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Knee gonarthrosis

Osteoarthritis - in whatever joint it is localized - is a degenerative-dystrophic change in the cartilaginous tissue of the joint. The very term "arthro" means that the pathology of the disease is not inflammatory in nature. Diagnoses often say "gonarthrosis".

The prefix "gon-" indicates the location of the lesion - this term translated from Greek means knee. In some cases, the term "osteoarthritis" is used - this name is better known to English and American doctors.

Gonarthrosis is more common in women over the age of 40. Factors that increase the likelihood of developing the disease are obesity and hormonal extinction. The disease can develop both unilaterally and bilaterally.

The disease can develop up to 40 years of age. In young people, deforming knee osteoarthritis is more often caused by injuries.

In gonarthrosis, the cartilage is first covered with microcracks, and then becomes thinner and layered. When bending the knee, pain appears, which gradually increases. If you do not start treatment for the first signs of gonarthrosis of the knee joint, you may limp and then completely lose the ability to move.

arthrosis of the knee joints

Knee gonarthrosis - symptoms

The symptoms of the disease depend on the extent of the lesion. But there is also a common symptom - pain.

It grows gradually.

Grade 1 is characterized by mild painful sensations that occur when the load on the knee joint increases. A minor effusion may occur - an accumulation of fluid in the joint cavity. At rest the pain disappears, there are no external changes in the knee, sometimes edema is created which also disappears on its own.

In grade 2 gonarthrosis, pain occurs not only after exertion. At rest, discomfort may occur after changing the position of the lower extremity. Now the knee joint needs a long rest. The knee occasionally swells, and when it is bent, a squeak may occur. Bending and bending the leg becomes problematic. If synovitis or bursitis develops against the background of arthrosis - an accumulation of synovial fluid in the joint cavity or bursa (bursa) - the knee swells and becomes hyperemic.

X-rays show significant damage to cartilage tissue, narrowing of the joint space, and initial deformation of the bones.

With grade 3 gonarthrosis, the severity of the symptoms increases. The leg is already bent with difficulty, the maximum bending is 130-1400. . . The deformity of the joint is already pronounced externally. The pain does not subside during rest, it becomes almost constant. It is impossible to fall asleep without pain medication.

The X-ray shows a narrowed joint space, deformed joint bones, and numerous osteophytes (thorns that form due to salt deposits) in the joint cavity.

Lack of treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee significantly worsens the quality of life - the ability to stand upright is lost.

Causes of gonarthrosis of the knee joint

The disease can be caused by the following reasons.

  1. Injuries: dislocations, fractures, muscle strains and ligament tears in the area of articulation, meniscus injuries.
  2. Illiterate treatment of injuries - prolonged immobilization or the absence of drugs to restore blood supply in the therapeutic regimen cause a violation of joint trophism.
  3. Increased stress during sports or professional activities.
  4. Obesity. The fastest development of osteoarthritis occurs when obesity is combined with varicose veins - violation of soft tissue trophism + constantly increased load.
  5. Injury to the structure of the ligament apparatus, its injuries.
  6. Inflammatory processes in the body of various etiologies that caused the development of arthritis. Against the background of arthritis - an inflammatory process - arthrosis develops in the future.
  7. Disorder of metabolic processes in the body, which does not allow the absorption of beneficial substances in the required amount.
  8. Inadequate nutrition - including diet - does not provide enough nutrients from food.
  9. Hormonal changes.
  10. Emotional instability and stressors.
  11. Bad habits - smoking, drug and alcohol use.
  12. Hypothermia.
  13. Intoxication of the organism.

The last 2 points cause relapses of osteoarthritis, because they worsen the general condition of the body.

Knee gonarthrosis - treatment

The diagnosis of the disease consists of several stages:

  • history taking;
  • visual inspection;
  • laboratory tests - general and specific tests of blood and urine;
  • hardware and diagnostic examinations - X-ray (mandatory), CT, MRI.

An ultrasound examination may be needed to assess the condition of the blood vessels.

Usually, osteoarthritis of the knee is treated at home - in most cases, a referral to the hospital is required for patients who are recommended surgery - excision of the damaged joint capsule and endoprosthetics. If the disease begins to be treated in stages 1-2, then conservative methods can bring it into remission.

The following therapeutic measures and medications are prescribed:

  1. Immobilization of the affected limb during exacerbation.
  2. Pain relief with drugs of different groups:
    • NVPS;
    • analgesics, including those containing narcotic ingredients - used once for unbearable pain;
    • anesthetics in the form of injections.
    • The most commonly prescribed nonsteroidal drugs. They are made in various forms - such as creams, ointments, suppositories, injections, solutions; you can use them as you wish.
    • Corticosteroids are used - they are also injected into the joint cavity.
    • Muscle relaxants are used to remove soft tissue spasms and restore trophism.
    • Prescribe medications that restore peripheral blood supply.
    • Vitamin therapy - B vitamins are given in the form of injections.
    • Chondroprotectors are used to stop bone deformation and regenerate cartilage tissue. In the initial phase, they are injected into the joint cavity, and then they are taken in the form of tablets. The course of treatment is long - up to 6 months.
    • Physiotherapy: paraffin, ozokerite, electrophoresis with hydrocortisone, exposure to currents of different frequencies, magnetotherapy.
    • Massage.
    • Physiotherapy exercises - otherwise it is impossible to restore movement in the lower extremity.

Modern treatment of osteoarthritis is supplemented by the following methods

Ozone therapy (on the background of glucocosteroid treatment). Ozone-enriched saline injections are injected into the affected joint, causing trophism to be restored and pain removed.

Kinesitherapy. Special exercises help to restore the amplitude of the affected joint - the load is selected individually for each patient.

Home treatment with folk remedies can not eliminate osteoarthritis of the knee, but it helps to keep it in remission for a long time.

Folk remedies for external action are ointments and rubbing, which are made at home from products and natural remedies that have a local irritant effect. The knee joint is rubbed with alcoholic tinctures soaked in hot peppers, horseradish and onion peel. White cabbage dressings and honey cake are placed on the knee, the leg is floated in coniferous baths or in an infusion of comfrey.

When treating osteoarthritis of the knee joint, it is necessary to adhere to a special diet - it is necessary to:

  • reduce the amount of salt in the daily menu;
  • give up hot spices;
  • reduce the amount of purine-rich foods;
  • increase the amount of fermented milk and plant foods (excluding sorrel, legumes, spinach);
  • expand the drinking regime.

Only a comprehensive treatment of gonarthrosis will help eliminate painful sensations in the joint and lead the disease to long-term remission.