If it cracks in the knee joint during movement, it is the first sign of gonarthrosis. Conservative methods of traditional and alternative medicine help prevent cartilage destruction and maintain normal motor function. Treatment should be started immediately - only in this case will rheumatologists give a favorable prognosis.
What is gonarthrosis?
A non-inflammatory, degenerative-dystrophic disease that affects the largest joint, the knee, is called gonarthrosis. A rather unusual medical definition with a simpler "folk" concept - "salt deposition. "Although the clinical picture of joint gonarthrosis has little to do with the excess of calcifying salts in the knee joint. They have no effect on the pathology and side effects of impaired metabolism.
The development of gonarthrosis of the knee joint is facilitated by the negative processes of hyaline cartilage, especially the poor blood circulation in the small bones. Lack of nutrients and oxygen carried by the lymphatic flow leads to the destruction of the outer cartilage layer of the knee.
It is extremely difficult to recognize in the early stages of the disease. Deformation of the joints takes place slowly until the vitreous hyaline cartilage is involved in the process. The anatomical structure of the ribbon changes. Turbidity occurs, the tissue thickens, thins, cracks in all directions. The pathology can result in the complete disappearance of cartilage, leading to neoplasms in the bone tissue and irreversible curvature of the knee.
Classification of the disease
The International Classification of Diseases divides gonarthrosis into seven specific subheadings:
- Primary gonarthrosis is bilateral. The diagnosis is most commonly made in women between the ages of 70 and 74 and in men between the ages of 60 and 64. This categorizes the disease as "elderly. "
- Another primary gonarthrosis. Pathology of one knee joint in the background of natural wear and tear or other diseases.
- Bilateral post-traumatic gonarthrosis. People of all ages with severe foot injuries are affected.
- Other post-traumatic gonarthrosis. One-sided, in the background of limb injuries and bruises.
- Other secondary gonarthrosis is bilateral. Consequences of chronic, incompletely healed bruises, fractures, or displacements. It is most often diagnosed in athletes who have a heavy load on both feet - footballers, athletes, figure skaters.
- Other secondary gonarthrosis. Unilateral development of pathology related to the profession. For example, miners, metallurgists, fishermen.
- Gonarthrosis, unspecified. They are diagnosed with an unexplained etiology of the disease, after exclusion of age, occupational, and genetic predisposition.
According to medical statistics, more than 10 million people in different age groups suffer from some form of gonarthrosis. About 3, 000 people are diagnosed each year with an established diagnosis.
Cause
Arthrosis of the knee joint is caused by damage to the metabolism of the knee joint, which leads to a loss of cartilage softness and elasticity.
Destructive processes are caused by various reasons:
- Diseases of the thyroid gland that violate the hormonal background;
- Decreased vascular patency in the knee joint;
- genetic conditioning;
- natural aging;
- Previous or current knee injuries of various origins;
- Obesity (more than 20% of the norm) that puts a lot of pressure on the knee joint;
- Inflammatory joint diseases (polyarthritis, purulent arthrosis);
- autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis);
- Specific infectious pathologies (syphilis, tuberculosis, encephalitis);
- Living in ecologically disadvantaged areas, poor quality food and water.
In addition, rheumatologists have identified a number of other causes that lead to the development of gonarthrosis. Dysplasia in newborns. With this diagnosis, the joint wears out faster. Changes in the structure of collagen lead to damage to the protein in the connective tissue.
Symptoms depending on the degree of gonarthrosis
The initial stage of knee arthrosis is difficult to diagnose. Only the description of the symptoms by the patients themselves and the external examinations by rheumatologists allow a different clinical picture at each stage of the progression of gonarthrosis:
- Grade I gonarthrosis.Tensile pain in the knee, feeling of some stiffness, partial loss of sensitivity, difficulty bending the leg, especially after prolonged immobility, impossibility of prolonged walking or running, appearance of mild swelling. Symptoms usually disappear after rest or simple anesthesia.
- Grade II gonarthrosis.At this stage, the pathology can be determined by X-ray examination. The pain becomes stronger and occurs after each physical activity. You can alleviate the discomfort by relaxing. In the morning, it becomes more difficult to straighten the legs, it takes time to restore motor function. The discomfort in the calf is complemented by frequent cramps, especially at night. A crackle is heard during the movement. Swelling of the knee joint is pronounced. There are visible signs of limb deformity.
- Grade III gonarthrosis.There are irreversible changes in the knee joint. Cartilage anomalies can be unequivocally detected on X-ray. Knee pain becomes constant, acute. The foot stops bending at the knee. The patient cannot walk without a stick or crutch. The swelling is significant. The anatomical shape of the knee is smoothed and gives a solid appearance. The spine has a primary curvature.
Diagnosis
A combination of clinical manifestations of knee arthrosis and patient complaints is used to make a correct diagnosis. Various tests are performed to clarify or rule out the causes of the disease.
The standard diagnostics are as follows:
- Preparation of the history of the disease. History of comorbidities, genetic predisposition, past trauma and surgery, professional activity, etc.
- External evaluation of deformation of the locomotor system. Walking, posture, condition of the knee joint, curvature of the legs.
- General inspection. Feeling of the leg, thigh, injured joint, determining the localization of the disease.
