The distorting osteoarthritis of the knee joint is called a gonartrose in medicine - it is a dystrophic degenerative disease in the hyalin cartilage of the knee, which covers the condyles of the femoral and the tibia.With osteoarthritis of the knee joint, the symptoms are gradually developing, for years, the main manifestation of the disease is pain, stiffness during movement. Gonarthrosis is considered to be the most common disease among the osteoarthritis of other joints, such as osteoarthritis of the hip, osteoarthritis of the joints of the elbow or shoulders and the phalanges of the fingers.Most often, the disease affects faces over 40, women are most sensitive to osteoarthritis. Sometimes it develops in young people in the context of injuries or in athletes from excessive charges.
Knee osteoarthritis: symptoms, causes, stages of the diseaseSymptoms of knee osteoarthritis.There may be several symptoms of a serious illness (bone arthritis, joints), and not all occur at the same time, but gradually as the cartilaginous tissues are destroyed.Consider the symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee joint at all stages (stages) of the disease.At the initial stage, the patient has a minimum of discomfort, but even a slight pain, but quite clear in the knee joint, begins to appear. A problem to become a trip or a long hike becomes problematic. In addition, the pain that has endured the body begins to worsen and the person already becomes uncomfortable in the knees, after physical effort or when sedentary positions rises, when there is a charge on the lower part of the limbs. In such cases, they feel strong pain in cartilage or in the very knee joint. Such pain leaves quickly, but each time it comes back.At the next stage of the disease, not only are painful sensations improved, but also begin to modify the knee. Due to the liquid accumulated in the cartilaginous tissue, the knees can become spherical and slightly swollen. In addition, everything is worse. If the disease is not treated, the blood circulation process is disturbed in the knee, the hyalin cartilage area dry and the cartilage itself can crack, after which it will start to collapse, and various types of growth will begin to appear on the bone structure. At this stage, the cartilage movement is already very difficult, and each step is given to a person suffering from difficulty. Walking causes intense pain, which hardly ends, and discomfort, degeneration of cartilage occurs.The last step in the disease is when the knee joint is already completely affected, there is no cartilage fabric in the knee, and that a person without support cannot simply sit and get up, cannot move completely, without feeling intense pain in its movements.Symptoms that should be reacted. A person must react even when the pain that occurs in the knee begins at the slightest stress and the constraints on the leg, when when you walk or squats, a knee crunch occurs, when the movements are died, their legs get tired quickly, swelling appears in the knees.What to do if the joints hurt? If the knee joints started to hurt or if there was acute pain in the cups when you get up and sit down, consult a doctor immediately. Do not wait until osteoarthritis of the knee joint hitting the joint and knee cartilage, go to the doctor as soon as you feel the very first symptoms of the disease. Remember that when the disease has already completely impressed the cartilage fabric, the bone deformation occurs and the pain does not calm the two days, neither at night, nor during walking, or without it. When to contact a rheumatologist? One person must be addressed to a rheumatologist during the first manifestations (symptoms) of the disease.The main symptoms of osteoarthritis. The main symptoms of knee osteoarthritis, on which you must build your attention: pain of all intensity and strength in the knees or a knee, which are felt by a person when they lift a sitting or lie position, walking; The pain that manifests in the knee cups during elevators on the stairs; The occurrence of pain syndrome immediately after the release of a person in a state of rest, for example, gets up after sitting and begins to move.The causes of osteoarthritis of the knee joint.The osteoarthritis of the knee joint can strike a person for a certain number of reasons - it is age (over the years, cartilage wears out), and intense physiotherapy on the leg or leg, and various types of knee injuries, and much more.The main reasons for the development of osteoarthritis:Overweight.Age of the elderly.Heredity.Osteoporosis.The deficiency in the body of vitamins and the useful trace elements necessary for bones.Specific work with constant loads on the cups of the knees.Metabolic disorders.Sports (intensive training, loading on one leg or both legs). Knee injuries.To avoid disability, you must consult a rheumatologist in time for qualified assistance.What happens to the joint with osteoarthritis.At each stage of the disease, its modifications occur in cartilage, in the joints and the bones of the knees.Thus, at the very beginning of the development of the disease, the cartilage darkened hard, becomes very vulnerable. In addition, microfissers and small tears, which gradually increase, appear on the surface of the joints. The next step - cartilage begins to grow and increase thickness. The last step is the complete destruction of the cartilage on a specific or specific section of the joint.Osteoarthritis of the knee joint, degree of diseaseAll rheumatologists reveal the three degrees of osteoarthritis of the human knee.First of all. It is characterized by a slight narrowing of the slots directly between the joints themselves, which leads to a slight discomfort and no constraint of the movements.The second. With that, doctors note a pronounced narrowing of cracks between the joints, the formation of osteophytes and cysts, the appearance of a very crunchy in the knees.The third and last. There is a change in the forms of osteophytes, a partial or complete change (destruction) of the bones occurs, the movement of the legs in the knees becomes impossible.
