Osteoarthritis of the knee joint

Arthrosis of the knee joint (deformative osteoarthritis of the knee joint, DOA, gonarthrosis) is called a degenerative-dystrophic change in the articular structure, in which the layer of cartilage between the bone elements first becomes thinner and then collapses. At the initial stage, the patient experiences discomfort and slight limitations of mobility, then the joint becomes deformed, and when the cartilage is destroyed, it loses its function completely. Acute arthrosis is very painful and is accompanied by a significant decrease in the patient's physical activity. If treatment for gonarthrosis of the knee joint is not started on time, the patient may remain disabled.

For reference:According to statistics, every fifth adult in the world suffers from osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Osteoarthritis of the knee can be unilateral or bilateral; in women, pathology is diagnosed twice as often as in men. People over the age of 45 often face the problem of joint deformation due to age-related changes in the body. If this diagnosis is made to a young person, the cause is usually trauma.

Why does pathology develop?

The knee joint is one of the most complex in the human body. It bears most of the load when walking and other movements. It is not surprising that with age the elements begin to wear out and lose their function. First, the layer of cartilage in the articular joint loses its elasticity and elasticity, then it dries and cracks. The shock-absorbing properties of cartilage are reduced, and this is what causes discomfort and pain when moving: the shock and the impact of the articular structures on each other are no longer softened by anything, the bones are gradually exposed and rub against each other.

Deformation of knee joint arthrosis in old age is a phenomenon of choice; it is not diagnosed in everyone. There are several provoking factors, the combination of which causes pathological changes in the joints.

The most common pathological causes are as follows:

• overweight - joints need to withstand additional loads;
• Osteoporosis is a pathology in which demineralization of bone tissue occurs;
• chronic diseases related to metabolic disorders in the body;
• traumatic sports - gonarthrosis is often called a football player's disease due to frequent trauma to the knee joint;
• some types of professional activities related to heavy physical activity - osteoarthritis and osteoarthritis - are present in the loader;
• spinal injuries in which the load distribution on the lower leg joints is disturbed;
• hereditary tendency.

Articular cartilage does not wear out immediately. At the initial stage, the manifestations of the disease are absent or insignificant, the patient does not consult a doctor and does not take any measures to stop the pathological process. But, if dystrophic changes are nevertheless identified, the patient has time to start treatment and prevent irreversible changes. To do this, you must first determine what the main signs of osteoarthritis of the knee joint are.

How to recognize the disease

The symptoms of arthrosis of the knee joint become noticeable at the stage when the cartilage has become thinner and begins to deteriorate. Grade 1 gonarthrosis may not be felt for years. However, later, concerned patients remember that they still feel atypical symptoms, they do not attach much importance to them, because they do not persist and do not cause much discomfort.

You can suspect the destruction and inflammation of the right or left knee joint based on the following specific signs:

• morning stiffness in joints;
• limitation of mobility after a long stay in one position;
• discomfort in the knees when climbing stairs - burning sensation, hypersensitivity;
• night pain in knee;
• pain after physical labor or sports;
• periodic sudden weakness in the lower legs. If right-sided gonarthrosis or left-sided gonarthrosis develops, then only one affected leg gives way.

But still, the main symptom of knee joint destruction remains pain. They can have varying intensity and sometimes subside. But as the pathology develops, they appear more often, become more intense and bother the patient even at rest, in the absence of physical activity. Based on the severity of the symptoms, the doctor can diagnose the stage of the disease.

