Osteoarthritis, gonarthrosis, osteoarthritis are synonymous terms that define the same disease: deforming changes in the cartilaginous tissue of the knee joints.
The human knee ligament is formed by three bones: the femur, tibia and pelvis. At the point of contact with each other, these bones are covered with cartilaginous tissue, which ensures smooth sliding of the surfaces between them.
Over time, these cartilages become thinner, losing flexibility and elasticity. Cartilage is nourished by synovial fluid; the absorption properties of the joints depend on the quantity and quality of this fluid.
The first symptoms and signs
- Most often they appear in people aged 45-50 years. This disease is typical for both men and women, but "poor sex" suffers from this disease much more often.
- At the onset of the disease, the patient experiences tolerable pain in the area of the knee joints, and over time, severe pain appears.
- The intensity of pain varies: with movement, physical activity, it becomes stronger, at rest - the pain subsides.
If you do not pay attention to these symptoms of an approaching disease, the disease begins to progress and, in severe cases, leads to disability.
When contacting a doctor, the diagnosis of osteoarthritis is clarified using X-rays. Photographs show narrowing of the joint space from inside or outside the joint. But over time, the pathological process catches the whole node. And along the edges of the articular surface, osteophytes - bone growths - are visible.
The main signs of osteoarthritis of the knee joints:
- During the day, the pain intensifies; during the night rest, the pain subsides. But if venous insufficiency is present, then dull pain persists overnight.
- Muscle tension in the joint area
- When you walk, a crackle is heard at the knee joint
- In severe cases of the disease, deformation and swelling of the affected joint is observed, an increase in its volume
- On palpation, the joint is painful
- When you try to move the knee block, the pain increases
- In the late stage of the disease, muscle shortening occurs and the patient cannot put the leg in the proper position
- If left untreated, joint mobility is reduced or completely lost
What is patellofemoral osteoarthritis of the knee?
Too often you can hear the diagnosis of "patellofemoral osteoarthritis" from the doctor - what is it? Indeed, in the international classification of diseases, such arthrosis is absent. Few people know that osteoarthritis of the knee begins with the development of patellofemoral syndrome.
This syndrome occurs when a part of the body is subjected to regular overuse or repetitive injuries. That is, patellofemoral osteoarthritis is the same as patellofemoral syndrome.
The main causes of the disease are:
- congenital and acquired deformities of the lower extremities;
- various abnormalities in patella development;
- regular overload of the knee joints (for example, in athletes).
Patellofemoral arthrosis of the knee joint has the following clinical manifestations: pain in the area of the front of the knee joint, which increases significantly with physical exertion (running, jumping, climbing and descending stairs, various gatherings). The pain may increase even when the patient sits with his legs bent below him. The patient may experience a feeling of tension and stiffness in the knee, both from the inside and from the front.
Patellofemoral syndrome is diagnosed clinically, as a rule, additional studies are not required.
This disease, as a rule, does not require special treatment. However, to reduce pain and develop undesirable consequences (patella instability, knee joint deformity, accumulation of inflammatory exudate), the following procedures are necessary:
- decrease in physical activity. This does not mean that the patient will have to lead a passive lifestyle, simply that the level of activity should not be painful;
- using a special bandage to be worn on the knee joint area during exercise or stress, supporting and adjusting the patella;
- with a pronounced pain syndrome, glucocorticosteroids and anesthetics are injected into painful areas of the wrist with precise injection, which will relieve pain and help avoid the use of anti-inflammatory drugs in the future.
If patellofemoral osteoarthritis has already led to complications or is accompanied by other degenerative-dystrophic pathologies in the knee joint, then therapy is carried out according to the treatment regimen for knee joint osteoarthritis.
reason
- An occupational disease of athletes experiencing increased stress on the knee joints. Athletes receive injuries and microtraumas of the joints, bruising and rupture of ligaments. After withdrawal from sports, the muscle frame weakens, which leads to the progression of the disease.
- Increased longevity and increased physical activity in middle-aged people
- Increased physical activity at the knee joint in people who spend their work day "on foot"
- Genetic predisposition
- Congenital diseases of the joints and bones
- Lack of collagen
- Knee injury
- Excess weight that puts more stress on the knee joints
- Acquired joint diseases
- Knee surgery
To achieve positive treatment results, it is necessary to perform a clinical and radiological examination, which reveals several stages of the disease:
- Osteoarthritis of the knee joints 1 degree. . . There is a slight narrowing of the joint gap, the edges of the surface are slightly sharpened, a slight restriction in movement. During the arthroscopic examination, the doctor investigates the softening of the cartilage.
