Gonarthrosis of the knee joint is a non-inflammatory disease of the knee, in which the blood circulation in the cartilaginous tissue is disturbed. This disease is also called knee osteoarthritis. This type of osteoarthritis occupies one of the first places among others.
Etiology and pathogenesis
So what is gonarthrosis? These are degenerative changes in the cartilage that covers the joint. Knee osteoarthritis has been known for over a hundred years. Metabolic processes occur in cartilage due to osmotic pressure. If the cartilage is compressed, the lubricant is released and then absorbed. This is how cartilage is constantly nourished. With constant excessive loads, this process is disrupted and the cartilage becomes thin. The condition of the collagen fibers that make up the cartilage is disturbed, the cartilage tissue is no longer so elastic.
As the bones rub against each other as they walk (cartilage does not soften friction), bone growths or spikes appear. As a result of such changes, osteophytes grow. These are growths of dense bone structure. In addition, the synovium becomes irritated and inflamed. All this leads to limited limb mobility.
Osteoarthritis of the inner part of the knee is the most common. Moreover, people of mature and older age are susceptible to the disease, but the disease can also occur in young people, especially athletes.
Poor blood supply leads to cartilage abrasion, revealing bone inside the joint. The whole joint is also deformed, ie deforming arthrosis of the knee occurs.
Causes and classification of diseases
According to the etiology, the disease is divided into types: primary and secondary gonarthrosis. Primary gonarthrosis or idiopathic occurs in the background of complete well-being. It usually occurs in older people, mostly women. Secondary develops after grass knee or infectious disease. Post-traumatic gonarthrosis can be avoided if inflammation or knee damage is removed in time.
Different types of osteoarthritis of the knee joint are also divided according to localization:
- Right-sided gonarthrosis - this type affects only the right wrist, people who do sports more often suffer from this arthrosis.
- Left gonarthrosis - the left joint is affected accordingly.
- Bilateral gonarthrosis - both joints are destroyed, the most severe type of disease, people over the age of fifty or more are susceptible to it.
All of these types are almost indistinguishable from each other during the course of the disease (i. e. , clicks and pain are always present). But bilateral gonarthrosis is usually more pronounced, because it involves two joints. In addition, any type of this disease, if the form is flowing, will be more pronounced and the pain will be stronger. To imagine what this disease looks like, it is better to look at a photo.
Interesting! Of all the diseases that affect the knee, osteoarthritis occurs in 53% of cases. I mean, that's more than half.
Why does this disease occur? Here are the main reasons for the development of this disorder:
- metabolic disorder;
- hormonal imbalance;
- endocrine disorders;
- increased capillary fragility;
- overload and injuries;
- heredity and congenital anomalies;
- inflammatory diseases.
Being overweight is considered a major risk factor.
Degrees of gonarthrosis of the knee joint
There are different degrees of gonarthrosis. There are three of them, of course, the first degree is initial and poorly manifested, and the last degree is a serious deformity of the joints. In the first stage of the disease it may not be noticed, but later treatment will be difficult, so you should carefully monitor the symptoms:
- The first degree of disease is characterized by mild discomfort, fatigue. Sometimes there may be restrictions on movement, but very slight. At this stage, the joint is not deformed yet, but a slight narrowing of the joint gap can be seen on the X-ray.
- The second degree is manifested by more pronounced pain, especially after walking. When changing the position of the joint, there are crunches and clicks. At this stage, atrophy of the thigh muscle can occur, and the angle of full flexion of the leg is significantly limited. You can see osteophyte growth and bone flattening on X-rays.
- In the third degree, severe pain occurs, swelling may appear. Because osteophytes can break off, it can feel as if the joint is blocked. This is a sharp pain and inability to move independently. As for X-rays, deformities, changes in the ankle and leg bones are visible.
In the last stage of the disease, it will take a long time to heal the joint and it will not be possible to cure it completely.
Symptoms of gonarthrosis
How can gonarthrosis of the knee be recognized? The symptoms of the disease are different, but the main symptom is pain. At the beginning, it can be very weak and irregular, but over time, the discomfort increases, there are problems with walking, because after a long activity, not only fatigue, but also pain occurs.
The symptoms of the disease gradually increase, starting with mild discomfort and weakness in the legs. Here are the main symptoms of knee osteoarthritis:
- tightness is felt below the knee;
- excessive fatigue after walking;
- aches and pains after activity;
- postpartum discomfort;
- creaking and clicking when bending the knees;
- limb edema;
- reduced joint mobility;
- lameness.
Sometimes gonarthrosis is complicated by synovitis. Synovitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the joints. This complication can occur in the first phase of arthrosis. But most of the time it disappears without treatment. And grade 2 gonarthrosis of the knee joint can be complicated not only by synovitis, but also by Baker's cyst. The pain in this case becomes very strong and tormented even at rest.
Fact! The most common is post-traumatic knee osteoarthritis. It does not appear immediately, but gradually, with regular physical overload. Post-traumatic osteoarthritis initially feels like ordinary fatigue, and only with time can pain occur.
Methods of treatment
Gonarthrosis is an incurable disease, whether unilateral or bilateral gonarthrosis. It is impossible to return the joint to a completely healthy condition. However, treatment must be carried out, it will help remove severe pain and slow down the destruction of the joint. In addition, it is important to adhere to the diet. Folk methods are also useful. There are several types of treatment for this disease.
Here are the main methods used to treat osteoarthritis of the knee:
- Use of drugs - tablets, injections and ointments.
- Physiotherapy - various physiotherapy procedures.
- Therapeutic physical training and massage are mandatory methods of treatment and rehabilitation.
