Badly bent legs, inability to walk without support - all these seem to be signs of old age, but in fact they can be caused by disease. Knowledge about this disease can help everyone, because timely treatment prolongs the youthfulness of the joints. Gonarthrosis of the knee joint has another name - deforming arthrosis or arthrosis of the joint.
The disease belongs to the group of degenerative-dystrophic diseases. Under the influence of pathogenic factors, changes in the tissues of the joint develop, and with this pathology, not only the cartilage of the knee joint, but also the bones, ligaments, joint capsule and muscles thatensure its functioning suffer.
This disease is one of the most common among pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. Due to changes in the structure of hyaline cartilage tissue, they lose their elasticity, firmness and gradually collapse. This leads to an increased impact on bone tissues, the appearance of so-called osteophytes on them. These are "thorns", which are bony growths in the joint. If osteoarthritis of the knee joint is left untreated, the cartilage tissue may gradually disappear completely, the bones become deformed, and the function and performance of the joint will be lost.
Causes of knee osteoarthritis
This disease is classified as idiopathic, that is, the causes of arthrosis of the knee joint have not yet been precisely clarified. There are two main types of knee osteoarthritis: primary and secondary.
Primary or idiopathic gonarthrosis of the knee joint develops due to metabolic and circulatory disorders of the lower extremities. This form of the disease mainly affects older people, especially women, and overweight people. The reason for the development of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the cartilage tissue can be an excessive load on the joint, a violation of normal blood circulation and multiple tissue microtraumas. Hormonal disorders and endocrine disorders can also lead to it.
Secondary or traumatic gonarthrosis occurs as a result of mechanical damage to the joint. This leads to:
- knee injuries - damage to the ligaments, menisci of the knee joint, fractures and cracks of the bones with hemarthrosis;
- various inflammatory diseases - rheumatism, arthritis;
- non-inflammatory joint damage - chondrosis, arthrosis of various etiologies;
- untimely and incomplete treatment of diseases of the knee joint;
- traumas and wounds in the past.
Disease symptoms
Symptoms of arthrosis of the knee joint develop gradually. At the beginning of the disease, pains appear during physical exertion, with overexertion or after a long walk, then other symptoms join and a detailed clinical picture of the disease appears.
Symptoms:
- pain in the knee joint when moving;
- joint swelling;
- limitation of movement in the joint;
- knee joint stiffness;
- instability when leaning on a sore leg;
- visible deformation of the bones of the joint.
Stages of knee osteoarthritis
In the clinical picture, there are several stages that reflect the severity of the disease:
- Stage 1 - a slight limitation of movement in the joint, increased fatigue of the limb, the pain is mild, appears at the beginning of movement or after physical exertion, at rest the pain and stiffness in the joint disappear. The bones retain their shape, there is no deformation. The X-ray shows a slight narrowing of the joint space.
- Stage 2 - there is a pronounced limitation of movement, pain when walking becomes constant, especially aggravated by physical exertion, prolonged standing. There is a pronounced crackle in the joint during movement, lameness, bones are deformed, ligaments and muscles are weakened. On the x-ray, the joint space is narrowed by 3 times compared to the norm, osteophytes grow on the bones, fluid may appear in the joint cavity.
- Stage 3 - the pain becomes constant, does not go away after rest and at rest. Movement is severely limited, perhaps a violation of blood circulation in the joint. On the x-ray, the joint space is practically absent, the bones are strongly deformed, strong growths of bone tissue are noted.
Diagnosis and treatment of gonarthrosis
Diagnosis of the disease includes examination of the patient and radiographic examination of the affected limb.
Treatment of the disease should be started as soon as possible. A thorough examination and consultation of an experienced specialist is necessary, since this disease has nonspecific symptoms and is easily confused with other lesions of the articular system.
The main principles of treatment, which are aimed at therapeutic effects:
- eliminate pain in the knee joint;
- improve blood circulation and accelerate the regeneration of cartilage tissue;
- reduce the pressure between the bones of the joint;
- restore limb mobility;
- strengthen muscles and ligaments.
Methods of treating gonarthrosis
Treatment of gonarthrosis is carried out both with drugs and with the help of physiotherapy exercises, folk remedies and manual therapy.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). They are traditionally used in the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the joints. Relieve pain well, reduce swelling and inflammation. But the use of these drugs provides only temporary relief and does not cure the disease itself. In addition, they have many contraindications and side effects.
- Chondroprotectors are the most etiological treatment, they help regenerate cartilage tissue and eliminate the cause of the disease. Their use is effective in the early stages of the disease. To achieve the result, long-term use of chondroprotectors is necessary.
- Local remedies - various ointments and creams - have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.
- Intra-articular injections are used to provide emergency care. The most commonly used drugs are corticosteroid hormones. They quickly and effectively suppress pain and inflammation inside the joint, but, like NSAIDs, they only have a symptomatic effect.
- Manual therapy and physiotherapy - at stages 1 and 2 of the disease can give a significant therapeutic effect.
- Diet. Gonarthrosis of the knee joint is called "salt deposit" disease. Therefore, with this disease, you need to follow a diet that excludes foods that contribute to salt formation. It is necessary to limit the consumption of dietary salt to 1 g per day, meat, preserves, sugar, fat, flour.
- Walking aid - using crutches or a cane can significantly reduce stress on the knee joint and aid in faster recovery.
- Therapeutic gymnastics is the main method of rehabilitation after the treatment of gonarthrosis. Only special exercises will help restore lost mobility, strengthen muscles and ligaments, and improve blood circulation. It is impossible to restore the functions of the limbs without specially designed exercises.
- Surgical treatment - in the absence of the effect of therapeutic methods, at the 3rd stage of the disease, with severe joint deformity, surgical intervention is required. This is usually a joint arthroplasty. This operation allows you to regain the mobility of the limb, but has many contraindications and limitations. It is also quite expensive financially.
Complete cure of this disease is almost impossible. To achieve a stable remission of the disease, you need to follow all the doctor's recommendations, try to move more, do special exercises, take chondroprotectors and drugs that improve blood circulation, as well as follow a diet.