Do you feel the sharp pain that forms in the knee joint when you move? Are the same signs observed when you bend or loosen your leg? Doctors diagnose a disease like osteoarthritis. At the same time, it is impossible to delay the treatment of the disease.
Note that the sooner you start taking effective action, the sooner you will cope with the illness and the outcome of the illness will not be as dramatic. It is impossible to cause the disease on your own as it wears away the intra-articular cartilage.
Osteoarthritis of the knee is also known as gonarthrosis. In terms of the incidence of the disease, it occupies a leading position. Statistics have shown that there are more patients in clinics with this diagnosis than people with other serious diseases. The treatment takes an impressively long time. An integrated approach and drug use are important here.
The disease is characterized by calcification in soft tissues and ligaments, as well as in places where tendons are fixed. Salt deposits are limited. The process is characterized by an imbalance in the optimal blood flow to the bone vessels, which causes changes in the cartilage tissue.
Causes of occurrence
Pathological microtrauma that forms on the cartilage. The main causes of the onset of the disease are excessive mechanical loads on the cartilage surface.
In other words, osteoarthritis of the knee joint develops rapidly in people who are subjected to frequent physical exertion and overloading of the joints. Osteoarthritis can develop in people who crouch frequently. The size of the load increases rapidly when a person is overweight.
The main causes of osteoarthritis of the knee joint should be highlighted:
- Chronic defects. Dysplasia affects the formation of chronic microtrauma of the cartilage. This factor leads to an imbalance in proper stress on the joints. Be aware that the risk of a terrible illness increases in people with defects of the musculoskeletal system.
- obesity. This factor is the main reason for developing osteoarthritis. It has been clinically proven that obese people get sick more often. So every 6 kg. Weight increases the chance of osteoarthritis by 45%.
- Genetic predisposition. The fact that osteoarthritis of the interphalangeal joints is much more common in women than in men has been established. This indicator is explained by the autosomal dominant inheritance.
- inflammation. The fact is that infectious and chronic arthritis provoke the formation of osteoarthritis. The appearance of immunoglobulins shows the role of similar factors in the development of osteoarthritis.
- Neurogenic disorders. Violations lead to a decrease in muscle tone near the joint. Thus, the stress on the joints only increases.
Symptoms of knee osteoarthritis
The main symptoms of osteoarthritis are severe pain in the knee joint. They appear during exertion and then disappear again when the patient is at rest.
In nodular osteoarthritis, dense formations appear that are about the size of a pea. In addition, seals in the form of cysts, viscous liquids, can appear near the nail bed.
If the knee joints are affected as the disease develops, the pain increases with prolonged walking or climbing stairs. The main symptom of osteoarthritis is crunching during movement. In hip arthrosis, pathologies associated with the development of the hip joint are observed.
Signs of illness:
- Knee pain that won't go away for a long time
- If you have an x-ray, osteophytes will be found.
- When analyzing for synovial fluid, it is confirmed that the composition is indeed characteristic of the disease.
- The disease is characterized by the fact that the joint space is narrowed.
- Joint stiffness in the morning
- Changes in the soft tissues, osteoporosis and calcification of the cartilage.
Optional signs: These are subluxations or dislocations, as well as various erosions and cysts. Overall, osteoarthritis of the knee joint is divided into three developmental stages, which we will consider below.
1 degree
Recognizing the first degree is quite problematic. An interesting fact is that a person also moves as usual. However, sometimes the disease can manifest itself in the form of pain and stiffness.
However, such signs are often attributed to a change in weather or an uncomfortable position. And even if you go through the study with an X-ray, the imperfection may not be noticed immediately. Here you will need qualified help, as well as palpation and a full examination to identify an uneven surface in the area of the affected joint.
People with disabilities turn to traditional medicine as first aid. And this is a competent approach to solving the problem, since the disease is difficult to treat at the initial stages.
2nd degree
If you noticed the first signs of the disease and did not take any action, it tends to move on to the second. In this case, the osteoarthritis is chronic, and the cartilage begins to deteriorate quickly.
These signs are particularly noticeable during increased physical exertion. However, there is no point in giving preference to traditional medicine. However, it can be used as an effective addition to conventional treatments.
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint and its symptoms are becoming more and more manifest: inappropriateness of fatigue appears, and the joints of the legs begin to "hurt", and after a while there is a crunch. If the disease is left untreated, it will result in joint deformity.
3rd degree
It also happens that when observing obvious changes, the patient still does not take any action, while the mechanisms that act against him actively begin. In the meantime, inaction leads to irreparable consequences.
It is also noteworthy that there is severe pain in the joint. This factor doesn't depend on whether you're in action or at rest. There are also cases when a person's joints do not allow a person to move.
Treatment of knee osteoarthritis
The treatment of osteoarthritis is a very long process and depends primarily on the extent of the disease.
Basically, the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee is based on the following stages:
- Anesthetize the affected joint. As a rule, the doctor prescribes pain relievers - analgesics.
- The inflammation should be eliminated. If inflammation of the affected area and swelling are indicated, such a defect should be corrected immediately. In this case, anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.
- Restoration of the cartilage tissue. This is considered to be the most important factor in treatment. In the event that it cannot be reconstructed, it is imperative to stop the degenerative course. You shouldn't expect any immediate effects from drugs, but they must be taken based on individual characteristics.
If the joint is affected by the absence of symptoms, then in this case the patient is prescribed effective ointments with a warming effect. Its main purpose is to increase blood flow to the affected area.
These include warming ointments that have no side effects. The treatment is accompanied by a pleasant feeling of warmth.
Prevention of osteoarthritis of the knee joint
It is divided into secondary and primary.
The first focus is on weight control and injury prevention. The chances of developing osteoarthritis can be reduced by wearing the correct footwear and regularly doing exercises that strengthen muscles and support the joints.
Secondary prevention involves eating healthy foods, and red meat and animal foods are best replaced with lean fish and poultry. Try to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and as a preventive measure - capsules with fish oil. Drink at least 8-9 glasses of water.
Focus on minerals and vitamins that promote optimal bone function. Your allies are also considered to be antioxidants, which actively fight against free radicals that destroy cartilage. Osteoarthritis is a disease that amateurs cannot tolerate. Therefore, you need to contact an experienced doctor.