Gonarthrosis of the knee joint is a non-inflammatory disease of the knee, in which blood circulation in the cartilage tissue is disturbed. This disease is also called osteoarthritis of the knee. This type of arthrosis occupies one of the first places among others.
Etiology and pathogenesis
So what is gonarthrosis? These are degenerative changes in the cartilage that covers the joint. Knee osteoarthritis has been known for more than a hundred years. In cartilage, due to osmotic pressure, metabolic processes occur. If the cartilage is compressed, a lubricant is released and then absorbed. Thus, the cartilage is constantly nourished. With constant excessive loads, this process is disrupted, and the cartilage thins. The state of the collagen fibers that form the cartilage is altered, the cartilage tissue is no longer as elastic.
Because the bones rub against each other when walking (cartilage does not smooth the friction), bony growths or spikes appear. As a result of such changes, the growth of osteophytes occurs. These are growths of a dense structure of bone tissue. In addition, the synovial membrane becomes irritated and inflamed. All this leads to limited mobility of the limb.
Most often, arthrosis of the inner part of the knee occurs. In addition, middle-aged and elderly people are susceptible to the disease, but the disease can also occur in young people, particularly athletes.
Poor blood supply leads to abrasion of the cartilage, exposing the bone within the joint. And the whole joint is deformed, that is, a deforming osteoarthritis of the knee occurs.
Causes and classification of the disease.
The disease is divided into types according to etiology: primary and secondary gonarthrosis. Primary or idiopathic gonarthrosis occurs against the background of complete well-being. It usually occurs in older people, mainly in women. The secondary develops after the knee brace or an infectious disease. Post-traumatic knee osteoarthritis can be avoided if the inflammation or damage to the knee is eliminated 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, people who play sports suffer from this osteoarthritis more often.
- Left-sided gonarthrosis: The left joint is affected accordingly.
- Bilateral gonarthrosis - both joints are destroyed, the most serious type of disease, people over fifty are susceptible to it.
All these species hardly differ from each other in the course of the disease (ie clicks and pain are always present). But bilateral gonarthrosis is usually more pronounced, because it involves two joints. Also, any type of this disease, if the form is running, it will be more pronounced, and the pain will be more intense. To imagine what this disease looks like, it is better to look at the photo.
Interesting! Of all the diseases that affect the knee, osteoarthritis occurs in 53% of cases. I mean, that's more than half.
Why does this disease occur? These are the main reasons for the development of this disorder:
- metabolic disorder;
- hormonal imbalance;
- endocrine disorders;
- increased fragility of capillaries;
- overload and injuries;
- heredity and congenital anomalies;
- inflammatory diseases
Being overweight is considered the main 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 initial and weakly manifested, and the last degree is a serious deformity of the joints. In the first degree of the disease, it may not be noticeable, but then treatment will be difficult, so you need to carefully monitor the symptoms:
- The first degree of the disease is characterized by slight discomfort, fatigue. Sometimes there may be a restriction of movement, but very slight. At this stage, the joint is not yet deformed, but a slight narrowing of the joint space can be seen on the x-ray.
- The second degree is manifested by more pronounced pain, especially after walking. When changing the position of the joint, there is a crunch and clicks. To this degree, atrophy of the thigh muscle may occur and the angle of full flexion of the leg is significantly limited. On x-rays, you can see the growth of osteophytes and flattening of the bones.
- In the third degree, severe pain occurs, swelling may appear. Since the osteophytes can become detached, the joint may appear to be locked. This is acute pain and the inability to move independently. Looking at the X-ray images, deformations, changes in the joint and the bones of the leg are seen.
In the last stage of the disease, it will take a long time to treat the joint, and it will not be possible to completely cure it.
Symptoms of gonarthrosis
How can gonarthrosis of the knee be recognized? The symptoms of the disease are varied, but the main symptom is pain. At first, it can be very weak and irregular, but over time, the discomfort increases, there are problems with walking, because after prolonged activity, not only fatigue, but also pain.
The symptoms of the disease gradually increase, beginning with mild discomfort and weakness in the legs. These are the main symptoms of knee osteoarthritis:
- tightness felt below knee;
- excessive fatigue after walking;
- aching, sharp pains after activity;
- discomfort after sleeping;
- crunches and snaps when bending the knee;
- extremity edema;
- impaired mobility of the joint;
- limp.
Sometimes gonarthrosis is complicated by synovitis. Synovitis is an inflammation of the lining of a joint. Already in the first stage of arthrosis, this complication can occur. But most of the time it goes away without treatment. And gonarthrosis of the knee joint of the second degree can be complicated not only by synovitis, but also by Baker's cyst. The pain in this case becomes very strong and tormenting even at rest.
Done! The most common is post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the knee. It does not occur immediately, but gradually, with regular physical overload. Post-traumatic osteoarthritis is felt at first as simple fatigue, and only with time can pain appear.
treatment methods
Gonarthrosis is an incurable disease, whether it is unilateral or bilateral gonarthrosis. It is impossible to return the joint to a completely healthy state. However, treatment should be carried out, it will help get rid of severe pain and delay the destruction of the joint. In addition, it is important to follow a diet. Folk methods are also useful. There are several types of treatment for this disease.
