Knee joint

Arthritis of the knee, also known as gonarthrosis disease, can dramatically decrease a person's quality of life. During the development of the disease, there is a gradual loss of hyaline cartilage in the joint. Gradually, the cartilage loses its density and height. Its stretching and thinning is noted, and over time it disappears completely. Therefore, there is no soft protective cushion in the bone, and this leads to an increased load on the end plate of the inner joint surface of the bone. As a result of this load, a sense of pain develops. The code for the dry joint of the knee joint according to the ICD-10 is M17.

The knee joint is affected quite often, as the knee joint carries considerable load during walking, exertion and running. In this case, awkward movements can injure the soft tissues of the knee and cause joint problems. That is why gonarthrosis is one of the main causes of disability. According to statistics, this disease affects about 20% of people on the planet with many different degrees.

Why does arthritis develop, how do I stop it, who is there to treat a knee effusion, and what treatments can he recommend after diagnosis? guesswork will be discussed in this article.

The mechanism of the pathogenesis

The disease develops on the background of a mismatch between the load on the joint and its tolerance. In this case, the properties of cartilage can be genetically determined or altered by the influence of acquired factors - both exogenous and endogenous. The development and progression of gonarthrosis can occur with age, on the basis of obesity, due to femoral-tibial dysplasia or changes in the axis of the lower extremities, biomechanical disorders of the joint, damage to meniscus and ligaments.

The pathogenesis of catabolism is the predominance of catabolism rather than anabolism, which is found in the cartilage and sub-cartilage, ciliary cartilage and bursa. As a result, a structural change occurs and the biological properties of the cartilage are lost. Further, the pathological process spreads to muscles and ligaments.

The basis of articular cartilage is the connective tissue matrix and the cell chondrocytes. The connective tissue matrix contains type II collagen and aggrecan molecules. The buffering properties of cartilage are precisely provided by the connective tissue matrix.

The inflammatory process in arthritis is not as intense as it is in arthritis. However, in osteoarthritis, inflammatory mediators are also present.

Category

According to the origin of gonarthrosis the following types are distinguished:

• Primary (idiopathic)- grows without being affected by any external cause.
• Secondary- several factors that lead to the development of the disease. Most often they are associated with trauma, fracture, surgical intervention in the joint, as well as inflammatory factors - acute and chronic arthritis.

The following degrees of knee degeneration are also defined:

• Class 1 Arthritis- is defined between the onset of the first signs of the disease to the development of visible, seen on x-rays or on examination. During this period, pain occurs with different intensity during exercise.
• In Grade 2- discomfort is observed even under minimal exertion. When walking and squatting, the knee knuckles, reducing joint mobility. The picture shows the growth of bone tissue along the edges of the joint, as well as the narrowing of the joint space. On an external examination, an increase in knee size can be observed.
• In Grade 3practically there is no cartilage tissue inside the joint. If the disease progresses, bones may grow together, resulting in complete immobility of the leg. Sleep disturbed, unable to move without a cane or crutches.

The following diseases are also distinguished:

• Pateloid Osteoarthritis- a condition in which degenerative changes are noted at the back of the kneecap, i. e. the kneecap. With this form of the disease, pain is mainly disturbed when descending stairs or descending from a mountain. Osteoarthritis of the hand can develop in runners. The disease is usually diagnosed in young people.
• Post-traumatic knee fibrosis- consequences of trauma. The original post-traumatic type of illness may not appear. But then, a person completely lost the motor activity of the joint.

The causes of knee degeneration

Today, work is still underway to study the reasons that led to the development of such a pathology.

