Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (osteoarthritis) is a complex disease of the degenerative-dystrophic type, during the development of which processes occur that affect the bone and cartilage tissue of the knee.
Pathological changes in the joint tissues, which negatively affect the musculoskeletal potential of the lower extremities. The progression of osteoarthritis of the knee leads to impaired mobility, loss of stability and a significant reduction in motor and shock absorption.
What should be done to maintain the mobility of one's own body for many years and what to do if the indicators of physical activity and quality of life have decreased due to osteoarthritis of the knee joint? Let's try to understand this difficult question.
Characteristics of the development of osteoarthritis of the knee joint
Osteoarthritis of the knee- This is a common pathology that belongs to the category of the most common diseases that have an extremely negative impact on the quality of human life.
Degenerative-dystrophic processes are most clearly manifested in the form of physical dysfunction of the legs, accompanied by severe pain. Depending on the severity of the pathological process, further prognoses are made for the course of the disease.
One of the disappointing prognoses is paralysis of the lower limbs. The severity of the consequences of pathological processes necessitates the search for qualified medical care.
What are the causes of osteoarthritis of the knee?
Many studies have been needed to identify the causes of osteoarthritis of the knee. Long-term examinations of patients and in-depth study of the clinical picture of the pathology allowed specialists to conclude that the influence of a number of negative factors is the main cause of destruction of joint tissue, causing severe pain and inflammation.
Among the main causes leading to degenerative-dystrophic processes, it is worth emphasizing:
- Injuries - Bruises, sprains or fractures of the knee automatically classify a person as a risk group and can cause the development of the disease. Damage to the joint implies its fixation, and long-term immobility is a direct path to the formation of osteoarthritis;
- strong physical activity - severe stress on the knees (especially in the elderly) leads to microtrauma, which also leads to the development of negative pathological processes;
- Insufficiently strong ligament apparatus - abnormal mobility of the joints also adversely affects their condition, which manifests itself mainly in old age;
- overweight - excess weight can cause irreparable damage to the knee joints, as the likelihood of injury to the meniscus in this case is incredibly high. If high weight is accompanied by varicose veins, then there is a high probability of developing severe forms of osteoarthritis of the joints of the lower extremities;
- metabolic disorders - failure of metabolism of nutrients and elements in the body provokes the development of various diseases due to insufficient supply of various tissues, especially bone and cartilage;
- increased levels of stress - worries and experiences negatively affect not only people's mood but also the level of physical well-being.
Typical symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee
The symptomatic manifestation of the disease allows you to timely monitor the onset and development of pathological processes, which allows each patient to recover.
Before deciding who to seek help from and how to treat osteoarthritis of the knee, it is important to know the symptoms of the disease.
Only a specialist competent in this matter can identify the presence and confirm the diagnosis by prescribing treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee. However, every patient should know the main symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee, among which it is common to distinguish:
- pain - discomfort that gradually develops into painful sensations, does not appear immediately. Their insignificant manifestation in the knees can bother a person for many years, but at some point they may become stronger and will not stop at rest;
- crunching - "clicks" during flexion / extension of the joint are a signal for awakening, which manifests itself in the second, third stage of the disease;
- synovitis - inflammation of the joint membrane, in which fluid accumulates, leading to local edema;
- deformity is a characteristic feature that manifests itself in the later stages of the disease, accompanied by severe inflammation and swelling.
Diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the knee
The diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee is made by an orthopedist or rheumatologist. If you want to undergo a diagnostic examination, each patient can turn to a therapist who will refer you to a specialist with a narrow profile or take a ticket for one of them.
The main diagnostic tool for specialists is, of course, the X-ray machine. Thanks to the photo you can track not only the presence of pathology, but also the degree of its development.
It is important to note that X-ray eliminates the possibility of other diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
X-ray examination allows the specialist to:
- monitoring the narrowing of the joint space;
- detection of a seal in the joint tissues.
The combination of clinical symptoms and information obtained from the image provides high-quality diagnosis and diagnosis, with the definition of further treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee.
The degree of osteoarthritis of the knee joint
Modern medicine divides osteoarthritis of the knee into several stages, according to the nature of the development of pathological processes.
To begin with, it is worth noting that the observations suggest that the disease may be of a different nature:
- one-sided (right / left hand);
- bilaterally.
In addition, the pathological process has three stages of development, each of which has its own clinical picture.
1 degree of osteoarthritis of the knee joint
The initial stage in the development of the pathology, whose successful diagnosis is an incredible success not only for the patient but also for the attending physician.
The peculiarity of the degree of development of osteoarthritis at this stage is the lack of clinical signs and bright symptoms. Identification of a disease can be done during a clinical examination or examination of another disease.
Evidence of first-degree osteoarthritis of the knee may be:
- local discomfort in the knee area during prolonged walking;
- mild pain that disappears during rest.
It is important to note the fact that pain can be felt in one or both joints of the lower extremities.
It is interesting to note that left-handed gonarthrosis is often diagnosed in left-handed people, while right-handed gonarthrosis is common in people involved in various sports.
Grade 2 osteoarthritis of the knee
The symptoms of the second stage of the pathology are accompanied by an expansion of the symptoms, which usually include:
- severe pain syndrome;
- stiffness and severe discomfort in the knee joint;
- atrophy of the muscles located near the knee joint, which is caused by tissue damage;
- increased pain;
- visually noticeable deformation of the joint;
- restriction of mobility.
The expansion of symptoms simplifies the diagnostic process. The changes characteristic of grade 2 osteoarthritis of the knee are easily monitored on palpation. During a clinical examination, the specialist easily detects an abnormal mass in the knee area.
