Knee pain is a common complaint for which doctors are consulted.What causes pain and how can you help yourself when it occurs?There is no clear answer because the knee joints can suffer different types of lesions for different reasons.One of these reasons (and a very common one) is the onset of osteoarthritis.Today we will tell you in detail about arthrosis of the knee joint: what are its causes, types, symptoms and signs, we will talk about treatment and prevention methods.
Types and causes of the disease
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint or gonarthrosis is a predominantly non-inflammatory lesion that, over time, leads to destruction of the articular cartilage, deformation of the knee and limited freedom of movement.The disease has two main forms:
- primary – occurs due to a congenital joint defect;
- secondary – occurs as a result of other diseases or injuries.
The primary form begins to develop in childhood or adolescence and is caused by incorrect formation of the articular surfaces or ligaments.When walking, such a joint is subjected to a load disproportionate to its capabilities, which leads to degenerative changes.
The development of a secondary form of pathology can lead to:
- Injuries: fractures of the leg bones, bruises and dislocations of the knee, accompanied by damage to the bony and cartilaginous parts of the joint and its ligaments.In this case, post-traumatic arthrosis of the knee joint develops.
- Operations to remove the meniscus, as they lead to disruption of the integral structure of the knee and its rapid wear.
- The disproportionately high load on the legs that athletes are often exposed to.
- Excessive excess weight also provokes osteoarthritis, as it leads to excessive pressure of body weight on the articular cartilage of the knee.
- Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints.Long-term arthritis is accompanied by the formation of fluid in the joint cavity and over time can be complicated by osteoarthritis.
- Metabolic disorders leading to the deposition of salts in the joint cavities.
- Other factors and diseases that are associated with cramps in the leg muscles or blood vessels in the long term.
- Postponed operations.
The pathological process can be unilateral or bilateral.Unilateral osteoarthritis (e.g. of the right knee) is most likely to develop as a result of an injury and bilateral osteoarthritis due to obesity.
Characteristic symptoms
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint develops gradually, sometimes preceded by an initial phase lasting months or years, during which there are no obvious symptoms (such as severe pain and visible deformity), but discomfort in the knees occurs from time to time.
The most commonly affected women are women over 40 years of age who are overweight and suffer from varicose veins as an aggravating factor.
The development of gonarthrosis goes through several stages:
- The initial phase can last months and sometimes years.A person regularly suffers from knee pain, especially when taking the first steps after getting up in the morning and when going up and down the stairs.
- In the second stage, the pain becomes more severe and occurs with all movements, which is accompanied by a characteristic crunching sound.Fluid may accumulate in the joint cavity and an incipient deformation may be noted on examination.The range of motion in the affected knee decreases.
- The third stage is characterized by pain that does not go away even with rest.Often the discomfort increases before the weather changes.At this point, the joints have largely lost their function: the legs can hardly be bent in the knee area or cannot be fully extended.The gait changes: it becomes “waddling” or on half-bent legs.The knee deformity is severe: the legs bend and take on an O or X shape.
Symptoms of post-traumatic arthrosis of the knee joint develop more quickly.As a result of the injury, pain and swelling occur in the knee area.Such pain constantly accompanies a person and increases after physical activity.This is gradually accompanied by a feeling of tightness and stiffness in the knee.Sometimes with this form of the disease it only takes a few months from the first symptoms to irreversible changes.
Treatment of gonarthrosis
The extent of treatment depends on the stage of the disease and the severity of the lesion.However, since the disease is chronic, only long-term remission can be achieved (a period of rest during which the manifestations of pathology are minimal or absent).If at the same time it is possible to eliminate the cause of arthrosis of the knee joint in the early stages (e.g. by reducing body weight), almost complete recovery is possible.
Goals of treatment of gonarthrosis:
- eliminate pain,
- if possible, restore damaged cartilage and ligaments,
- Increase the range of motion in the joint.
Treatment methods:
- drug therapy,
- massage and manual therapy,
- surgical procedure,
- restorative therapy (physiotherapy, physiotherapy and other methods).
Only a doctor can choose the right medicines;In no case do not prescribe them yourself. Their main action is aimed at:
- Eliminate the symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee joint: relieve pain and inflammation.For this purpose, appropriate medications are prescribed, including hormones that are injected into the joint cavity.
- Improving blood supply to the affected area.It is provided by active ingredients that relieve vascular spasms and relax muscles.
- Restoration of cartilage tissue.For this purpose, drugs are prescribed that nourish and restore cartilage.
Manual manipulation and massage relieve pain, relax spastic muscles near the affected knee, help increase range of motion, correct the position of bones, and increase blood circulation.
In the case of advanced, irreversible damage, knee osteoarthritis is treated with a radical method - prosthetics, i.e. the implantation of a metal prosthesis to replace the destroyed joint.This is so far the only method that offers a chance of a complete recovery.However, endoprostheses have a limited lifespan and must then be replaced.Since the costs for such operations are very high, this treatment method has not yet become widespread.
Rehabilitation therapy includes physiotherapy, exercise therapy (exercises with special loads and equipment), physiotherapy and spa treatments.
Orthopedic methods are aimed at relieving the sore knee - these are walking sticks, orthoses, etc. that make walking easier (used if necessary).
There are many folk recipes for various herbal ointments and compresses, medicinal bile and warming bandages made of natural wool.Basically, the effect of such methods is aimed at relieving pain and eliminating the main symptoms.
Prevention measures
There are many factors involved in preventing knee osteoarthritis:
- Balanced diet: The diet should contain a sufficient amount of proteins, vitamins and microelements.
- Fighting an unhealthy lifestyle and eliminating bad habits.
- Normalization of weight.
- Adequate physical activity.
- Prevention of injuries during sports and lifting heavy loads.
The most important thing in detecting such a pathology as knee arthrosis is not to allow the disease to progress, since its advanced stages lead to disability.However, if you direct all your efforts to treatment and prevention in a timely manner - before time is lost and the symptoms become insignificant - there is a chance of complete relief from the disease.