If a creak is heard in the knee joint during movement, this is the first sign of knee joint arthrosis. Conservative methods of traditional and alternative medicine will help prevent the destruction of cartilage and maintain normal motor function. Treatment should begin immediately - only in this case rheumatologists give a favorable prognosis.
What is gonarthrosis?
A non-inflammatory, degenerative-dystrophic disease affecting the largest joint, the knee, is called gonarthrosis. A rather unusual medical definition, it has a simpler "popular" concept: "salt deposition". Although the clinical picture of gonarthrosis of the joints has little to do with an excess of calcified salts in the knee joint. They have no effect on pathology and are a side effect of impaired metabolism.
The development of gonarthrosis of the knee joint is facilitated by negative processes in the hyaline cartilage, mainly poor blood circulation in small bone vessels. The lack of nutrients and oxygen carried by the lymphatic flow leads to the destruction of the outer cartilage layer of the knee.
In the early stages, the disease is extremely difficult to recognize. Joint deformity occurs slowly, until the vitreous hyaline cartilage is drawn into the process. The anatomical structure of the ligament is changed. Turbidity occurs, the tissue thickens, becomes thin, cracks in all directions. The result of the pathology can be the complete disappearance of the cartilage, which leads to neoplasms on the bone tissue and irreversible curvature of the knee.
Disease classification
The international classification of diseases divides gonarthrosis into seven clarifying subheadings:
- Primary bilateral gonarthrosis. Diagnosis is most often made in women between the ages of 70 and 74 and in men between the ages of 60 and 64. This places the disease in the "elderly" category.
- Another primary gonarthrosis. Pathology of a knee joint, due to natural wear or against the background of other diseases.
- Bilateral post-traumatic gonarthrosis. People of different age categories with severe leg injuries are affected.
- Other post-traumatic gonarthrosis. One-sided, against the background of injuries and bruises of the limb.
- Other secondary gonarthroses are bilateral. They are the result of chronic bruises, fractures or dislocations that have not completely healed. It is often diagnosed in athletes who have heavy loads on both legs: football players, athletes, figure skaters.
- Other secondary gonarthrosis. Unilateral development of the pathology associated with the profession. For example, miners, metallurgists, fishermen.
- Gonarthrosis, unspecified. It is diagnosed with an unexplained etiology of the disease, after excluding age, professional and genetic predisposition.
According to medical statistics, more than 10 million people of different age groups suffer from gonarthrosis of one kind or another. Approximately 3, 000 people die each year with an established diagnosis.
Causes
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint develops due to impaired metabolism of the knee joint, which leads to a loss of softness and elasticity of the cartilage.
Destructive processes are caused by various reasons:
- Diseases of the thyroid gland, which violate the hormonal background;
- Decreased patency of blood vessels in the knee joint;
- genetic conditioning;
- natural aging;
- Knee injuries, past or present, of various origins;
- Obesity (more than 20% of the norm), which puts a lot of pressure on the knee joint;
- Inflammatory joint diseases (polyarthritis, purulent arthrosis);
- Autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis);
- Specific infectious pathologies (syphilis, tuberculosis, encephalitis);
- Living in environmentally unfavorable areas, poor quality of food and water.
In addition, rheumatologists identify several additional reasons that lead to the development of gonarthrosis. Dysplasia in newborns. With this diagnosis, the joint wears out faster. Changes in the structure of collagen lead to violations of the protein located in the connective tissue.
Symptoms depending on the degree of gonarthrosis
It is difficult to diagnose the early stage of knee osteoarthritis. Only a description of the symptoms by the patients themselves and the external examinations of rheumatologists allow to draw up a different clinical picture for each degree of progression of gonarthrosis:
- I degree gonarthrosis.Pulling knee pain, feeling of some stiffness, partial loss of sensation, difficulty in bending the leg, especially after prolonged immobility, inability to walk or run for a long time, the appearance of a slight swelling. As a rule, the symptoms disappear after rest or simple anesthetics.
- Grade II gonarthrosis.At this stage, it is already possible to determine the pathology on an X-ray examination. The pain becomes stronger and occurs after each physical activity. Discomfort can still be relieved by rest. In the morning it becomes more difficult to straighten the legs, it takes time to restore motor function. The discomfort is complemented by frequent calf cramps, especially at night. A creak is heard during the movement. Swelling of the knee joint is pronounced. There are visible signs of limb deformity.
- III degree of gonarthrosis.There are irreversible changes in the knee joint. Cartilage abnormalities can be determined unambiguously on an x-ray. Knee pain becomes constant, sharp. The leg stops bending at the knee. The patient cannot walk without a cane or crutches. The swelling is significant. The anatomical shape of the knee is smooth and takes on a solid appearance. There is a primary curvature of the spine.
Diagnosis
To make a correct diagnosis, a combination of clinical manifestations of osteoarthritis of the knee joint and patient complaints is used. To clarify or exclude the causes of the disease, studies are conducted in various ways.
The standard diagnostics are as follows:
- Take a medical history of the disease. History of concomitant diseases, genetic predisposition, previous trauma and surgery, professional activities, etc.
- External evaluation of the deformation of the musculoskeletal system. Gait, posture, condition of the knee joint, curvature of the legs.
- General inspection. Palpation of the lower leg, thigh, damaged joint, determination of the localization of the disease.
