Knee pain is a common complaint that is referred to doctors.What causes pain, and how to help yourself if it happens?There is no definitive answer, because the knee joint can suffer from various types of lesions that arise for many reasons.One of these reasons (and a very common one) is new arthrosis.Today we will tell you in detail about arthrosis of the knee joint: what are the causes, types, symptoms and signs, we will talk about treatment and prevention methods.
Types and causes of diseases
Arthrosis of the knee joint or gonarthrosis is a mostly non-inflammatory lesion, which over time leads to the destruction of articular cartilage, deformation of the knee and limited range of motion in it.This disease has two main forms:
- primary - occurs due to congenital defects of the joint;
- secondary – occurs as a result of another disease or injury.
The primary form begins to develop in childhood or adolescence and is caused by improper formation of the articular surface or ligamentous apparatus.When walking, such a joint is subjected to a load disproportionate to its capacity, which causes degenerative changes in it.
The development of secondary pathological forms can lead to:
- Injuries: leg fractures, bruises and knee dislocations, accompanied by damage to the bones and cartilage of joints and ligaments.In this case, arthrosis after trauma of the knee joint develops.
- Surgery to remove the meniscus, because it leads to disruption of the integral structure of the knee and its rapid wear.
- Unbalanced load on the legs that athletes often experience.
- Excessive obesity also causes arthrosis, because it leads to excessive pressure from the 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 salt in the joint cavity.
- Other factors and long-term diseases are accompanied by spasms of leg muscles or blood vessels.
- Delayed surgery.
The pathological process can be unilateral or bilateral.As a result of injuries, unilateral arthrosis (for example, 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 of the initial period, when there are no obvious symptoms (such as severe pain and visible deformation), but from time to time there is discomfort in the knee.
Most often, women over 40 who are overweight are affected, and especially, as an aggravating factor, those with varicose veins.
The development of gonarthrosis goes through several stages:
- The initial stage can last for months and sometimes years.A person experiences knee pain periodically, especially when taking the first step after getting out of bed in the morning, as well as when going up and down stairs.
- In the second stage, the pain becomes stronger and occurs with any movement accompanied by a characteristic crackling sound.Fluid may accumulate in the articular cavity, and upon examination one may notice initial deformation.Range of motion in the affected knee begins to decrease.
- The third stage is characterized by pain that does not go away even with rest.Often the discomfort increases before the weather changes.By this time, the joint has largely lost its function: the leg may be difficult to bend at the knee or may not be fully extended.The gait changes: it becomes "waddling" or on half-bent legs.The knee deformity is severe: the leg is bent and takes an O- or X-shape.
Symptoms of arthrosis after knee joint trauma develop faster.As a result of the injury, pain and swelling appear in the knee area.Such pain always accompanies a person and gets stronger after physical activity.Gradually, it is accompanied by a feeling of tightness and stiffness in the knees.Sometimes with this form of the disease, only a few months pass from the initial symptoms to irreversible changes.
Treatment of gonarthrosis
The scope of treatment depends on the stage of the disease and the severity of the lesion.But since the disease is chronic, the only thing that can be achieved is long-term remission (a resting phase when pathological manifestations are minimal or absent).At the same time, if at an early stage it is possible to eliminate the cause of arthrosis of the knee joint (for example, by reducing weight), then an almost complete recovery is possible.
Goals of gonarthrosis treatment:
- relieve pain,
- if possible, restore damaged cartilage and ligamentous apparatus,
- increase the range of motion in the joint.
Treatment methods:
- drug therapy,
- massage and manual therapy,
- surgical intervention,
- rehabilitation therapy (physical therapy, physiotherapy and other methods).
Only a doctor can choose the right medicine;under no circumstances set it for yourself.Their main actions are aimed at:
- Elimination of symptoms of arthrosis of the knee joint: relief of pain and inflammation.For this purpose, appropriate drugs are prescribed, including hormones, which are injected into the joint cavity.
- Improves blood supply to the affected area.It is provided by agents that relieve vascular spasms and relax muscles.
- Restoration of cartilage tissue.For this purpose, drugs are prescribed that nourish and restore cartilage.
Manual manipulation and massage reduces pain, relaxes spastic muscles near the affected knee, helps increase range of motion, corrects bone position and improves blood circulation.
In the case of irreversible damage, knee arthrosis is treated with a radical - prosthetic method, that is, the implantation of a metal prosthesis to replace the destroyed joint.This is so far the only method that gives a chance for complete recovery, however, endoprostheses have a limited service life, after which they must be replaced.Because the cost of such operations is very high, this method of treatment is not yet widespread.
Rehabilitation therapy includes physical therapy, kinesiotherapy (exercises using special weights and machines), physiotherapy and sanatorium-resort treatment.
Orthopedic methods are aimed at unloading the painful knee - these are crutches, orthoses, etc., which make walking easier (used if necessary).
There are many folk recipes for various ointments and compresses based on herbs, 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.
Preventive measures
Prevention of knee arthrosis includes many factors:
- Balanced nutrition: the diet should contain a sufficient amount of protein, vitamins and microelements.
- Fight unhealthy lifestyle and get rid of bad habits.
- Normalization of body weight.
- Sufficient physical activity.
- Prevention of injuries during sports and weight lifting.
The most important thing when identifying a pathology such as knee arthrosis is not to let the disease develop, because its advanced stage leads to disability.But if you direct all your efforts to timely treatment and prevention - before time is lost and symptoms are insignificant - there is a chance of complete relief from this disease.