- Arthrosis of the 2nd degree knee jointcharacterized by a significant restriction in the movement of the knee joints, a strong crisis. The images clearly show osteophytes and narrowing of the joint space by 2-3 times. Small cracks are observed on the surface of the joint.
- Knee osteoarthritis class 3- this is already a complete restriction in movement, when a deformity of the joint has occurred, deformation and compression, osteophytes and cysts are observed on the surface of the joint. There have been changes in cartilage tissue throughout its thickness.
- Knee osteoarthritis class 4- arthroscopy shows complete absence of cartilage tissue.
Medication treatment
In the complex treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joints, drug therapy occupies an important place. Combining it with physiotherapeutic procedures, therapeutic exercises and manual therapy, you can achieve very good results, up to the restoration of limb function.
When diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the knee joints, medication treatment helps eliminate pain, normalizes blood circulation to the problem area, improves metabolism and cartilage nutrition, activates recovery processes, and increases joint movement.
Since it is impossible to apply other therapeutic methods against the background of sharp pain sensations, then, first of all, the patient is prescribed pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs. However, it is not recommended to use such funds for a long time, because, in addition to side effects (most often this is a negative effect on the digestive system), they can contribute to dehydration and further destruction of cartilage tissue.
Chondroprotectors are used to restore cartilage nutrition, regenerate cartilage plaque, and improve synovial fluid quality.. . . Drugs of this group are injected directly into the injured joint and are safer for the patient. Immediately falling into the affected area, chondroprotectors save the joint from destruction and help restore its functions. One of the disadvantages of this method is the long wait for the result - the patient may notice an improvement only after a few months. In addition, it is not advisable to take chondroprotectors if the disease is in the third stage and the joint is almost completely destroyed.
Various ointments and creams are used to reduce pain, relieve swelling and somewhat improve joint movement.Various heating agents are good for relaxing ligaments and muscles, improving blood circulation and speeding up metabolism in the joint. But they can not be used in the presence of inflammation, in which case non-steroidal anti-inflammatory gels and oils are indicated.
Compresses should not be neglected - they have penetrating abilities, improve blood circulation, have anesthetic and anti-inflammatory effects and speed up metabolic processes in cartilage.
Therefore, you should not delay a visit to the doctor for people who have suspicions of the presence of a disease or osteoarthritis of the knee joints has been found - medication treatment, started in a timely manner and chosen correctly, can save the jointand help avoid surgical intervention.
Medication for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee
Treatment of knee osteoarthritis is never complete without the use of medication.
Drug therapy mainly aims to eliminate inflammation and pain, improve local blood circulation and nourish the articular cartilage, activate metabolic processes, and restore joint movement.
What medications are prescribed for osteoarthritis of the knee joints?
- For successful treatment of the disease, you must first relieve the pain and eliminate the inflammatory process. For this, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used. However, you should not take these funds with you - with prolonged use, they tend to mask the true clinical picture of the disease.
- Chondroprotectors are used to restore the cartilaginous surface of the joint, to restore its structure, to nourish the cartilage and to improve the production of fluid within the joint. The action of these drugs is very slow, therefore, before the patient notices a real improvement, you will need to undergo 2-3 courses of treatment with chondroprotectors, which will last about a year.
- Gels and oils can be used to improve the patient's general condition and relieve pain, in combination with other medicines. If the course of osteoarthritis is associated with synovitis, then preference is given to oils based on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory substances.
- Intra-articular injections are used to provide urgent care for osteoarthritis. Most often injected corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid.
- For local treatment, bandages with drugs - dimethyl sulfide, bischofite and medical bile are prescribed. Dimethyl sulfoxide has the ability to penetrate the skin barriers, ie its action is directed directly to the site of inflammation. This substance has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, absorbent properties and improves metabolism in the area of its application. Bischofite - an oil derivative - also has an anti-inflammatory effect on the affected joint, gives a warming effect. Even medicinal has the same properties as dimethyl sulfide with bischofite, but its use is limited by some contraindications. Even medicine should not be taken by patients with pustular skin diseases, fever and inflammation of the lymph nodes.
Before starting any treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee joints, it is necessary to consult a doctor, discuss the dose, features of administration and duration of the course of treatment.
