Among the numerous articulations diseases, osteoarthrosis is the most common.With the development of this pathology, the patient begins problems with the mobility of the limbs, swelling, inflammation and intensive pain syndrome.And if we talk about the causes of the osteoarthritis of the knee joint at an early age, then they can include many predisposing factors.
General Information
The development of deformation processes in the area of knee joint in official medicine is called gonarrosis.The disease is accompanied by degenerative-dystophical phenomena in the hyaline cartilage, which develop in stages and offer many problems to the patient.The main signs of the disease include:
- Pain syndrome.
- Motor Station.
- Inflammation.
- Edema.
Among several forms of osteoarthritis, damage to knee joint is considered the most common.In most cases, the problem progresses in women of 40 years.It can also manifest in young people in the context of mechanical lesions or colossal stress.For example, professional athletes are the most vulnerable to this pathology.
If you do not take appropriate measures in the early stages of the development of the disease, over time, gonarrosis will become a serious way, which will imply irreversible consequences.The dimensions of the joint will begin to increase at incredible speed, the deformation process will begin in cartilage and bones, and any physical activity will be accompanied by intense pain and discomfort.In the worst case, the patient will completely lose the opportunity to move independently.
Many mistakenly think that osteoarthritis and arthritis are the same pathologies.However, the first disease implies an acute inflammatory reaction and the second, a series of chronic diseases with a degenerative character.If the patient has the symptoms of both problems, it can be diagnosed with arthroso-artritis.
The causes of the osteoarthritis of the knee joint
The causes of the disease are very different, so it is problematic to distinguish only one.In most cases, the development of the problem occurs with the appearance of several provocative factors that cause violation.Modern medicine identifies such osteoarthritis mechanisms:
- Primary.It is a natural process that occurs in people of 40 years, and is explained by the aging of body tissues.The main mechanism for the development of osteoarthritis is also contributed to related factors, including obesity, inheritance or high loads.
- Secondary: it covers 30% of all osteoarthritis diseases.The cause of the occurrence is associated with the transfer of mechanical lesions, lower leg fractures or ligament ruptures.The first symptoms of pathology may appear a few years after damage.However, with serious injuries, this can happen after 2-3 months.
There is another development mechanism, which has 7-8% of the cases of osteoarthritis.It is the following: if a 40 -year -old person suddenly began to run or professional sports, this can lead to rapid distributing and degenerative changes.In addition, osteoarthritis is also manifested with concomitant diseases, including different forms of arthritis, gout, overweight, etc.
The reasons for the development of the disease are often associated with intense loads, lifting of weights or frequent increases in the steps (especially in old age).Patients who have suffered column injuries or neurological diseases also fall into the risk zone.
In most cases, the predisposing factor in the appearance of gonarrosis is muscle spasm on the anterior surface of the thigh.From the appearance of the first pain, the pathology may not manifest for a long time, and the only signs will be the characteristic fatigue and the severity in the legs.
Stages of development and symptoms
Having discovered what the osteoarthritis of the knee joint appears, you can begin to study the main symptoms and stages of the development of the disease.Experts argue that pathology is characterized by slow progression, as negative symptoms increase.Depending on the patient's ability to work, three stages of osteoarthritis are distinguished:
- First.
- The second.
- The third.
It should be noted that gonarrosis does not have an acute form, of course, because it is a degenerative process of a chronic nature.As for the term "acute osteoarthritis", in most cases it refers to the third stage with weighted symptoms.
The first stage
In the first stage of gonarrosis in the joint, the circulation of a special fluid begins to be disturbed, which nourishes and lubricates.No special changes in the structure are noticed, and the cartilage fabric is slightly inflamed.
The initial stage of osteoarthritis development is accompanied by slight discomfort and a sense of stiffness during movement.The patient becomes problematic to climb the steps, make distant races or stand on their feet for a long time.Any increased activity leads to the appearance of knees.However, in the slightest rest, pain syndrome is located and disappears.
The additional progression of the pathology improves pain, but the patient's ability to work is not altered in any way.In this sense, the patient continues to lead the usual lifestyle.
It is not easy to determine the development of osteoarthritis in the initial stages.The fact is that people may simply notice symptoms, attributing everything to excessive work.
Second and third grade
Among the initial symptoms and the transition from pathology to the second stage can take several months.At the same time, the patient can forget the first symptoms for some time and continue living an ordinary life.But the progression of degenerative changes will imply more serious consequences, namely:
- Improved pain in any load.
- Motor Station.
- Edema.
- Inflammation.
In addition to the described symptoms, a crunch will also appear in the knee joints, which is explained by a violation of the structure.The cartilage tissue will begin to be thinner, and the volume of synovial fluid, which lubricates and nourishes the joint, will decrease significantly.
If the patient did not begin the treatment in the second stage of osteoarthritis, this will lead to the development of the third, more dangerous.It is a very careless form of pathology, in which the joint loses its basic functionality, and the patient's ability to work is at risk.