The degree of osteoarthritis of the knee jointOsteoarthritis of the 1 degree knee joint. At this stage, the disease belongs only, the cartilage is almost whole and the bones are not deformed. Currently, people feel infrequent pain in the knee cups with certain frivolous loads on the leg. These pains pass, but they occur again and again, pass and appear again, become already more frequent, swelling can begin, which, depending on the observation of patients, takes place without taking pills and the use of ointments.Osteoarthritis of the 2 degree knee joint. This step is already characterized by slightly large pain compared to the initial step. The pain occurs not only if there is an intensive load, but also with an ordinary walk, during the severity of the severity, when increasing a sitting position. A crunchy knee is starting to hear. Already at the stage indicated gradually begins, slowly or intensively (depending on the individuality of the body), the joint is distorted, human movements are limited.Osteoarthritis of the knee joint 3 degrees. At the last, and this is the third, the degree of our illness, the symptoms are already very expressed, the pain in the knee joints is regular and the modification of the bones is already visible to the eye. Human mobility is almost completely limited, it is very difficult for the patient to choose a practical position for himself, the pain is not calm.
Knee joint osteoarthritis - Symptoms and treatmentGeneral symptoms include:The feeling of pain in the knee cups when a person moves (the start of the disease);Pain in the affected areas, which becomes stronger every day; Nocturnal pain in knee joints;edema in areas affected by the disease;Rough dry knee crunch;Bone deformation in places affected by the disease.The main symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee jointThe main symptoms of osteoarthritis (main doctors-Russia) are four.These include:pain during knee movement;Dry crunch in affected places;Reduction of the ability to move sick legs;Modifies external affected areas (complete or partial).Diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint.Having carefully examined the patient, the rheumatologist assesses the situation, turning his gaze towards the changes visible by the eye in the areas of a knee or of his direct mobility. The survey method establishes places of pain and crunch, as well as the intensity of these pain.In addition to an X -ray for the patient, the doctor prescribes computed tomography and (gold) MRI. These studies are necessary to establish a precise diagnosis and prescribe correct treatment.
Treatment of knee osteoarthritis, treatment methodsThe treatment of osteoarthritis of any stage of the knee joint includes:Treatment methods using drugs;Treatment methods using exercise therapy and special physiotherapy;Treatment methods using the most ordinary massage; Surgery.Which gives effective therapy.Efficient therapy prescribed by a doctor contributes to:elimination of acute pain;The restoration of the cartilaginous fabric destroys (if possible, the result depends on the degree of disease);Increase in joint mobility.In the elimination of knee osteoarthritis, exercise therapy plays a special role, a special diet based on legumes and dairy products and massage. If the therapy prescribed for a reason or another has not shown the desired result, the patient is prescribed an operation to install a special prosthesis replacement of the joint.
Knee joint osteoarthritis: Treatment, drugsCompetent treatment with osteoarthritis of the cartilaginous tissue of the knee joint (violations of the composition of cartilage) prescribed by the rheumatologist includes a whole complex of drugs. This treatment complex generally includes:Nesteroid, aimed at eliminating inflammation, drugs.Chondroprotectors.Special creams or ointments.Therapeutic agents based on compresses.Most often, for the treatment of knee cartilage osteoarthritis, the doctors prescribe the ibuprofen of any manufacturer, the indomethacin also of any production, ketoprofen, diclofenac, pyroxic and others.The appointment of these drugs contributes to the rapid elimination of pain, as a result of which the patient can start a fruitful treatment in other respects - the massage method, medical exercises, etc. As for ointments, most often for the patient, the use (rubbing with massage movements in the painful area) of such drugs in the form of dense ointments (creams) and gels, such as diclofenac, rapid, ferbedon, transivazin, dolgit and others.The list of special gels and ointments - external preparations for joints on the modern pharmacological market are very wide and diverse, and therefore, on the recommendation of a doctor, the patient can choose from the most appropriate and most efficient number specifically in his case.
