Do you feel severe pain in the knee joint while moving? Do you have the same symptoms when you bend or bend your leg? Doctors prescribe a disease such as osteoarthritis. At the same time, it is impossible to delay the treatment of the disease.
Keep in mind that the sooner you start taking effective measures, the sooner you will cope with the disease, and the outcome of the disease will not be so dramatic. It is impossible to start the disease itself, because it wears out the cartilage inside the joint.
Osteoarthritis of the knee is also called gonarthrosis. It is a leader in terms of the frequency of the disease. Statistics show that there are more patients with this diagnosis in clinics than other serious diseases. When it comes to treatment, it takes an impressive time. An integrated approach and medication use are important here.
The disease is characterized by calcification in soft tissues and ligaments, as well as where tendons are attached. Salt deposits are limited. This process is characterized by an imbalance in the optimal blood circulation in the bone vessels, which leads to changes in cartilage tissue.
Causes
Pathological microtrauma of cartilage. Among the main causes of the onset of the disease is excessive mechanical stress on the cartilage surface.
In other words, osteoarthritis of the knee joint develops rapidly in those who are often exposed to physical stress and excessive strain on the joints. Osteoarthritis can often develop in squats. When a person is overweight, the size of the load increases rapidly.
The main causes of osteoarthritis of the knee joint should be highlighted:
- Chronic defects. Dysplasia affects the formation of chronic microtrauma of cartilage. This factor causes a balance in the proper loading of the joints. Note that the risk of developing a debilitating disease is increased in people with defects of the musculoskeletal system.
- Obesity. This factor is the main reason for the development of osteoarthritis. It has been clinically proven that overweight people are more likely to get sick. Thus, every 6 kg. weight increases the development of osteoarthritis by 45%.
- Genetic predisposition. Osteoarthritis of the interphalangeal joints has been shown to be more common in women than in men. This indicator is explained by autosomal dominant inheritance.
- Inflammation. The fact is that infectious and chronic arthritis causes osteoarthritis. The appearance of immunoglobulins indicates the role of similar factors in the development of osteoarthritis.
- Neurogenic diseases. Violations cause a decrease in the tone of the muscles located near the joint. Thus, the load on the joint only increases.
Symptoms of Osteoarthritis of the Knee
The main symptoms of osteoarthritis include severe pain in the knee joint. They appear during stress and then disappear again, provided the patient rests.
With nodular arthrosis, dense joints about the size of a pea are formed. In addition, cyst-shaped seals and sticky liquids may appear near the nail bed.
If the knee joints are affected during the development of the disease, the pain increases when walking or climbing stairs for a long time. The main symptom of osteoarthritis is hoarseness during movement. With hip arthrosis, pathologies associated with the development of the hip joint are observed.
Disease Symptoms:
- short-term knee pain
- If you have an X-ray, osteophytes are found.
- Analysis for synovial fluid confirms that the composition is indeed characteristic of the disease.
- The disease is characterized by narrowing of the joint space.
- morning joint stiffness
- Soft tissue changes, osteoporosis and cartilage calcification.
Optional symptoms: these are various erosions and cysts along with subluxation or dislocation. In general, osteoarthritis of the knee joint is divided into three stages of development, which we will consider below.
1 degree
Recognition of the first degree is very problematic. An interesting fact is that a person acts as usual for him, but sometimes the disease can manifest itself in the form of pain and stiffness.
However, such symptoms are often associated with climate change or an anxious situation. Even if you go through an X-ray examination, the defect cannot be noticed immediately. Here you will need professional help, along with palpation and a thorough examination to help detect an uneven surface in the affected joint area.
People with disabilities seek traditional medicine as first aid. And this is a competent approach to solving the problem, because the disease is difficult to treat at an early stage.
2nd degree
If you see the first signs of the disease and do not take action, you tend to move on to the second. In this condition, osteoarthritis becomes chronic and the cartilage begins to break down rapidly.
These symptoms are especially noticeable with increasing physical strength. But there is no point in preferring traditional medicine. However, it can be used as an effective adjunct to traditional treatments.
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint and its symptoms are becoming more and more pronounced: unexplained fatigue and "pain" in the joints of the legs, and after a while there are nausea. If left untreated, the disease causes joint deformity.
3rd degree
However, by observing the obvious changes, the patient still does not move, and the mechanisms working against him begin to actively begin. At the same time, inaction leads to irreparable consequences.
It is also noteworthy that severe pain occurs in the joint. This factor does not depend on whether you are on the move or at rest. There are also cases when the joints do not allow a person to move.
Treatment of knee osteoarthritis
Treatment of osteoarthritis is very long and will depend primarily on the severity of the disease.
Basically, the treatment of knee osteoarthritis is based on the following stages:
- Anesthesia of the affected joint. As a rule, the doctor prescribes painkillers - analgesics.
- Inflammation must be eliminated. If there is inflammation and swelling in the affected area, such a defect should be removed immediately. In this case, anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.
- cartilage tissue regeneration. This is the most important factor in treatment. It is important to stop the degenerative process if it is not rebuilt. You should not expect immediate action from medications, but they should be taken based on individual characteristics.
If the joint is affected by the absence of symptoms, the patient will be prescribed effective ointments that have a warming effect. Their main purpose is to increase blood circulation in the affected area.
These include warming ointments with no side effects. The treatment is accompanied by a pleasant feeling of warmth.
Prevention of osteoarthritis of the knee joint
Divided into secondary and primary.
The first is aimed at weight control and injury prevention. The chances of developing osteoarthritis can be reduced by wearing the right shoes and exercising regularly to strengthen the muscles and support the joints.
Secondary prevention involves eating healthy foods, and red meat and animal-based foods are replaced by lean fish and poultry. Try to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and capsules containing fish oil prophylactically. Drink at least 8-9 glasses of water.
Focus on minerals and vitamins that promote optimal bone function. Like your allies, it is known for its antioxidants, which actively fight free radicals that destroy cartilage. Arthrosis is an intolerable disease for amateurs, so you should seek the help of an experienced doctor.