Osteoarthritis of the knee – specific, providing a preliminary ruling in the action of the hryaschik of the knee of the disease. When it occurs the birth of this disease, the doctors observed serious violations in the processes of the circulation of the blood in the bones of the vessels, which produces the deformation and destruction of cartilage tissue, the person feels a strong chilling any of their leg movements, responsibilities of pain, looking swelling and the change of his account of the knee.
What happens with the knee joint with osteoarthritis?
Articulately cartilage plays an important role in the process of movement of the person and is one of the more smooth, elastic and firm will of the board, through which interconnect the bones without barriers move relatively to each other, and there is also the depreciation and the distribution of the load when walking.
But when excessive loads regular, genetic predisposition, violation of exchange of substances in the body and long-duration muscle spasms, and injuries to the cartilage loses its smoothness and starts to lose weight. The thinning of the cartilage gives rise to a reduction of the distance between articulated bones up to 80%. During the walk through the abnormal friction and the lack of dampening of the destructive processes in the joint quickly accumulates, this results quickly in the development of the third grade of osteoarthritis with obvious symptoms:
- The pain during movement, in particular during the ascent or descent of the stairs.
- The pain and in the load and at rest, morning stiffness.
- The patient begins to limp, trying to respect the life of a patient of the joint.
- Severe cases of the disease forces him to use crutches or a cane.
The third degree of osteoarthritis of the knee is characterized by the almost total lack of cartilage tissue, which leads to a reduction of the mobility joint with guidance to a minimum. Therefore, no arcane methods, super medications and ointments may not be re-worn cartilage, shaving the fabric, and taking into account the degree of deformation of the bones, normal functioning of the joint is not possible. In this case, can help only surgery.
The stage of osteoarthritis
The main thing that determines the success of the therapy, it is the degree of the disease, that is to say, the expressiveness of the forms of destructive changes in the knees. With the progression of oa are distinguished the following stages or degrees:
- The initial phase, or 1 degree, is often called the offset, as expressed clinical signs of the pathology is not yet. The patient may feel discomfort in the knees after exercise, which disappears quickly after the holidays; the joints fully functional.
- The grade 2 osteoarthritis, subcompensated, the symptoms of the disease increase. Is generated, expressed pain syndrome, however, coupled with painkillers, ointments and gels are used topically. Disturbed motor activity, it appears the instability of the joint. In the great majority of cases the treatment of the patients to the doctors is precisely at this stage.
- 3 degree, decompensated, it can also be called deformation. The knee joint is twisted, is not stable, immobile, absolutely not functional. Syndrome in constant pain and requires serious medications of the intervention. To relieve the joint and mobility, the man needs a cane.
Depending on what stage the man asked for help, the specialist develops the scheme of the therapy. Unfortunately, the people resort to medical care in the majority of cases, when the pain in the knee no longer go after the regular intake of analgesics or the use of ointments.
The symptoms and the first signs of
Depending on the severity of the symptoms of progression of the disease is divided into 3 stages. The symptoms of early development of knee osteoarthritis is very variable and does not have specificity.
In the first phase of the condition is of the following signs:
- pain in the knee during the squat, standing by the ladder;
- the pain in the knee after a load or cooling;
- the knee may ache at the end of the day or in the morning;
- the stiffness and pain in the morning is held after the routine work.
Subsequently the characteristic symptoms of the 2 and the 3 stage (accumulation):
- the pain becomes acute and prolonged;
- swelling in the joint area;
- it is possible the appearance of fluid in the joint;
- between joint guidance of the surfaces of the possible violation of the particles of cartilage, menisci, synovial membrane of the villi, in which there is a acute immobility (it could happen suddenly);
- it is difficult to get in the leg;
- develops the immobility of the joint.
The speed of the development of calcifications of the processes and the degree of severity of the symptoms depend on the presence or absence of the most traumatic factors. For example, the stress or inflammatory processes in the body speed up the destructive process.
The diagnosis
For the diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis using:
- blood tests (general and biochemical);
- x-rays;
- arthroscopy;
- Ultrasound;
- The magnetic resonance imaging.
The most important method of diagnosis to confirm the diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis is x-ray. In spite of considering the initial stages of the disease and the state of the cartilage tissue in x-ray can not, however, bony changes 2 and 3 of the stage are clearly visible. Is:
- narrow joint of the slit;
- located in the contour of the bones, the edges of the patella territorial of thorns – the osteophytes;
- changes in the periosteum;
- change the height of one of the condyles, and others.
However, a more detailed study of the changes through the arthroscopy. With its help you can determine the state of the cartilage, the menisci, the synovial membrane. His most rarely applied due to the possibility of a strong trauma of the joint, as well as, in essence, it is a mini-operation consists of several punctures. Sometimes arthroscopy is used for the treatment of the knee (if there is the need to remove the piece of my broken cartilage or meniscus). Detect changes in the soft tissues of the knee with osteoarthritis early help to the ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. These methods also show the status of the cartilage, the synovial membrane and fluid.
Physical therapy and exercise in osteoarthritis
The physical exercises help to restore joint function and improve your. To make their slowly and with care so as not to cause a sprain and do not exceed the permissible load.