Injections into the knee joint for osteoarthritis
Injections within the article are one of the most effective methods of treating osteoarthritis of the knee joints. This rather expensive procedure significantly reduces pain and inflammation, and new modern drugs not only improve the overall condition of the patient, but also treat the affected cartilage tissue.
Injections into the knee joint for osteoarthritis is a rather difficult procedure, therefore, you should consult a doctor, even if the patient knows which medications should be injected and in what quantity.
For injections within the article, the following medications are most often prescribed:
- Corticosteroid hormones. These are the most common remedies, as the effect after their introduction is achieved in a few minutes. However, by relieving inflammation and pain, corticosteroids negatively affect the joint itself - cartilage tissue remains degenerative, in addition, drugs in this group cause narrowing of blood vessels, which destroys joint tissue. Therefore, the use of corticosteroid hormones is justified only in case of unbearable pain in the last stages of osteoarthritis. The injection can be repeated no more than once every two weeks.
- Chondroprotectors and enzymes. Unlike hormones, they do not reduce inflammation, so administration is meaningless in the presence of joint swelling. But they have a regenerative effect, partially restore cartilage tissue. The use of such drugs is particularly effective in the early stages of osteoarthritis. The course of treatment is 5-10 injections.
- Hyaluronic acid. A very effective medicine, but at the same time expensive. Its effectiveness lies in the fact that the acid itself is similar in composition to the natural lubrication of the joint. After the introduction of hyaluronic acid medication into the knee, friction of the affected joint surfaces is reduced, and knee mobility is improved. Such injections are very effective in the initial stage of osteoarthritis, a slightly smaller effect is observed in the second stage and with osteoarthritis of the third knee joint, such drugs only briefly alleviate the patient's condition. The course of treatment usually includes three to four injections once a year.
Injections into the knee joint for osteoarthritis are strictly contraindicated in the following cases:
- infection of the skin or subcutaneous tissue at the target injection site;
- sepsis;
- infectious arthritis;
- hemophilia;
- the presence of a viral infection;
- lack of result from previous injections;
- individual intolerance to the drug.
It is also unacceptable to make injections into the article for prophylactic purposes.
Orthopedic knee pads for knee osteoarthritis
In the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee, knee pads are used to prevent various injuries, as well as to support the damaged tissues and to relieve stress from the joint.
An orthopedic knee pad is essentially the same as an elastic bandage. However, compared to the latter, the knee brace has its advantages: it does not need to be bandaged several times a day, it will not slip or hang, a properly fitted knee pad will not tighten the leg and provoke swelling andother unpleasant consequences of prolonged squeezing.
Orthopedic knee pads for osteoarthritis of the knee joints perform the following functions:
- reduce inflammation and pain;
- facilitate bloating;
- relief of stiffness and tension;
- normalize blood circulation;
- facilitate free movement of the wrist.
When choosing an orthopedic knee pad, you should pay attention to the following features:
- Knee block type - is chosen depending on the severity of the pain. There are these types of knee pads:
- closed - used when it is impossible to determine the location of pain;
- open with adjustable tension - used during rehabilitation and for minor pain;
- open with spiral stiffening ribs - for pain during ascent and descent of stairs, etc. ;
- articulated - for different types of pain;
- to support the tendons - used if the pain is localized under the patella.
- The material from which the knee pad is made is of great importance, as it depends not only on the degree of fixation, but also on the intensity of the heating effect. Modern knee pads are made of cotton, lycra, nylon, neoprene, spandex, camel and dog hair.
- Knee block size, which is calculated individually for each patient.
The doctor will help determine the parameters of the next purchase - he will not only choose the size and type of knee block that is optimal for the patient, but will also advise which material will be most effective.
Orthopedic knee pads for osteoarthritis can be purchased at a pharmacy or a specialized medical device store, its price is quite acceptable. You should beware of such purchases at non-specialist outlets or from dubious firms, as you can easily buy a counterfeit, which, if it does not hurt, will certainly not help.
Proper nutrition
Nutritionists have been studying the nutritional characteristics of different peoples for many years. By comparing national cuisines, scientists are trying to understand the impact of people’s culinary preferences on the occurrence of certain diseases. This type of research has been conducted many times in connection with such a common disease as osteoarthritis of the knee joints.