- Lab test. A general blood test provides data on the absence of an inflammatory process. If the process is present on the background of other diseases, an increase in the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation will be found in the blood. The level of protein, globulin and fibrinogen will differ from the regulatory indicators. The biochemical composition will remain within standard limits. If the progress of the pathology is in the final stages, a biopsy of the synovial fluid of the knee joint is performed.
- Instrumental research. Radiography is the primary and most common method of diagnosing suspected gonarthrosis. As a rule, a rheumatologist can easily determine changes in the structure of bone tissue from an image already at the very beginning of stage 2 of the disease. The presence of collateral diseases and the causes of their occurrence is diagnosed with the help of more modern and accurate equipment: magnetic resonance imaging, CT, ultrasound, osteostyncigraphy, thermography.
Treatment of gonarthrosis
Like all diseases of the joints, gonarthrosis requires systemic treatment, which is desirable to begin when the first symptoms appear. In this case, the prognosis of the therapy becomes favorable and guarantees the return to a normal lifestyle in a fairly short time.
Comprehensive treatment is aimed at removing the main signs of the disease:
- Discomfort, pain syndrome and muscle tone;
- Improve the motor function of the knee joint;
- Stop the cartilage destruction process;
- Strengthen the connective muscles;
- Restoration of normal blood circulation in the knee joint.
Medicines
Anti-inflammatory drugs
They help to cope with pain, relieve swelling caused by inflammation of the muscle tissue.
Chondroprotectors
Regeneration and restoration of cartilage tissue is impossible without chondroprotectors. They are the main component of conservative treatment.
Vasodilators
They are used to improve the patency of intra-articular blood vessels.
Hormonal drugs
Reduce the production of the hormone cortisone, to prevent the development of inflammatory processes.
Injections of hyaluronic acid
Used to restore intra-articular synovial fluid. Due to this, the friction between the joint parts is reduced, the motor function is normalized and the elasticity of the cartilage tissue is restored.
Anti-enzymatic agents
They inhibit the activity of trypsin, thus preventing further destruction of the joint. Overall nominated.
Physiotherapy
Physiological treatments have been used successfully for decades to treat osteoarthritis of the knee. It can be a separate type of therapy, either for prevention or during the rehabilitation period. Thus it is an integrated approach to the disease.
Most often, the following types of procedures are prescribed by a rheumatologist:
- Electrophoresis with painkillers;
- ultrasound treatment;
- Magnetotherapy;
- laser exposure;
- Paraffin applications;
- Mud treatment;
- Therapeutic exercise (physical therapy);
- Manual therapy, massage with medicinal ointments.
Surgery and prosthetics
If gonarthrosis is at an advanced stage, the tissues of the knee joint and cartilage are destroyed, it is impossible to do without surgery. Otherwise, the person will remain invalid for life.
Modern medicine offers several ways to solve the problem:
- Arthrodesis. Complete removal of affected tissues and the knee joint. The body is freed from the disease center, but the motor function of the limb is completely lost. It is used very rarely, if the patient has additional joint diseases.
- Arthroscopy. The destroyed hyaline cartilage is removed. The operation is not very traumatic, has a short rehabilitation period. It is indicated for patients whose progress has not affected the knee joint itself.
- Periarticular osteomy. A complex operation, the essence of which is to file deformed bones and growths, with subsequent connection to the necessary anatomical structure.
- Endoprosthesis. The completely destroyed knee joint is removed and a titanium prosthesis is placed in its place. An effective method that allows you to forget about gonarthrosis forever. It requires careful preparation and a long rehabilitation.
Traditional medicine
The use of folk recipes in combination with conservative treatment can relieve external symptoms (pain, swelling). Recipes based on bay leaf, burdock root, St. John's wort, malt and hay have proven themselves well. From them are made ointments, creams, tinctures and decoctions.
These plants have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Requires regular and long-term use to achieve visible results.
Honey-based ointments and compresses, with the addition of alcohol or apple cider vinegar, relieve swelling well and have a calming effect on the affected tissues.
A nutritional blend consists of lemon and garlic, which is taken orally, one teaspoon each, after breakfast and dinner. Such a recipe has a general strengthening effect on the body, increases the patency of blood vessels and nourishes the joints with useful trace elements.
It should be remembered that home treatments do not remove the main problem - the pathological destruction of the knee joint.
Diet
Compliance with the diet is an integral part of a complex treatment. Changing your diet will not only help control weight but will also provide your bones and joints with essential vitamins.
For a patient diagnosed with gonarthrosis, it is contraindicated:
- Fried, spicy, salty, pickled food;
- fatty broths;
- Sweets;
- Fruit, high in acid enzymes;
- Alcoholic beverages.
The menu should be replenished with raw vegetables, fruits and herbs, low-fat sour-milk products, bone broths and dishes that contain gelatin (jelly, gelatin).
Additional methods
For the treatment of gonarthrosis, it is necessary to undergo regular spa treatments, at least once a year, if possible more often. Procedures of hydrotherapy, mud therapy and manual therapy are able to preserve the disease for a long time and prevent the destruction of the joint.
It will take the rest of your life to keep a sore knee in a stable condition. But it can become quite useful for the body as a whole. Reviewing nutrition, eliminating bad habits, playing sports, visiting resorts - the quality of life can significantly improve.
It should be remembered that self-medication, ignoring the primary symptoms and unbearable stress on the aching knee joint can very quickly turn a healthy person into a helpless disabled person.