Arthrosis is the most common among all diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The knees are especially vulnerable to him, since it is they who bear the bulk of the load. Let's take a closer look at what arthrosis of the knee joint is and how to deal with this disease.
Arthrosis of the knee joints is a pathology associated with the development of degenerative-dystrophic processes in the cartilage tissue of these joints. As the disease progresses, the disease affects not only the cartilage itself, but also other tissues, including the ligaments and periarticular muscles, and over time, processes can develop that contribute to the destruction of the bone.
As we age, the body experiences difficulties leading to tissue malnutrition and accelerated wear and tear. Under the influence of mechanical, biochemical, and other factors, the cartilage tissue gradually begins to deteriorate, which further develops into arthrosis of the right knee joint or the left joint.
With age, the frequency of diagnosing this pathology increases. Women are especially prone to the development of gonarthrosis, which is due to the characteristics of their body and hormonal changes.
Also at risk are athletes and people whose work is associated with lifting weights and constant load on the legs.
In general, the following risk groups can be distinguished:
When entering a risk group, you must regularly monitor the condition of your joints, as well as take preventive measures.
If we talk about the specific causes of dystrophic processes in the cartilaginous tissue, they are largely associated with a person's daily life. Existing health problems also play a role.
The main causes of gonarthrosis are:
If you do not take measures to prevent the influence of these causes, the cost of such negligent treatment of your health will be represented by multiple problems with the musculoskeletal system and other body systems.
At first, the disease is asymptomatic or anxiety occurs only occasionally. Mostly the knees begin to ache after a long stay in one position or an intense day at work. Since such signs are not annoying and completely disappear after rest, a person does not immediately realize that he has serious health problems.
Gradually the discomfort increases, severe pain appears. They are aching in nature, but when moving, they can be sharp and abrupt. As the disease progresses, the discomfort increases.
Other symptoms of gonarthrosis are:
It is the desire to relieve pain that is most often the main stimulating factor for a person's referral to the clinic. The sooner you do this, the more chances you have to stop the pathological process. Otherwise, the changes will become irreversible and it will not be possible to solve the problem by conservative methods.
In some cases, there is an increased temperature. This phenomenon is rarely observed, it indicates an intense inflammatory process. It may have been caused by an infection, for example, if you have recently suffered a leg injury.
In medical practice, the disease has a special classification.
There are the following types of arthrosis of the knee joint:
It is also worth distinguishing between periarthrosis. This disease involves the muscles and ligaments, thanks to which the articular joint is set in motion.
Another important category is knee hyperarthrosis. This is the name of the progressive degenerative processes in the cartilage. In the last stages, there is a pronounced deforming gonarthrosis. It is worth talking about the stages of development of pathology in more detail.
There are four main stages of knee arthrosis. Each of them is distinguished by a more pronounced manifestation of the disease and the emergence of new negative processes.
If the first degree of gonarthrosis is quite possible to eliminate with sparing methods and completely restore the health of the extremities, the third - fourth stages are irreversible and practically not amenable to conservative treatment. That is why it is important to seek help from a medical institution as early as possible.
As for the consequences of gonarthrosis, initially there are no special risks to human health, if appropriate measures are taken in a timely manner. Of course, knee inflammation causes some discomfort, but the symptoms and the dystrophic process itself can still be eliminated.
The more the patient ignores the problem, the more neglected it becomes. At the second stage, the cartilage begins to deteriorate, and it can hardly be restored. Severe pains disrupt a person's usual way of life, exert psychological pressure.
The main consequences of progressive gonarthrosis are:
The main question: is it possible to walk with arthrosis of the knee? Movement contributes to the healing of the whole organism, but this rule only works if the disease is detected early.
In the later stages, movement can only aggravate the destructive process, therefore the patient is recommended to bed rest and wearing special orthoses. With deformation and blockage of leg mobility, walking is impaired, that is, a person becomes disabled. This is the main risk in the development of gonarthrosis.
In order to prevent such complications and not become disabled, you must promptly seek help. An orthopedic surgeon can advise on the treatment of gonarthrosis.
The success of further treatment largely depends on the degree of detail in the diagnosis, and therefore one should not ignore the prescriptions of a specialist regarding the need to undergo certain examination procedures.
