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Gonarthrosis

pain due to osteoarthritis of the knee joint

Most often the disease occurs in elderly patients (especially women).Joint pain accompanied by gonarthrosis is explained by dystrophic changes in the cartilage which covers the intra-articular surfaces of the bones.First, blood circulation in the vessels supplying the cartilage deteriorates.Then the cartilaginous covering begins to lighten and disappears completely.The bones inside the knee joint are exposed.As a result, when walking, they rub against each other, causing severe pain.

Over the years, bony growths begin to appear in the joint.They cause the development of deformity, the leg bends.

Causes of knee osteoarthritis

Gonarthrosis of the knee joint occurs for various reasons.It is customary to distinguish two forms:

  • primary;
  • secondary.

Primary knee osteoarthritis usually develops in older people.Its appearance is due to:

  • metabolic disorders;
  • obesity;
  • hereditary predisposition;
  • take hormonal medications.

The primary form affects two knee joints at once and is called bilateral knee osteoarthritis.But there are cases when the inflammatory process first covers one knee, and a few years later passes to the second.

Secondary gonarthrosis, on the contrary, is always unilateral.It is called:

  • strenuous physical work and sports that put pressure on the right or left knee joint;
  • trauma (ligament rupture, dislocation, hemorrhage in the knee joint cavity, damage to the meniscus, intra-articular fracture, etc.).
  • operations performed on the knee joint;
  • inflammation/swelling of the joint.

Symptoms of knee osteoarthritis

Common symptoms of gonarthrosis of the knee joints include:

  • severe knee pain when moving;
  • knee dysfunction;
  • swelling of the knee joint;
  • lameness;
  • joint stiffness;
  • instability of the affected joint.

Advanced stages of the disease are also characterized by deformity (curvature) of the leg.

In most cases, knee osteoarthritis develops slowly and goes through four successive stages.

Gonarthrosis of the knee joint of the first degree is characterized by the following symptoms:

  • Unexpressed knee pain when going up/down stairs, during squats.
  • “Starting” pain at the beginning of the movement.
  • Limitation of mobility.
  • Disappearance of discomfort when the patient “diverges”.
  • Knee pain after intense physical activity.
  • The knee appears healthy or slightly swollen.
  • Manifestations of synovitis (inflammation of the inner wall, due to which fluid begins to form in the joint) may occur.

Bilateral gonarthrosis of the knee joint of the second degree has the following symptoms:

  • The pain becomes more intense.
  • Discomfort increases sharply when squatting and walking.
  • The pain is localized on the inside of the knees and gradually disappears with rest.
  • Creaks in the knees.
  • The joint expands and fluid begins to build up inside (synovitis).
  • Intra-articular fluid can fill the popliteal fossa at the back of the joint (Baker's cyst).
  • Individual joint areas are warm to the touch.
  • After a physical warm-up, stiffness may disappear.
  • The shape of the legs at the knee changes (a curvature is observed).

The following symptoms are typical of third degree knee osteoarthritis:

  • The pain occurs day and night, at rest and when walking.The patient should seek a position that reduces the severity of painful symptoms.
  • The joint is difficult to straighten and bend.He is limited in his movements.It is not possible to completely straighten the leg.
  • An O- or X-shaped deformity of the lower limbs may form.
  • The knee joint enlarges considerably and becomes deformed.Severe synovitis is observed.
  • The patient's gait becomes unstable, trembling, he must use a cane/crutches, or resort to external assistance to move.

There is also a fourth degree of gonarthrosis of the knee joints.Clinically, orthopedists classify it as the third stage of the disease.This can only be determined by taking x-rays.

In the fourth degree, the articular surfaces of the bones are so strongly deformed that there is almost no space between them, without which movement is impossible.The patient suffers from continuous pain.

If you notice similar symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.It is easier to prevent an illness than to deal with its consequences.

