Causes of arthrosis
We can say that arthrosis of the knee joint is a disease, on the one hand, caused by lifestyle, on the other hand, age.
Immediate (internal) causes of arthrosis are:
- past injuries in the joint area (sports, domestic and others),
- inflammatory diseases of the musculoskeletal system (arthritis),
- metabolic disease (diabetes mellitus),
- common orthopedic deformities of the lower part of the foot, including flat feet and valgus feet, X-shaped deformities of the foot; this defect violates the correct movement of the knee joint, which leads to deformation and degeneration of their articular tissue.
Factors (external, individual) that provoke arthrosis:
- overweight, obesity,
- girl,
- age,
- heavy continuous load (working in a standing position, monotonous movement of joints with weight during the working day).
Under the influence of external and internal factors, degeneration and aging of the knee joint begins, all its structures are involved in the process: bone, cartilage, synovial membrane, joint capsule, ligaments.
Arthritis symptoms
Manifestations of the knee joint are directly related to the stage of arthrosis. The more pathological changes in the joint and adjacent tissue, the more pronounced the symptoms.
- In the early stages, a person may be disturbed by discomfort, mild pain after physical activity, passing on its own.
- As time passes (from 1 year to several years), the pain increases, becomes permanent, joint movement is limited, characteristic "crunch", "creek" appears when moving.
- In the final stage of gonarthrosis, movement is very limited, the joint is visually deformed, it is difficult to walk, and severe complications can develop until it is completely immobilized ("joint rat", joint fusion, etc. ).
Diagnosis of arthrosis of the knee joint
Arthrosis of the knee joint is detected using available diagnostic methods:
- Ultrasound of the knee joint allows you to assess the condition of the cartilage and bone surface of the joint, the surrounding soft tissue; is very important in the early stages of arthrosis, because it helps to identify pathological changes even before the onset of serious symptoms;
- radiography is also one of the main diagnostic methods, but is not always available, in addition, it is associated with radiation exposure to the body;
- to clarify the diagnosis or identify the characteristics of the course of the disease, MRI, CT, and arthroscopy are also used.
Treatment of gonarthrosis
In arthrosis of the knee joint, various exposure methods are used:
- drug therapy, including intra-articular drug administration,
- traction therapy (unloading),
- physiotherapy, classic and innovative methods,
- physiotherapy and massage,
- manual therapy,
- autoplasma therapy (PRP therapy).
The combination of these methods, chosen by the doctor, can reduce the symptoms of arthrosis, stop inflammation and degeneration of the joints, maintain mobility and range of motion.
Early stages of arthrosis
In the early stages of the disease, drugs with analgesic and restorative effects (NSAIDs, chondroprotectors, vitamins) are used, they are prescribed by the doctor. In addition, various orthopedic devices are used: insoles, shoe inserts, special shoes). Physiotherapy, manual massage, physiotherapy exercises have a good effect.
Significant treatment effects do not occur immediately, but if the doctor's recommendations are followed, the situation improves.
Progressive arthrosis
More serious measures are needed here, in this case the doctor may use a minimally invasive intervention - arthroscopy, the introduction of enriched plasma into the joint (PRP therapy).
In severe forms of arthrosis, severe pain, with concomitant synovitis (excessive accumulation of intra-articular fluid), corticosteroids are injected into the joint, which leads to rapid pain relief. This method is considered one of the most effective and, if the intervention is done correctly, there are no complications (rarely it is possible to increase the pain in response to the medicine, negative effects on the cartilage, and some others).
Among the surgical methods that preserve the function and range of motion of the joints, arthroplasty, arthroscopy and endoprosthetics deserve attention.
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee in a professional clinic
In a professional modern clinic, experienced surgeons and arthrologists conduct appointments. The clinic uses an individual approach to each patient, carries out accurate diagnostics using specialist class equipment (ultrasound), chooses the optimal combination of treatment methods, taking into account the stage of arthrosis and the main symptoms, and timely prescribes drugs to reduce painful manifestations.
Arthrosis of the knee joint is rightly considered an age-related disease, but its development can be prevented or slowed down if the condition of the joint is assessed in time and therapy is carried out (for preventive or therapeutic purposes).
Professional clinics provide physiotherapy procedures (electrophoresis, darsonval, massage, acupuncture) and minimally invasive interventions (arthroscopy, intra-articular injections) that improve the condition of the joints, supportive courses of drugs are prescribed to help consolidate and prolong the effect of the main therapy, preventing exacerbations.