• Stage 1 pathological manifestations:pain is not yet a concern, patients may notice rapid fatigue when playing sports or physical activity, slight limitation of joint movement after prolonged rest. X-rays will show a slight narrowing of the space between the joint bones, an uneven cartilage surface with slight compaction.
• For 2 degree gonarthrosissymptoms appear brighter and more frequent. Patients usually already understand that there is something wrong with their knee. Joints ache and "twist" when the weather changes, after doing physical exercise. Even the gentlest movement results in knee pain. If a person gives his leg rest, the pain will go away. But under load they will resume. Also at this pathological stage, there may be characteristic irritation in the knee when bending and extending the leg, difficulty and pain when trying to bend the leg at the knee more than 90 degrees. X-rays will show changes in the shape of the joint cup and the presence of fluid in the joint cavity.
• Gonarthrosis 3 degreescharacterized by severe pain that occurs regardless of whether the limb is bearing weight or at rest. Aching joints are especially painful at night and when the weather conditions change. The patient can no longer bend his leg at the knee, which is why his physical activity and performance decrease. X-rays clearly show degenerative changes in the articular tissue. Deformation can also be seen visually with the naked eye. The patient's leg is bent at the knee like the letter "o" or "x", which eventually leads to the inability to move freely, without support, and above all to perform normal professional and household tasks. The person becomes disabled.

Usually, patients consult a doctor in the second stage of the disease, especially to find an effective medicine for knee pain. In the first stage, it is quite difficult to identify gonarthrosis, because the symptoms are mild, and only small changes can be seen on x-rays. It is possible to detect pathological changes in the joints only with a thorough examination.

Diagnostic methods

Diagnosis begins with a visual examination and questioning the patient. What will indicate the possibility of the development of gonarthrosis:

• enlargement and changes in the shape of the knee joint;
• apparent dryness when the kneecap is moved;
• pain when palpating the joint;
• limitation of joint movement.

In the early stages, degenerative changes in cartilage tissue may not be visible; for this reason, CT and MRI are also recommended. With the help of modern diagnostic techniques, doctors can determine exactly how badly the joint is affected, whether there is inflammation and accumulation of fluid in the joint cavity, and also distinguish osteoarthritis of the knee joint from other pathologies.

Classification

In modern orthopedics, there are two main types of osteoarthritis of the knee joint:

• primary gonarthrosis;
• secondary gonarthrosis.

The main form of the disease develops on its own due to age-related changes or metabolic disorders. Secondary is the result of another disease, injury or unsuccessful surgical intervention. Post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the knee joint can develop several months after a contusion, subluxation or fracture. According to the nature of the course, arthrosis is classified as acute or chronic. It is easier to cure the acute form of this disease.

Official medicine for gonarthrosis

Complex treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint begins only after the final confirmation of the diagnosis. If the patient's condition is not critical, then the doctor will first try to stop the development of the pathology with the help of drugs. Physiotherapy, massage, and manual therapy are used as additional methods.

The main goals of complex therapy:

• relieves pain and discomfort;
• restore joint mobility;
• stop the destruction of the cartilage layer and, if possible, restore it.

The important thing is physical therapy and following a special diet. There are exercises and products that work to restore damaged joint tissue and help restore mobility at least partially. If you consult a doctor in time, these steps are enough for the knee joint to start working fully again.

But if the disease has reached the third stage, the joint is badly damaged, even the most expensive medicine will not help to restore it. Surgery will be required to preserve at least some of the limb's function. It consists of removing the remnants of the affected articular structure and planting an implant, the procedure is called endoprosthetics.

Drug treatment of gonarthrosis

To eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of the disease, restore and strengthen the joints, drug complexes of various groups and actions are used.

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs– joint treatment begins with them, they quickly relieve pain, swelling, fever, and partially stop the inflammatory process. But they should not be taken for a long time, because the active components in the composition have a very negative effect on the functioning of the digestive tract and blood composition. Usually, the course of treatment with NSAIDs lasts no more than 5-7 days. Medicines can be in the form of tablets for internal use or in the form of ointments and gels for external use.
• Chondroprotectors– these are drugs that increase the nutrition of cartilage tissue and restore its firmness and elasticity. Chondroprotectors also partially relieve pain and swelling. But such drugs do not work immediately. The first effect will be noticeable a few weeks after the start of the course of therapy. It is recommended to take chondroprotectors for at least six months.
• Hormonal drugs.They are also called corticosteroids. Medicines containing hormones are used if the pain is very severe and the inflammation continues even after a course of taking NSAIDs. They are given as an intramuscular injection or directly into the joint cavity. Such drugs immediately relieve pain, reduce swelling and inflammation. But they have several contraindications and more side effects than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which is why they are prescribed in extreme cases. Hormonal drugs can be bought in pharmacies only with a doctor's prescription. Immediately after the patient's condition improved, corticosteroids were stopped.