Therapeutic and preventive gymnastics is a mandatory component of therapy. Without regular exercise, it is impossible to restore the composition and remove the pain, especially for such a form as bilateral arthrosis (it can lead to disability). Proper physical activity will help you deal with the disease faster. But you can perform the exercises only under the guidance of an experienced trainer, so as not to aggravate the condition.
Medical therapy
What drugs are used as the main treatment? Drug therapy involves the use of the following types of drugs:
- Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs - remove pain, swelling and relieve redness.
- Chondroprotectors are agents that help regenerate cartilage tissue.
- Drugs injected into the joint that relieve inflammation.
- Hyaluronic acid products are also injected into the joint when the inflammation disappears.
The specialist usually prescribes external remedies to help eliminate the unpleasant symptoms. These are most often gels and ointments with a warming effect. They improve blood circulation. You can lubricate the affected joint several times a day, according to the instructions. You can apply gels and ointments in a thin layer, sometimes they need to be lightly lubricated, and sometimes rub well.
What else is used to relieve pain and improve blood circulation in osteoarthritis? Your doctor may prescribe warming pads with dimexid or medical bile. In addition, a medicine based on avocado and soy extract is often used during illness. But treatment with this drug is long - at least six months.
Manual therapy and physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is an effective way to treat gonarthrosis. Procedures improve blood circulation, help slow down the destruction process. These procedures are especially good for post-traumatic osteoarthritis. What is usually prescribed for arthritis? These are the procedures:
- magnetotherapy;
- cryotherapy;
- laser treatment;
- UFO;
- UHF;
- paraffin applications;
- novocaine electrophoresis;
- diadynamic currents.
As for manual therapy, it eases the patient's condition and prevents the destruction of cartilage. Here are the main goals that this therapy achieves:
- restore knee function;
- alleviate the general condition;
- reduce the manifestation of symptoms of the disease;
- activate blood flow;
- help the joint to recover.
Massage is recommended after exercise therapy, when the muscles are warmed up.
There are several methods of manual therapy:
- Swedish - the uniqueness of the method lies in the combination of joint movements with rubbing.
- Oriental - normalizes blood circulation.
- Finnish - similar to Swedish, but differs in the intensity of the impact and the direction of movement.
The chiropractor should decide which method to choose, taking into account the doctor's recommendations. There should be no pain during the session. If discomfort occurs, it indicates a lack of expert qualifications, so you need to end the session immediately, otherwise the condition may worsen.
Nuance! During such therapy, not only the damaged area is massaged, but also the tissues around it.
Folk methods of treating gonarthrosis
Various ointments and compresses are used in folk medicine. But you can also use some internal means. You can choose a few effective recipes and apply them regularly. Available products are used for the preparation of folk remedies. But we must keep in mind that these methods are additional, not basic. Therefore, medical treatment is necessary.
Jerusalem artichoke
An affordable product that is effective in treating knee osteoarthritis. One and a half kilograms of leaves of this plant should be boiled in boiling water (10 liters) and left for half an hour. When the infusion has cooled slightly, lower the leg with the sore joint. You can do this procedure every day or every other day.
Honey
Honey compresses will help relieve pain and eliminate swelling. To do this, lubricate the knee with honey and apply a tight bandage. It needs to be worn for one day, then the honey must be rinsed and re-smeared with fresh product. The course of treatment is at least four days, and more is possible. You can also do a honey massage - just massage your knees and smear them with honey. The massage should last a quarter of an hour.
Velcro
Another affordable product that can be used to treat the knee. You can make a poultice from burdock. The leaf needs to be crushed a little to get the juice out, and then sprinkled with vodka. Wrap the affected joint with foil and insulate. Such a compress needs to be kept all night. And the next day, coat the leaf of burdock with honey and make such a wrap, on the third day, spread the leaf with a mass of vodka and garlic. The dressings must be changed and treated for a month.
Combined ointment
You can use a special ointment for severe pain. It is easy to prepare. It is necessary to take a spoonful of hop cones, fresh sweet clover flower and St. John's wort flower. Mix one tablespoon of the collection with two tablespoons of Vaseline and grind well. Before going to bed it is necessary to rub the ointment into the sore joint.
Dandelion
Simple flowers and dandelions can also be used. The flowers should be washed and dried. Then grind it to a sour cream consistency. This mass must be applied to the joint and covered with polyethylene for several hours. In addition, when using this drug will require significant physical activity, namely, you must walk at least three thousand steps a day.
Cherry
Cherries can be used inside. These berries help with osteoarthritis, but are contraindicated for problems with the stomach and intestines, because the fruits have a sharp and sour taste. May irritate mucous membranes. For treatment you need to eat a glass of cherries four times a day, rinsing it each time with warm boiled milk. The treatment is long - two months.
Nettles
Nettles will also help you deal with the problem. Half a glass of fresh nettle juice should be mixed with the same amount of honey and medical alcohol. He insists on everything in a dark place for two weeks. After that, half an hour before eating, you should drink one tablespoon, diluted in half a glass of water. This must be done three times a day.
Bitan! Any herbs and other products can be used to make medicinal ointments or beverages only if they are not allergic.
Recovery forecast
Since the injury is not treated, you have to live with it. But with a timely visit to the doctor and a correct diagnosis, it is possible to significantly improve the patient's condition and slow down the development of this disease. Of course, the disease will progress with age, but if you follow the doctor's recommendations, osteoarthritis will develop more slowly.
It is very important to use not only medicines and ointments, but also additional methods of treatment. Therefore, filling should be done regularly, even after the medication has been canceled. Massage can be done in courses. For example, once every two months. It is very useful to regularly swim or ride a bike, it relieves the joint.