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Gonarthrosis

pain due to arthrosis of the knee joint

More often, the disease occurs in elderly patients (especially women).Joint pain with gonarthrosis is explained by dystrophic changes in the cartilage covering the intra-articular surfaces of the bones.First, blood circulation in the vessels that feed the cartilage deteriorates.Then the cartilaginous covering begins to thin and completely disappear.The bones inside the knee joint are exposed.As a result, while walking they rub against each other, causing severe pain.

Over the years, bony growths begin to appear in the joints.They provoke the development of deformation, the leg becomes bent.

Causes of gonarthrosis

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

  • primary;
  • secondary.

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

  • metabolic disorders;
  • obesity;
  • hereditary predisposition;
  • taking hormonal drugs.

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

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

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

Symptoms of gonarthrosis

Common symptoms of gonarthrosis of the knee joints include:

  • severe pain in the knee during movement;
  • knee dysfunction;
  • swelling in the knee joint;
  • lameness;
  • joint stiffness;
  • instability in the affected joint.

The late stages of the disease are also characterized by deformation (curvature) of the leg.

In most cases, gonarthrosis develops slowly and passes through four consecutive stages.

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

  • Unexplained pain in the knee when going up/down the stairs, during squats.
  • "Starting" pain when it starts to move.
  • Restriction of mobility.
  • Disappearance of discomfort when the patient "diverges".
  • Pain in the knee after a heavy physical activity.
  • The knee looks healthy or slightly swollen.
  • Manifestations of synovitis (inflammation of the inner lining, due to which fluid begins to form in the joint) may appear.

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

  • The pain becomes stronger.
  • Discomfort increases significantly during squats and walking.
  • The pain is localized on the inside of the knees and gradually disappears during rest.
  • Knee jerks.
  • This joint becomes enlarged and fluid begins to collect within it (synovitis).
  • Intra-articular fluid can fill the popliteal fossa at the back of the joint (Baker's cyst).
  • Individual joint areas are hot to the touch.
  • After physical warming, the stiffness may go away.
  • The shape of the legs in the knee area changes (curvature is observed).

The following symptoms are typical for gonarthrosis of the third degree:

  • The pain occurs day and night, while resting and while walking.The patient should seek a position to reduce the severity of pain symptoms.
  • The link is difficult to straighten and bend.He is limited in movement.It is not possible to straighten the leg completely.
  • An O- or X-shaped deformity of the lower extremities may form.
  • The knee joint increases significantly in size and deforms.Severe synovitis is noted.
  • The patient's gait becomes unstable, wobbly, he must use a cane/crutches or resort to external assistance during movement.

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

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

If you notice similar symptoms, consult a doctor immediately.It is easier to prevent a disease than to deal with the 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 mobility.If gonarthrosis is suspected, the orthopedist prescribes instrumental methods:

  • X-ray. With gonarthrosis, the X-ray shows narrowing of the cracks, thinning of the bone tissue and its compression under the cartilage, ossification of the articular cartilage.There may be osteophytes - bony growths running 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 the holes.An image of all parts of the studied area is displayed on the screen.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).It makes it possible to assess the degree of damage to the knee joints.
  • The blood test is an auxiliary diagnostic method and does not always give 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

MEDICINES

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

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

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

Orthopedics

Orthopedic treatment of the pathology includes the use of special equipment to minimize the load on the diseased joints:

  • orthopedic insoles for shoes,
  • orthosis (special rigid knee pads that limit mobility in the affected joint),
  • reeds.

Surgery

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

  • uncontrollable pain,
  • significant knee and hip joint dysfunction.

The time spent on implantation is 2-3 hours.Before placing the prosthesis, the destroyed part of the joint and the back of the kneecap are removed and the shaft of the leg is aligned.If necessary, ligament restoration is performed.When the endoprosthesis is placed, the wound is sutured.

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

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

Additional methods of treatment of gonarthrosis

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

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

Exercise therapy for gonarthrosis

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

In the first days, therapeutic exercises for gonarthrosis of the knee joint should last no more than 10 minutes.Gradually, the training time should be increased to half an hour.It is important to make all movements smoothly and make sure that the pain does not intensify.

Universal exercises include the following:

  • Raising the straight leg up to a height of 15-20 cm from the floor and holding it in this position for the maximum time.
  • Raising the straight leg to a height of 15-20 cm and gradually lowering it to the starting position.
  • Bending and stretching the legs while sitting in a chair.

Any squatting and long walking 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 stage of the disease is the easiest.The patient is prescribed:

  • Massage.
  • Therapeutic gymnastics.
  • Physiotherapy procedures.

If you are obese, losing weight is necessary.A special diet is followed for this.

Treatment of gonarthrosis of the knee joints of the second degree

The complex treatment of the pathology includes:

  • Performing exercises recommended by the therapist.
  • Taking anti-inflammatories and sedatives, chondroprotectors, injecting hyaluronic acid into the joint.
  • Phytotherapeutic procedures (if there is no pronounced inflammatory process).
  • Weight normalization.

Treatment of gonarthrosis of the third degree

The therapeutic treatment of the pathology of the third degree is similar to the measures used in the second stage of the disease.However, in the absence of the expected effect, the patient is recommended to undergo a surgical method.

If we are talking 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 cavity of the knee joint and studies how severe the problem is.

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

The second method of surgical treatment is endoprosthetics - an operation to replace the entire knee joint or its individual parts with prostheses.

Treatment of gonarthrosis of the knee joints with folk remedies

Traditional recipes help to achieve good results only in stages 1 and 2 of the disease.When the cartilage tissue is destroyed and the joint is severely deformed, they are powerless.

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 let it infuse for 3 weeks.
  • Store the prepared juice in the refrigerator.Rub the joints with the solution once a day for 10 days.

Mud compress

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

Dandelion tincture

  • Fill a glass bottle with dandelion flowers.
  • Pour triple cologne on top.
  • Close the lid.
  • Put it in a dark place for a month.
  • After the specified period of time, strain the solution.Rub her knees 2 times 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 in plastic and a scarf.
  • It is best to apply the compress at night.Remove after the leaves are completely dry.The course of treatment is about 4 weeks.

Garlic with celery and lemon

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

Diet for gonarthrosis

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

Proteins help restore intra-articular cartilage.The patient can take them with lean meats, cheeses, cottage cheese, fish, lentils, beans and buckwheat.Jelly 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.Fats should be mostly vegetable.Small amounts of butter are allowed.Vitamins, especially group B, are of great importance for improving the patient's condition.They are found in eggs, legumes, bananas, dairy products, cabbage, nuts and lentils.

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

The risk of gonarthrosis

With gonarthrosis of the first and second degree, we are not talking about disability.The third stage of the disease can make the patient disabled, when joint functions are completely lost and movement without assistance becomes impossible.

It should be understood that gonarthrosis is a chronic pathology that is constantly progressing.For a favorable prognosis, the correct selection of drugs and regular exercises are necessary.

Risk group for gonarthrosis

The risk group for gonarthrosis includes:

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

Prevention of gonarthrosis

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

  • do physical exercises;
  • avoid excessive physical activity;
  • control weight;
  • seek qualified medical help for injuries, inflammatory joint diseases;
  • do not get too cold (if there is a problem, it is recommended to wear warm knee pads);
  • drink 2 liters of water a day;
  • wear comfortable shoes;
  • avoid stressful situations.

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