When moving, do you feel the sharp pain that forms in the knee joint? Are the same signs seen if you bend or bend your leg? Doctors diagnose a disease such as osteoarthritis. At the same time, it is impossible to delay the treatment of the disease.
Be aware of the fact that the sooner you start to take effective action, the faster you will cope with the disease and the outcome of the disease will not be as dramatic. It is impossible to start the disease itself, because with it the intra-articular cartilage wears out.
Osteoarthritis of the knee is also known as gonarthrosis. As for the incidence of the disease, it occupies a leading position. Statistics have shown that there are more patients with this diagnosis in clinics than people with other serious illnesses. As for the treatment, it takes an impressive amount of time. An integrated approach and drug use are important here.
The disease is characterized by calcification in soft tissues and ligaments, as well as in places where tendons attach. Salt deposits are limited. The process is characterized by an imbalance in optimal blood circulation in the bone vessels, which causes changes in the cartilage tissues.
Causes of occurrence
Pathological microtrauma that forms in the cartilage. The main causes of the onset of the disease include excessive mechanical stress on the cartilage surface.
In other words, osteoarthritis of the knee joint develops rapidly in those who are subject to frequent physical exertion and overexertion of the joints. Osteoarthritis can develop in those who often squat. The magnitude of the load increases rapidly if a person is overweight.
The main causes of osteoarthritis of the knee joint should be highlighted:
- Chronic defects. Dysplasia affects the formation of chronic microtrauma of the cartilage. This factor leads to an imbalance in the correct load on the joints. Keep in mind that the risk of developing a terrible disease increases in people with defects in the musculoskeletal system.
- Obesity. This factor is the main reason for the development of osteoarthritis. It has been clinically shown that overweight people are more likely to get sick. Thus, every 6 kg. Weight increases the possibility of developing osteoarthritis by 45%.
- genetic predisposition. Osteoarthritis of the interphalangeal joints has been shown to occur much more frequently in women than in men. This indicator is explained by autosomal dominant inheritance.
- Inflammation. The fact is that infectious and chronic arthritis provoke the formation of arthrosis. The appearance of immunoglobulins indicates the role of similar factors in the development of osteoarthritis.
- Neurogenic disorders. Violations provoke a decrease in muscle tone, which are located near the joint. Therefore, the load on the joints only increases.
Symptoms of knee osteoarthritis
The main symptoms of osteoarthritis include sharp pains seen in the knee joint. They appear during exertion and then disappear again, as long as the patient is at rest.
With nodular osteoarthritis, dense formations the size of a pea appear. In addition, seals in the form of cysts, viscous liquids, may appear near the nail bed.
If the knee joints are affected during the development of the disease, the pain increases when walking or climbing stairs for a long time. The main symptom of osteoarthritis is crunching during movement. With osteoarthritis of the hip, pathologies associated with the development of the hip joint are observed.
Signs of illness:
- knee pain that does not go away for a long time
- if you undergo an X-ray examination, osteophytes are found.
- by performing an analysis of the synovial fluid, it is confirmed that the composition is indeed characteristic of the disease.
- The disease is characterized by the fact that the joint space is narrowed.
- joint stiffness in the morning
- soft tissue changes, osteoporosis, and cartilage calcification.
Optional signs: These are subluxations or dislocations, as well as various erosions and cysts. In total, osteoarthritis of the knee joint is divided into three stages of development, which we will consider below.
1 degree
Recognizing the first degree is quite troublesome. An interesting fact is that a person also moves as usual for him, however, sometimes the disease can manifest itself in the form of pain and stiffness.
But these signs are often attributed to a change in weather or an awkward position. And even if you go through the study by means of an X-ray, the imperfection cannot be noticed immediately. Here you will need qualified help, as well as palpation and a comprehensive examination, which will help to detect an uneven surface in the area of the affected joint.
People with disabilities turn to traditional medicine as first aid. And this is a competent approach to solving the problem, because at the initial stage the disease is difficult to treat.
2nd grade
In the event that, having noticed the first signs of the disease, you have not taken action, you tend to move on to the second. In this case, osteoarthritis is chronic and the cartilage begins to deteriorate rapidly.
These signs are especially noticeable with increased physical exertion. However, it does not make sense to give preference to traditional medicine. However, it can be used as an effective supplement to conventional treatments.
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint and its symptoms begin to manifest themselves more and more: unreasonable fatigue appears, the joints of the legs begin to "ache" and, after a while, cracking occurs. If the disease is not treated, it leads to joint deformation.
3rd grade
It also happens that, when observing obvious changes, the patient still does not take action, while the mechanisms that act against him begin to be actively activated. Meanwhile, inaction causes irreparable consequences.
It is also noteworthy that severe pain occurs in the joint. This factor does not depend on whether you are in action or at rest. There are also cases when the joints do not allow a person to move.
Treatment of knee osteoarthritis
The therapy for osteoarthritis is a very long process and will depend mainly on the degree to which the disease is found.
Basically, the treatment of knee osteoarthritis is based on the following stages:
- Anesthetize the affected joint. As a rule, the doctor prescribes painkillers - painkillers.
- The inflammation must be eliminated. In the event that inflammation in the affected area is indicated, as well as swelling, such a defect should be eliminated immediately. In this case, anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.
- Restoration of cartilage tissue. This is considered the most important factor in treatment. In the event that it cannot be rebuilt, then it is imperative to stop the degenerative course. You should not expect instant action of the drugs, but they should be taken based on individual characteristics.
If the joint is affected by the absence of symptoms, in this case the patient will be prescribed effective ointments with a warming effect. Its main objective is to increase blood circulation in the affected area.
These include warming ointments that have no side effects. The treatment is accompanied by a pleasant sensation of heat.
Prevention of osteoarthritis of the knee joint
It is subdivided into secondary and primary.
The first focuses on weight management and injury prevention. The chance of developing osteoarthritis can be reduced by wearing the right footwear and doing regular exercises that work to strengthen the muscles and support the joints.
Secondary prevention involves eating healthy foods, and red meat and animal fat are best replaced with lean fish and poultry. Try to eat lots of fruits and vegetables and, as a preventative measure, capsules containing fish oil. Drink at least 8-9 glasses of water.
Focus on minerals and vitamins that promote optimal bone function. Antioxidants, which actively fight free radicals that destroy cartilage, are also recognized as its allies. Osteoarthritis is a disease that does not tolerate amateurs, so you should seek the help of an experienced doctor.