The inflammatory-degenerative process in the knee joint, or knee joint, occurs for various reasons. It has an extremely negative impact on a person's quality of life, sometimes leading to disability. How to treat arthropathy of the knee joint and prevent complications?
What is arthropathy?
About 22% of the world's population suffers from gonoarthrosis, and women are more often affected. This insidious disease is characterized by rapid progression.
If treatment is not started in time, the knee joint can completely collapse. This leads to impaired musculoskeletal function. Movement is possible only with the help of crutches or the person is confined to a wheelchair.
The knee joint is the second largest, after the hip, and the most complex in structure. It allows you to bend and straighten your leg in different directions, promotes correct body position and coordination in space. This is a strong and stable joint that can support the weight of a person. It consists of 3 bones: the femur, tibia and fibula, as well as the patella or patella. It includes osteochondral structures, muscles, ligaments and nerve fibers.
The disease begins with a violation of blood circulation and nutrition of joint tissues. First of all, the cartilage suffers. The quality and quantity of synovial fluid, which is in the synovial capsule and contributes to the smooth functioning of the knee, decreases. Friction occurs between the joints. Gradually, the cartilage cracks and breaks down. Unprotected bones begin to rub against each other. Pain occurs and a cracking sound is heard.
Causes of the disease
It mainly affects older people, especially overweight women. As a result of hormonal changes, the cartilage in the knee wears down a lot. Gonarthritis to varying degrees, after 60 years, occurs in more than 80% of people.
There are other reasons for the appearance of knee arthropathy:
- congenital joint pathology.
- dysplasia;
- injuries, operations;
- removal of the meniscus or part thereof;
- arthritis;
- diseases of the lumbar spine;
- hormonal disorders?
- low metabolism.
The risk of developing the disease increases in people who engage in repetitive physical work. This group also includes athletes, people who lead a sedentary lifestyle and people with adverse environmental conditions. Often the patients are people addicted to toxic substances (drugs, alcohol, smoking).
The cause of joint deformation may be work associated with constant hypothermia. A precipitating factor is the period after menopause, when a woman develops gynecological disorders (fibroid, endometriosis, uterine fibroids). Due to the lack of minerals and vitamins in the body, diet can be the trigger.
Stages and symptoms
Gonarthrosis can be unilateral or bilateral. According to the nature of the manifestations, the disease is divided into degrees:
- At this stage, there are no obvious clinical signs. There may be slight discomfort and soreness after prolonged exercise, which disappears after rest. The pain is felt in the morning, when moving, subsides after some time. Grade 1 arthropathy is rarely diagnosed, incidentally, during a routine examination.
- Knee pain and stiffness increases. A person takes care of his foot and tries to load it less. As a result, the muscles atrophy, the joint is deformed, a formation can be felt, and the leg at the knee does not fully extend.
- The pain is constant. The leg does not straighten or bend and it is difficult for the person to walk. Partial or complete loss of mobility develops. The cartilage is completely destroyed, the friction between the bones of the joint increases with the formation of osteophytes.
In addition to pain in grades 2 and 3, there is a cracking sound in the knee. Fluid and pieces of cartilage tissue can accumulate in the joint capsule, which leads to swelling. In the late stage, the inflammatory process is intense, the knee joint is deformed.
Diagnostics
If you have knee pain, you can contact your local doctor, who, if necessary, will refer you to an orthopedist, traumatologist, rheumatologist or endocrinologist.
To find out the causes and treatment of gonoarthrosis, a comprehensive diagnosis is required:
- general and biochemical blood test.
- rheumatic tests;
- x-ray?
- Ultrasound and MRI can detect the disease at an early stage.
- arthroscopy.
X-ray makes it possible to monitor the condition of the cartilage and changes in the bones in stages 2 and 3. These are narrowing of the joint space, osteophytes along the edges of the patella, changes in the periosteum. Arthroscopy provides more detailed information about the meniscus, synovium, and the presence of fluid. This method is also used in the treatment of the knee, to remove pieces of cartilage or meniscus.
Treatment of knee arthropathy
Treatment is long and sometimes painful. Having appeared once, the disease reminds itself for the rest of your life. The main drugs used for treatment are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Most often these are drugs based on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) from the group of phenylacetic acid derivatives. They eliminate inflammation and pain. Medicines are relatively cheap, but lead to the formation of ulcers and erosions of the stomach and duodenum. Modern drugs cause fewer side effects, but are expensive.
Treatment measures for stage 1 include preventive measures related to exercise. Daily exercise, use of a contrast shower, swimming pool twice a week and combating increased body weight are required.
Stage 2 requires fixation of the joint - the use of an elastic bandage, bandage or orthosis. For pain relief, NSAIDs are used in the form of creams and ointments. To reduce the degree of cartilage destruction, the patient is prescribed drugs from the group of chondroprotectors.
Severe severity requires oral administration of NSAIDs. Intra-articular injections of hormonal drugs are indicated - synthetic glucocorticosteroids (GCS), which have high glucocorticosteroids and low mineralocorticosteroids. In addition, painkillers are prescribed.
A hyaluronic acid solution is injected into the joint. It is a substitute for intra-articular fluid and nourishes the cartilage. When it moves, it acts as a shock absorber for the joint. The manipulation is painful, it is carried out by a doctor after the acute period subsides. If conservative treatment is unsuccessful, endoprosthetic treatment is performed.
Along with drug therapy, exercises using special simulators and devices (kinesiotherapy) are prescribed. Ozone therapy has a positive effect on the condition of the knee. The substance is used externally, administered by subcutaneous or intramuscular injections, ozone-based ointments, creams. Handling stimulates blood circulation, enhances the action of chondroprotectors and glucocorticosteroids.
Modern dietary supplements are in demand as an alternative to drugs for joint rehabilitation. Exercise and massage are recommended. A set of special exercises improves blood circulation and nutrition of cartilage cells, increases the elasticity of ligaments.
Complications and prevention
Damaged cartilage tissue and deformed bones cannot be treated. In this case, only surgery will help. No ointment or medicine can restore cartilage. Medicines can only stop the process of cartilage tissue destruction.
Gonarthrosis develops gradually, sometimes the disease lasts for years. Without proper treatment, the patient's condition deteriorates rapidly. The knee cannot function, serious complications appear:
- joint deformity;
- cosmetic defect - limb curvature.
- infection with blood or lymph flow from another body source.
- due to the weakness of the ligaments, dislocations and fractures are observed, even during normal walking.
- Fusion of the bones (ankylosis) occurs in the joint area, making movement impossible.
Complications develop if the patient does not visit a doctor in time and the disease is advanced. Regular preventive examinations and timely treatment of general diseases of the body will help prevent the deterioration of the condition and preserve the motor function of the limb.