With age, the cartilaginous tissue of various joints gradually deteriorates, which is accompanied by the destruction of both the joint capsule itself and the elements surrounding it.
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (also gonarthrosis) is called degeneration of the knee cartilage.At first, the disease is accompanied by pain, which can subsequently cause significant limitation of movement and even disability.
Symptoms of knee osteoarthritis.
The main symptom of osteoarthritis is infrequent, regular or never-ending knee pain.The most common symptoms are:
- pain when changing positions, climbing stairs;
- pain at rest;
- knee stiffness after sleeping, first for a short time, then up to 30 minutes;
- crunchy, high-pitched sound accompanied by pain;
- problems with the movement of the knee joint, rarely: inability to bend the knee;
- visual deformation of the knee joint;
- swelling of nearby skin;
- lameness (a characteristic symptom of an advanced stage).
4 degrees of pathology
The manifestation of symptoms largely depends on the stage of development of the disease.For example, during the first stage the patient may not feel pain, but at stage 4 of the pathology the pain is pronounced and movements are very difficult.The development of pathology is divided into 4 degrees:
- The first is that there are no symptoms as such, but during an x-ray the doctor can detect small deviations from the normal state.
- The second is episodic pain, which is mainly observed during physical activity, when changing positions, squatting or climbing stairs.
- Thirdly, the pain is intense and appears constantly, even at rest.In this case, walking is only possible with the use of a cane.An x-ray reveals significant narrowing of the joint space, degeneration of the meniscus, and proliferation of bone tissue.
- Fourth, knee movements are difficult or even impossible.X-rays show complete destruction of cartilage tissue, and sometimes the bones begin to fuse.
Important!Even if you experience occasional pain in your knee joint, you should see a doctor and get an x-ray.If the disease is detected early, the chances of recovery are much greater.
Diagnosis of the disease: where to go.
For diagnosis, the patient turns to a therapist, then goes to an orthopedist, rheumatologist, vertebrologist or kinesiotherapist (depending on the direction).Diagnosis involves interviewing, examining the patient and performing a series of procedures:
- general blood and urine tests;
- Radiography;
- computed tomography;
- MRI;
- Ultrasound to study the knee joint capsule, as well as neighboring structures: muscle tissue, tendons;
- joint puncture (collection of fluid for analysis);
- arthroscopy (insertion of a small camera into the joint for accurate diagnosis).
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
The course of treatment is prescribed by a doctor.If the disease is not advanced, conservative therapy (without surgery) can be used.In this case, medications and physiotherapy procedures are indicated.As a rule, the treatment is complex: the patient will use drugs from different groups:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for pain relief: diclofenac, ibuprofen and drugs based on them;
- hormonal drugs (corticosteroid group) - used in case of ineffectiveness of other drugs;
- antispasmodics: "tolperisone" and its analogues;
- chondroprotectors – drugs that stimulate the process of restoration of cartilage tissue: “chondroitin sulfate”, “glucosamine” in combination and separately;
- drugs that stimulate blood saturation with oxygen, nutrients and improve blood flow ("pentoxifylline", "nicotinic acid" and others).
Medicines are used in different forms: externally (ointments, gels), orally (tablets), intramuscularly and intra-articularly (injections).Together with medications, if necessary, the doctor may prescribe the following procedures:
- shock wave therapy;
- magnetic therapy;
- laser therapy;
- electrotherapy;
- phonophoresis;
- ozone therapy.
In extreme cases, when the use of medications and procedures for a long time does not produce the desired effect, and also if the disease is very advanced, treatment is only possible through surgery.Several types of operations are possible:
- osteotomy: the surgeon cuts a bone and changes its angle to reduce the total load on the knee joint;
- arthrodesis - in this case, the doctor joins the bones, which eliminates mobility and reduces pain, as a result of which the person can lean on the leg;
- Endoprosthesis: total replacement of the affected joint with a prosthesis.