Arthrosis - in any joint it is localized - 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 diagnosis they write "gonarthrosis".
The prefix "gon-" indicates the location of the lesion - the term means knee in translation from Greek. In some cases, the term "osteoarthritis" is used - this name is better known to English and American doctors.
Gonarthrosis develops more frequently in women over 40 years of age. Factors that increase the likelihood of disease are obesity and hormone depletion. The disease can develop as unilateral and bilateral.
The disease can develop up to 40 years. In young people, deformed knee arthrosis is more often caused by injury.
With gonarthrosis, the cartilage is first covered with micro -cracks, then it becomes thinner and stratified. 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 drown and then completely lose the ability to move.
Knee gonarthrosis - symptoms
The symptoms of the disease depend on the extent of the lesion. But there are also common symptoms - pain.
It grows gradually.
Grade 1 is characterized by a mild painful sensation that occurs when the load on the knee joint increases. Small effusions may appear - accumulation of fluid in the articular cavity. At rest, the pain disappears, there are no external changes in the knee, sometimes edema is formed, which also disappears by itself.
With stage 2 gonarthrosis, pain appears not only after exercising. During rest, discomfort may occur after changing the position of the lower limbs. Now the knee joint needs a long break. The knee swells periodically, and when it is bent, dryness may appear. Bending and not bending the legs 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-rays show significant damage to cartilage tissue, narrowing of the joint space, early deformation of the bone.
With 3 degrees of gonarthrosis, the severity of symptoms increases. The legs are bent with difficulty, the maximum bend is 130-1400. . . Joint defects are already expressed externally. The pain does not decrease during rest, it becomes almost constant. It is impossible to sleep without painkillers.
Radiographs show narrow joint space, deformed joint bones, numerous osteophytes (thorns that appear as a result of 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 sprains and ligament tears in the articulation area, meniscus injuries.
- Illiterate injury treatment - prolonged immobilization or the absence of drugs to restore blood supply in the therapeutic regimen leads to a violation of joint trophism.
- 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 soft tissue trophism + constant increased load.
- Violation of the structure of the ligament apparatus, its injury.
- Inflammatory processes in the body of various etiologies that give rise to 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 amount.
- Improper nutrition - including diet - is not enough nutrients from food.
- Hormonal changes.
- Emotional instability and stress.
- Bad habits - smoking, drug and alcohol use.
- Hypothermia.
- Drunk body.
The last 2 points cause recurrent arthrosis, as it worsens the general condition of the body.
Knee gonarthrosis - treatment
The 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 examination - X -ray (required), CT, MRI.
Ultrasound scans may be required to assess the condition of the vessel.
Typically, knee arthrosis is treated at home - referral to a hospital in most cases is required for patients recommended for surgery - resection of the damaged joint and endoprosthetic capsule. If the disease begins to be treated at stage 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.
- Pain relief with drugs of various groups:
- NVPS;
- analgesics, including those containing narcotic substances - they are used once for unbearable pain;
- anesthetic in the form of injections.
- The most common non -steroidal medication is prescribed. They are made in various forms - such as creams, ointments, suppositories, injections, solutions; you can use it at will.
- Corticosteroids are used - they are also injected into the articular cavity.
- To relieve soft tissue spasms and restore trophism, muscle relaxants are used.
- Prescribe medications that restore peripheral blood supply.
- Vitamin therapy - Vitamin B is given in the form of injections.
- To stop bone deformation and restore cartilage tissue, chondroprotectors are used. In the early stages, they are injected into the articular cavity, then taken in tablet form. 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 training - otherwise it is impossible to restore movement in the lower leg.
Modern treatment of arthrosis is complemented by the following methods
Ozone therapy (against the background of glucocosteroid treatment). An injection of saline solution, enriched with ozone, is injected into the affected joint, resulting in restoration of trophism and elimination of pain.
Kinesotherapy. Special exercises help restore the amplitude of the affected joint - the load is chosen individually for each patient.
Home treatment with folk remedies can not get rid of arthrosis of the knee joint, but it helps keep it in remission for a long time.
Folk remedies for external action are ointments and rubs, made at home from natural products and remedies that have a local irritating effect. The knee joints are rubbed with an alcohol tincture infused with hot pepper, horseradish, and onion husks. Compressed white cabbage and honey cake is applied on the knees, legs soaring in a conifer bath or infusion of kofrei.
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;
- release hot spices;
- reduce the amount of foods high in purines;
- increase the amount of fermented milk and plant foods (excluding sorrel, legumes, spinach);
- to extend the drinking regime.
Only comprehensive treatment of gonarthrosis will help eliminate the painful sensation in the joints and bring the disease to long -term remission.