Many people complain of pain that occurs in the knee.This may indicate the appearance of the development of various diseases.The most common pathology that affects the knee joints is arthrosis, which is called the popular deposition of salts.
Absolute arthrosis leads to the complete destruction of cartilage and the exposure to the bone, as well as to the formation of osteophytes and complete deformation of the joint.This disease can turn a person into a disabled person.We will try to understand what the disease is, what their symptoms and treatments are.
What is knee arthrosis joint
The large berets and the femur in the knee joint of a person are covered with joint cartilage.There is also a second type of cartilage that forms menis, acts as shock absorbers or layers.
The article fluid provides smooth movement and additional protection.The development of arthrosis occurs when it begins The supporting tissue is damaged, protecting the bones, resulting in their surface and the production of joint lubrication gradually decreases.At the same time, partial cartridges and complete loss may occur.
The manifestation of deformation of knee arthrosis is accompanied by the destruction of its cartilage shells and after some time the bones and connections located nearby can be attracted to the process.As a result of cartilage loss occurs Flip, and the joint is deformed.
Sometimes you can even feel bone spurs, which are pathological bone growth.As it happens Deformation on the surface of the bonesAnd they can no longer be closed as expected, then one has a restriction on movement.
This condition is accompanied by pain.It manifests itself especially in the morning when a person begins to move after prolonged immobility.In the end, this significantly reduces the quality of life.
The causes of the disease
What does this disease arise?Doctors identify several reasons:
- aging and wear of cartilage;
- Injury;
- overweight;
- Age -related changes;
- Autoimmune diseases.
In the latter case, immunity begins to attack its own joint tissue, leading to its inflammation and destruction.An example is a disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, which develops simultaneous damage to both joints and develops damage.
It can also be called the cause of cartilage deformation insufficient blood supply The heads of the femur.In this case, we are talking about aseptic necrosis.The degeneration of the knee joint and the displacement of the mechanical axis can occur due to the improper formation of the knee joint at an early age.
Symptoms of the disease
Knee arthrosis is characterized by three stages of development.The first stage is manifested by mild pain, unpleasant sensations in a sore spot, and swelling occurs periodically.
In the second stage, the symptoms begin to intensify, crunch occurs and movements become limited.Knee arthrosis of third degree is accompanied by constant painful sensationswhile cartilage tissue is virtually destroyed.
Symptoms of knee arthrosis are usually manifested by pain.It may occur suddenly, but its main development occurs slowly.One begins to notice her in the morning, immediately after waking up.Knee pain occurs when walking up the stairs and often WalkingSWhen the weather is sensitive to the meteo changes, there is also a pain in the knee joint.
Another symptom of arthrosis The swelling is, which occurs as a result of inflammation, the accumulation of excess fluid in the knee, or may be associated with the formation of bone spurs.The skin at the affected area turns red and hot to the touch.In the case of chronic inflammation of the joints, pain and edema are removed with the help of anti -inflammatory drugs.
In addition, the symptom of arthrosis is Loss of stabilitywhen a person is simply unable to bend his legs in the knee or straighten it completely.The occurrence of a crunch is explained by the fact that the amount of synovial lubrication decreases.Such a creaking sound that appears later causes the bones that are rubbing against each other when driving.
During the ascent of the stairs or when performing exercise, there is Limited movementsSThis causes many to use a cane or walkers.
The deformity of the knee joint is a very terrible symptom of arthrosis as it shows that irreversible changes in the joint have occurred, which makes a person disabled.The knees can be hung or facing each other.
The principles of treatment
After dealing with the common symptoms of the disease, it is necessary to understand how to treat it.First, it should be aimed at eliminating pain.
You should know that taking painkillers only Only weakens the symptomsBut in no way affects the course of the disease and such medicines are not able to repair damaged cartilage.
Treatment of knee arthrosis with drugs is performed in the following ways:
- The use of non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs, with which pain relieves and reduces inflammation.
- The use of medicines that help to restore cartilage.
- The use of ointments and creams by deformation of arthrosis.
In some cases, surgery is performed and also prescribed Physiotherapy procedures and physiotherapy exercises.Gymnastics with such a disease helps significantly with treatment, and the attending physician should choose the exercises.
Most medicines currently have Many side effects And with prolonged use, the functioning of organs and systems appears.
Using non -steroidal drugs
The treatment of knee arthrosis is performed by non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs.
They help relieve pain and reduce inflammation, but long-term use of these drugs is prohibited, as the side effects obtained adversely affect the intestinal mucosa and stomach, as well as the liver, kidneys and cardiovascular system.
Despite the fact that taking these drugs is necessary for the treatment of knee arthrosis, however, they are able to reduce the production of proteoglycans and thus dehydrate cartilage tissue.Therefore, such means should be takenstrictly according to a prescription And only under his control.
For prolonged use, experts advise to choose Selective anti -inflammatory drugs, which have less side effects and have no adverse effect on cartilage metabolism.
Carbon Recovery Preparations
To feed and restore cartilage requires constant intake of its tissuesChondroprotectorsSThese substances are very important for people suffering from knee arthrosis.
The positive effect of their intake occurs only after use for a very long time (at least six months).Chondroprotectors improve the quantity and quality of synovial fluid as well contribute to recovery Cartilage plate.
But despite similar beneficial properties of these compounds, they should not be considered fixed assets for the treatment of knee arthrosis.For this purpose, medicines should be taken for at least one and a half years until they are unable to completely restore the destroyed cartilage.
Using creams, ointments and compresses
The treatment of knee arthrosis is the use of various ointments and creams.But such drugs should only be considered as a supplement to the use of non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs and chondroproprotectors.Ointments and creams help reduce discomfort, swelling, pain, Improve joint mobilityS
This effect is explained by the fact that these products penetrate the skin into the blood, thus improving blood circulation in the joint, accelerating metabolism in cartilage and its recovery.
Compression treatmentSMuch more effect than ointments carry therapeutic compresses.For these purposes, a tool is often prescribed that penetrates well into the tissue 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 tissues do not rub against each other.An important component of such lubrication is hyaluronic acid, which binds proteoglycans to normalize the structure of cartilage tissue.
The level of this compound in the synovial fluid in patients with arthrosis is reduced quite severely, which is why this lubricant becomes less viscous and the friction increases.
Medication injections Based on hyaluronic acidconducted in the knee, slows down the progression of the disease, but only half of patients with diagnosis of arthrosis are reduced until the symptoms are reduced.The injection course is usually carried out for three weeks, and one injection is carried out every seven days.Six months later, this procedure is performed again.
Surgical treatment of knee arthrosis joint
If therapeutic treatment has not led to the proper effect, surgery is performed.
It also takes place if irreversible changes have already occurred in the knee joint.
Surgical treatment is of two types:
- Arthrodesis.
- Prosthetics.
With arthrodesis, the joint is immobilized, which is why the pain is eliminated.Prosthetics is a more modern method that consists of the fact that with the help of special dentures, full or partial Replacing the damaged jointS
In this way, knee arthrosis is a disease, insidious to its consequences, as a person can become a person with disabilities.Can be avoided if you eat properly, Lead a healthy lifestyle And control your weight.Thanks to such simple rules, you can never know about the existence of knee arthrosis.