Osteoarthritis of the knee

Knee joint arthrosis, or gonarthrosis, affects mainly women, usually after the age of forty. At an earlier age, such pathology can develop as a result of injury or professional sports. The disease is especially severe in people who are overweight or suffer from varicose veins of the lower extremities.

The onset of the disease is characterized by the appearance of moderately pronounced pain in the knee during movement, especially when walking up stairs. Pain can also occur if a person stands for a very long time or gets up on his feet after a long period of sitting. At rest, the pain usually subsides. Sharp and intense pain in arthrosis of the knee joint does not occur spontaneously, it is usually preceded by prolonged discomfort when walking and physical activity. It is the gradually increasing pain that is one of the main signs of gonarthrosis.

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Stages of disease development

First stage

At the initial stage of gonarthrosis development, the bones in the knee do not change their shape, only swelling of the joint may occur, usually associated with the fact that fluid accumulates in the knee. If its amount exceeds the permissible level, edema develops, affecting the back of the leg. In this case, swelling can be relieved with the help of anti-inflammatory drugs.

Second stage

The next stage of knee arthrosis is characterized by a significant increase in pain intensity. The pain makes itself known even after minor exertion, a crunch appears in the knee joint, which intensifies if the disease progresses. The patient bends the leg with difficulty, severe pain occurs, up to the complete inability to bend it at the knee. Also, at the second stage of the disease, the joint begins to change its shape, which becomes quite noticeable upon palpation - expansion and coarsening of the articular bones can be felt. Synovitis is much more pronounced at this stage - the occurrence of swelling as a result of fluid accumulation.

Third stage

The third stage of the disease is characterized by the appearance of intense pain, which occurs even at rest. The patient searches for a long time for a suitable position in which the pain will be weaker. With impaired blood circulation, pain can bother a person even during sleep, causing a feeling of aching in the joint. The motor ability of the joint is reduced to a minimum, a person is often unable to keep the leg in a straight position and is forced to bend it when walking. With significant deformation of the bones, the gait becomes waddling, a change in the shape of the lower limbs becomes noticeable.

How to recognize knee arthrosis?

The patient is initially sent for a blood test, then an X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography are performed. In some cases, an ultrasound examination or arthroscopy (examination of the joint with a special device through a small incision) may be prescribed. During the X-ray examination, the stage of the disease is determined, the image shows changes in the joint and bones, as well as the distance between the bones. At an early stage of the disease, changes in cartilage tissue are not visible on the X-ray. Ultrasound examination, like computed tomography, allows you to identify abnormalities in soft joint tissues and determine the amount of fluid accumulated during the development of synovitis.

How is knee arthrosis treated?

Treatment of knee arthrosis is carried out by specialists such as a rheumatologist or orthopedist. At an early stage, the disease is curable in most cases without surgery, but the treatment must be comprehensive and qualified. At the second and third stages, it is impossible to return the joint to its previous shape without surgery, you can only improve the condition of the periarticular tissues.

To reduce inflammation and pain in knee arthrosis, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are widely used, including diclofenac, ibuprofen, piroxicam, ketoprofen, indomethacin, movalis. After the pain syndrome has been reduced, the patient may be prescribed massage, therapeutic exercises, and physiotherapy procedures.

For the treatment of gonarthrosis, drugs are also used that belong to the group of chondroprotectors and ensure the restoration of cartilage tissue (chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine). Such drugs also help maintain the elasticity of the cartilage, saturate its tissue with moisture. At the first and second stages, chondroprotectors have a gradual effect, the treatment is quite long and can last even a year or a year and a half. The combined use of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate has a greater effect. At the third stage, such drugs are no longer able to provide a positive effect. The required daily dose of glucosamine is 1000-1500 mg, chondroitin sulfate - 1000 mg.

Drugs that dilate blood vessels (for example, trental, theonikol) have a good effect in the treatment of arthrosis. They can improve blood circulation in the joint and relieve spasm in small vessels, which helps restore the affected joint. It is recommended to combine such drugs with chondroprotectors. In order to relieve painful muscle spasm, the patient may be prescribed muscle relaxants (mydocalm, sirdalud). Such drugs are used only in combination with chondroprotectors and joint traction. A compress of dimexide also has a positive effect in the treatment of arthrosis, reducing inflammation and relieving pain, especially with fluid accumulation. To prepare such a compress, mix one tablespoon of boiled water with a tablespoon of dimexide. Then soak a medical bandage in the resulting solution, then put it on the affected joint and cover with a plastic bag and a diaper on top. The duration of the procedure is from twenty to sixty minutes, once a day, no more, for two to three weeks.

All medications are used in the absence of contraindications strictly as prescribed by a doctor. Knee arthrosis requires drug treatment and physiotherapy procedures and therapeutic exercises.