Many theories have been put forward, many different assumptions have been made. For example, at one time it was thought that the use of tomatoes contributes to the development of the disease, then it was suggested that table salt was "to blame" for the occurrence of osteoarthritis.
In the twentieth century, the situation with the development of the disease has deteriorated significantly.
Proper nutrition is the key to joint health.
To prevent the development of the disease, it is necessary to understand that food plays a key role in osteoarthritis of the knee joints. From the diet, consumption of meat products belonging to the fast food segment should be minimized. These products are:
- semi-finished products made from meat production waste: sausage, sausage, all kinds of sausages, etc.
- smoked meats sold in stores (most often this type of product is prepared using chemicals, and not in smokers).
- ready-to-eat meat - bacon, bacon (manufacturers in this case do not hesitate to use flavor enhancers and colors).
- Fast food.
Of course, not every person is able to give up the above food products. Many over the years have developed the habit of indulging in smoked sausage sandwiches or boiled sausage in the morning. In this case, we advise you to buy a piece of meat at the market, bake it in the spicy oven, cut it and then use it as a base for sandwiches. This type of "fast food" will not harm the body.
So we found that it's better to refuse semi-finished products, smoked meats and fast food. But what about meat if it is a syringe?
The ideal option, of course, is to buy meat from trusted suppliers, but in urban conditions this advice is unfeasible.
In this regard, it is necessary to use such cooking methods in order to destroy as many harmful chemical compounds. Sometimes the use of this factor alone made it possible to achieve an excellent effect in the fight against osteoarthritis.
How to properly cook food for osteoarthritis of the knee joint
It should be remembered that food for osteoarthritis of the knee joints should not be saturated with fats.
Therefore, when preparing food, it is necessary to cut the visible fat from the meat and remove the skin from the chickens. Bone in fat that concentrates the largest amount of harmful substances.
Boiling, stewing, noodle baking and steaming are the healthiest ways to prepare food.
With osteoarthritis of the knee joints, palatable and palatable meat should not be eaten. There is an opinion from the series "grandma in the yard said" that these dishes are good for joints, but this is not so. A person with osteoarthritis will only get worse from high cholesterol levels.
Soups and meat soups should be consumed as little as possible. Even if you drain the first liquid, there will still be a lot of unhealthy fats in the second. Better get used to vegetable soups, which are so popular in western countries. Mushroom soups are also helpful.
An attempt to replace beef broth with dried broth and cubes will not lead to anything good: these products contain an incredible amount of chemical ingredients.
Sadly, the fish sold in our markets is diligently injected with dyes and preservatives and is therefore harmful to osteoarthritis of the knee joints. Therefore, you should buy live fish whenever possible. It is clear that not everyone has enough money for this. The above methods will help in the proper cooking of frozen fish.
Prevention of osteoarthritis of the knee
It is impossible to allow the condition of life to deteriorate due to disease, therefore, the causes leading to osteoarthritis should be ruled out. Much easier to prevent disease than to deal with expensive and long-term treatment.
- You need to lose weight.
- The joints need constant physical activity: jumping rope, squats, small runs. But everything should be in moderation. Excessive exercise also leads to disease. Alternate loads on joints with adequate rest.
- Due to knee injuries, osteoarthritis develops. When skiing, skating, cycling or rollerblading, padded knee pads should be worn. On sale there is a sufficient selection of both fixing the knee layers, as well as heating from sheep wool.
- Do not ignore the help of another person if the weight is beyond your power.
- Eat more vegetables and fruits. It has been observed that vegetarians practically do not suffer from osteoarthritis. Replace mayonnaise with olive oil or mustard. Particularly useful are plums, dried apricots, apricots, apples, raspberries, blueberries with honey.
- Tea and strong coffee wash away calcium in large quantities.
- Cheese and home-made cheese will help strengthen bones.
- Walking with a cane will save you from overloading your knee joints.
- Shoes should be comfortable, with small heels.
- Swimming and aerobics in the water will relieve stress from the whole body and fatigue from the knee joints.
- Of the vitamins, vitamin E is particularly beneficial, which prevents the destruction of cartilage tissue.
- Vitamin C is involved in the synthesis of cartilage tissue.
- The disease progresses more rapidly from vitamin D deficiency.
- Calcium helps keep your bones strong. High calcium content in sesame and celery seeds.
By following these simple rules of a healthy lifestyle, you can avoid a serious illness. And in case of a manifestation of the disease, they will slow down the development of pathological processes.