Knee gonarthrosis

Osteoarthritis - localized in any joint - is a degenerative-dystrophic change in the cartilage tissue of the joint. The term "arthro" itself means that the pathology of the disease is not inflammatory in nature. They often write "gonarthrosis" in diagnoses.

The prefix "gon-" indicates the location of the lesion - the term means knee in translation from the Greek. In some cases, the term "osteoarthritis" is used - the name is more familiar to English and American doctors.

Gonarthrosis is more common in women over 40 years of age. Factors that increase the likelihood of disease onset are obesity and hormonal depletion. The disease can develop unilaterally and bilaterally.

The disease can develop up to 40 years. Osteoarthritis, which deforms the knee in young people, is more common as a result of injuries.

With gonarthrosis, the cartilage is first covered with micro-cracks, then becomes thinner and stratified. Pain is seen when the knee is bent, which gradually increases. If you do not start treatment at the first signs of gonarthrosis of the knee joint, you may stumble and then completely lose the ability to move.

Knee gonarthrosis - symptoms

The symptoms of the disease depend on the degree of the lesion. But there is a common symptom - pain.

It grows gradually.

Grade 1 is characterized by mild painful sensations that occur when the load on the knee joint increases. A small effusion may appear - accumulation of fluid in the articular cavity. There is pain at rest, no external changes in the knee, sometimes edema develops, which disappears on its own.

With grade 2 gonarthrosis, the pain does not appear only after exertion. At rest, discomfort may occur after changing the position of the lower extremities. Now the knee joint needs a long rest. When the knee swells and bends from time to time, a crisis may appear. Bending and opening the foot is problematic. If synovitis or bursitis develops on the background of osteoarthritis - accumulation of synovial fluid in the joint cavity or bursa (bursa) - the knee becomes swollen and hyperemic.

X-ray shows significant damage to cartilage tissue, narrowing of the joint space, the initial deformation of the bones.

With grade 3 gonarthrosis, the severity of symptoms increases. The leg is already difficult to bend, the maximum bending is 130-140⁰. . . The deformation of the joint is already expressed from the outside. The pain does not decrease at rest, it is almost constant. It is impossible to fall asleep without painkillers.

The radiograph shows a narrowed joint space in the joint space, deformed joint bones, and numerous osteophytes (vertebrae caused by salt deposits).

Lack of treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee joint significantly worsens the quality of life - the ability to stand upright is lost.

Causes of gonarthrosis of the knee joint

The disease can occur for the following reasons.

1. Injuries: dislocations, fractures, muscle spasms and rupture of ligaments in the area of articulation, meniscus damage.
2. Illiterate treatment of injuries - long-term immobilization or lack of drugs to restore blood supply in a therapeutic regimen leads to a violation of joint trophism.
3. Increased stress during sports or professional activities.
4. Obesity. The fastest development of osteoarthritis is seen when obesity is combined with varicose veins - a violation of the trophism of soft tissues + a constantly increasing load.
5. Violation of the structure of the garden apparatus, its damage.
6. Inflammatory processes in organs of various etiologies leading to the development of arthritis. Against the background of arthritis - an inflammatory process - arthrosis develops in the future.
7. Disorders of metabolic processes that do not allow the body to absorb the required amount of nutrients.
8. Malnutrition - including diet - does not get enough nutrients from food.
9. Hormonal changes.
10. Emotional instability and stress.
11. Bad habits - smoking, drug and alcohol use.
12. Hypothermia.
13. Intoxication of the body.

The last 2 points cause relapses of osteoarthritis, as it worsens the general condition of the body.

Knee gonarthrosis - treatment

The diagnosis of the disease consists of several stages:

• collection of anamnesis;
• visual inspection;
• laboratory tests - general and special blood and urine tests;
• apparatus and diagnostic examinations - X-ray (required), CT, MRI.

An ultrasound may be needed to assess the condition of the blood vessels.

As a rule, knee osteoarthritis is treated at home - patients who require surgery are often required to go to the hospital - cutting the damaged joint capsule and endoprosthetics. If the disease begins to be treated in stages 1-2, then it can be brought into remission by conservative methods.

The following therapeutic measures and medications are prescribed:

1. Immobilization of the affected joint during exacerbation.
2. Pain relief with drugs of different groups:
• NVPS;
• narcotic substances, including analgesics - they are used once for unbearable pain;
• anesthetics in the form of injections.
• The most commonly prescribed non-steroidal drugs. They are prepared in various forms - as creams, ointments, suppositories, injections, solutions; you can use them as you wish.
• Corticosteroids are used - they are also injected into the articular cavity.
• Muscle relaxants are used to relieve soft tissue spasms and restore trophism.
• Prescribe medications that restore peripheral blood supply.
• Vitamin therapy - B vitamins are given by injection.
• Chondroprotectors are used to stop bone deformation and restore cartilage tissue. At the initial stage, they are injected into the articular cavity, and then taken in tablet form. The course of treatment is long - up to 6 months.
• Physiotherapy: paraffin, ozokerite, electrophoresis with hydrocortisone, exposure to currents of different frequencies, magnetotherapy.
• Massage.
• Physiotherapy exercises - otherwise it is impossible to restore movement in the lower extremities.

Modern treatment of osteoarthritis is completed by the following methods

Ozone therapy (against the background of glucocosteroid therapy). Injections of ozone-enriched saline solution are injected into the affected joint, which restores trophism and relieves pain.

Kinesitherapy. Special exercises help to restore the amplitude of the affected joint - the load is selected individually for each patient.

Treatment with folk remedies at home can not eliminate osteoarthritis of the knee joint, but it helps to keep it in remission for a long time.

Folk remedies for external influences are ointments and rubs made at home from products and natural remedies that have a local irritating effect. The knee joint is rubbed with alcohol tinctures infused with hot peppers, horseradish and onion peel. White cabbage compresses and honey cake are applied to the knee, the foot flies in coniferous baths or comfrey infusion.

When treating osteoarthritis of the knee joint, it is necessary to follow a special diet - it is necessary:

• reduce the amount of salt in the daily menu;
• avoid hot spices;
• reduce the amount of foods high in purines;
• increase the amount of fermented milk and plant foods (except grass, legumes, spinach);
• expand the drinking regime.

Only comprehensive treatment of gonarthrosis will help to eliminate joint pain and lead to long-term remission of the disease.