These are the main methods used in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee:
- The 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 preventive gymnastics is an obligatory component of therapy. Without regular exercise, it is impossible to restore the composition and eliminate pain, especially for such a form as bilateral arthrosis (it can lead to disability). Proper physical activity will help to cope with the disease faster. But you can perform exercises only under the guidance of an experienced trainer, so as not to worsen the condition.
medical therapy
What drugs are used as main treatment? Drug therapy involves the use of the following types of drugs:
- Analgesics and anti-inflammatories - eliminate pain, swelling and relieve redness.
- Chondroprotectors are agents that help restore cartilage tissue.
- Medicines to inject into the joint that relieve inflammation.
- That is, with hyaluronic acid, they are also injected into the joint when the inflammation disappears.
The specialist usually prescribes external agents that help eliminate unpleasant symptoms. In most cases, these are gels and ointments with a warming effect. They improve blood circulation. You can lubricate the affected joint a couple of times a day, according to the instructions. You can apply gels and ointments in a thin layer, sometimes you need to lightly lubricate, and sometimes rub well.
What else is used to relieve pain and improve blood circulation in arthrosis? The doctor may prescribe hot compresses with Dimexide or medicinal bile. In addition, during the illness, a remedy based on an extract of avocado and soy is usually used. But treatment with this drug is long - at least six months.
Manual therapy and physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is an effective way to treat gonarthrosis. Procedures improve blood circulation, help slow down the process of destruction. These procedures are especially good for post-traumatic osteoarthritis. What is usually prescribed for arthritis? These are the procedures:
- magnet therapy;
- cryotherapy;
- laser treatment;
- UFO;
- ultrahigh frequency;
- paraffin applications;
- novocaine electrophoresis;
- diadynamic currents.
As for manual therapy, it alleviates the patient's condition and prevents the destruction of cartilage. These are the main objectives pursued by said therapy:
- restore knee function;
- facilitate general well-being;
- reduce the manifestation of the symptoms of the disease;
- activate blood flow;
- help the joint to recover.
It is advisable to massage after exercise therapy, when the muscles have warmed up.
There are several methods of manual therapy:
- Swedish: the uniqueness of the method lies in the combination of joint movements with rubbing.
- Oriental - normalizes blood circulation.
- Finnish: similar to Swedish, but differs in intensity of impact and direction of movements.
The chiropractor must decide which method to choose, taking into account the recommendations of the treating physician. There should be no pain during the session. If discomfort appears, this indicates a lack of qualification of the specialist, so you should immediately stop the session, otherwise the condition may worsen.
Hue! During such therapy, not only the damaged area is massaged, but also the surrounding tissues.
Folk methods of treatment of gonarthrosis
In folk medicine, various ointments and compresses are used. But you can also use some internal means. You can choose several effective recipes and apply them regularly. For the preparation of folk remedies, available products are used. But we must remember that these methods are additional, not basic. Therefore, medical treatment is also necessary.
Jerusalem artichoke
An affordable and effective product in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. One and a half kilograms of leaves of this plant should be brewed with boiling water (10 liters) and left for half an hour. When the infusion has cooled down a bit, you need to lower the leg with the sore joint there. You can do this procedure every day or every other day.
Sweetie
Honey compresses will help relieve pain and relieve swelling. To do this, lubricate the knee with honey and apply a tight bandage. It is necessary to use it for a day, then the honey must be washed off and smeared again with a 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, smearing them with honey. The massage should last a quarter of an hour.
burdock
Another affordable product that can be used for knee treatment. You can make a compress from burdock. It is necessary to slightly crush the leaf so that the juice comes out, and then sprinkle it with vodka. Wrap the diseased joint with film and isolate. It is necessary to keep such a compress all night. And the next day, grease a sheet of burdock with honey and make a compress, on the third day, grease the sheet with a mass of vodka and garlic. Compresses should be alternated and treated like this for a month.
combined ointment
For severe pain, you can use a special ointment. It is easy to prepare. It is necessary to take a tablespoon of hop cones, fresh flowers of sweet clover and flowers of St. John's wort. Mix with two tablespoons of Vaseline one tablespoon of the collection and grind well. Before going to bed, you need to rub the ointment into the sore joint.
Dandelion
Simple flowers, dandelions, can also be used. The flowers must be washed and dried. Then mash it so that the consistency is like that of sour cream. This mass must be applied to the joint and covered with polyethylene for a couple of hours. Also, when using this remedy, significant physical activity will be required, that is, you will need to walk at least three thousand steps a day.
Cherry
Cherry can be used indoors. These berries help with arthrosis, but are contraindicated for stomach and intestinal problems, since the fruits have a strong and sour taste. They can irritate the mucous membranes. For treatment, you need to eat a glass of cherries four times a day, each time washing it down with warm boiled milk. Treatment is long - two months.
Nettle
Nettle 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 medicinal alcohol. Everyone insists in a dark place for two weeks. After that, you need to drink a tablespoon half an hour before meals, diluted in half a glass of water. This should be done three times a day.
Important! Any herbs and other products can be used to make healing ointments or drinks only if they are not allergic.
recovery prognosis
Since rape is not treated, you have to live with it. But with a timely visit to the doctor and the correct diagnosis, it is possible to significantly improve the patient's condition and slow down the development of this disease. Of course, with age, the disease will progress, but if the doctor's recommendations are followed, arthrosis will develop more slowly.
It is very important to use not only drugs and ointments, but also additional treatment methods. Therefore, charging should be carried out regularly, even after the drugs are canceled. Massage can be done in courses. For example, once every two months. It is very useful to regularly practice swimming or cycling, it relieves the joint.