Osteoarthritis of the knee joints

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (deforming osteoarthritis of the knee joint, DOA, gonarthrosis) refers to degenerative-dystrophic changes in the joint structures, in which the cartilage layer between the bone elements first thins and then collapses. In the early stages, the patient feels discomfort and a slight limitation of mobility, then joint deformation occurs, and as the cartilage is destroyed, it completely loses its functions. Acute arthrosis is very painful and is accompanied by a significant decrease in the patient's physical activity. If the treatment of gonarthrosis of the knee joint is not started in time, the patient may remain disabled.

For reference:According to statistics, every fifth adult on the planet suffers from osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Osteoarthritis of the knee can be unilateral or bilateral, and in women the pathology is diagnosed twice as often as in men. People over 45 often face the problem of joint deformation due to age-related changes in the body. If this diagnosis is given to young people, 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 during walking and other movements. It is not surprising that over the years its elements begin to wear out and lose their functions. First, the layer of cartilage in the articular joint loses its elasticity and elasticity, then dries and cracks. The shock-absorbing properties of cartilage are reduced, and this is exactly what causes discomfort and pain when moving: shocks and impacts of joint structures against each other are no longer mitigated by anything, the bones are gradually exposed and rub against each other. .

Deforming arthrosis of the knee joint in old age is an optional phenomenon, it is not diagnosed in everyone. There are a number of provoking factors, the combination of which causes pathological changes in the joint.

The most common causes of pathology are the following:

• excess weight - the joint must withstand additional loads;
• Osteoporosis is a pathology in which bone tissue is demineralized;
• chronic diseases associated with metabolic disorders in the body;
• traumatic sports - gonarthrosis is often called the disease of football players due to frequent trauma to the knee joint;
• some types of occupational activities associated with heavy physical activities - osteoarthritis and osteoarthritis - are found in loaders;
• spine injuries in which the distribution of load on the joints of the lower extremities is disturbed;
• hereditary predisposition.

Articular cartilage does not wear out immediately. In the early stages, 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 detected, the patient has time to start treatment and prevent irreversible changes. To do this, you must first determine what are the main signs of osteoarthritis of the knee joints.

How to recognize the disease

The symptoms of arthrosis of the knee joint become pronounced at the stage when the cartilage has already become thinner and has begun to deteriorate. Stage 1 gonarthrosis may not be felt for years. However, later careful patients recall that they still felt atypical symptoms, they simply did not attach much importance to them, because they were not constant and did not cause great discomfort.

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

• morning stiffness in the wrist;
• limitation of mobility after a long stay in one position;
• discomfort in the knee when climbing stairs - burning, hypersensitivity;
• nocturnal knee pain;
• pain after physical work or sports;
• periodic sudden weakening of the lower extremities. If right-sided gonarthrosis or left-sided gonarthrosis develops, then only one affected leg gives way.

But still, the main symptom of the destruction of the knee joint remains pain. They can be of varying intensity and disappear from time to time. But as pathologies progress, 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.

• Manifestations of stage 1 pathology:the pain is not yet a concern, the patient may notice rapid fatigue when playing sports or physical activity, a slight limitation of joint mobility after a long rest. The X-ray will show a slight narrowing of the space between the bones of the joint, an uneven cartilage surface with slight compactions.
• For 2 degree gonarthrosissymptoms appear more clearly and more frequently. The patient usually already understands that something is wrong with his knees. The joints hurt and "twist" when the weather changes, after physical exertion. Even the mildest movements result in knee pain. If the person rests the leg, the pain will disappear. But under load it will resume again. Also at this stage of the pathology there may be a characteristic creaking 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. An X-ray will show a change 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 loaded or at rest. The painful joint is especially painful at night and when the weather conditions change. The patient can no longer bend his leg at the knee, which reduces his physical activity and performance. X-ray clearly shows degenerative changes in joint tissues. The deformation is also visible to the naked eye. The patient's legs are bent at the knees like the letter "o" or "x", which ultimately leads to the inability to move independently, without support, and even more so to perform usual professional and household duties. A person becomes disabled.

Usually, patients turn to the doctor in the second stage of the disease, mainly to find an effective remedy for knee pain. In the first stage, it is quite difficult to recognize gonarthrosis, because the symptoms are mild, and only minor changes are visible on X-rays. Pathological changes in the joint can only be detected by a detailed examination.

Diagnostic methods

The diagnosis begins with a visual examination and examination of the patient. What will indicate the possible development of gonarthrosis:

• increase and change in the shape of the knee joint;
• distinct crunching when the kneecap moves;
• pain when palpating the joint;
• limitation of joint mobility.

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

Classification

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

• primary gonarthrosis;
• secondary gonarthrosis.

The primary form of the disease develops on its own due to age changes or metabolic disorders. It is a secondary consequence of another disease, injury or unsuccessful surgical intervention. Post-traumatic knee osteoarthritis can develop several months after a bruise, subluxation or fracture. According to the nature of the flow, arthrosis is classified as acute and chronic. It is easier to cure the acute form of the disease.

