Signs of osteoarthritis of the knee joint: causes, stages of the disease, how to treat

Signs of osteoarthritis of the knee joint are often found in older people.Athletes and obese patients are also at risk.

Why does osteoarthritis occur in the knee joint?

Osteoarthritis is deformation of the cartilage of the joints.Cartilage plays the role of shock absorbers and facilitates the movements of the human body.When they are destroyed, mobility gradually decreases, and any strain causes pain.Over time, the knee becomes completely immobilized and the person may become disabled.

All cartilage thins and wears out with age, so the disease in various stages occurs in 70-85% of people over 60 years of age.First of all, we are talking about overweight women.Other common causes of osteoarthritis:

• Intense sports and physical overload contribute to premature wear of cartilage at a young age.
• Injuries, fractures, dislocations.
• Genetic predisposition.
• Congenital disorders, lack of intra-articular fluid.
• A circulatory disorder where the cartilage gets little oxygen and nutrients.
• Joint diseases accompanied by inflammation.
• Violation of hormone production and metabolism.

A type of osteoarthritis that affects the knee joint is called gonarthrosis, from the ancient Greek "goni" - knee.

Classification of osteoarthritis of the knee joint

In this condition there are 3 stages, depending on the degree of development of arthrosis.The earlier the disease is detected, the more successful and simpler the treatment will be.Features of different stages of osteoarthritis:

1. At this stage, bone deformation is not pronounced.Abnormalities are noticeable on X-rays, but few people pay attention to minor symptoms and come to the doctor.
2. Changes and thickening of bones are visible on X-rays to the naked eye.Quality of life decreases due to constant discomfort.
3. The patient is significantly limited in movement.Ligaments and cartilage are completely destroyed.

Many elderly people endure pain until the last moment and suffer from illness because they get used to age-related diseases and consider these symptoms to be normal.But in the initial stage, you can cope with conservative methods, and in the final stage, only surgery will help.

Main symptoms

The disease does not begin suddenly, but develops over several years.A slight pain in the knee is felt initially only during heavy loads, when going up and down stairs.If osteoarthritis is not treated, over time the pain symptom becomes permanent, the knee joint takes on an unnatural shape and outline, and the leg may bend to the right or left.

On step 1

Long before osteoarthritis develops seriously, a person may begin to feel slight discomfort in the knee after walking.Occasionally, stiffness in movement and crunching occurs.These symptoms should not be ignored, as with timely examination, treatment can be started and serious consequences can be prevented.

On phase 2

At this stage, the patient feels pain almost constantly.It is most pronounced in the morning, subsides after a short walk, but the condition worsens in the evening.The patient's gait becomes slower, accompanied by a constant crunching sound.Redness and swelling of the skin in the knee area often appear, indicating an inflammatory process.The X-ray shows pronounced changes.

Diagnostics

An orthopedist examines and identifies osteoarthritis in the knee joint.Diagnostics includes laboratory and instrumental research methods.These include:

• Blood and urine tests.Show the level of hormones in the body and the presence of inflammation.
• Radiography.Helps to evaluate the joint type and establish the stage of the disease.
• Magnetic resonance imaging.Shows the condition of soft tissue, meniscus, cartilage, which is impossible with radiography.
• Ultrasound of joints.Like MRI, it shows the condition of the cartilage and surrounding tissue.It is a more subjective method, the result depends on the specialist's qualifications.Therefore, ultrasound should be performed as an adjunct to magnetic resonance imaging.
• Personal inspection.Sometimes the doctor completely trusts the result of an X-ray or MRI scan and does not consider it necessary to double-check it himself.At the same time, manual examination can show details that were missed and identify co-morbidities that also require treatment.

If gonarthrosis is suspected, it is preferable to carry out all examinations and be observed by a doctor at a specialized orthopedic clinic.

How to treat osteoarthritis of the knee joint

All treatment methods are selected individually and used in combination.You cannot use ordinary ointment for the joints as self-medication, as its effect will be temporary and will not eliminate the cause of the disease.It is optimal to combine medicine, physiotherapy, correct nutrition and physiotherapy.

Hormonal drugs

Steroid medications have a wide range of effects on the body, including anti-inflammatory and pain relief.Such drugs are used as injections into the joint at the time of exacerbation of the disease to quickly relieve pain and swelling.The disadvantages of the method include side effects, limited frequency of use (preferably no more than once every 2 weeks).Furthermore, hormone injections do not eliminate the causes of the disease, but relieve symptoms in combination with other methods and cannot be considered a complete treatment.

Chondroprotectors

This is a group of drugs that act on cartilage tissue, restore and nourish it, improve the quality of the lubricating fluid.

The most effective for treating osteoarthritis in the knee joint are preparations with glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.These substances are included in several medicines.

The attitude towards chondroprotectors among doctors and patients is ambiguous.Some patients expect, thanks to advertising, unrealistically fast results from the treatment.When they do not find them, they become disappointed and begin to consider this group of substances as useless.

In fact, chondroprotectors require long-term course use in combination with other treatment methods.

These drugs are much more effective in stages 1-2 of the disease, and not when the cartilage tissue is already severely damaged.

Hyaluronic acid

Sodium hyaluronate is a natural moisturizing component produced in the human body.With intra-articular injections, hyaluronic acid deeply nourishes dry, thinned cartilage, restores joint mobility and acts as an effective natural lubricant.The disadvantages of the method include unwanted use during periods of exacerbation, inflammation and high price.At the same time, a well-planned procedure with hyaluronic acid can replace surgical intervention, which can be even more expensive.

