Do you feel sharp pain in your knee joint while moving? Can the same signs be observed when your legs bend or bend? Doctors diagnose a disease like arthrosis. However, it is impossible to delay treatment of the disease.
Note that the sooner you start taking effective action, the faster you will cope with the disease and the outcome of the disease will be less dramatic. The disease itself is impossible to start because with it the intraarticular cartilage wears out.
Knee osteoarthritis is also called gonarthrosis. It occupies a leading position in terms of the incidence of the disease. Statistics show that there are more patients with this diagnosis in clinics than in those 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 the soft tissues and ligaments and at the sites of tendon attachment. Salt supply is limited. The process is characterized by an imbalance in the optimal blood circulation in the bone vessels, which triggers changes in the cartilage tissues.
Causes of Occurrence
Abnormal microtraumas on the cartilage. Excessive mechanical stress on the cartilage surface is one of the main causes of the disease.
In other words, knee arthrosis develops rapidly in those who are subject to frequent physical exertion and overload. Osteoarthritis can develop in people who squat frequently. The magnitude of the load increases rapidly when a person is overweight.
The main causes of knee arthrosis should be highlighted:
- Chronic errors. Dysplasia affects the development of chronic cartilage microtrauma. This factor leads to an imbalance in the proper loading of the joints. Note that the risk of developing a terrible disease increases with those with musculoskeletal disorders.
- Obesity. This factor is the main cause of arthrosis. It has been clinically proven that overweight people are more likely to get sick. Thus, every 6 kg. weight increases the chance of developing arthrosis by 45%.
- Genetic predisposition. It has been shown that arthrosis of the interphalangeal joints is much more common in women than in men. This indicator is explained by autosomal dominant inheritance.
- Inflammation. The fact that infectious and chronic arthritis provokes the development of arthrosis. The appearance of immunoglobulins indicates the role of similar factors in the development of arthrosis.
- Neurogenic disorders. Violations cause a decrease in the tone of the muscles near the joint. Thus, the load on the joints only increases.
Symptoms of knee arthrosis
The main symptoms of arthrosis include sharp pain in the knee joint. They appear during the effort and then disappear again, provided the patient is at rest.
In nodular arthrosis, dense formations appear that are about the size of a pea. In addition, seals in the form of cysts, viscous liquids, may appear near the nail bed.
If the knee joints are involved in the development of the disease, the pain is exacerbated by prolonged walking or stair climbing. The main symptom of arthrosis is cracking during movement. With arthrosis of the hip joint, pathologies associated with the formation of the hip joint are observed.
Signs of Illness:
- knee pain that doesn't go away for a long time
- If you have an X-ray, there are osteophytes.
- In the analysis of synovial fluid, it is confirmed that the composition is indeed characteristic of the disease.
- The disease is characterized by a narrowing of the joint space.
- morning joint stiffness
- changes in soft tissues, osteoporosis and cartilage calcification.
Optional signs: these are subluxations or dislocations, as well as various erosions and cysts. Overall, osteoarthritis of the knee joint is divided into three developmental stages, which are considered below.
1 degree
Recognizing the first degree is quite problematic. It is an interesting fact that a person moves in the usual way for him, however, sometimes the disease can manifest itself in the form of pain and stiffness.
But such signals are often attributed to a change in weather or an uncomfortable situation. And even if you do the study using an X-ray, the imperfection cannot be noticed immediately. Here you will need professional help as well as palpation and a full examination to help identify the uneven surface in the affected joint area.
People with disabilities turn to traditional medicine as first aid. And this is a competent approach to solving the problem because the disease is difficult to treat in the initial stages.
Grade 2
In case you noticed the first signs of the disease, did not take action, it would rather go to the second. In this case, the arthrosis is chronic and the cartilage begins to deteriorate rapidly.
These signs are especially noticeable in the event of increased physical exertion. However, there is no point in preferring traditional medicine. However, it can be used as an effective adjunct to traditional treatments.
Arthrosis and symptoms of the knee joint are becoming more pronounced: unreasonable fatigue occurs, the joints of the legs begin to "hurt", and after a while, cracks appear. If left untreated, the disease can lead to joint deformity.
Grade 3
It also happens that by observing the obvious changes, the patient still does not act while the mechanisms against him are actively activated. Meanwhile, inaction has irreparable consequences.
It is also noteworthy that there is severe pain in the joint. This factor does not depend on whether you are in action or at rest. There are also cases where the joints do not allow a person to move.
Treatment of knee arthrosis
Therapy for arthrosis is a very long process and depends primarily on the extent of the disease.
Basically, the treatment of knee arthrosis is based on the following stages:
- Anesthetize the affected joint. As a general rule, your doctor will prescribe painkillers - painkillers.
- Inflammation must be stopped. In the event that inflammation in the affected area is indicated, as well as swelling, such a defect must be corrected immediately. In this case, anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.
- Cartilage tissue recovery. This is considered to be the most important factor in treatment. In case it cannot be reconstructed, the degenerative process must be stopped. Immediate action should not be expected from drugs, but these should be based on individual characteristics.
If the joint is affected by a lack of symptoms, the patient will be prescribed effective, warming ointments. Their main goal 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 feeling of warmth.
Prevention of knee arthrosis
This is divided into secondary and primary.
The first focuses on weight control and injury prevention. The likelihood of developing arthrosis can be reduced by wearing appropriate footwear and performing regular exercises to strengthen muscles and joints.
Secondary prevention involves consuming healthy foods, and red meat and fatty animal foods can be 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 that actively fight cartilage-destroying free radicals have also been recognized as allies. Arthrosis is a disease that is not tolerated by amateurs, so you should seek the help of an experienced doctor.