The most effective, consider the following exercises:
- Slowly lifting alternately the legs straight, still in the womb. In this exercise involved the muscles of the thigh and of the leg. Should not be allowed that the load was transferred to the back. Raise the legs too high, also, that it is not worth. Main, tighten the muscles in the upper part;
- This exercise is similar to the first, only now you must lift the leg bent at the knee. In the upper part of the thigh muscles had to do. In each of the legs, the exercise should be performed the same number of times;
- Lying on the floor (in the belly), lift the legs straight upwards, and then raise the sides and reduce. For this exercise you need strong, trained muscles of the press, so that it is not suitable for all patients. In addition, when running, may increase blood pressure. Patients who suffer from hypertension or other diseases of the cardiovascular system, it is better to do without it;
- To perform the next exercise you must lie on your side, bend prostrate on the ground the leg at the knee, and the other to slowly lift and stop at the top. It is important that the angle when it is running in each one of the legs was the same;
- For this exercise, you will need a chair. Sitting on him, legs alternately straighten, rise, and delay the maximum time possible in grinding position;
- Useful for lifting on tiptoe, holding on to the back of the chair or bed. As and when you perform other exercises, it is necessary to stop at the top in a few seconds and, in addition, tensing the muscles of the legs;
The doctor will be in the office a couple of sessions, it will display the basic techniques for the patient to be able to massage problematic of the knee independently. Autonomy of action to improve the conditions of the damaged area.
Physiotherapy
We must not think that the physical therapy activities relate to the secondary, auxiliary techniques of exposure in the joint ill. In the early stages of the disease physiotherapy gives relief to the patient, eliminates pain, relieves muscle spasm and accelerates the function recovery of the knee. In addition, some types of physical therapy allow the introduction of a supply of drug substance through the skin, which leads to a reduction of the dose received by the patient in the interior.
All methods of physiotherapy impacts can be divided into several groups:
- Reduce the pain;
- Reduce inflammation;
- Rejuvenating power of the joint and accelerate the recovery of the function of the joint.
What kind of impact it is necessary that the patient, the doctor can determine on the basis of the symptoms and co-morbidities.
The operation to osteoarthritis
The surgical treatment refers to a radical of the methods, partially or totally regenerates the functioning of the knee joint. Surgical treatments and differ in their degree of intervention in the affected joint.
- Arthroscopy refers to the more ecological methods of surgical treatment. This methodology has a small travmatichnost and can be applied as treatment activities, even in the early stages of osteoarthritis. Its main goal of prolonging the life of damaged joint. Is arthroscopy with the help of the scope – of the flexible tube with a camera on the end. In the knee joint is made small perforations, through which the endoscope is introduced and the tools. In the course of the operation removes the damaged areas of the tissues that cause the pain. The operation is the most acceptable to the young people and, if necessary, can be repeated several times.
- Arthroplasty refers to the more radical surgical techniques. In this way results in a complete recovery of the function of the joint through the full replacement of a knee or of part of an implant. This method is the best alternative above, the existing methodology – the fusion (complete immobilization damaged joint). At this time of the arthroplasty gives up to 90% of positive results and improves the quality of life of the patients.
- Osteotomies are applied in cases in which the joint will have developed large deformations, and the function of the joint noticeably suffers. Osteotomy involves the artificial creation of a fracture of the bones beforehand to the expected place. In the future, the part of the bones mapped correctly, psychological situation, and give them to knit. Sometimes in the course of the operation, you can use artificial hooks bone fragments, which contribute to a more sustainable system of the position of the bones.
The diet
In regards to the special diet osteoarthritis, in general, often focuses on the reduction of weight of the patient, as well as in the great majority of cases it is of great weight contributes to the overload of the joints. Power expected to eat small portions about every 3 hours. To lose weight daily diet should add lean meat (chicken, turkey, rabbit) and eliminating fat (lamb, pork). Vegetable proteins should be taken of the legumes. For the compliance of the diet in the diet should occur the replacement of refined in the unrefined oil, as well as decreasing the consumption of salt.
The diet refers to eliminating or minimizing the consumption of conservation, smoked and fried foods (suppressor of appetite). To rebuild the cartilage, you must supply the body with complex carbohydrates (cereals, flour products, semolina). In the diet should also include fruit juices (juices of carrot, beet, apple). Take the toxins from the body and reduce the impact of inflammatory processes.
In the diet should be present in the fish, and gelatin, which acts as a kind of cartilage, and helps create new cartilage. It is worth remembering that the diet does not you can assign to yourself is the best option, you can choose to only nutritionist and specialist regimes).
Example of menu:
- Breakfast: oats in the water, oil and sugar, fruit juice, hard-boiled egg;
- The second breakfast: a glass of natural yogurt without fat and without;
- Lunch: meat or fish, cooked, stew, vegetables, tea, without sugar;
- Snack: cheese casserole with dried fruits, a glass of fruit juice;
- Dinner: vegetable salad, apple, tea without sugar;
- The second supper: a glass of yogurt.
The prevention of the
Take care of the joints, until this nasty disease, such as knee osteoarthritis, it does not bother you. When you detect the symptoms of the condition is to consult a doctor at an early stage, while mobility, the elasticity of the joint of the fabric is not completely lost. The delay in the treatment in the cases of cause of disability.
Anticipate the disease of the joints:
- batch load in the legs for active sports;
- make the diet with the inclusion of food and dishes that contains calcium, magnesium, gelatin;
- if the work is related to the uprising, the movement of cargo, follow all safety precautions, do not carry loads more-specific rule;
- regularly self-massage for the prevention of osteoarthritis, particularly, to a constant load at their feet.
- eat a balanced diet to limit "harmful" products;
- the control of body weight (overweight – additional load on the joints);
- regularly surveyed, treat acute and chronic disease.
The attention to the health of the musculo-skeletal system provides the activity in any age. When detected gonartrosisy see your doctor. The treatment of osteoarthritis in the home, a vital element in the success of the therapy.
Prognosis
As long as the diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the knee in the early stages, the removal of the cause pathological process, and the appropriate treatment, the prognosis is favorable. Therapy last gives the possibility of achieving a durable remission, however the treatment, as a general rule, of all life. In the absence of treatment, as well as the breach of the prescriptions of a doctor patient of osteoarthritis of the knee becomes the cause of the disability.