- Laboratory tests. A general blood test gives data on the absence of an inflammatory process. If the process is behind other diseases, there is an increased rate of erythrocyte sedimentation in the blood. Protein, globulin, and fibrinogen levels differ from normative indicators. The biochemical composition remains within standard limits. If the progression of the pathology is in the final stage, a biopsy of the synovial fluid of the knee joint is performed.
- Instrumental research. X-rays are the main and most common method of diagnosing suspected gonarthrosis. At the beginning of stage 2 of the disease, the rheumatologist can usually easily determine the changes in the structure of the bone tissue. The presence of co-morbidities and the causes of their occurrence are diagnosed with the help of more modern and accurate equipment - MRI, CT, ultrasound, osteostincigraphy, thermography.
Treatment of gonarthrosis
Like all joint diseases, gonarthrosis requires systemic treatment, which should be started when the first symptoms appear. In this case, the prognosis of the therapy becomes favorable and guarantees a return to a normal lifestyle in a fairly short time.
The goal of comprehensive treatment is to remove the main signs of the disease:
- discomfort, pain syndrome and muscle tone;
- Improving the motor function of the knee joint;
- Stopping the process of cartilage destruction;
- Strengthening the connective muscles;
- Restoration of normal blood circulation in the knee joint.
Medicines
Anti-inflammatory drugs
They help cope with pain, relieve swelling caused by inflammation of muscle tissue.
Chondroprotectors
Regeneration and repair of cartilage tissue is impossible without chondroprotectors. These are the main components of conservative treatment.
vasodilators
They are used to improve the patency of intraarticular vessels.
Hormonal drugs
Reduce the production of the hormone cortisone to prevent the development of inflammatory processes.
Hyaluronic acid injections
It is used to restore intra-articular joint fluid. Due to this, the friction between the joint parts is reduced, the motor function is normalized, and the elasticity of the cartilage tissue is restored.
Antienzymatic agents
They inhibit trypsin activity, thereby preventing further joint destruction. He was appointed in the complex.
Physiotherapy
Physiological treatments have been used successfully for decades to treat knee inflammation. It can be a separate type of therapy, for prevention or during a rehabilitation period. So it is with an integrated approach to the disease.
The following types of procedures are most often prescribed by a rheumatologist:
- Electrophoresis with analgesics;
- Ultrasound treatment;
- Magnetotherapy;
- Laser exposure;
- Paraffin applications;
- Sludge treatment;
- Therapeutic practice (gymnastics);
- Manual therapy, massage with ointments.
Surgery and prosthetics
If gonarthrosis is at an advanced stage, the knee joint and cartilage tissue are destroyed without surgery. Otherwise, the person will remain disabled for life.
Modern medicine offers several ways to solve this problem:
- Arthrodesis. Complete removal of affected tissues and knee joint. The body gets rid of the focus of the disease, but the motor function of the limb is completely lost. It is used extremely rarely if the patient has additional joint disease.
- Arthroscopy. Dead hyaline cartilage is removed. The surgery has a low traumatic and short rehabilitation period. It is recommended for patients whose development has not affected the knee joint itself.
- Periarticular osteomy. A complex operation that involves filing deformed bones and outgrowths and then inserting them into the required anatomical structure.
- Endoprosthesis. The completely destroyed knee joint is removed and a titanium prosthesis is placed in place. An effective method that allows you to forget about gonarthrosis forever. It requires careful preparation and long rehabilitation.
Traditional medicine
The use of folk recipes in combination with conservative treatment can relieve external symptoms (pain, swelling). Recipes based on bay leaf, burdock root, St. John’s wort, malt and hay are well established. Ointments, creams, tinctures and decoctions are made from them.
These plants have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Regular and long-term use is required to achieve visible results.
Honey-based ointments and compresses add alcohol or apple cider vinegar to relieve swelling and have a calming effect on the affected tissues.
A nutritional mixture is made from lemon and garlic, which should be taken orally, one teaspoon after breakfast and after dinner. Such a recipe has a general strengthening effect on the body, increases the permeability of blood vessels and nourishes the joints with useful trace elements.
It should be recalled that home treatments do not eliminate the main problem - the pathological destruction of the knee joint.
Diet
Adherence to a diet is an integral part of complex treatment. Modifying your diet not only helps you control your weight, it also provides your bones and joints with essential vitamins.
In patients with a diagnosis of gonarthrosis, this is contraindicated:
- fried, spicy, salty, pickled foods;
- Fatty broths;
- Sweet pastries;
- Fruits with high acid enzyme content;
- Alcoholic drinks.
The menu should be filled with raw vegetables, fruits and herbs, low-fat sour dairy products, bone soups and foods containing gelatin (jelly, jelly).
Additional methods
Treatment for gonarthrosis requires regular spa treatment, at least once a year, more often if possible. Hydrotherapy, mud therapy and manual therapies preserve the disease for a long time and prevent joint destruction.
It takes the rest of your life to keep your sore knee stable. But it can be very useful for the whole organization. Reviewing nutrition, eliminating bad habits, playing sports, visiting resorts - the quality of life can improve significantly.
It should be recalled that self-medication, disregard for primary symptoms, and unbearable stress on a sore knee joint can very quickly turn a healthy person into a helpless person with a disability.