Knee pain is a common complaint for which doctors are consulted.What causes the pain and how can you help yourself if it occurs?There is no definitive answer, because knee joints can suffer from different types of injuries that arise for multiple reasons.One of these reasons (and a very common one) is incipient osteoarthritis.Today we will tell you in detail about arthrosis of the knee joint: what are its causes, types, symptoms and signs, we will talk about methods of treatment and prevention.
Types and causes of the disease
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint or gonarthrosis is a lesion of a predominantly non-inflammatory nature, which over time leads to the destruction of the articular cartilage, deformation of the knee and limitation of movement in it.The disease has two main forms:
- primary – occurs due to a congenital defect of the joint;
- secondary – occurs as a result of other diseases or injuries.
The primary form begins to develop in childhood or adolescence and is caused by improper formation of the joint surfaces or ligament system.When walking, this joint is subjected to a load disproportionate to its capabilities, which causes degenerative changes in it.
The development of a secondary form of pathology can lead to:
- Injuries: fractures of the leg bones, bruises and dislocations of the knee, accompanied by damage to the bones and cartilaginous parts of the joint and its ligaments.In this case, post-traumatic arthrosis of the knee joint develops.
- Surgical interventions to remove the meniscus, as they lead to breakdown of the integral structure of the knee and its rapid wear.
- The disproportionately high load on the legs that athletes often subject themselves to.
- Excessive fat also causes osteoarthritis, as it leads to excessive pressure of body weight on the articular cartilage of the knee.
- Arthritis is inflammation of the joints.Long-term arthritis is accompanied by the formation of fluid in the joint cavity and over time can be complicated by arthrosis.
- Metabolic disorders that lead to the deposition of salts in the joint cavities.
- Other factors and long-term diseases are accompanied by spasms of the leg muscles or blood vessels.
- Operations postponed.
The pathological process can be unilateral or bilateral.Following an injury, unilateral arthrosis (for example, of the right knee) will most likely develop, and from obesity, bilateral arthrosis.
Characteristic symptoms
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint develops gradually, sometimes preceded by months and years from the initial period, when there are no obvious symptoms (such as severe pain and visible deformation), but a feeling of discomfort in the knees is felt from time to time.
Very often overweight women over the age of 40 are affected and especially, as an aggravating factor, those who suffer from varicose veins.
The development of gonarthrosis goes through several stages:
- The initial phase can last months and sometimes years.A person experiences periodic pain in the knee, especially when taking the first steps after getting out of bed in the morning, as well as when going up and down the stairs.
- In the second stage, the pain becomes stronger and manifests itself with any movement accompanied by a characteristic crunching sound.Fluid may accumulate in the joint cavity and incipient deformation may be noted on examination.The range of motion of the affected knee begins to decrease.
- The third phase is characterized by pain that does not disappear even with rest.Often the discomfort increases before the weather changes.At this point the joints have largely lost their function: the legs hardly bend at the knees or do not fully extend.The gait changes: it becomes “waddling” or on semi-bent legs.The deformity of the knees is severe: the legs bend and take on an O or X shape.
Symptoms of post-traumatic arthrosis of the knee joint develop more quickly.Following the injury, pain and swelling appear in the knee area.Such pain constantly accompanies a person and intensifies after physical activity.Gradually, it is accompanied by a feeling of tightness and stiffness in the knee.Sometimes with this form of the disease only a few months pass from the initial symptoms to irreversible changes.
Treatment of gonarthrosis
The extent of treatment depends on the stage of the disease and the severity of the lesion.But since the disease is chronic, the only result that can be achieved is a long-term remission (a resting phase in which the manifestations of the pathology are minimal or absent).At the same time, if in the initial stages it is possible to eliminate the cause of arthrosis of the knee joint (for example, by reducing body weight), almost complete recovery is possible.
Goals of treatment of gonarthrosis:
- eliminate the pain,
- if possible, restore damaged cartilage and ligament apparatus,
- increase the range of motion of the joint.
Treatment methods:
- drug therapy,
- massage and manual therapy,
- surgery,
- restorative therapy (physical therapy, physiotherapy and other methods).
Only a doctor can choose the right drugs;in no case prescribe them for yourself.Their main action is aimed at:
- Elimination of symptoms of arthrosis of the knee joint: relieves pain and inflammation.For this purpose, appropriate drugs are prescribed, including hormones, which are injected into the joint cavity.
- Improve blood supply to the affected area.It is provided by agents that relieve vascular spasms and relax muscles.
- Restoration of cartilaginous tissue.For this purpose, drugs that nourish and restore cartilage are prescribed.
Manual manipulation and massage reduce pain, relax spastic muscles near the affected knee, help increase range of motion, correct bone position, and increase blood circulation.
In case of advanced and irreversible damage, knee arthrosis is treated with a radical method: prosthesis, that is, the implantation of a metal prosthesis to replace the destroyed joint.This is so far the only method that offers the possibility of a complete recovery, however endoprostheses have a limited lifespan, after which they must be replaced.Since the cost of such operations is very high, this method of treatment has not yet become widespread.
Rehabilitation therapy includes physical therapy, kinesitherapy (exercises with special loads and machines), physiotherapy and sanatorium treatment.
Orthopedic methods are aimed at unloading the painful knee: these are sticks, orthoses, etc., which facilitate walking (used if necessary).
There are many folk recipes for various herbal ointments and compresses, medical bile and warming bandages made from natural wool.Basically, the effect of such methods is aimed at relieving pain and eliminating the main symptoms.
Prevention measures
Prevention of knee osteoarthritis includes many factors:
- Balanced diet: The diet should contain a sufficient amount of proteins, vitamins and microelements.
- Fight an unhealthy lifestyle and get rid of bad habits.
- Weight normalization.
- Adequate physical activity.
- Prevention of injuries during sports and heavy lifting.
The most important thing when identifying a pathology such as knee arthrosis is not to let the disease progress, since its advanced stages lead to disability.But if you direct all your efforts to treatment and prevention in time - before time is lost and the symptoms are insignificant - there is a possibility of complete relief from the disease.