In this case, the content of the synovial fluid in the cartilaginous tissue becomes minimal, the cartilage loses its previous thickness and the bones are thickened.In the affected area, a lymphatic fluid also appears and an inflammatory process is launched.
In an advanced way, gonarrosis has such symptoms:
- Excessively severe pain syndrome, which occurs in any movement.In addition, even if the patient is in a liar or sitting position without activity, he can suddenly feel severe pain.
- Motor skills of the knee joint are very limited.
- The articulation experiences many changes, increases in size and deforms.You can notice such consequences with the naked eye.
As for acute pain syndrome in the third stage of osteoarthritis, it seems spontaneously and is practically not located by analgesics available in pharmacies.In this case, articulation prostheses are the only way to get out of the situation.
In particularly complex forms of gonarrosis, experts distinguish another stage in which the destruction of the joint bag begins.Unfortunately, in modern medicine there are no effective ways of treating pathology, which has changed to 2 and 3 stages.In this sense, doctors recommend help in the clinic if the slightest suspicion of gonartrosis is detected.
Diagnosis
By understanding the causes of gonarrosis, it is important to know about the correct diagnosis of pathology.After all, it must be able to distinguish it from other diseases that may have similar symptoms.
To determine the development of the disease, a comprehensive examination is used, which includes a biochemical blood analysis, radiography, magnetic resonance and ultrasound.It should be noted that with different stages of osteoarthritis, the composition of blood remains almost similar, so any change in the norm indicates the presence of another problem.
In relation to this characteristic, it is possible to make an accurate diagnosis and determine the presence of gonarrosis only with the help of an X -ray exam.The image taken clearly shows violations in the structure of the joints and bones, and also determines the surface defects.
However, despite the high precision of the diagnosis, X -Ray cannot study soft tissues, including cartilage and meniscus.As an additional product for diagnosis, ultrasound, magnetic resonance or TC is used.
If it determines the development of pathology over time and a comprehensive treatment begins, this will prevent irreparable consequences and avoid the problem of moving to more serious stages.However, due to the specific course of the disease, many patients do not even think that joint pain, rigidity and other changes are not the result of fatigue after hard work, but a sign of the beginning of degenerative processes.
Treatment methodology
Currently, there are many ways to treat gonarrosis.They may differ in the principle of action, a list of tasks to be resolved, as well as individual characteristics.For a more productive struggle against the disease, an integral treatment is used, which is aimed at:
- Pain location.
- Improvement of mobile functions.
- Improvement of the condition of cartilage tissues and the patient as a whole.
- Strengthen the muscle structure surrounding the affected joint.
The most common methodology to treat osteoarthritis is physiotherapy.It includes a set of special procedures aimed at strengthening muscle tissues and restoring blood circulation.
During physiotherapeutic treatment, the patient notices a significant improvement in degenerative processes of good and deceleration.However, it is strictly forbidden to begin the procedure independently, because the incorrectly calculated loads can only aggravate the problem.
Trying to get rid of pain, relieve swelling and inflammation, it is necessary to use a series of non -steroidal medications.These include ibuprofen, ketoprofen, diclofenac and others.The task of medicines is to quickly relieve pain for a more productive treatment in the future.
If the use of non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs does not give any results, you will have to resort to the use of corticosteroids with a more pronounced anti -inflammatory effect.However, it is not recommended to use analgesics for a long period of time, since they only reduce symptoms, slowing down the tissue restoration process.If after taking a tablet disappeared, the pain disappeared, it is better to reject the medications.
External funds and surgical intervention
The causes of articulation osteoarthritis fight with the help of several ointments, compresses and creams.And although these medications do not treat osteoarthritis, they improve the patient's well and reduce pain.Among the most effective external media, warming and anti -inflammatory ointments are distinguished.
With the development of the second stage of the disease, the patient can prescribe intra -articular injections of corticosteroids, namely:
- Betamethason.
When choosing the medicine, it is necessary to take into account its tolerance by the patient.If we talk about corticosteroids, then pain can effectively eliminate, but not deal with the severe stages of osteoarthritis.
If the disease is in the last stage, which is considered the most dangerous, surgery will be the only way out.In this case, you must perform the surgical decompression of the joint bag to expand the light between the bones and restore cartilage surfaces.
If this approach will be effective, it depends on many factors.First, you must take into account the seriousness of the disease.If it is not the most deplorable, it is very possible to restore the previous mobility of the joints and get rid of pain.
However, joint pain will still be felt, so the patient must seriously review his lifestyle.It will also be necessary to pay close attention to physiotherapy exercises, adequate nutrition and adequate physical activity.
As a prevention, it is recommended to abandon the consumption of salty or spicy foods, alcoholic beverages and cigarettes.These actions will positively affect the condition of the body and save the articulation of unnecessary loads.
The integral treatment of osteoarthritis in accordance with the above recommendations is the best way to suspend a dangerous pathology and restore the previous operation of the knee joints.