Many people complain about pain that occurs in the knee.This can indicate the beginning of the development of various diseases.The most common pathology that influences the knee joints is arthrosis, which is popularly referred to as the deposit of salts.
The absolute osteoarthritis leads to the complete destruction of the cartilage and the exposure of the bone as well as to the formation of osteophytes and to the complete deformation of the joint.This disease can transform a person into a disabled person.We will try to find out what this disease are, what symptoms and treatment methods are.
What is osteoarthritis of the knee joint
The large baskets and thigh bones in the knee joint of a person are covered with articular cartilage.There is also a second type of cartilage that forms menis and acts as a shock absorber or layers.
The articular fluid offers smooth movement and additional protection.The development of osteoarthritis occurs at the beginning Wearing tissue is damagedThe protection of the bones on which their surface is exposed and the production of joint lubrication gradually decreases.At the same time, both cartridges and complete loss can occur.
The manifestation of deforming arthrosis of the knee joint is accompanied by the destruction of its cartilage shells, and after a while the bones and ligaments can be pulled nearby.As a result of the loss of cartilage, occurs Flip increaseAnd the connection is deformed.
Sometimes you can even feel bone spores from the outside, which are a pathological growth of bones.How it happens Deformation of the surface of the bonesAnd you can no longer close as expected, then a person has a limitation of the movements.
This condition is accompanied by pain.It manifests itself especially in the morning when a person begins to move after a long immobility.In the end, this significantly reduces the quality of life.
Causes of the disease
What does this disease arise?Doctors identify several reasons:
- Age and wear of the cartilage;
- Injury;
- Obesity;
- Age -related changes;
- Autoimmune diseases.
In the latter case, immunity begins to attack its own joint fabric, which leads to its inflammation and destruction.An example is an illness such as rheumatoid arthritis, in which simultaneous damage to both joints and a disability develop.
The reason for the deformation of the cartilage can also be mentioned inadequate blood supply The heads of the thigh.In this case we talk about aseptic necrosis.The degeneration of the knee joint and the shift of the mechanical axis can occur due to the improper formation of the knee joint in early childhood.
Symptoms of the disease
The arthrosis of the knee joint is characterized by three stages of development.The first stage manifests itself through weak pain, unpleasant sensations at a painful point and regular swelling.
In the second stage, the symptoms begin to intensify, grinding and movements are limited.The arthrosis of the knee joint of the third degree is accompanied Constant painful sensationswhile the cartilage is practically destroyed.
Symptoms of arthrosis of the knee joint usually manifest themselves through pain.It can suddenly occur, but basically its development occurs slowly.One person notices them in the morning, immediately after awakening.Knee pain occurs when the stairs walk and often When walking.When changing the weather in meteo -sensitive people, pain in the knee joint is also observed.
Another symptom of osteoarthritis The swelling is, which may occur as the result of inflammation, the accumulation of excess liquid in the knee or is connected to the formation of bone spores.The skin at the affected place becomes red and hot for touch.In chronic inflammation of the joints, pain and edema are removed using anti -inflammatory medication.
In addition, the symptom of osteoarthritis is Loss of stabilityIf a person is simply unable to bend the leg in your knee or to smooth it completely.The crunch that arises is explained by the fact that the amount of synovial lubrication decreases.Such a creaking sound, which later appears, cause bone spores that rub against each other when driving.
During the climbing of the stairs or during the execution of physical exercises Limited movements.As a result, many use a stick or hiker.
The deformation of the knee joint is a very terrible symptom of osteoarthritis, as it indicates that it has occurred irreversible changes in the joint, which makes a person a disabled person.The knees can spread out or turn to each other on the inside.
The principles of treatment
According to the frequent symptoms of the disease, it is necessary to understand how it is treated.First of all, it should aim to eliminate pain.
You need to know that only painkillers take Only weakens the symptomsBut in no way influence the course of the disease and such medication cannot restore the damaged cartilage.
The treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint with medication is carried out in the following way:
- The use of non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs with which pain relieves and reduces inflammation.
- The use of medicinal products with which the cartilage is restored.
- The use of ointments and creams from the deformation of osteoarthritis.
In some cases, surgical intervention is carried out and also prescribed Physiotherapeutic methods and physiotherapy exercises.Gymnastics with such a disease helps considerably with the treatment and the applicable doctor should select the exercises.
Most drugs currently have Many side effects And with longer use, the functioning of organs and systems occurs.
With non -steroidal medication
The treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint is carried out by non -steroidal anti -inflammatory medication.
They help relieve pain and reduce inflammation, but the long-term use of these medication is prohibited because the resulting side effects have a negative impact on the intestinal mucosa and the stomach, the liver, kidneys and cardiovascular system.
Despite the fact that the intake of these medication is necessary for the treatment of the osteoarthritis of the knee joint, you can reduce the production of proteoglycans and thus dehydrate the cartilage tissue.Therefore, such funds should be takenStrictly according to a doctor's recipe And only under his control.
Experts recommend choosing for a longer use Selective anti -inflammatory medicationthat have fewer side effects and have no negative influence on the metabolism in the cartilage.
Carbon recovery preparations
For nutrition and restoration of cartilage, constant absorption on its fabrics is necessaryChondroprotectors.These substances are very important for people who suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
The positive effect of your reception only appears after use (at least six months).Chondroprotectors improve the amount and quality of the synovial fluid as well as the contribute to the restoration Cartilage plate.
Despite these advantageous properties of these compounds, you should not be regarded as fixed assets for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint.For this purpose, drugs have to be taken for at least one and a half years, while they cannot fully restore the destroyed cartilage.
Use of creams, ointments and compresses
The treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint ensures the use of various ointments and creams.However, such drugs should only be considered as a supplement to the use of non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs and chondroprotectors.Help ointments and creams, to reduce symptoms, swelling, pain, pain, Improvement of common mobility.
This effect is explained by the fact that these products penetrate the blood through the skin, causing the bloodstream in the joint, the metabolism is accelerated and restored in the cartilage.
Compression treatment.A much greater effect compared to ointments bring therapeutic compresses.For these purposes, a tool is often prescribed that penetrates the fabric and has an analgesic and anti -inflammatory effect.
The use of injections
The synovial fluid of the knee joint is very viscous, so that the fabrics do not rub against each other.An important component of such lubrication is hyaluronic acid that combines proteoglycans to normalize the structure of cartilage tissue.
The level of this connection in the synovial fluid in patients with osteoarthritis is quite greatly reduced, which makes this lubricant less viscoous and the friction is improved.
Drug injections Based on hyaluronic acid, carried out in the knee, the progression of the disease slows down, but only half of the patients with arthrosis diagnosis is reduced to a decrease in the manifestation of symptoms.The course of the injections usually takes place for three weeks and an injection is carried out every seven days.This procedure is carried out again six months later.
Surgical treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint
If therapeutic treatment has not brought the right effect, surgery is carried out.
It is also carried out when irreversible changes have already occurred in the knee joint.
Surgical treatment is of two types:
- Arthrodesis.
- Prosthetics.
With arthrodesis, the joint is immobilized, which eliminates the pain.Prosthetics is a more modern method that consists of Exchange of the damaged connection.
Therefore, the osteoarthritis of the knee joint is an illness that insults its consequences because a person can become a disabled person.It can be avoided if you eat properly lead a healthy lifestyle And check your weight.Thanks to such simple rules, you can never know about the existence of the osteoarthritis of the knee joint.