Arthrosis of the knee joint (gonarthrosis) is a very common disease, second only to coxarthrosis in frequency.
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 sex - 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 cartilaginous tissue is observed.If timely treatment is not started, there is a real danger of bone exposure and destruction of the cartilage itself.
Causes of osteoarthritis of the knee joint
To understand the specifics of the disease, it is extremely important to know why gonarthrosis develops.It is necessary to understand that the knee joint undergoes enormous stress every day from the weight of the human body.The natural wear and tear of tissues that occurs as people age leads to changes in the structure of the joints.That is why middle-aged and elderly people most often suffer from this disease.
In addition, knee arthrosis can occur for the following reasons:
- Damage and injuries.These factors most often influence the development of the disease at an early age.
- Constant loads.We are talking about practicing active sports, despite contraindications and old 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.Lack of minerals negatively affects the condition of cartilage.
- Arthritis and other specific and inflammatory joint pathologies.
Symptoms of gonarthrosis
The first stages of knee osteoarthritis are characterized by the presence of low-intensity pain.As a rule, the person does not take any action for treatment, ignoring the body's initial signals.This condition can last for several years before getting worse.
A person feels great discomfort when trying to get up after sitting for a long time.Similar sensations appear in the morning, upon waking up.
In addition to pain of varying degrees of intensity, arthrosis 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 crunchiness.
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
Arthrosis of the knee joint of the 1st degree is characterized by the patient's satisfactory condition, and he may not feel any discomfort.The only thing that can bother the patient is difficulty in moving when waking up and tiredness in the lower extremities.
The pain is practically absent or mild.Diagnosis of the disease at this stage is only possible with the help of X-ray or MRI examinations.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 a worsening of the condition and rapid progression of the disease.
Second degree osteoarthritis
Arthrosis of the knee joint of the 2nd degree manifests itself more clearly.Pain occurs immediately after any exertion or directly during weight lifting.This condition disappears after rest, but the discomfort returns again after resuming physical activity.
This phase is also characterized by other symptoms:
- Characteristic crunchiness.It is quite acute and often accompanied by painful sensations.
- Synovitis is a condition in which inflammation and swelling of the synovial membranes of the joint occurs.
- Deformations.In the early stages, swelling in the knee area is noticeable, but the situation can worsen significantly without adequate treatment.
- Insufficient mobility of the knee joint.The patient has basic problems bending or straightening the leg.
All these symptoms gradually increase if no treatment is carried out.The joint gradually loses its properties, its structure begins to change, which becomes noticeable upon visual inspection.
Third degree osteoarthritis
Grade 3 osteoarthritis of the knee joint is characterized by the presence of severe pain, which can occur both under heavy loads and at rest.Many patients are concerned about similar symptoms at night.
Meteorological dependence appears, so sudden changes in weather cause significant inconvenience to a person.The joint loses its ability to bend, making the patient's movement extremely difficult.
Pathological changes become visible to the naked eye.The x-ray shows a marked narrowing of the joint space and multiple bone growths.
Fourth degree osteoarthritis
Arthrosis of the knee joint of the 4th degree is characterized by severe destruction of the joint, almost complete absence of movement and severe pain.
Diagnosis of the disease
To prescribe an adequate treatment regimen, the doctor holds a consultation.The patient talks about their complaints, what time of day the pain worsens, at rest or when performing some action.After that, the doctor proceeds directly to the examination itself, palpating the knee region.
Arthrosis can be suspected in later stages even without the use of instrumental diagnostic methods.When bending the knee, a characteristic crack will be heard and the patient will experience quite unpleasant sensations.The palpation process itself is also accompanied by pain.
To obtain a clearer image, the patient is sent for an X-ray examination.To clarify the diagnosis, the use of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging is also practiced.
Treatment methods for arthrosis of the knee joint
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, physiotherapeutic treatment, physiotherapy.
- Operation.
The main goal of treatment is to relieve pain and increase the joint's range of motion.
Conservative treatment shows very high efficacy results, especially in the early stages.If there is no positive dynamics during treatment, it is decided to perform surgical intervention.
Nonsteroidal 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 in this group are first aid for this disease.Its effectiveness depends on the severity of the clinical condition, as well as the individual characteristics of the patient's body.
Hormonal agents
If the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs does not produce positive results, the patient may be prescribed hormonal medications in the form of injections.This is a much more effective remedy with which you can quickly eliminate unpleasant symptoms.
The difficulty of this treatment lies in the fact that these medications have a very aggressive effect on the human body, which is why you need to be very careful when using them.The doctor should prescribe short-term treatment and only if the patient has fluid accumulation in the joints.Injection administration is possible no more than once every 5-7 days.
Chondroprotectors
The medications in this group act directly on the cause of osteoarthritis.They are designed to restore the structure of damaged cartilaginous tissue, as well as normalize the production of joint fluid.This is very important in complex treatment, when it is necessary to influence not only the symptoms, but also the root cause of the pathology.
Recently, the use of injections of hyaluronic acid directly into the joint itself has been practiced.This procedure prevents premature wear of the cartilage.It is very important that the medicine is administered by a qualified specialist.
Using other methods
Treatment of arthrosis 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 a number of 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, along with other treatment methods.
- External means.Various creams and gels help eliminate pain, swelling and inflammation.The exact list of medications must be prescribed by your attending physician, so we do not recommend self-medication.
If you suffer from this disease, you need to contact the clinic for qualified help.Our experts 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 signs your body gives you.