Treatment is completed with intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid. This substance stimulates the production of synovial fluid, saturates cells with moisture, restores elasticity, firmness and prevents abrasion. The cost of the procedure is quite high, but the effectiveness is worth the cost.

On a note:Of all the drugs listed above, only chondroprotectors affect the cause of the disease. They stimulate the regeneration of destroyed cartilage tissue and prevent damage to surviving cartilage cells. But these drugs are expensive, while to get a significant and lasting effect they must be taken regularly for several months in a row, and sometimes even years. The full cost of treatment for many patients, especially retirees, is often prohibitive.

Unconventional treatment methods

Patients who have experienced for themselves what knee arthrosis is and what unpleasant symptoms it presents, always have some medicine available in stock in case the pharmacy and medicine are not available. People suffering from gonarthrosis and knee pain prepare tinctures, rubs and ointments in advance based on medicinal plants - almost all recipes require time and fresh raw materials, available only in spring-summer.

Treatment with dandelion

There are several ways to strengthen the joints and restore their mobility, and get rid of painful pain with the help of this medicinal plant. The easiest is to eat five dandelions every day during the flowering period. This should be done on an empty stomach, after rinsing the flower with boiled water. A tincture for rubbing joints is also prepared from dandelion.

The recipe is as follows:

1. Collect exactly 50 open dandelion heads.
2. Place in a dark glass bottle with a tight stopper.
3. Pour 300 ml of good vodka or triple cologne.
4. Infuse away from sunlight for a month, shaking the container from time to time.
5. Without specifying, transfer it to the first aid kit, use it before going to bed to rub the sore knee, then wrap the joint warmly and sleep under the blanket.

There is another interesting recipe against joint osteoarthritis using dandelion. First you need to collect plant leaves and dry them. Then pour boiling water and leave for half an hour to steam. The resulting mixture must be chewed slowly and carefully for as long as it takes to take exactly 3 thousand steps.

Recipes with burdock

The easiest recipe:

1. pick two or three young leaves of the plant and rinse with cold water;
2. Gently pound the leaves to extract the juice;
3. Apply to the affected joint and secure with a bandage.

Keep this "compress" overnight, remove it in the morning and discard the leaves. Repeat the procedure every day for three weeks.

To enhance its effect, traditional medicine practitioners advise to lubricate the knees with cinquefoil oil before using burdock. It is very easy to prepare. Two tablespoons of chopped cinquefoil are poured into 250 ml of any purified vegetable oil without fragrance. The oil should be well heated, but not boiled. Leave the mixture for two weeks, then the oil can be used to treat the joints.

Turpentine, eggs and other joint remedies

Using chicken egg yolk, you can prepare an effective rub for joint pain. It is set up like this:

1. Beat a little yolk in a bowl.
2. Add a teaspoon of turpentine and stir.
3. Then pour a tablespoon of vinegar and beat again.

The mixture is kept in the refrigerator and used before going to bed. After rubbing, the knee is wrapped in a warm cloth overnight. In the morning, you need to remove the bandage and rinse the remaining product with warm water, and then apply any anti-arthrosis ointment.

Remember that all homemade preparations are only effective after preparation; it is not stored for a long time (except tincture with alcohol, it can be stored in a dark and cool place for up to six months). Do not expect immediate results. People's recovery acts according to the cumulative system; lasting relief will come only after three to four weeks of regular use of home remedies for knee arthrosis. At a later stage, they will not be effective and will only help reduce pain and swelling temporarily.

Summary:Osteoarthritis of the knee joint, or gonarthrosis, is one of the most common lesions in the musculoskeletal system in older people. In young people it occurs after an injury or during excessive physical exercise. This disease can be completely cured only at stage 1-2 with an efficient and comprehensive approach. In the third stage, it is most often necessary to use endoprosthetics to at least partially restore the function of the limb and prevent complications.