Knee joint gonarthrosis is a non-inflammatory disease of the knee in which blood circulation is disturbed in the cartilage tissue. 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 over 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 stops and the cartilage becomes thin. The state of collagen fibers that make up cartilage is disturbed, cartilage tissue is no longer as elastic.
As bones rub against each other when walking (cartilage does not soften friction), bony bumps or spines appear. As a result of such changes, the growth of osteophytes occurs. These are growths from a dense structure of bone tissue. In addition, the synovium becomes irritated and inflamed. All this leads to limited limb mobility.
Most of the time, osteoarthritis of the inner part of the knee occurs. In addition, mature and elderly people are susceptible to the disease, but the disease can also occur in young people, in particular, athletes.
Poor blood supply leads to cartilage abrasion, exposing bone within the joint. And the entire joint is deformed, that is, 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 in the context of complete well-being. It usually occurs in older people, especially in women. Secondary develops after knee grass or infectious disease. Post-traumatic gonarthrosis can be avoided if the inflammation or damage to the knee is removed in time.
Different types of osteoarthritis of the knee joint are also divided according to location:
- Right-sided gonarthrosis - this type only affects the right joint, people who play sports suffer from this arthrosis 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 two joints are involved. In addition, any type of this disease, if the form is running, 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? Here are the main reasons for the development of this disorder:
- metabolic disorder;
- hormonal imbalance;
- endocrine disorders;
- increased capillary fragility;
- overload and injury;
- heredity and congenital anomalies;
- inflammatory diseases.
Excess weight is considered the main risk factor.
Knee joint gonarthrosis grades
There are different degrees of gonarthrosis. There are three of them, of course, the first degree is the initial and weakly manifests, and the last degree is a severe deformity of the joints. In the first degree of the disease, it may not be noticed, but then the treatment will be difficult, so you should carefully monitor the symptoms:
- The first degree of the disease is characterized by mild discomfort, fatigue. Sometimes there can be a restriction of movement, but very slight. At this stage, the joint is not yet deformed, but a small narrowing of the joint space can be seen on the radiograph.
- 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. In this degree, atrophy of the thigh muscle can occur and the total flexion angle 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. Because osteophytes can rupture, it may appear that the joint is blocked. This is sharp pain and the inability to move independently. As for the X-ray images, deformations, changes in the joint and the bones of the leg are visible.
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 heal it.
gonarthrosis symptoms
How can knee gonarthrosis 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 a long activity, not only fatigue occurs, but also pain.
Symptoms of the disease gradually increase, starting with mild discomfort and weakness in the legs. Here are the main symptoms of knee osteoarthritis:
- tightness is felt under the knee;
- excessive fatigue after walking;
- aching, sharp pains after activity;
- discomfort after sleep;
- crunch and click when bending the knee;
- limb edema;
- impaired mobility of the joint;
- lameness.
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 2nd degree knee joint gonarthrosis 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.
Fact that! 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 initially felt as simple fatigue, and only with time pain can occur.
treatment methods
Gonarthrosis is an incurable disease, whether unilateral or bilateral. It is impossible to return the joint to a completely healthy state. However, treatment should be carried out as it will help to remove the severe pain and slow down the destruction of the joint. Also, it is important to follow a diet. Folk methods are also useful. There are several types of treatment for this disease.
Here are the main methods used in treating osteoarthritis of the knee:
- Drug use - pills, injections and ointments.
- Physiotherapy - various physiotherapy procedures.
- Therapeutic physical training and massage are mandatory methods for treatment and rehabilitation.
Therapeutic and preventive gymnastics is a mandatory component of therapy. Without regular exercise, it is impossible to restore composition and remove pain, especially for a form such as bilateral osteoarthritis (can lead to disability). Adequate physical activity will help to deal with the disease more quickly. But you can carry out exercises only under the guidance of an experienced trainer, so as not to worsen the condition.
medical therapy
What drugs are used as the main treatment? Drug therapy involves the use of the following types of drugs:
- Analgesics and anti-inflammatories - remove pain, swelling and relieve redness.
- Chondroprotectors are agents that help restore cartilage tissue.
- Medicines to be injected into the joint that relieve inflammation.