Comprehensive diagnosis of arthrosis may include the following methods:
In order to get rid of gonarthrosis and its consequences, it is necessary to correctly approach the solution of this problem. Only the attending physician will be able to choose the most effective remedy in each case.
Most often, a variety of medicines are used, as well as folk methods. Some of the techniques closely overlap with each other, for example, various compresses.
If done correctly, it will be possible to significantly weaken the manifestations of the disease and restore health to your legs to a certain extent. In no case should he hesitate with treatment, otherwise it will not be possible to do without drastic measures.
The first thing to start treatment with is drug therapy. It can be divided into several areas, depending on the goals that you plan to achieve:
If the situation is neglected, short courses of glucocorticoids may be prescribed to enhance the effect.Only the attending physician has the right to prescribe and correct drug therapy for knee arthrosis. Independent use of drugs is undesirable, only the use of vitamin supplements and the use of some chondroprotectors are allowed.
An important stage in the treatment process is changing your lifestyle, in particular, eating habits. Much depends on the severity of the disease, for example, cycling at the beginning of development can be beneficial and stimulate recovery processes.
At the same time, when problems with flexion-extension movements appear, such a load can only worsen the patient's condition and aggravate destructive processes.
In general, activity is encouraged, because movement contributes to the treatment of many diseases of the musculoskeletal system. In this case, it is extremely important to observe the rest regimen, not to overload the legs, and avoid sudden movements.
In particular, the question of whether it is possible to run with arthrosis of the knee joint is being considered. It is better to replace this type of physical activity with brisk walking.
If we talk about nutrition, contraindications for gonarthrosis relate to the intake of alcohol and junk food. It is especially important to exclude fatty and salty foods.
The diet should be as close to healthy as possible, that is, include vegetables and fruits, whole grains, milk and cheeses, lean meat and fish. Products that help to restore hyaline cartilage are very useful: seafood, offal, jelly, apples, algae, etc.
Physiotherapy is an obligatory component of treatment. Also, modern medicine actively uses a variety of manual and non-traditional methods of influencing the body. It is recommended to pay attention to such procedures.
If we take a closer look at treatment with the help of physical exercises, first of all it should be noted that the norms of permissible loads are established by a specialist. It is best to attend group exercise therapy classes. Sports for arthrosis of the knee is a compulsory program, including during rehabilitation after surgery.
Let's highlight the main directions used for gonarthrosis:
Physical activity in arthrosis of the knee joint should be regular and strictly dosed. If you overload your legs or skip classes, there will be no beneficial effect. It is also important to choose the right exercises for your specific situation. Check this point in advance with the curator, for example, is it possible to squat with arthrosis in your case.
Also, the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint at home is closely related to the use of traditional medicine recipes. It is worth remembering that before using one or another remedy prepared on your own, you must make sure that there are no allergies and other contraindications, and also consult with your doctor.
Otherwise, the effect may be reversed, or the effect of home remedies may over-increase the effect of pharmacy medications. Nevertheless, folk methods are still in demand, since their price is much lower than most purchased drugs.
For gonarthrosis, the following remedies are most often used:
Most patients are concerned about the question: is arthrosis of the knee joint curable, if it has already passed into the 2nd - 3rd stage? Unfortunately, it will not be possible to restore the health of the cartilaginous lining, but there is still a way out of the situation.
If you have advanced arthrosis of the knee joint, treatment options are divided into surgery and conservative auxiliary techniques. If the cartilage is completely worn out, only by performing an operation can the functions of the damaged limb be restored.
The best option is to use endoprostheses. In this case, the damaged elements of the articular joint are partially or completely removed, and in their place, special prostheses are installed using bolts and surgical cement. Over time, they will become overgrown with bone tissue and will completely take on all the necessary load.
Since it is not always possible to treat arthrosis of the knee joints in this way, the arthrodesis method is used as an alternative to reduce pain and prevent further deformity of the limb.
If in the first case the motor ability of the leg is maximally restored, with arthrodesis the opposite effect appears - the limb is fixed in a certain position, and after the incision of the bone, the elements are fused. Thus, movement will only be available in one direction.
In order to prevent the development of the disease, it is supposed to prevent arthrosis of the knee joint.
To do this, follow these guidelines:
At the first concern, see your doctor in order to start fighting the disease in time.