Some of the most popular recipes for traditional medicine against knee osteoarthritis.Treatment with the most ordinary burdacle or burdens. For treatment, it is necessary to (it is necessary to take three broth sheets (it is better to take young sheets), to attach them to the painful knee and to wrap them in gauze, which is sold in any pharmacy or bandage. In addition to Marley, it is also preferable to use a hot scarf. The procedure must be repeated daily before bedtime, leaving the painful place.With osteoarthritis and juice of the plant, celandin will help. You should buy or get celandine juice yourself. Having saturated with such a juice a cloth or any other natural fabric, apply it to a painful point for 45 to 55 minutes. After removing the bandage, immediately grease the joint with any vegetable oil. Repeat the treatment for at least 10 days, then take the same break and repeat the course again. Treatment of osteoarthritis with dandelion. For such therapy, it will be necessary to make a collection of flowers of a flourishing dandelion. To obtain the appropriate effect, the folk healers recommend to patients that patients eat five flowers of dandelion with an empty stomach daily, previously lowered in hot water and washed in it. In addition, from dandelion flowers, you can make a special grinding infusion. To do this, a bank is taken, which is previously treated with boiling water, half filled with dandelion flowers and poured (second half of the pot) by a triple cologne. The product is placed in a dark place and closes under the lid. After 30 days, the infusion can be used to rub the painful stains. The friction movements are carried out in the direction of the needles of a watch for 20-30 seconds per knee.After using these compresses, around 75% of patients note a significant improvement in their condition, a decrease in pain and an almost complete disappearance of a characteristic crust of the knees.ShouldRemember that traditional medicine recipes do not treat the disease, they can only complete the therapeutic course of treatment with drugs, making this course more effective.If you are preparing one of the means of traditional medicine or properly prepare the raw materials for such a tool, you are not able to independently, it is preferable to buy such components in a pharmacy or to request to collect plants of well-informed people (popular healers, grandmothers).
Therapeutic gymnasticsA special place in the treatment of osteoarthritis in the knees is occupied by special therapeutic gymnastics (exercise therapy). Patients are prescribed, regardless of the processing process in order to improve the flow and flow of blood in an affected area, increase muscle strength and prevent contractures. Shown with the use of special drugs.The LFK for osteoarthritis is in no way a specific treatment, it is an auxiliary method of fighting the disease which is prescribed in combination with a special medication course.Several exercises of therapeutic gymnastics for treatment and prevention:It is necessary to go to a difficult place (floor). Fold and extend the knees immediately with both legs. It is recommended to repeat the exercises for 3 to 5 minutes as often as possible in one day. The load on both legs should be the same.Lying on your back, on the floor, cross your legs with scissors (foot on the leg, first the right leg from above, then from below), holding your knees in an exposed state. Such movements are recommended to be repeated every day. Exercises should not cause discomfort, with pain, it is better to abandon such an exercise.Lying on the back, in a solid place, pushing it in turn to your stomach, folding another leg on the knee. These movements, carried out daily, will help you exclude you from the risk zone. The exercises are recommended to repeat every day for 3-4 minutes as often as possible. The load on both legs, as in the first case, should be the same. Exercise therapy for the treatment of arthritis arthritis of the joint knee will bring more advantages if you combine therapeutic exercises with a special massage.Visible changes in the disease with the use of physiotherapy exercises in the patient can occur in 7 to 10 days.If you are unable to perform exercise therapy yourself, it is better to refuse exercises.
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint: the first symptoms, treatment, prevention and dietIn summary, they would like to notice that after discovering the first symptoms of the disease, and it is pain in the knee joints and a characteristic crunch, go immediately to the doctor and start a special treatment with medication.A diet that will help osteoarthritis.Immediately if you find osteoarthritis or to prevent the disease, review the diet of your usual diet. In the daily diet, there should be a steamed or boiled dish. It is preferable that foods that have a beneficial effect on bones, ligaments, joints and cartilage are used in food. These products include: all legumes, cottage cheese, cheese varieties, soup, baked fish, baked fish, hazelnuts, almonds, pumpkin, zucchini, carrots, broccoli and cauliflower, prepared on bones.A diet described above is not a specific treatment method, for effective treatment, it should be used in combination with drugs, medical exercises and massage.
The first group of reasons: hereditary and age factors
HeredityThe osteoarthritis of the knee joint is a disease in which a hereditary predisposition is quite pronounced. So, if you are a woman and your mother suffered from osteoarthritis in any form (not all knees), the probability of obtaining this disease is 2 to 3 times higher than in the population. If you have sisters and they are also patients with osteoarthritis, then the probability of their appearance is even more.In addition, there are diseases with a hereditary predisposition in which the connective tissue is affected - the SO Collagenoses, which include, for example, a sticler syndrome. In the presence of such defects on the part of collagen - a substance that is part of the ligaments - the probability of developing the disease also increases.Partly in this group of causes of osteoarthritis of the knee, diseases of the endocrine system are adjacent: diabetes mellitus, the lack of female sex hormones in menopause and a number of other conditions.
AgeUnfortunately, the more the person ages, the more he has the risk of osteoarthrosis. This is due to the fact that with age, the capacity of cartilage to regeneration and restoration falls, and metabolism in the joints deteriorates.Thus, if at the age of 45, this disease suffers from 1, 5 to 3 to 4% of the population (American data), then almost all third parties are sick in the interval of 45 to 65 years (30%). And at the age of 65 to 85, the frequency of development of the disease increases up to 80 percent or more! In addition, in mature patients, the development of the disease is influenced not only by age in itself, but also by hormonal changes. Thus, in women in menopause, the probability of development of osteoarthritis increases sharply. This is due to the fact that estrogens - female sex hormones - regulate metabolism processes in joints, cartilage, bones and ligaments. When they become smaller (when menopause), metabolism in these tissues worsens and the risk of osteoarthrosis increases sharply.
