If, with gonarthrosis of the knee joint, treatment is not started at the first signs, you can limp and then completely lose the ability to move.
Knee gonarthrosis - 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 articular cavity. At rest, the pain goes away, there are no external changes in the knee, sometimes edema forms, which also disappears on its own.
With gonarthrosis of the 2nd degree, 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 periodically swells, and when it is bent, a crunch may appear. Bending and unbending the leg becomes problematic. If synovitis or bursitis develops against the background of arthrosis - the accumulation of synovial fluid in the articular cavity or bursa (bursa) - the knee swells and becomes hyperemic.
X-ray shows significant damage to the 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 bend is 130-1400. . . Deformation 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 pain relievers.
The radiograph shows a narrowed joint space, deformed joint bones, numerous osteophytes (spines that appear due to salt deposits) in the joint cavity.
Lack of treatment for arthrosis of the knee joint significantly worsens the quality of life - the ability to upright posture is lost.
Causes of gonarthrosis of the knee joint
The disease can be triggered by the following reasons.
- Injuries: dislocations, fractures, muscle strains and ligament tears in the articulation area, damage to the meniscus.
- Illiterate treatment of injuries - prolonged immobilization or the absence of drugs in the therapeutic regimen for restoring blood supply 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 ligamentous 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 - arthrosis 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 examinations - X-ray (required), CT, MRI.
An ultrasound scan may be required to assess the condition of the vessels.
Usually, knee arthrosis is treated at home - referral to a hospital in most cases is required for patients who are recommended for surgery - excision of the damaged joint capsule and endoprosthetics. If the disease begins to be treated at stages 1-2, then it can be brought into a state of remission by conservative methods.
The following therapeutic measures and medications are prescribed:
- Immobilization of the affected limb during exacerbation.
- Elimination of pain with drugs of various groups:
- NVPS;
- analgesics, including those containing narcotic ingredients - they are used once for intolerable pain;
- anesthetics in the form of injections.
- Most often, non-steroidal drugs are prescribed. They are made in various forms - like cream, ointment, suppositories, injections, solutions; you can use them as you like.
- Corticosteroids are used - they are also injected into the articular cavity.
- To eliminate spasm of soft tissues 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 articular 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 solution, enriched with ozone, are injected into the affected joint, which causes the restoration of trophism and the elimination of pain.
Kinesitherapy. Special exercises help to restore the amplitude of the affected joint - each patient's load is selected individually.
Home treatment with folk remedies cannot eliminate arthrosis of the knee joint, but it helps to keep it in remission for a long time.
Folk remedies for external action are ointments and rubbing, which are made at home from products and natural remedies that have a local irritating effect. The knee joint is rubbed with alcoholic tinctures infused with hot pepper, horseradish, and onion husks. White cabbage compresses and a honey cake are applied to the knee, the leg soars in coniferous baths or comfrey infusion.
When treating arthrosis 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 foods high in purines;
- increase the amount of fermented milk and plant foods (excluding sorrel, legumes, spinach);
- expand the drinking regime.
Only a comprehensive treatment of gonarthrosis will help eliminate painful sensations in the joint and lead the disease to long-term remission.