Gonarthrosis of the knee

Osteoarthritis - wherever it is located - is a degenerative-dystrophic change in the cartilage of the joint. The term "arthro" itself means that the pathology of the disease is not inflammatory. The diagnoses often say "gonarthrosis".

The prefix "gon-" indicates the location of the lesion - this term means knee translated from Greek. In some cases, the term "osteoarthritis" is used - a name better known to English and American doctors.

Gonarthrosis develops more often in women over 40 years of age. Factors that increase the likelihood of developing the disease are obesity and hormonal disappearance. The disease can develop as unilateral or bilateral.

The disease can develop up to the age of 40. In young people, deforming osteoarthritis of the knee is more often caused by injuries.

In gonarthrosis, the cartilage is first covered with microcracks, then becomes thinner and stratified. When the knee is bent, pain appears, which gradually increases. If you do not start treatment for gonarthrosis of the knee joint at the first signs, you may limp and then completely lose your ability to move.

Gonarthrosis of the knee - symptoms

The symptoms of the disease depend on the extent of the lesion. But there is also a common symptom - pain.

It is gradually growing.

Grade 1 is characterized by mild painful sensations that occur with increased load on the knee joint. A slight effusion may occur - an accumulation of fluid in the joint cavity. At rest, the pain subsides, there are no external changes in the knee, sometimes swelling forms, which also disappears on its own.

In grade 2 gonarthrosis, the pain occurs not only after exertion. At rest, discomfort may occur after changing the position of the lower limb. Now the knee joint needs a long rest. The knee periodically swells, and crunching may occur when bent. Folding and unfolding the legs becomes problematic. If synovitis or bursitis develops against the background of osteoarthritis - accumulation of synovial fluid in the joint cavity or bursa (bursa) - the knee swells and becomes hyperemic.

Radiography shows significant damage to cartilage tissue, narrowing of the joint space, initial deformation of the bones.

In grade 3 gonarthrosis, the severity of symptoms increases. The leg is already bent with difficulty, the maximum bending is 130-140⁰. . . The deformity of the joint is already pronounced externally. The pain does not subside during rest, it becomes almost constant. It is impossible to fall asleep without painkillers.

The X-ray shows a narrowed joint space, deformed joint bones, numerous osteophytes (spikes that appear due to salt deposits) in the joint cavity.

Lack of treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee significantly worsens the quality of life - the ability to stand up is lost.

Causes of gonarthrosis of the knee joint

The disease can be caused by the following reasons.

1. Injuries: sprains, fractures, muscle sprains and ruptures of ligaments in the articulation, meniscus injury.
2. Illiterate treatment of injuries - prolonged immobilization or lack of drugs to restore blood supply in the therapeutic regimen cause a violation of joint trophism.
3. Increased stress during sports or professional activities.
4. Obesity. The fastest development of osteoarthritis occurs when obesity is combined with varicose veins - a violation of soft tissue trophism + constantly increased load.
5. Disruption of the structure of the ligament apparatus, its injuries.
6. Inflammatory processes in the body of various etiologies that provoke the development of arthritis. Against the background of arthritis - an inflammatory process - in the future develops osteoarthritis.
7. Disruption of metabolic processes in the body, which does not allow the absorption of nutrients in the required volume.
8. Improper nutrition - including diets - insufficient nutrients from food.
9. Hormonal changes.
10. Emotional instability and stressors.
11. Bad habits - smoking, drug and alcohol use.
12. Hypothermia.
13. Intoxication of the body.

The last 2 points cause recurrences of osteoarthritis, as they worsen the general condition of the body.

Gonarthrosis of the knee - treatment

The diagnosis of the disease consists of several stages:

• history taking;
• visual inspection;
• laboratory tests - general and specific tests of blood and urine;
• hardware and diagnostic tests - X-ray (mandatory), CT, MRI.

An ultrasound scan may be needed to assess the condition of the vessels.

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint is usually treated at home - referral to a hospital is usually required for patients who are recommended surgery - excision of the damaged joint capsule and endoprosthesis. If the disease begins to be treated in stages 1-2, then it can be brought to a state of remission by conservative methods.

The following therapeutic measures and drugs are prescribed:

1. Immobilization of the affected limb during exacerbation.
2. Elimination of pain with drugs from different groups:
• NVPS;
• analgesics, including those containing narcotic ingredients - are applied once for unbearable pain;
• anesthetics in the form of injections.
• The most commonly prescribed nonsteroidal drugs. They are produced in various forms - such as cream, ointment, suppositories, injections, solutions; you can use them as you wish.
• Corticosteroids are used - they are also injected into the joint cavity.
• Muscle relaxants are used to eliminate soft tissue spasm and restore trophism.
• Prescribe drugs that restore peripheral blood supply.
• Vitamin therapy - B vitamins are given in the form of injections.
• Chondroprotectors are used to stop bone deformation and restore cartilage tissue. In the initial stage, they are injected into the joint cavity, after which they are taken in the form of tablets. The course of treatment is long - up to 6 months.
• Physiotherapy: paraffin, ozokerite, hydrocortisone electrophoresis, exposure to currents of different frequencies, magnetic therapy.
• Massage.
• Physiotherapy exercises - otherwise it is impossible to restore movement in the lower limb.

Modern treatment of osteoarthritis is complemented by the following methods

Ozone therapy (against the background of treatment with glucosteroids). Injections of ozone-enriched saline solution are injected into the affected joint, resulting in trophic recovery and pain relief.

Kinesitherapy. Special exercises help to restore the amplitude of the affected joint - the load is chosen individually for each patient.

Home treatment with folk remedies can not eliminate osteoarthritis of the knee joint, but helps to keep it in remission for a long time.

Folk remedies for external action are ointments and rubs, which are made at home from products and natural remedies that have a local irritant effect. The knee joint is rubbed with alcoholic tinctures, steamed with hot pepper, horseradish and onion peels. Compresses of white cabbage and honey cake are applied to the knee, the leg is raised in coniferous baths or infusion of oman.

In the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee it is necessary to adhere to a special diet - it is necessary:

• reduce the amount of salt in the daily menu;
• give up hot spices;
• reduce the amount of foods high in purines;
• increase in the amount of fermented milk and plant foods (except sorrel, legumes, spinach);
• to expand the drinking regime.

Only the complete treatment of gonarthrosis will help to eliminate the painful sensations in the joint and will lead the disease to long-term remission.