Knee osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritis is a disease of the musculoskeletal system, which includes deformation and destruction of cartilage tissues of the joints, as a result of which the structure and function of cartilage is disrupted.The disease has many names - gonorrhea, deforming osteoarthritis.Treatment for knee arthritis does not have a clear plan or a single medication that will help everyone with the problem equally.Since arthropathy is a progressive disease, it is often observed in overweight women, venous disease, and the elderly.Treatment is carried out and prescribed individually for each patient.

Knee osteoarthritis can be unilateral or bilateral (depending on whether the disease develops in one or both legs).At the first symptoms, it is necessary to apply appropriate treatment, since ignoring this problem can lead to the final destruction of cartilage and exposure of bones and, as a result, to human disability.

There are three stages of the disease:

1. The early stages of knee osteoarthritis are characterized by the loss of shock-absorbing properties and, as a result, the cartilage rubs against each other when moving, causing severe discomfort for the patient.Cartilage becomes rough, deformed, dry and in advanced stages of the disease is even covered with cracks.
2. Due to reduced wear and tear, bone deformation begins, leading to the formation of bone spurs (growths on the bone surface) - this is the second stage of the disease.The new membrane of the joint and the joint capsule are also easily deformed, and the knee joint gradually atrophies due to stiff movements.There are also changes in the density of synovial fluid (it becomes thicker, more viscous), poor circulation and impaired nutrient supply to the knee joint.Thinning of the cartilage lining between joints reduces the distance between bones and joints.
3. The disease progresses rapidly and passes into the third stage quite quickly, when the patient is practically unable to move due to constant pain in the knee.Global and irreversible changes occur in cartilage tissue, leading to disability in humans.

Most often, arthritis or gonorrhea develops after an injury or bruise, while a person feels constant severe pain in the knee, which significantly interferes with his mobility.

Reasons for the development of arthritis

Knee arthritis, which takes a long time to treat, can manifest due to the following factors:

1. Genetic predisposition.
2. Injuries: dislocations, bruises, fractures.When treating an injured knee, the joint will be immobilized and the patient cannot bend or straighten the leg for a certain period of time.This leads to impaired blood circulation, which often causes the development of post-traumatic gonorrhea.
3. Remove cartilage.
4. Excessive physical activity inappropriate for a person's age, leads to injuries or microtrauma, as well as hypothermia in the joints.For example, running on asphalt or doing squats is not recommended for older people, since during these exercises there is significant pressure on the knee joint, which wears out with age and cannot withstand such loads.
5. Overweight and obesity.This factor leads to damage to the meniscus, injuries that cause the development of knee arthritis.
6. Loose ligaments or weak ligaments.
7. Arthritis or other acquired joint diseases.The inflammatory process can cause a buildup of synovial fluid in the joint cavity or swelling.This causes destruction of knee cartilage tissue, leading to knee osteoarthritis.
8. Metabolic disorders in the human body.Insufficient calcium intake significantly worsens the condition of bone and cartilage tissue in the human body.
9. Flat feet.Improper foot structure will shift the center of gravity and the load on the joint will be greater.
10. Stress and nervous tension.

Symptoms of knee osteoarthritis

The clinical picture of the disease has the following symptoms:

1. Painful feeling.The pain occurs suddenly, depending on the physical load on the knee joint.Painful sensations can be of a different nature.In the early stages, these are weak low back pain, to which a person usually does not pay much attention.Periodic mild pain can occur for months, sometimes years, until the disease progresses to a more severe stage.
2. Visible knee deformity.This symptom appears in the later stages.At first, the knee may appear swollen or inflamed.
3. Accumulation of synovial fluid in the joint cavity or Baker's cyst.This is a dense formation on the posterior wall of the knee joint.
4. Brittle joints.Sharp crunching sounds, accompanied by pain, are observed in patients in the second and third stages of the disease.
5. Inflammatory reaction in the joint synovium, as a result of which the cartilage swells and increases in volume.
6. Joint mobility is reduced.Observe at a later stage.Bending the knee becomes almost impossible and is accompanied by severe pain.In the final stages, the knee may be completely immobilized.Movement of a person becomes difficult or completely impossible (some patients move with bent legs).

Treatment of knee osteoarthritis

Comprehensive treatment of right knee arthritis.To date, there are no medical medications that can relieve this disorder.One of the most important conditions for successful treatment is timely diagnosis.The sooner knee arthritis is treated, the greater the chance of prolonging remission and preventing destruction and deformation of cartilage and bone tissue.

During treatment, the doctor and patient are faced with a number of tasks:

1. Eliminate or reduce pain;
2. Establishes the supply of nutrients to the knee joint and thereby enhances the joint's recovery function;
3. Activates blood circulation in the knee joint;
4. Strengthens the muscles around the joints;
5. Increase joint mobility;
6. Try to increase the distance between bones and joints.

Treatment of the disease, depending on the stage of its development, can be conservative and surgical.

Conservative treatment of knee osteoarthritis

Pain reliever, anti-inflammatory

To reduce or alleviate pain, patients are often prescribed a course of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).These can be pills, ointments and injections.Among the most popular pain relievers are the following.These medications can be used in two ways - orally or topically.