Diagnosis of gonarthrosis of the knee joints

Diagnosis of the disease includes interviewing the patient, examining the inflamed joint, checking its volume and assessing its mobility.If gonarthrosis is suspected, the orthopedist prescribes instrumental methods:

  • X-ray.With gonarthrosis, the x-ray shows narrowing of cracks, thinning of bone tissue and its compaction under the cartilage, ossification of the articular cartilage.There may be osteophytes – bony growths that run along the edges of the cartilage.
  • Ultrasound diagnosis of the knee joint.
  • Arthroscopy.During the study, the surgeon inserts a special microvideo camera connected to an arthroscope into the joint through punctures.An image of all parts of the surveyed area appears on the screen.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).It allows you to assess the degree of damage to the knee joints.
  • A blood test is an auxiliary diagnostic method and does not always provide a complete picture of the clinical picture.The fact is that with gonarthrosis, signs of inflammation in the blood may not be detected.

Treatment of gonarthrosis of the knee joints

Drugs

In the treatment of gonarthrosis of the knee joint, the following groups of drugs are used:

  • anti-inflammatory;
  • pain relievers;
  • chondoprotectors (ensure the restoration of damaged cartilage tissue).

They come in different forms: ointments, creams, gels, tablets, capsules, intra-articular and intramuscular injections.

Orthopedics

Orthopedic treatment of pathology involves the use of special devices to minimize the load on diseased joints:

  • orthopedic insoles for shoes,
  • orthoses (special rigid knee pads that limit the mobility of the affected joint),
  • canes.

Surgery

Surgical methods are used in the treatment of third degree gonarthrosis of the knee.The indications for endoprostheses are:

  • uncontrollable pain,
  • significant dysfunction of the knee and hip joints.

The time spent on implantation is 2 to 3 hours.Before installing the prosthesis, the destroyed part of the joint and the back of the patella are removed and the leg axis is aligned.If necessary, ligament restoration is performed.When the stent is installed, the wound is sutured.

In the first hours after surgery, due to anesthesia, the patient does not feel the lower limbs.The rehabilitation period is long - 3-4 months.

It is impossible to carry out endoprosthetic surgery if the patient suffers from osteoporosis (fragility and fragility of bones).

Additional methods of treating gonarthrosis

For gonarthrosis, the following can be used as auxiliary treatment methods:

  • manual therapy;
  • massage;
  • acupuncture;
  • hirudotherapy;
  • physiotherapy;
  • Exercise therapy.

Exercise therapy for knee osteoarthritis

Exercises for gonarthrosis of the knee joint are selected individually.Their regular implementation helps strengthen the muscles surrounding the inflamed joint and improve blood circulation in the pathological area.They should be performed lying on your back or sitting.

In the first days, therapeutic exercises for gonarthrosis of the knee joint should take no more than 10 minutes.Gradually, the duration of training should be increased to half an hour.It is important to perform all movements gently and ensure that the pain does not intensify.

Universal exercises include the following:

  • Raise the straight leg to a height of 15 to 20 cm from the ground and hold it in this position for the maximum time.
  • Raise the straight leg to a height of 15 to 20 cm and gradually lower it to the starting position.
  • Flexion and extension of the legs while sitting on a chair.

Any squats and long walks are contraindicated without prior consultation with an orthopedist.

Features of treatment of gonarthrosis depending on the degree of the disease

Treatment of gonarthrosis of the knee joint of the first degree

The first degree of the disease is the mildest.The patient is prescribed:

  • Massages.
  • Therapeutic gymnastics.
  • Physiotherapeutic procedures.

If you are obese, weight loss is necessary.For this, a special diet is followed.

Treatment of gonarthrosis of the knee joint of the second degree

Complex treatment of pathology includes:

  • Perform the exercises recommended by the therapist.
  • Take anti-inflammatories and painkillers, chondoprotectors, introduce hyaluronic acid into the joint.
  • Phytotherapeutic procedures (if there is no pronounced inflammatory process).
  • Weight normalization.

Treatment of third degree knee osteoarthritis

Therapeutic treatment of third-degree pathology is similar to the measures used at the second stage of the disease.However, in the absence of the expected effect, the patient is recommended to resort to a surgical method.

If we talk about the beginning of the third degree, it is possible to remove part of the damaged cartilage and bone growths.Using an arthroscope, the doctor examines the socket of the knee joint and studies the severity of the problem.

When preserving areas of healthy tissue, corrective osteotomy is indicated.During this operation, the doctor corrects the shape of the bone by breaking it.Next, he installs a special plate that helps fix the limb in the correct position.