Grade 3 osteoarthritis of the knee
It is almost impossible not to notice the pathology of the third degree, as the patient is facing constant pain. In addition, the progression of the disease reaches a critical level, which is manifested by the strongest deformation of the joint, in which the limb completely loses its ability to bend / expand.
Lack of proper treatment leads to complete destruction of cartilage and as a result of this development of ankylosis (fusion of articular bones).
The only solution to the final stage of the disease is expensive surgery, which includes the removal of cartilage residues or replacement of joints.
How to treat osteoarthritis of the knee?
The level of modern medicine is at a high enough level that guarantees the successful treatment of various types of diseases. Osteoarthritis of the knee joint is no exception.
Today there are a large number of methods for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee.
In the initial stages of the development of the pathology, mostly conservative methods of treatment are used. Conservative therapy includes:
- physiotherapy procedures;
- physiotherapeutic exercises (exercise therapy);
- visiting various massages.
Also, progressive methods are actively used to treat osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Among the modern effective methods for dealing with dangerous pathology are such as:
- ozone therapy - local effect of ozone on the affected joint tissues. Helps reduce pain and stop inflammation. Improves blood circulation in the problem area;
- Kinesitherapy is a set of exercises for osteoarthritis of the knee joint, aimed at increasing its mobility and increasing blood flow.
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee with physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is one of the most popular treatments for osteoarthritis of the knee.
Methods of physical impact, subject to a number of conditions, have the most positive effect on the area of localization of pathologies of various types.
Physiotherapy includes procedures such as:
- electrophoresis;
- ultraphonophoresis;
- laser / infrared radiation;
- pulsed magnetic therapy.
The effectiveness of the procedures is individual and depends on the quality of the development of the patient's basic treatment plan.
Massage as a treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee joint
Massage is a useful addition to the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee.
Most experts around the world believe that massage is a mandatory component in the treatment of symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee, which has a beneficial effect on metabolic processes and helps speed up recovery.
Knee massage can be performed both at home and in the walls of the hospital. The main thing during the massage is the preliminary high-quality heating of the joint and the observance of the optimal duration of the process (from 10-15 minutes).
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee with massage should include techniques such as stroking, rubbing and kneading.
Gymnastics and exercise therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee joint
Exercise for osteoarthritis of the knee is an effective way to eliminate unpleasant symptoms and treat the disease.
The process of treating osteoarthritis of the knee is quite a complex and long process, and physiotherapy exercises are an excellent helper to achieve the desired result.
The type of therapeutic exercise and exercises for osteoarthritis of the knee are selected by a specialist individually, depending on the degree of development of the pathology and the general condition of the patient's physical fitness.
The basic principle of gymnastics for osteoarthritis of the knee joint sounds like this: no increased stress on the affected joint, only rational, calm actions.
Drugs for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint
Drug treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee is used to relieve symptoms such as pain and swelling, as well as to activate regenerative processes.
Preparations for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee may have different forms of release (ointments / gels, tablets or injections, plaster).
Important! Each drug should be prescribed by a specialist as part of an existing treatment plan for the symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee.
Self-medication is unacceptable and can lead to extremely negative consequences, in particular - paralysis of the lower limbs and injury.
Painkillers for osteoarthritis of the knee
They are used to eliminate the symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee.
Painkillers play an important role in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee, as their use improves the patient's well-being and allows him to rest well.
Pain relief is achieved through the action of active substances.
Antispasmodicswith osteoarthritis of the knee
Appointed as active assistance. A key area of activity is the fight against spasms.
The active substances that make up the preparations help to relax the muscular frame and provide pain relief.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee with drugs of this type provides not only the elimination of pain, but also slowing down, complete elimination of the development of pathological processes.
Regular medication allows you to monitor a constant concentration of active ingredients, which guarantees a positive effect.
Chondroprotectors for osteoarthritis of the knee
The main helpers in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint with drugs are chondroprotectors.
The active action of chondroprotectors in osteoarthritis of the knee joint is aimed at restoring motor ability, which is due to the trace elements included in the composition, which are an integral component in the process of building cartilage tissue.
The peculiarity of the principle of action of the drugs implies a rather long, but at the same time effective process of getting rid of osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
Diet and general dietary recommendations for osteoarthritis of the knee
A diet for osteoarthritis of the knee is necessary for overweight patients. A low-calorie diet and a wealth of nutrients will provide weight loss and speed up the recovery of affected joints.
Nutrition in osteoarthritis of the knee should be balanced. The daily diet should contain foods enriched with useful vitamins and trace elements necessary for the regeneration of joint tissues and maintaining the balance of the whole body.
It is advisable to give up not only bad habits (alcohol abuse and smoking), but also such dishes as:
- storage of semi-finished products;
- fatty, spicy and overly salty foods;
- sweet carbonated drinks.
For convenience and competent adjustment of the diet in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee, it is recommended to keep a food diary, which disciplines and helps to facilitate the process of restructuring the usual way of life.
Prevention of osteoarthritis of the knee joint
The whole set of preventive measures can be divided into two groups:
- primary- are aimed at reducing the risks of pathology;
- second- are aimed at reducing the rate of development of an existing disease.
The main ones are:
- increased attention to the joints of the lower limbs;
- sports to strengthen the periarticular muscles;
- maintaining optimal body weight;
- swimming.
Secondary prevention includes:
- systematic course of treatment with chondroprotectors;
- timely search for qualified medical care in case of signs of arthritis.
Remember that early detection of the disease significantly increases the likelihood of a complete cure.
Do not neglect a visit to the doctor if you have even the slightest symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee.