Knee pain is a common complaint for which doctors are consulted.What causes pain and how can you help yourself if it happens?There is no definite answer, as the knee joint can suffer many different types of damage arising from a variety of causes.One of these reasons (and a very common one) is incipient joint disease.Today we will tell you in detail about knee arthritis: what are its causes, types, symptoms and signs, we will talk about treatment and prevention methods.
Types and causes of disease
Knee arthritis or gonorrhea is a lesion of a mainly non-inflammatory nature, which over time leads to destruction of articular cartilage, deformation of the knee and limitation of range of motion in it.The disease has two main forms:
- primary - occurs due to congenital defects of the joints;
- secondary - occurs as a result of other diseases or injuries.
The primary form begins to develop in childhood or adolescence and is caused by improper formation of the joint surfaces or ligamentous apparatus.When walking, such a joint is subjected to loads disproportionate to its capabilities, which causes degenerative changes in the joint.
The development of a secondary form of pathology can lead to:
- Injuries: leg fractures, bruises and knee dislocations, accompanied by damage to bones and cartilaginous parts of the joint and its ligaments.In this case, post-traumatic arthritis of the knee joint will develop.
- Surgery to remove the meniscus because they lead to disruption of the integral structure of the knee and cause it to wear out quickly.
- The disproportionately high loads on the legs that athletes are often subjected to.
- Excessive obesity also causes joint disease because it leads to excessive pressure from body weight on the knee cartilage.
- Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints.Long-term arthritis is accompanied by the formation of fluid in the joint cavity and over time can become complicated by arthritis.
- Metabolic disorders lead to salt deposition in the joint cavity.
- Other factors and diseases persist with spasms of leg muscles or blood vessels.
- Surgeries were delayed.
The pathological process can be unilateral or bilateral.Due to injury, unilateral arthritis (for example, right knee) will most likely develop, and due to obesity - bilateral arthritis.
Characteristic symptoms
Knee osteoarthritis develops gradually, sometimes preceded by months or years in the early stages, when there are no obvious symptoms (such as severe pain and obvious deformity), but occasionally there is discomfort in the knee.
Usually, overweight women over 40 are affected, and in particular, as an aggravating factor, those with varicose veins.
The development of gonorrhea goes through many stages:
- The initial stages can last months, sometimes years.A person periodically experiences knee pain, especially when taking the first steps after getting out of bed in the morning, as well as when going up and down stairs.
- In the second stage, the pain becomes stronger and occurs with any movement accompanied by a characteristic crunching sound.Fluid can accumulate in the joint cavity and on examination an initial deformity may be noticed.Range of motion in the affected knee begins to decrease.
- The third stage is characterized by pain that does not go away even with rest.Discomfort often increases before the weather changes.At this time, the joints have lost most of their function: the leg can hardly bend at the knee or cannot be fully extended.The gait changes: it becomes “waddled” or semi-bent.The knee is severely deformed: the leg is bent and shaped like an O or X.
Arthritis symptoms after knee injury develop more quickly.As a result of the injury, pain and swelling appear in the knee area.Such pain constantly accompanies a person and intensifies after physical activity.Gradually, it is accompanied by a feeling of tightness and stiffness in the knees.Sometimes with this form of the disease, it only takes a few months from initial symptoms to irreversible changes.
Treatment of gonorrhea
The scope of treatment depends on the stage of the disease and the severity of the damage.But because the disease is chronic, the only thing that can be achieved is long-term remission (a resting period when pathological manifestations are minimal or absent).At the same time, if the cause of knee osteoarthritis can be eliminated in the early stages (for example, by reducing body weight), then almost complete recovery is possible.
Goals of treating gonorrhea:
- remove pain,
- If possible, restore damaged cartilage and ligamentous apparatus,
- increase range of motion in joints.
Treatment method:
- drug treatment,
- massage and manual therapy,
- surgical intervention,
- Rehabilitation therapy (physical therapy, physiotherapy and other methods).
Only a doctor can choose the right medicine;In no case do not prescribe them for yourself.Their main actions are aimed at:
- Eliminate symptoms of knee osteoarthritis: reduce pain, reduce inflammation.For this purpose, appropriate drugs will be prescribed, including hormones, which are injected into the joint cavity.
- Improves blood supply to the affected area.It is powered by agents that reduce blood vessel spasms and relax muscles.
- Cartilage tissue recovery.For this purpose, drugs are prescribed to nourish and restore cartilage.
Manual manipulation and massage help relieve pain, relax spastic muscles near the affected knee, help increase range of motion, correct bone position, and increase blood circulation.
In case of severe, irreversible damage, knee arthritis is treated with a radical method - prosthetics, that is, implanting a metal prosthesis to replace the destroyed joint.To date, this is the only method that gives a chance for complete recovery, however, prostheses have a limited period of use, after which they must be replaced.Since the cost of such operations is very high, this treatment method is not yet widely available.
Rehabilitation therapy includes physiotherapy, occupational therapy (exercises using special loads and machines), physiotherapy and treatment at sanatoriums.
Orthopedics are aimed at soothing the painful knee - these are canes, orthotics, etc., to make walking easier (use if necessary).
There are many folk recipes for various ointments and compresses based on herbs, medical honey and warm compresses made from natural wool.Basically, the effect of such methods is aimed at reducing pain and eliminating the main symptoms.
Preventive measures
Preventing knee osteoarthritis includes many factors:
- Balanced diet: the diet should have adequate amounts of protein, vitamins and trace elements.
- Fight unhealthy lifestyle and eliminate bad habits.
- Normalize weight.
- Get enough physical activity.
- Prevent injuries when playing sports and lifting heavy objects.
The most important thing when identifying a disease like knee arthritis is not to let the disease progress, because the severe stage will lead to disability.But if you put all your efforts into timely treatment and prevention - before time passes and symptoms are no longer significant - you have a good chance of being completely cured.