The second method of surgical treatment is endoprosthesis - an operation aimed at replacing the entire knee joint or its individual parts with prostheses.

Treatment of gonarthrosis of the knee joints with folk remedies

Traditional recipes allow you to achieve good results only at stages 1 and 2 of the disease.When the cartilage tissue is destroyed and the joint is severely deformed, they are helpless.

Ficus tincture

The solution is prepared according to the recipe:

  • Pass the ficus leaf through a meat grinder.
  • Place in a glass container.
  • Add 100 ml of vodka.
  • Cover with a lid and leave to infuse for 3 weeks.
  • Store the prepared liquid in the refrigerator.Rub the joints with the tincture once a day for 10 days.

Clay compresses

  • Place the blue/red clay in a glass bowl.
  • Dilute with water until the consistency of sour cream.
  • Apply clay to a linen/cotton fabric approximately 1.5-2 cm thick.
  • Apply to the painful joint.
  • Secure with a bandage and wrap with a towel.
  • Make compresses 2 to 3 times a day.The duration of treatment is 1.5 weeks.

Dandelion tincture

  • Fill a glass bottle with dandelion flowers.
  • Pour the triple cologne on top.
  • Close the lid.
  • Place in a dark place for a month.
  • After the specified period of time, strain the tincture.Rub his knees twice a day.

Apple cider vinegar for osteoarthritis of the knee joints

  • Mix 6 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with 2 tablespoons of natural honey.
  • Apply the mixture to the joint area.
  • Cover with cabbage leaves on top.
  • Wrap it in plastic and a scarf.
  • It is best to apply the compress in the evening.Remove them once the leaves are completely dry.The duration of treatment is approximately 4 weeks.

Garlic with celery and lemon

  • 250 g of celery, 120 g of garlic, 3 lemons, slice, mix.Transfer to a three-liter jar and add boiling water.
  • Cover with a warm blanket.
  • After cooling, use 70 ml before meals, first once a day, after a few days - 2-3 times a day.

Diet for knee osteoarthritis

The diet for gonarthrosis of the knee joint is aimed at normalizing body weight, combating obesity and saturating the body with nutrients.If the patient manages to lose weight, the pain becomes less pronounced because less stress is placed on the joints.In this case, you should not starve or resort to a mono-diet.Nutrition should be balanced.

Protein helps restore intra-articular cartilage.The patient can get them from lean meats, cheeses, cottage cheese, fish, lentils, beans and buckwheat.Jellied meat made from bone broth is useful for gonarthrosis, as it contains a lot of collagen.

Carbohydrates should be obtained by eating vegetables and fruits.The fats must be mainly vegetable.Small amounts of butter are permitted.Vitamins, especially group B, are of great importance in improving the patient's condition.They are found in eggs, legumes, bananas, dairy products, cabbage, nuts and lentils.

It is prohibited to drink alcohol if you suffer from gonarthrosis of the knee joints.This not only has a negative effect on the body as a whole, but also increases appetite, which is undesirable.

The danger of knee osteoarthritis

With first and second degree knee osteoarthritis, we do not speak of disability.The third stage of the disease can incapacitate the patient, when joint functions are completely lost and unassisted movements become impossible.

It must be understood that knee osteoarthritis is a chronic, constantly evolving pathology.For a favorable prognosis, appropriate selection of medications and regular physical activity are necessary.

Group at risk of knee osteoarthritis

The risk group for gonarthrosis includes:

  • professional dancers;
  • athletes;
  • builders, shippers, miners;
  • people with a hereditary predisposition;
  • obese people;
  • with poor posture;
  • suffered broken bones;
  • with malformations of the ligamento-articular apparatus;
  • suffering from hormonal, rheumatoid and metabolic diseases.

Prevention of knee osteoarthritis

To reduce the risk of developing gonarthrosis of the knee joints, the following recommendations should be followed:

  • do physical exercise;
  • avoid excessive physical activity;
  • control weight;
  • seek qualified medical help in case of injuries, inflammatory diseases of the joints;
  • do not overcool (in case of problem, it is recommended to wear warm knee pads);
  • drink 2 liters of water per day;
  • wear comfortable shoes;
  • avoid stressful situations.

This article is published for educational purposes only and does not constitute scientific material or professional medical advice.