Ointments

Gels and ointments with an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect are not able to affect the cause of the disease, but can greatly alleviate the patient's condition.Warming preparations improve blood circulation, improve the nutrition of the diseased area and help the overall treatment.Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory ointments are widely used to relieve pain, despite the relatively small amount of active substance that can penetrate the skin of the joint.

Diet therapy

Researchers have been studying the link between eating certain foods and rheumatoid arthritis for many years.It has been suggested that the increased risk of morbidity is influenced by the consumption of meat, processed foods and excess salt, but these guesses have not been confirmed.The only thing that has to do with food and osteoarthritis is being overweight.Therefore, the principles of diet therapy for this diagnosis are based on the general rules of healthy eating as well as reduction and control of body weight.

Recommendations for patients with knee osteoarthritis:

• Limit the consumption of ready-made food, fast food, and give preference to homemade dishes made from simple products.
• Stay within the healthy salt intake norm - no more than 1 teaspoon perday.
• Limit sweets, fatty foods, carbonated drinks and flour products.
• The diet must be varied, mostly fruit, vegetables, grains, dairy products, nuts, eggs (especially protein) and lean meat.
• On the recommendation of your doctor, you can take a complex of vitamins and nutritional supplements.

If a patient with knee osteoarthritis is already overweight, he should consult a nutritionist.The specialist will be able to give advice based on the patient's age, lifestyle and other indicators.

Folk remedies for the treatment of osteoarthritis

In folk medicine, infusions, decoctions, compresses from medicinal herbs and other components are used to treat joints.With the permission of the doctor, these drugs can supplement the main treatment or be used to prevent gonarthrosis at the first signs of discomfort and arthrosis in the knee joint.

More folk recipes:

• Turpentine rubbing.Mix the egg yolk, a teaspoon of turpentine, a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.Rub the mixture into the affected area overnight and wrap it in a woolen cloth.Used 1-2 times a week.
• Honey and mumiyo.For 100 g of honey, add 3-4 g of mumiyo.Rub into knees before bed.
• Dandelion infusion.To prepare half a liter of alcohol or vodka, pour into a dark glass container.Fill it with yellow heads and leave it in a cool place for at least a month.Rub the strained product into the sore area before going to bed.

Such recipes help relieve pain and inflammation in complex treatment, but do not replace it.Illiterate self-medication can worsen your condition.

Massage

Manual and hardware massage, manual therapy is perfect for overweight, sedentary people with osteoarthritis.If there is excess fluid accumulation in the joint, lymphatic drainage is indicated.All types of massage go well with physiotherapy and are used to relax the muscles after exercise.Contraindications for massage are acute inflammation.

Physiotherapy

Numerous types of procedures using heat, cold, electric current, ultrasound and laser rays slow down the progression of arthrosis, improve blood circulation in the diseased area and have an anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effect.

Most often, the doctor prescribes:

1. Shock wave therapy.The method involves directing sound waves specifically to the area of the diseased joint.This effect relieves swelling, improves cartilage nutrition and destroys salt deposits.The most effective method of physiotherapy for osteoarthritis.
2. Myostimulation.Electrical impulses relieve spasms and muscle tension and maintain mobility in the knee joint.
3. Phonophoresis.This therapy combines the local effects of ointments and gels with ultrasound.Due to this, the penetration of beneficial substances into the skin increases.

Less commonly used are cryotherapy, paraffin therapy, laser therapy, magnetic therapy and other techniques.

Kinesitherapy

Popular techniques include physical therapy and joint traction.The exercise therapy complex is individually prescribed by a rehabilitation doctor.It may include exercises with weights, medical equipment and gymnastics for independent performance.Some exercises should be done in the morning while still in bed, others - 3-4 times a day.The effectiveness of therapeutic exercises largely depends on the patient's responsibility and his desire to recover.When done correctly, such physical exercise helps stop the deterioration and prevent surgery.

A special orthopedic device is used for traction.The method allows you to widen the gap between the joints, reduce their friction and the load on the sore knee.

Surgical treatment

Surgery for osteoarthritis is a method of affecting the cause of the disease, and not just the symptoms.It is used in stages 2-3 of arthrosis, when other methods are ineffective.There are several intervention options:

1. Arthroscopy.Modern methods make it possible to perform the operation through small incisions with thin instruments under the supervision of a video camera.This type of surgery is easier to tolerate and the recovery is faster.During the operation, the surgeon removes pieces of damaged cartilage and tissue fibers.
2. Puncture.Refers to low-traumatic interventions.It involves pumping out excess fluid from the joint with a syringe.Allows you to relieve swelling, inflammation and increase mobility.
3. Endoprosthetics.If the joint in the last stage of osteoarthritis is already seriously damaged, it can be replaced with a titanium one that is compatible with the body.This is the most extensive intervention, followed by long-term rehabilitation.They resort to it in the most difficult cases, when there are no other options.

To avoid surgery, you need to monitor your health and start treating diseases from the beginning.There is no need to hold out for years and drown out pain in the knee joint and other signs of osteoarthritis with painkillers.

Preventive measures against osteoarthritis of the knee joint

You need to start taking care of the health of your knee joints early.The older you are, the more preventive measures you need to take.Athletes and overweight people should pay particular attention to the musculoskeletal system.

To prevent osteoarthritis of the knee joint, you must:

• Choose the sport and load correctly, based on your abilities.
• Wear comfortable, high-quality shoes with low heels.
• Swimming, which evenly strains and relaxes all muscles and joints.
• Avoid joint injuries and complete their treatment.
• Avoid excessive weight gain and keep it normal.

In addition to lifestyle adjustments, timely treatment of congenital features of joint development, for example, various deformities and dislocations, is important.

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint can occur not only in the elderly, but also in young patients.The disease takes a long time to develop, and with the right approach it is possible to recover and avoid serious health consequences.