Arthritis - in any localized joint - is a degenerative-dystrophic change in the cartilage tissue of the joint. The term "arthro" itself means the pathology of the disease itself, which 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 Greek. In some cases, the term "osteoarthritis" is used - a name more familiar to British and American doctors.
Gonarthrosis develops more often in women over the age of 40. Factors that increase the likelihood of the onset of the disease are obesity and hormonal decline. The disease can develop unilaterally and bilaterally.
The disease can develop until the age of 40. In young people, knee deformity is often caused by trauma.
With gonarthrosis, the cartilage is first covered with small cracks, then it becomes thinner and stratified. When bending the knee, pain appears, increasing gradually. If you have knee osteoarthritis, not starting treatment at the first signs, you can limp and completely lose mobility.
Knee gonarthrosis - symptoms
Symptoms of the disease depend on the extent of the damage. But there is also a common symptom - pain.
It develops gradually.
Grade 1 is characterized by mild pain sensations that occur with increased load on the knee joint. There may be a slight effusion - an accumulation of fluid in the joint cavity. When resting, the pain is gone, the knee joint has no external changes, sometimes in the form of edema, which also disappears on its own.
With 2nd degree gonarthrosis, the pain does not appear only after exertion. At rest, unpleasant sensations may occur after changing the position of the lower extremities. At this time, the knee joint needs a long rest. The knee frequently swells and when bent, a clicking sound may occur. Bending and not flexing the leg becomes problematic. If bursitis or bursitis develops against the background of joint disease - the accumulation of synovial fluid in the joint cavity or bursa - the knee will swell and become congested.
X-ray showed significantly damaged cartilage tissue, narrowed joint space, initial deformed bone.
With 3 degrees of gonarthrosis, the severity of symptoms increases. Legs have been bent hard, maximum bend is 130-1400. . . The deformity of the joint has been shown to the outside. The pain does not subside with rest, it becomes almost constant. Can't sleep without pain reliever.
X-ray shows narrowed joint cavity, bone deformity, many bone spurs (spikes appearing due to salt deposition) in the joint cavity.
Lack of treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee significantly worsens quality of life - loss of upright posture.
Causes of gonarthrosis of the knee joint
The disease can be triggered by the following reasons.
- Injuries: dislocations, fractures, muscle sprains and ligament tears, meniscus injuries.
- Treatment of injuries caused by illiteracy - prolonged immobilization or the absence of drugs to restore blood supply in the therapeutic regimen causes a violation of joint function.
- Increased stress during sports or occupational activities.
- Fat. The fastest development of joint disease occurs when obesity is combined with varicose veins - a violation of the nutrition of soft tissues + a constantly increased load.
- Violation of the structure of the ligamentous apparatus, its injury.
- Inflammatory processes in the body of various etiologies provoke the development of arthritis. Against the background of arthritis - an inflammatory process - joint disease develops in the future.
- Metabolism in the body is disrupted, which does not allow the absorption of useful substances in the required volume.
- Inadequate nutrition - including the diet - does not get enough nutrients from food.
- Hormonal changes.
- Emotional instability and stressors.
- Bad habits - smoking, drug and alcohol use.
- Hypothermia.
- Body poisoning.
The last 2 points cause recurrence of joint disease, as they aggravate the general condition of the body.
Knee gonarthrosis - treatment
Diagnosis of the disease involves several stages:
- prehistoric collection;
- visual inspection;
- laboratory - general and specific blood and urine tests;
- Hardware testing and diagnostics - X-ray (required), CT, MRI.
Ultrasound may be required to assess the condition of the pulse.
Usually, knee arthropathy is treated at home - in most cases, the patient is referred for surgery to the hospital - removal of the damaged capsule and endoscopic medication. If the disease begins to be treated at stage 1-2, then it can be put into remission by conservative methods.
The following treatments and medications are prescribed:
- Immobilize the affected limb during the exacerbation.
- Eliminate pain with drugs of various groups:
- NVPS;
- pain relievers, including those that contain narcotic components - they are used once for unbearable pain;
- anesthetic in injection form.
- The most commonly prescribed non-steroidal drugs. They are made in various forms - as cream, ointment, suppository, injection, solution; you can use them as you want.
- Corticosteroids are used - they are also injected into the joint cavity.
- To eliminate spasm of soft tissues and restore nutritive properties, muscle relaxants are used.
- Prescribe drugs that restore peripheral blood supply.
- Vitamin therapy - Vitamin B is given as an injection.
- To prevent bone deformation and restore cartilage tissue, people use chondroprotectors. In the early stages, they are injected into the joint cavity, then given in the form of tablets. Long course of treatment - up to 6 months.
- Physiotherapy: paraffin, ozokerite, electrophoresis with hydrocortisone, exposure to electric currents of different frequencies, magnetic therapy.
- Massage.
- Physical therapy exercises - otherwise it will not be possible to restore movement in the lower extremities.
Modern joint treatment is supplemented by the following methods
Ozone therapy (based on glucocorticoid therapy). Injection of saline solution, enriched with ozone, is injected into the affected joint, which restores the temperature condition and eliminates 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 knee osteoarthritis, but the disease is in remission for a long time.
Folk remedies for external treatment are ointments and lotions, made at home from natural products and remedies that have a local irritating effect. Rub the knee joint with alcohol soaked in hot peppers, horseradish, onion peel. White cabbage and honey cake are applied to the knees and legs in a coniferous bath or infusion of linden.
When treating osteoarthritis of the knee, it is necessary to adhere to a special diet - it is necessary to:
- reduce the amount of salt in the daily menu;
- give up hot spices;
- reduce the intake of foods high in purines;
- increase the amount of fermented milk and plant foods (except sorrel, legumes, spinach);
- to extend the drinking regime.
Only comprehensive treatment of genital warts can eliminate painful sensations in the joints and bring the disease into long-term remission.