Gonarthrosis of the knee joint is a non-inflammatory disease of the knee in which blood circulation in the cartilage tissue is disrupted. This disease is also called knee osteoarthritis. This type of osteoarthritis occupies one of the first places among others.
Etiology and pathogenesis
So what is gonarthrosis? These are degenerative changes in the cartilage surrounding the joint. Knee osteoarthritis has been known for over a hundred years. Metabolic processes occur in cartilage due to osmotic pressure. If the cartilage is compressed, a lubricant is released and then absorbed. Thus, the cartilage is constantly nourished. With constant overload, this process is disrupted and the cartilage becomes thin. The collagen fibers that make up the cartilage are damaged, and the cartilage tissue is no longer elastic.
As the bones rub against each other while walking (cartilage does not soften friction), bone protrusions or spikes appear. As a result of such changes, osteophytes grow. These are growths on the dense structure of bone tissue. In addition, the synovium becomes irritated and inflamed. All this leads to limited mobility of the joint.
Osteoarthritis of the inner part of the knee often occurs. In addition, adults and the elderly are susceptible to the disease, but the disease can occur in young people, especially athletes.
Poor blood supply leads to erosion of cartilage, exposing the bone inside the joint. And the whole joint is deformed, that is, arthrosis occurs, which deforms the knee.
Causes and classification of the disease
The disease is divided into types according to the etiology: primary and secondary gonarthrosis. Primary gonarthrosis or idiopathic occurs against the background of complete well-being. It usually occurs in older people, mainly women. It develops after secondary knee hernia or infectious disease. Post-traumatic gonarthrosis can be avoided if the inflammation or injury in the knee is removed in time.
Different types of osteoarthritis of the knee joint are also divided according to localization:
- Right-sided gonarthrosis - this type affects only the right joint, and people who exercise suffer more from this arthrosis.
- Left-sided gonarthrosis - affects the left joint, respectively.
- Bilateral gonarthrosis - both joints are destroyed, the most severe form of the disease, people over the age of fifty are susceptible to it.
All of these types are almost indistinguishable in the course of the disease (ie, clicks and pain are always present). However, bilateral gonarthrosis is usually more pronounced because both joints are disturbed. In addition, any type of this disease, if it takes shape, will be more pronounced and the pain will be more severe. It is better to look at a photo to imagine what this disease looks like.
It is interesting! Osteoarthritis occurs in 53% of all diseases affecting the knee. I want to say that this is more than half.
Why does this disease occur? The main reasons for the development of this disorder are:
- metabolic disorders;
- hormonal imbalance;
- endocrine disorders;
- increased fragility of capillaries;
- excessive load and injury;
- hereditary and congenital anomalies;
- inflammatory diseases.
Excess weight is considered a major risk factor.
Degrees of gonarthrosis of the knee joint
There are different degrees of gonarthrosis. There are three of them, of course, the first degree is the first and is weak, and the last degree is a serious deformation of the joints. In the first degree of the disease, this can not be distinguished, but later treatment will be difficult, so you should carefully monitor the symptoms:
- The first degree of the disease is characterized by mild anxiety and fatigue. Sometimes there may be a restriction of movement, but very little. At this stage, the joint is not yet deformed, but X-rays may show a slight narrowing of the joint space.
- The second degree manifests itself with more pronounced pain, especially after walking. When changing the position of the merger, there is a crisis and clicks. To this extent, atrophy of the thigh muscle can occur, and the angle of complete flexion of the foot is significantly limited. On X-rays, you can see the growth of osteophytes and the straightening of the bones.
- In the third degree, severe pain occurs, swelling may appear. Osteophytes can feel broken and the joint can become clogged. This is a sharp pain and inability to move independently. As for the X-ray images, deformities and changes are seen in the joints and bones of the foot.
In the final stages of the disease, treatment of the joint will take a long time and it will not be possible to completely cure it.
Symptoms of gonarthrosis
How to recognize knee gonarthrosis? The symptoms of the disease are different, but the main symptom is pain. At first it may be very weak and irregular, but over time the anxiety increases, there are problems with walking, because after a long activity not only fatigue but also pain occurs.
Symptoms of the disease gradually increase, starting with mild discomfort and weakness in the legs. The main symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee are:
- density is felt under the knee;
- extreme fatigue after walking;
- painful and sharp pains after activity;
- anxiety after sleep;
- crunching and clicking while bending the knee;
- edema of the extremities;
- violation of joint mobility;
- lameness.
Sometimes gonarthrosis is complicated by synovitis. Synovitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the joint. This complication can occur in the early stages of osteoarthritis. But it often passes without treatment. And second-degree gonarthrosis of the knee joint can be complicated not only by synovitis, but also by Baker's cyst. In this case, the pain is very strong and even at rest.
Fact! The most common is posttraumatic osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Occurs not immediately, but gradually, with regular physical activity. Post-traumatic osteoarthritis initially feels like simple fatigue and can only occur over time.
Methods of treatment
Gonarthrosis, unilateral or bilateral gonarthrosis, is an incurable disease. It is impossible to return the joint to a completely healthy condition. However, treatment should be carried out, which will help to eliminate severe pain and slow down the destruction of the joint. In addition, it is important to follow a diet. Folk methods are also useful. There are several treatments for this disease.
The main methods used in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee are:
- Use of drugs - tablets, injections and ointments.
- Physiotherapy - various physiotherapy procedures.
- Therapeutic physical training and massage are mandatory methods for treatment and rehabilitation.
Therapeutic and prophylactic gymnastics is a mandatory part of therapy. Without regular exercise, it is impossible to restore the composition and relieve pain, especially a form such as bilateral osteoarthritis (which can lead to disability). Proper physical activity will help you cope with the disease faster. However, to avoid worsening the situation, you can do the exercises only under the guidance of an experienced coach.
Medical therapy
What drugs are used as the main treatment? Drug therapy involves the use of the following types of drugs:
- Painkillers and anti-inflammatory - relieve pain, swelling and redness.
- Chondroprotectors are agents that help restore cartilage tissue.
- Drugs to be injected into the joint to eliminate inflammation.
- Means containing hyaluronic acid, they are injected together when the inflammation progresses.
The specialist will usually prescribe external agents to help relieve the unpleasant symptoms. Often these are gels and ointments that have a warming effect. They improve blood circulation. You can lubricate the affected joint several times a day according to the instructions. You can apply gels and ointments in a thin layer, sometimes lightly lubricating, sometimes rubbing well.
What else is used to relieve pain and improve blood circulation in osteoarthritis? Your doctor may prescribe warming compresses with Dimexide or medical bile. In addition, during the disease is often used a remedy based on avocado and soy extract. However, treatment with this drug is long - at least six months.
Manual therapy and physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is an effective method in the treatment of gonarthrosis. The procedures improve blood circulation and help slow down the destruction process. These procedures are especially good for post-traumatic osteoarthritis. What is usually prescribed for arthritis? These are the procedures:
- magnetotherapy;
- cryotherapy;
- laser treatment;
- UFO;
- UHF;
- paraffin applications;
- electrophoresis with novocaine;
- diadynamic currents.
When it comes to manual therapy, it alleviates the patient's condition and prevents the destruction of cartilage. The main objectives of such therapy are:
- to restore knee function;
- facilitate overall well-being;
- reduce the symptoms of the disease;
- activate blood flow;
- help joint recovery.
After exercise therapy, it is recommended to massage while the muscles are warming up.
There are several methods of manual therapy:
- Sweden - the uniqueness of the method lies in the combination of joint movements with friction.
- East - normalizes blood circulation.
- Finn is similar to Swedish, but differs in the intensity of the impact and the direction of the movements.
Which method to choose should be decided by the chiropractor, taking into account the recommendations of the attending physician. There should be no pain during the session. If there is a concern, it indicates that the specialist is not qualified, so you should stop the session immediately, otherwise the situation may worsen.
Nuance! During such therapy, not only the damaged area, but also the surrounding tissues are massaged.
Folk methods of treatment of gonarthrosis
Various ointments and compresses are used in folk medicine. But you can also use some built-in tools. You can choose from several effective recipes and apply them regularly. Existing products are used to prepare folk remedies. However, we must remember that these methods are not basic, but additional. Therefore, medical treatment is needed.
Jerusalem artichoke
An effective product that is effective in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. One and a half kilograms of leaves of this plant should be infused with boiling water (10 liters) and left for half an hour. When the infusion cools down a bit, you should lower the leg there with a painful joint. You can do this procedure every day or every other day.
bal
Honey compresses will help relieve pain and swelling. To do this, lubricate the knee with honey and apply a tight bandage. It should be worn for a day, then the honey should be washed and re-contaminated with fresh product. The course of treatment is at least four days and more is possible. You can also do a honey massage - just massage your knees, rub honey on them. The massage should last a quarter of an hour.
dulavratotu
Another affordable product that can be used to treat the knee. You can make a compress from burdock. To make the juice, you need to crush the leaves a little and then sprinkle with vodka. Wrap the diseased joint with a film and insulate. Such a compress should be kept all night. The next day, lubricate a burdock leaf with honey and prepare such a compress, and on the third day, lubricate the leaf with vodka and garlic mass. Compresses should be replaced and treated within a month.
Mixed ointment
You can use a special ointment for severe pain. Easy to prepare. Take a tablespoon of hop cones, fresh sweet clover flowers and St. John's wort flowers. Mix one tablespoon of the collection with two tablespoons of Vaseline and grind well. Before going to bed, the ointment should be applied to the aching joint.
Dandelion
Simple flowers, dandelions can also be used. The flowers should be washed and dried. Then crush it so that the consistency is like sour cream. This mass should be applied to the joint and covered with polyethylene for several hours. In addition, using this tool will require significant physical activity, ie you need to walk at least three thousand steps a day.
cherry
Cherries can be used indoors. This berry helps with osteoarthritis, but is contraindicated for stomach and intestinal problems, because the fruits have a sharp and sour taste. They can irritate the mucous membranes. For treatment it is necessary to eat a glass of cherries four times a day, each time washing it with warm boiled milk. The treatment is long - two months.
nettle
Nettles will also help to cope with the problem. Half a glass of fresh nettle juice should be mixed with the same amount of honey and medical alcohol. They all insist in a dark place for two weeks. After that, half an hour before a meal to drink a tablespoon diluted in half a glass of water. This should be done three times a day.
It is important! Any herbs and other products can be used to prepare medicinal ointments or drinks only if you are not allergic.
Recovery forecast
You have to live with it because the disorder has not been treated. However, it is possible to visit a doctor in time and with a correct diagnosis can significantly improve the patient's condition and slow down the development of this disease. Of course, the disease will progress with age, but if the doctor's recommendations are followed, osteoarthritis will develop more slowly.
It is very important to use not only medicines and ointments, but also additional treatments. Therefore, such recharging should be carried out regularly after discontinuation of the drug. Massage can be done in courses. For example, once every two months. Regular swimming or cycling is very useful, it relieves the joint load.