Typically, patients prefer topical treatments in the form of gels, ointments, and warming patches.The effects of these pain relievers do not occur immediately but occur after a few days (about 3-4 days).Maximum effect is achieved after a week of regular use of the drug.Such drugs do not treat the disease but only relieve pain because they cannot begin to treat the pain.

Pain relievers should be used exactly as prescribed by your doctor;they should only be used for severe pain, as prolonged and frequent use can lead to side effects and even accelerate the destruction of joint cartilage.In addition, with long-term use of these drugs, the risk of adverse reactions, including stomach ulcers, duodenal ulcers, disorders of the normal functioning of the liver and kidneys, and allergic manifestations in the form of dermatitis, may also occur.

hormones

Sometimes, during the treatment of knee arthritis, a course of hormonal drugs is prescribed.They are prescribed if NSAIDs are no longer effective and the disease begins to progress.Usually, hormonal drugs for the treatment of this disease are administered in the form of injections.

The course of treatment with hormonal drugs is usually short and is prescribed during severe stages of the disease, when inflammatory fluid accumulates in the joints.Hormones are injected into the joint approximately every ten days.

Chondroprotectors

To restore and nourish cartilage tissue in the early stages of the disease, a course of treatment with glucosamine and chondroitite sulfate, called chondroprotectors, is prescribed.This is the most effective method of treating arthritis today.They have almost no contraindications and side effects are rare.

Vasodilators

To reduce spasm of small blood vessels, improve blood circulation and supply of nutrients to the knee joint, as well as eliminate vascular pain, vasodilators are prescribed.They are crushed together with chondroprotectors.If your knee arthritis is not accompanied by fluid buildup, you should also use ointments, gels and warming fluids.

Therapeutic exercises

An exercise regimen can be very useful and brings good results only when prescribed by a doctor and performed under supervision, following the recommendations of a specialist or trainer.Self-medication is very dangerous for your health.Exercise therapy is used to further prevent cartilage tissue destruction, slow the development of stiffness, and relax painful muscle spasms.During exacerbations, exercise therapy is contraindicated.A course of special individual exercises, taking into account not only the stage of the disease and the condition of the cartilage, but also the age of the patient, should be developed by a competent specialist in this field.

Physical therapy

Physiotherapy is used as one of the conservative therapeutic methods - electrophoresis, laser therapy, acupuncture, electrodynamic current, UHF.A local massage course also gave positive results.Physiotherapeutic methods act in several directions - relieve pain, reduce inflammation, normalize metabolic processes inside the joint and restore the normal functions of the joint.The method and duration of physiotherapy treatment are determined based on the patient's medical history and are prescribed only after a thorough diagnosis and study of the joint condition.

Pain relief physical therapy includes:

1. Medium-wave ultraviolet irradiation (SUV irradiation).UV exposure to the skin of the knee continues until slight redness appears.Substances formed in tissues reduce the sensitivity of nerve fibers, thereby achieving an analgesic effect.The duration of treatment prescribed by the doctor depends on the symptoms, frequency and severity of pain.On average, the course of treatment is about 7-8 sessions.
2. Local magnetic therapy is aimed at the overall recovery of the patient's body.This procedure reduces inflammation, eliminates pain and neutralizes muscle spasms.Effectively used for knee arthritis in the early stages.The course of treatment is usually limited to 20-25 procedures, each lasting about half an hour.
3. Infrared laser therapy, low intensity UHF therapy, centimeter therapy (SMV therapy).
4. Ultrasound, darsonvalization, therapeutic baths, interventional therapy, are prescribed to improve blood circulation in the joints.

Hygiene at the resort is of great importance.This treatment is prescribed for deforming and dystrophic osteoarthritis.This treatment, like those listed previously, has contraindications, so the treating doctor will carefully examine the patient's medical history before recommending a hygienic method.

Surgery to treat knee osteoarthritis

This is a thorough treatment for knee osteoarthritis, helping to restore part or all of the joint's function.The method and form of surgical intervention depend on the degree of joint damage as well as the patient's medical history.

Late knee arthritis can be treated only with surgery - the knee joint is completely or partially replaced with a prosthesis.Surgical treatment not only allows to improve health, but also restores the patient's ability to work in the final stages of knee arthritis.Many people consider the long recovery period using exercise therapy, mechanical therapy and other means to be a significant disadvantage of surgery.

There are several types of surgical interventions for knee arthritis:

Prevent knee arthritis

To avoid this disease, people at risk (athletes, the elderly, overweight people, corporate workers) must follow certain instructions:

1. Proper nutrition and the fight against excess weight.It is necessary to exclude unhealthy foods from your diet - fatty foods, fried foods, alcohol, and it is better to consult a nutritionist who will help you choose a suitable diet.
2. When playing sports, monitor the load on your joints and reduce them if necessary.
3. Monitor your health and promptly treat infectious diseases, preventing them from becoming chronic.
4. Timely and complete treatment of spinal diseases, if any, develop correct posture.
5. Sports activities (cycling, swimming, walking, special exercises for the joints).
6. Do not self-medicate!At the first symptoms of knee arthritis, go to the clinic.
7. Avoid stress, sleep well.
8. Increase your immunity systematically (strengthen yourself or at least take a dose of vitamins 2-3 times a year).
9. Avoid hypothermia of the body, especially the lower extremities.

A healthy lifestyle and timely treatment are the best ways to prevent knee arthritis.