Currently, the cause of gonarthrosis is related to the effects of the following factors:

• Age - at a certain age, degenerative changes in tissue begin in a person, and the ability to regenerate cartilage tissue decreases.
• Arthritis - Over time, arthritis can lead to the development of joint disease.
• Past trauma and overload - in addition to injuries received, the development of the disease can cause you to frequently kneel, squat, lift weights.
• Obesity and overweight - due to excessive body weight, increased load on the joints of the legs. In addition, substances that damage joints enter the bloodstream from the pathological adipose tissue, and then into the joint.
• Heredity - in some cases the development of the disease is determined by a defective gene responsible for the development of cartilage tissue. Hence, this tissue may have a low resistance to damage. If close relatives already have arthritis, this increases the chance of it.
• Diseases leading to metabolic disorders - the risk of this disease increases with atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus.
• Hormonal disorders - more often women get it after 55 years of age.
• Sports - people who practice certain sports are more likely to get it. This is typical for runners, as well as people who play soccer, tennis, or basketball.

Symptoms of knee arthritis

As a rule, symptoms of dryness of the knee joint increase slowly, as its development persists for many years. If multiple joints are affected, symptoms of polyarthritis develop.

The manifestation of the disease depends on the severity, age and several other factors.

However, the main symptoms of gonarthrosis are as follows:

• Knee pain, exacerbated by activity. When you rest, the knee will be less painful.
• Swelling in the knee area.
• A feeling of warmth in the joints.
• An uncomfortable stiffness sensation, which occurs after a person has been in a stationary position for a long time.
• The range of motion of the knee joint is reduced, making it difficult for a person to get out of a chair, down stairs or out of a car.
• Cracking and crackling sounds in the knee, most commonly seen with sudden joint movement.
• It is believed that changes in weather affect pain and discomfort severity.

Analysis and Diagnosis

In order to determine whether such a disease is curable, the diagnosis must be initially confirmed. During the diagnosis, the doctor examines and interviews the patient. But the most informative study in this case is a knee X-ray.

In addition, to clarify the diagnosis, you should go for an ultrasound, which can rule out arthritis, and can measure the height of joint cartilage.

If necessary, please specify additional tests.

Treatment of arthritis of the knee

In order for the treatment of this disease to be as effective as possible, it is necessary to initially confirm the diagnosis and select the correct complex treatment program. Treatment of osteoarthritis at home is completely possible if the patient carefully follows all recommendations of a specialist, practicing both medications and complementary treatments. Only in this case will home therapy be effective.

Drug and other treatments are used depending on the severity of the lesion. The simplest is the treatment of a first degree knee effusion. In the case of a first-degree illness, a complex therapy regimen is used, allowing you to be effective in the shortest possible time. Therefore, if a person is diagnosed with grade 1 joint disease, it should be treated immediately.

About how to treat a 2nd degree knee effusion, the doctor will make a decision based on the patient's condition. Since at this stage there are changes in the cartilage tissue that require immediate treatment.

Whether a degree 3 osteoarthritis can be cured depends on many factors. At degree 3, the cartilage becomes thinner, so treatment at this stage is longest and least effective.

Medicines

Medical treatment for knee osteoarthritis is aimed at reducing pain and fighting inflammation. It is also important to reduce the severity of cartilage destruction.

The following drugs are used for this purpose:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - both pills and topical medications are used - ointments, gels. The most effective local application and system of those funds.
• Chondroprotectors for knee arthritis - chondroprotectors from the group of glucosaminoglycans (hyaluronic acid), chondroitin sulfate and other substances are used. Such knee osteoarthritis drugs are prescribed as part of a holistic approach to treatment. The prices of chondroprotectors depend on the drug and vary significantly.
• For severe illness, get medical treatment with steroids. Can be administered intramuscularly for the knee, as well as can use external agents with steroids.
• External agent is an irritant to the skin. In the description of folk remedies you can also find uncomfortable gauze pads.
• During treatment, your doctor may prescribe an injection into the knee. Different drugs may be used to inject into the knee joint to treat dry joints. In particular, corticosteroids are injected to reduce severe inflammation. Reviews of the injectable drug show that in this form the steroid is the fastest and most effective. Knee blockage can be performed not only with glucocorticosteroids, but also with anesthetics. Blockade reviews show that this method effectively relieves even severe pain. In addition, an injection in the knee may be made during treatment with the protective drug chondroprotectors. It improves metabolism, activates collagen production. But to get the effect, it is necessary to make at least five injections. In addition, hyaluronic acid is injected into the joint, helping to improve the quality of the endothelium and effectively protect the cartilage tissue. Vitamins can also be used in joints.
• Plasmolifting method - its essence is to put platelet-rich plasma into the affected knee.
• Secret medicine for arthritis of the knee - used to compress. It should be noted that medical bile can only be an effective remedy if its use is prescribed by a doctor under a certain program. Therefore, the "we treat at home" option without consulting a doctor is unacceptable in this case.

