Many people complain of pains that occur in the knee.This can indicate the onset of the development of various diseases.The most common pathology that affects the joints of the knee is arthrosis, which is popularly called the deposition of salts.
The absolute arthrosis leads to the complete destruction of cartilage and the exposure of the bone, as well as the formation of osteophytes and the complete deformation of the joint.This disease can transform a person into a disabled person.We will try to understand what the disease are, what are its symptoms and methods of treatment.
What is the arthrosis of the knee joint
The large caps and the femoral bone in the knee joint of a person are covered with joint cartilage.There is also a second type of cartilage, which forms Menis, acting as shock absorbers or layers.
The joint fluid provides regular movement and additional protection.The development of osteoarthritis occurs when it starts The transport of the fabric is damaged, protecting the bones, following which their surface is exposed and the production of joint lubrication decreases gradually.At the same time, both partial and complete losses can occur.
The manifestation of the deforming of the arthrosis of the knee joint is accompanied by the destruction of its cartilage shells and after some time the bones and ligaments located nearby can be designed in the process.Following the loss of cartilage Increase in reversalAnd the joint is deformed.
Sometimes from the outside you can even feel bone spurs, which are a pathological growth of the bones.How it happens Deformation of the surface of the bonesAnd they can no longer close, as expected, so a person has a limitation of movements.
This condition is accompanied by pain.It occurs above all in the morning, when a person after prolonged immobility begins to move.In the end, this significantly reduces the quality of life.
Causes of the disease
What is this disease arise?Doctors identify several reasons:
- aging and wear of the cartilage;
- accident;
- overweight;
- age -related changes;
- Autoimmune diseases.
In the latter case, immunity begins to attack its joint tissue, which leads to its inflammation and destruction.An example is a disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, in which simultaneous damage occurs to both joints and disability develops.
In addition, the reason for the deformation of the cartilage can be called insufficient blood influx The heads of the femur.In this case, we are talking about aseptic necrosis.The degeneration of the knee joint and the shift of the mechanical axis can occur due to the improper formation of the knee joint in early childhood.
Symptoms of the disease
The arthrosis of the knee joint is characterized by three development phases.The first stage manifests itself from weak pain, unpleasant sensations in a painful point and periodically emerging swelling.
In the second phase, the symptoms begin to intensify, a crunch appears and the movements become limited.The arthrosis of the third degree knee joint is accompanied constant painful sensations, while the cartilage fabric is practically destroyed.
The symptoms of arthrosis of the knee joint generally manifest themselves from pain.It can occur suddenly, but basically its development occurs slowly.A person starts to notice it in the morning, immediately after awakening.Knee pain occurs when the stairs rises and often When walking.When you change time in people sensitive to weather, the pain in the knee joint is also observed.
Another symptom of arthrosis The swelling is, which occurs due to the inflammation, the accumulation of excess fluid in the knee or can be associated with the formation of bone spurs.The skin in the interested place becomes red and warm to the touch.In case of chronic inflammation of the joints, pain and edema are removed using anti -inflammatory drugs.
In addition, the symptom of osteoarthritis is Loss of stability, when a person is not simply able to bend the leg in the knee or completely straighten it.The creak that is presented is explained by the fact that the amount of synovial lubrication decreases.Such a creaking sound, which appears later, causes Spurs that, while driving, they rub each other.
During climbing the stairs or when performing physical exercises, there is limited movements.This means that many use a stick or walker.
The deformation of the knee joint is a very terrible symptom of arthrosis, as it indicates that irreversible changes have occurred in the joint, making a person a disabled person.The knees can be revealed or turned to each other.
The principles of treatment
Having dealt with the common symptoms of the disease, it is necessary to understand how it is treated.First of all, it should be aimed at eliminating pain.
You must know that taking only painkillers Only weakens the symptomsBut in no way they affect the course of the disease and these drugs are unable to restore damaged cartilage.
The treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint with drugs is carried out in the following ways:
- The use of non -short anti -inflammatory drugs, with which pain relieves and reduces inflammation.
- The use of medicines that help restore cartilage.
- The use of ointments and creams from the deformation of arthrosis.
In some cases, surgery is carried out and also prescribes Physiotherapy procedures and physiotherapy exercises.Gymnastics with this disease significantly helps in the treatment and the attending physician should select the exercises.
Currently, most drugs Many side effects And with prolonged use, the functioning of organs and systems occurs.
Using non -seroidal drugs
The treatment of the arthrosis of the knee joint is carried out by non -pounded anti -inflammatory drugs.
They help to relieve pain and reduce inflammation, but long -term use of these drugs is prohibited, since the resulting side effects negatively affect the mucous membrane and the intestinal stomach, as well as the liver, the kidneys and the cardiovascular system.
Despite the fact that the intake of these drugs is necessary for the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint, however, are able to reduce the production of proteoglycans and therefore dehydrate the cartilage tissue.That's why these funds should be takenrigorously according to the prescription of a doctor And only under his control.
For prolonged use, experts recommend choosing Anti -anti -inflammatory drugs, which have less side effects and do not have a negative effect on metabolism in the cartilage.
Prepared for the recovery of carbon
For nutrition and restoration of cartilage, constant intake for its tissues is requiredCondroprotectors.These substances are very important for people who suffer from arthrosis of the knee joint.
The positive effect of their reception appears only after use for a rather long time (at least six months).The chondroprotectors improve the quantity and quality of the synovial fluid, as well as contribute to the restoration cartilage plate.
But despite these beneficial properties of these compounds, they should not be considered fixed for the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint.For this purpose, drugs must be taken for at least a year and a half, while they are unable to completely restore the destroyed cartilage.
Using creams, ointments and compositions
The treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint involves the use of various ointments and creams.But these drugs should be considered only as an addition to the use of non -short and chondroprotector anti -inflammatory drugs.Ointments and creams help to reduce discomfort, swelling, pain, Improve joint mobility.
This effect is explained by the fact that these products penetrate through the skin in the blood, thus improving blood circulation in the joint, accelerating the metabolism in the cartilage and restoring it.
Compressing treatment.A much greater effect, compared to ointments, leads to therapeutic compressions.For these purposes, an instrument is often prescribed, which penetrates well in the fabric and has an analgesic and anti -inflammatory effect.
The use of injections
The synovial liquid of the knee joint is very viscous, so that the tissues do not block each other.An important component of this lubrication is hyaluronic acid, which connects the proteoglycans to normalize the structure of the cartilage tissue.
The level of this compound in synovial fluid in arthrosis patients is reduced quite strongly, due to which this lubricant becomes less viscous and the friction has improved.
Drug injections Based on hyaluronic acid, performed in the knee, slows down the progression of the disease, but only half of patients with arthrosis diagnosis is reduced to a decrease in the manifestation of symptoms.The course of injections is usually performed for three weeks and an injection is performed every seven days.Six months later, this procedure is performed again.
Surgical treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint
If the therapeutic treatment has not brought the adequate effect, surgery is carried out.
It is also carried out if irreversible changes have already occurred in the knee joint.
Surgical treatment is of two types:
- Artodesi.
- Prosthesis.
With the arthrodesis, the articulation is immobilized, due to which the pain is eliminated.The prosthesis is a more modern method, which consists in the fact that with the help of special prostheses, a complete or partial Replacement of the damaged articulation.
Therefore, the arthrosis of the knee joint is an insidious disease of its consequences, since a person can become a disabled person.It can be avoided if you eat well guide a healthy lifestyle And check your weight.Thanks to such simple rules, you can never know about the existence of the arthrosis of the knee joint.