The official remedy 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, doctors will first try to stop the progression of the pathology with the help of drugs. Physiotherapy, massage and manual therapy are used as additional methods.

The main goals of complex therapy:

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

Important points are physical therapy and adherence to a special diet. There are exercises and products that work to restore damaged joint tissues and help restore mobility at least partially. If you consult a doctor in time, these measures are enough for the knee joint to start functioning fully again.

But if the disease has reached the third stage, the joint is seriously damaged, even the most expensive drugs will not help to restore it. Surgery will be required to preserve at least partial function of the limb. It consists of removing the remnants of the affected joint structures and installing implants, the procedure is called endoprosthetics.

Treatment of gonarthrosis with drugs

To eliminate unpleasant symptoms of the disease, restore and strengthen the joint, a complex of drugs of different groups and actions is used.

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs- they start the treatment of joints, quickly relieve pain, swelling, temperature and partially stop the inflammatory process. But they cannot be taken for a long time, because the active components in the composition have an extremely negative effect on the functions of the digestive tract and blood composition. Typically, the course of treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs does not last longer 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 improve the nutrition of the cartilage tissue and restore its strength 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 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 strong and the inflammation progresses even after taking a course of NSAIDs. They are given as injections intramuscularly or directly into the joint cavity. Such drugs immediately relieve pain, reduce swelling and inflammation. But they have a number of contraindications and even 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. Corticosteroids are discontinued immediately after the patient's condition improves.

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

note:Of all the above-mentioned drugs, 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, and for a noticeable and lasting effect, they must be taken regularly for several months in a row, and sometimes for years. The cost of full treatment for many patients, especially pensioners, is often prohibitive.

Unconventional methods of treatment

Patients who have experienced first-hand what arthrosis of the knee is and what unpleasant symptoms it manifests, always have several available medicines in stock in case the pharmacy and medicines are not available. People suffering from gonarthrosis and knee pain prepare tinctures, rubs and ointments based on medicinal herbs in advance - almost all recipes require time and fresh raw materials, available only in the spring-summer season.

Dandelion treatment

There are several ways to strengthen the joint and restore its mobility, and with the help of this medicinal plant you can get rid of excruciating pain. The simplest is to eat five dandelions every day during the flowering period. This should be done on an empty stomach, after washing the flowers with boiled water. A tincture for rubbing joints is also prepared from dandelion.

The recipe for cooking is as follows:

1. Collect exactly 50 open dandelion heads.
2. Place in a dark glass bottle with a tight cap.
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. Transfer it to the first aid kit without highlighting, use it before going to bed to rub the painful knee, then wrap the joint warmly and go to bed under a blanket.

There is another interesting recipe against arthrosis of the joints using dandelion. First you need to collect the leaves of the plant and dry them. Then pour boiling water over it and leave it to steam for half an hour. The resulting mixture must be chewed slowly and thoroughly for as long as it takes to take exactly 3, 000 steps.

Recipes with thistle

The simplest recipe:

1. pick two or three young leaves of the plant and wash with cold water;
2. Lightly crush the leaves to release the juice;
3. Apply to the affected joint and secure with a bandage.

Keep this "compress" overnight, remove and throw away the leaves in the morning. Repeat the procedure daily for three weeks.

To enhance the effect, traditional healers advise anointing the knees with evening primrose oil before applying thistle. It is very easy to prepare. Two tablespoons of chopped kerosene are poured into 250 ml of any purified, odorless vegetable oil. The oil should be well heated, but not boiled. Leave the mixture for two weeks and then the oil can be used to treat the joints.

Turpentine, eggs and other joint remedies

Using chicken egg yolks, you can prepare an effective rub for painful joints. It is prepared like this:

1. Lightly whisk one egg yolk in a bowl.
2. Add a small spoonful of turpentine and mix.
3. Then pour in a large spoonful of vinegar and whisk again.

The mixture is stored 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 wash off the rest of the product with warm water, and then apply any anti-arthrosis ointment.

Remember that all homemade preparations work only immediately after preparation, they are not stored for a long time (except tinctures with alcohol, they can be stored in a dark and cool place for up to six months). Don't expect immediate results. Folk remedies act on the cumulative system, and permanent relief comes only after three to four weeks of regular use of home remedies for knee arthrosis. In the later stages, they will not be effective and will only help temporarily reduce pain and swelling.

Summary:Osteoarthritis of the knee joint, or gonarthrosis, is one of the most common lesions of the musculoskeletal system in the elderly. In young people, it occurs after an injury or during excessive physical exertion. The disease can be completely cured only in stages 1-2 with a competent and comprehensive approach. In the third stage, it is most often necessary to resort to endoprosthetics in order to at least partially restore the functions of the limb and prevent complications.