- Means with hyaluronic acid, they are also injected into the joint when the inflammation subsides.
The specialist usually prescribes external agents that help to remove unpleasant symptoms. Most often they are gels and ointments with a warming effect. They improve blood circulation. You can lubricate the affected joint a few times a day, as instructed. You can apply gels and ointments in a thin layer, sometimes you need to lightly oil and sometimes rub well.
What else is used to relieve pain and improve blood circulation in osteoarthritis? The doctor may prescribe heating compresses with Dimexide or medical bile. Also, during illness, a remedy is often used based on an avocado and soy extract. But treatment with this drug is long - at least six months.
Manual therapy and physical therapy
Physical therapy is an effective way to treat gonarthrosis. Procedures improve blood circulation, help to 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:
- magnetotherapy;
- cryotherapy;
- laser treatment;
- UFO;
- UHF;
- paraffin applications;
- novocaine electrophoresis;
- diadynamic currents.
As far as manual therapy is concerned, it alleviates the patient's condition and prevents cartilage destruction. Here are the main goals pursued by such therapy:
- restore knee function;
- facilitate general well-being;
- reduce the manifestation of disease symptoms;
- activate blood flow;
- help the joint to recover.
It is advisable to massage after exercise therapy, when the muscles are warm.
There are several methods of manual therapy:
- Swedish - the uniqueness of the method lies in the combination of joint movements with friction.
- Oriental - normalizes blood circulation.
- Finnish - similar to Swedish, but differs in the intensity of impact and in the direction of movements.
Which method to choose should be decided by the chiropractor, taking into account the recommendations of the attending physician. There should be no pain during the session. If discomfort appears, this indicates a lack of specialist qualification, so you should immediately stop the session, otherwise the condition may worsen.
Nuance! During this therapy, not only the damaged area is massaged, but also the tissues around it.
Folk methods of treating gonarthrosis
In folk medicine, various ointments and compresses are used. But you can also use some built-in means. You can take 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 product that is effective in treating osteoarthritis of the knee. One and a half kilograms of leaves of this plant must be prepared with boiling water (10 liters) and left for half an hour. When the infusion cools down a little, you should lower the leg with the painful joint there. You can do this procedure every day or every other day.
Honey
Honey compresses will help relieve pain and 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 and smeared again with a fresh product. The course of treatment is at least four days, and more is possible. You can also do honey massage - just massage your knees, spreading honey on them. The massage should last for a quarter of an hour.
burdock
Another affordable product that can be used for knee treatment. You can make a burdock compress. It is necessary to slightly crush the leaf so that the juice comes out, and then sprinkle with vodka. Wrap the diseased joint with film and insulate. It is necessary to keep this compress all night. And the next day, grease a burdock leaf with honey and make a compress, on the third day, grease the leaf with a mass of vodka and garlic. The compresses should be alternated and treated like this for a month.
combined ointment
For severe pain, you can use a special ointment. It's 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 one spoon of the collection with two tablespoons of Vaseline and grind well. Before going to bed, you need to rub the ointment on the painful joint.
Dandelion
Simple flowers, dandelions, can also be used. The flowers must be washed and dried. Then crush it so that the consistency is like that of sour cream. This putty must be applied to the joint and covered with polyethylene for a few hours. Also, when using this remedy, significant physical activity will be required, that is, you should walk at least three thousand steps a day.
Cherry
Cherry can be used inside. These berries help with osteoarthritis, but are contraindicated for stomach and intestinal problems, as the berries have a sharp, sour taste. They can irritate the mucous membranes. For the 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
The nettle will also help to deal with the problem. Half a glass of fresh nettle juice should be mixed with the same amount of honey and medicinal alcohol. Everyone insists on a dark place for two weeks. After that, you should drink a tablespoon half an hour before meals, diluted in half a glass of water. This must 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 dealt with, 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 delay the development of this disease. Of course, with age, the disease will progress, but if the doctor's recommendations are followed, osteoarthritis will develop more slowly.
It is very important to use not only drugs and ointments, but also additional methods of treatment. Therefore, the collection must be carried out regularly, even after the cancellation of the medicines. Massage can be done in courses. For example, once every two months. It is very useful to practice swimming or cycling regularly, it unloads the joint.