Procedures and Actions

In the case of arthritis and multiple fibrosis, non-pharmacological treatments are also used, which are equally effective.

Physiotherapy. Various techniques are used, including shock wave therapy, muscle stimulation, electrophoresis, ozone therapy, kinesitherapy and others. Physiotherapy can reduce pain and inflammation. Any physical therapy prescribed by a doctor should be carried out precisely within the complex consulted by the doctor.

Laser therapy- creates a decongestant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory effect.

ozone therapy- it relieves pain, exerts an anti-inflammatory effect, helps to reduce the amount of hormonal agents used.

Knee cushions for osteoarthritis- wearing these devices reduces the severity of pain. Plus, the knee brace protects it from instability. But to get the desired effect, you need to choose the right knee pad or brace. There are many general advice on how to choose knee pads for osteoarthritis of the knee. Additionally, various models of knee pads are provided - with movement limiter, amplifier and the like. However, people who want to buy knee pads for joint disease should not rely on user reviews, but on doctor's recommendations. The price of an orthopedic knee pad depends on different characteristics - material, quality. Knee pads are particularly relevant if the patient suffers from post-traumatic osteoarthritis. But patella arthritis, like other diseases, can be treated with this method.

Osteoarthritis therapy exerciseis ​​an effective way to help you improve your medical condition and prevent surgery, provided the patient performs regular and persistentknee joint therapy exercise. Physiotherapy exercises help strengthen the muscles of the legs and prevent the development of the pathological process. However, knee osteoarthritis exercises must be done in a certain sequence and those exercises are individually selected. So the best basis for classes is not a video about gymnastics, but a set of exercises developed by a doctor. In this case, not only battery charging is important, but a complete exercise therapy.

With a similar pathology it is possible to practice different types of therapeutic exercises.

Special gymnastics.Such exercises are recommended both during treatment and for those over 40 years of age for prevention. Knee exercises should be done every day. These exercises are also suitable for the elderly as they can be performed at a calm pace.

Massage and manual therapy- suitable for patients with limited mobility, possibly in combination with exercise therapy. In the absence of the opportunity to see a massage therapist, self-massage can be performed according to the scheme that the therapist will present.

Additional methods for improving patient's condition and positive recovery, yoga, acupuncture, joint stretching, and special exercises on a simulator (exercise bikeand others).

If conservative methods are ineffective, surgical treatment is performed.

The following techniques can be used:

• Puncture- removing excess fluid in the joint can reduce inflammatory symptoms and restore mobility.
• Arthroscopy- can be done by endoscopy. Using this technique, the joint surface is cleaned from damaged cartilage tissue fragments.
• Periarticular bone resection- during such an intervention, one of the bones that form the knee joint is amputated and fixed at a different angle. As a result, the pain level decreases and increases the mobility of the knee joint. The intervention is effective at the first and second degree of the disease.
• Medical- replace the knee joint with a special biocompatible structure. This is a very complex intervention, performed with a third degree of disease.

Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee with folk remedies

Many reviews of treating folk remedies for this disease confirm that they can be used as adjunct methods, alleviating the patient's condition. However, such methods should not replace the primary treatment method. Folk remedies used to massage, compress, bathe, eat and drink. Any topic forum has a lot of advice on this.

• Rubbing with garlic. A few cloves of garlic should be peeled and minced. Mix the resulting gel mixture with 200 ml of vegetable oil and leave in the dark for one week. Apply it on the knees overnight with a layer of film and a warm cloth on top.
• Crushed mustard. To prepare the remedy, take 50 g of camphor and mustard powder, 500 ml of vodka alcohol, the protein of an egg. All are mixed and stored in jars in a dark place for a week. Next, the product must be rubbed into the knee three times a day.
• Elecampane blender. Pour 50 g of elecampane root with 125 ml of vodka and leave for two weeks. Rub twice a day.
• compressed burdock. Burdock is a popular folk remedy for arthritis. Several sheets of burdock should be folded with scaly sides and applied with vegetable oil. Attach them to the knees and cover with cellophane and a warm cloth. In addition, burdock leaves can be lubricated with vodka. The compress is applied at night. Similarly, treatment with horseradish leaves was performed.
• Cabbage leaves. It also applies to the sore spot at night. It is pre-lubricated with honey, perfume or vodka.
• compressed honey. It is necessary to mix equal parts honey, ammonia (10%), glycerin and medical honey, add a few drops of iodine. Keep pre-mixed product in a dark place for 10 days. Warm up before applying.
• Water of purple color. It is done internally. To prepare the broth, you need to take two large onions, chop them, and pour in 1 liter of water. Cook until onions are soft. Take the 100 ml decoction three times a day.
• Celery juice. Grind celery stalks in a blender, squeeze the juice. Drink 100 ml of juice three times a day.
• Gelatin. For arthritis, you should consume foods containing gelatin. Jelly, jelly and other items with gelatin are encouraged to include in the menu.
• A pine needles bath. Pour boiling water into 1 kg of pine needles and leave for several hours. Add to the tub of warm water, in which you can also dissolve 0. 5 kg of salt. Bath for 20-30 minutes.

Precautions

To prevent the development of knee arthritis, the following precautions must be observed:

• Eat right and include a variety of foods containing vitamins and minerals in your diet.
• Avoid overloading the knee joint, protecting the joint from injury.
• Get rid of bad habits.
• Weight tracking, anti-obesity.
• Timely treatment of all diseases, preventive examination.
• Participate in sports with a hobby of light physical activity.
• Wear high quality footwear as comfortably as possible.
• Ensure correct posture.

Osteoarthritis Treatment Diet

• Efficacy: healing effect
• Terms: perpetual

During treatment and rehabilitation, diet is quite important. First of all, food should be healthy and gentle - it is important to prevent excessive weight gain, which can worsen the condition and trigger acute arthritis. But the acute phase of the disease requires not only treatment, but also weight loss.

It is also important to include in food a diet that contains ingredients that are important for cartilage tissue:

• Poultry, rabbit.
• Sea fish.
• Soy products.
• Eggs.
• Green vegetables, zucchini, carrots, pumpkin.
• Nuts.
• Fruits, berries.
• Vegetable oil.
• Dishes with gelatin.

At the same time, you need to limit your consumption of such products:

• Beans, sorrel, spinach, tomatoes.
• Flour dishes.
• Animal fat.
• Spices, vinegar.
• Alcohol.
• Red meat

You need to eat often, in small portions. You should also drink about 2 liters of fluids per day.

Consequences and complications

If treatment is not done in time, joint disease can lead to the following complications:

• Inflammatory process of the peristaltic tissues.
• Limit joint mobility.
• Changes the shape of the joints.
• Osteoarthritis of the hip.

Such complications can lead to the development of the disability and irreversible changes.

Forecast

It is important to treat the disease promptly. The most favorable prognosis would be if you started treatment at 1 or 2 stages of the disease.