Second group of causes: congenital diseases and acquired from the musculoskeletal system
Inflammation of the jointThe inflammation of the knee joint (arthritis, more precisely, training) is one of the most common causes of gonarthrosis. Unfortunately, most of the microorganisms that enter the joint and cause inflammation contribute to the fact that delicate cartilage is distorted. At the same time, its nutrition worsened considerably, the shape of the cartilage surfaces of the bones change, etc.For all these reasons, the normal shift in cartilage in the joint bones is disturbed. This leads to an additional trauma of cartilage, aggravates the volume of movements in the joint and, until the end, creates a very fertile terrain for the development of osteoarthrosis.
Knee operations and injuriesAnother common cause of the disease is the presence of knee injuries and surgical interventions on this subject. Very often, there are both one - for example, when, following a sports injury, an operational elimination of the meniscus is carried out. The normal function of the articulation is altered, the load on the cartilage changes, intensifying in atypical places and, therefore, the osteoarthrosis of the knee is formed.
Metabolic disorder in the bodyThe tissue of cartilage in the joints is one of the rare, whose nutrition does not occur thanks to the delivery of nutrients through blood vessels. Cartilage is "consumed" by diffusion of the nutrients from the synovial fluid, as well as directly from the pineal glands according to the same principle.It is a rather subtle and fragile mechanism, therefore, if various metabolic disorders occur in the body, it can break and stop working. Consequently, certain diseases in which the metabolism of the body is greatly disturbed can contribute to osteoarthrosis.These diseases include primary and secondary gout, joint chondromatosis, hemochromatosis, ocronosis, as well as Wilson-Konovalov disease and a number of other diseases. In addition, endocrine diseases can also be added to this group which also affects metabolism throughout the body - diabetes mellitus and the lack of female sex hormones (estrogen) in old age due to menopause.
Third group of reasons: increased charges and microtraumatic cartilage
Sports and hard physical work at workAs already mentioned, the nutrition of cartilage is a very subtle mechanism which can disrupt not only the problems of metabolism, but also an increased load on the knee joint.This occurs quite often with intensive sports, as well as when a person's work involves high physical activity, as well as prolonged standing position without the ability to sit and relax. At the same time, certain muscle groups (for example, the muscles of the bottom of the leg and thigh) are on -cass. This aggravates nutrition in muscles and joints, which means that there are problems with metabolism within cartilage, when cartilages simply do not have time to recover after such a strong physical effort on the joint.
Diagnosis of osteoarthritisOsteoarthritis of the knee joint should be differentiated (distinguished) from rheumatism, inflammatory and other diseases with similar symptoms.For this, a standard examination standard has been adopted, which includes a general biochemical blood test, radiographic examination, MRI and ultrasound.With osteoarthritis, a blood test does not reveal significant deviations from the standard. A change in the composition of blood, an increase in the level of immune cells and antibodies generally indicates another disease.Since osteoarthritis does not manifest itself in any way in the analyzes, the only reliable way to diagnose it is a material examination.The X -ray, as the most common and cheapest examination method, is capable of relatively precisely identifying osteoarthritis and its stage.In the image, structural changes in joints and bones are clearly distinguished. The X-Ray examination makes it possible to detect structural deformations, to determine the defects in the joint surfaces.For a reliable determination of gonarthrosis and the stage of its development, an additional examination is used in conjunction with the X -ray: on ultrasound, MRI or CT device. The methodology for diagnosing osteoarthritis is designed to ensure precise detection of the disease in the early stages of development, which will treat it effectively.Unfortunately, due to the specifics of the disease, the effectiveness of this approach is small: patients are inclined not to pay attention to low pain and a slight chroma, and are already led to the doctor in the second or third stage of gonarthrosis.
Additional recommendations: preventionPreventive measures aim to eliminate risk factors that lead to the development of osteoarthritis.It is recommended to engage in moderate physical activity. In this case, the possible injury, the overvoltage and hypothermia of the joints should be avoided.As indicated above, no link between diet and the risk of developing osteoarthritis has been established.However, it is recommended to reduce the consumption of salted and spicy foods, alcohol and cigarettes: this will improve the general condition of the body and reduce the load on the joint.In the presence of a family history, indicating a genetic predisposition, a physical examination should be regularly suffered. In general, the prevention of osteoarthritis is to lead a moderate way of life. It is important not to start the disease and consult a doctor at the slightest suspicion of osteoarthritis.
