What is the meaning of the diagnosis "osteoarthritis of the knee"
We're talking about a disease in which the cartilage is deformed and destroyed. Cartilage is a dense cloth, which acts as a shock absorber, in any joint, it is necessary for its movement. After the breakdown of the cartilage in the joint gradually loses mobility, but if the disease is not treated, then completely ceases to work. However, in the early stages of osteoarthritis can be effectively treated with medication and physiotherapy.
By the way, About 12% of the young people, who are suffering from arthritis, and, in retirement, that figure is at the top, a quarter of all older people complain of the symptoms of the disease.
Women suffer from osteoarthritis more often than men.
The risk group also includes athletes active in the training, and the microtrauma of the cartilage, often leading to restriction of the mobility of the joints at a young age.
There is some evidence that for osteoarthritis there is some genetic predisposition. If you have a family, there were no cases of this disease, you need to carefully monitor the condition of the joints.
The cause of the disease
The reasons for the development of osteoarthritis of the knee a lot. These include the following:
- the trauma and microtrauma of the joints;
- being overweight is an extra burden to the knee joint;
- a metabolic disorder in which the cartilage does not have the essential nutrients;
- one-sided load during physical work, or by excessive intensity training.
- the disruption of the functioning of the heart and the circulatory system, which is the impaired nutrition of the cartilage tissue;
- prolonged spasm of the blood vessels of the legs. The extent of knee OA and symptoms
Osteoarthritis of the knee develops over time.Thus, there are many degrees of this disease.
The 1 level. At this stage the changes are still minor, and could even roughly be determined by the instrument of the research. For the development of osteoarthritis of the indicative symptoms, such as slight stiffness of the joint after long immobility, often in the morning), and crunching in the joint when sudden movements. Severe pain is usually there so that you can people often ignore these signs and go to the doctor only when knee reaches 2. stage.
2, the rate of the Total deformation, x-rays, and there is a noticeable reduction of the joint space, and deformity of the cartilage. The symptoms will become pronounced — the patients complain of constant pain, which increased with the initiation of movement, restrictions on mobility, with a noticeable stiffness in the morning. A small effort (e.g., lifting) can also cause aches and pains. Sometimes, the skin over the joint turns red, swells a bit and becomes warm to the touch — this indicates the development of inflammation. With osteoarthritis of the knee 2. the rate of patients report increased pain when the weather changes or exposure.
The 3 levels. Severe osteoarthritis of the knee is characterized by severe pain on all movements, lameness, and sometimes a marked shortening of the limb. The total surface area is greatly swollen, and in the morning, people just can't get out of bed — sometimes you have to wait for an hour and a half before the taper is partially restored. When it is 3. the degree of osteoarthritis of the knee the articular cartilage significantly thinner, and in some places entirely destroyed, so that the bones touch each other.
The 4 levels. The complete destruction of the cartilage, excruciating pain and immobility — and this is what you get when you ignore the signs of osteoarthritis, the. The joint space is lost and it starts the deformation of the bone. Information such as the first stage of the treatment
If you suspect the disease, you should immediately make an appointment to see the doctor of podiatrist, who diagnosed her with.
The diagnosis of osteoarthritis involving the laboratory and instrumental methods.
The first one is the General and biochemical blood and urine analysis. These tests can help to exclude autoimmune disorders, which result in the defeat of the joints, to determine the presence of infection.
Instrumental methods of diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the most commonly used simple radiography in two projections, ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging.
A method for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee
Osteoarthritis of the knee is treated, but the prognosis is most favourable when you have to start the treatment as early as possible in the 1-2 stages of the disease. A number of methods of treatment, however, the only comprehensive treatment of the gives the desired result.
Among the most effective methods to shock wave treatment, with the medication, the traction of joints, intra-articular administration of the drug, muscle toning and physiotherapy (physical therapy).
Drug therapy
It helps that it is only dealing with the symptoms.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
the reduction of inflammation and pain.
chondroprotectors
the promotion of the nutrition of the articular cartilage. As a complement to the commonly used ointments and gels, with the analgesic effect, as well as the external funds for the relief of the inflammatory and improving blood microcirculation.
DRIED
Shock wave therapy — the method by which the therapeutic effect is reached the effect of the sound waves to the tissues of the joint. This is a relatively painless process, but it is, nevertheless, enables you to achieve great results — for the relief of pain, and to destroy, and to soften the calcium deposits (osteophytes), improvement of metabolic processes in tissues, normalize the blood flow and relieve the swelling, the language of the ordinary people — a "clean up" the joint. The effectiveness of treatment reaches 90%.
Physical therapy, physical therapy
Therapeutic exercise — it is almost a necessary part of treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee. kinesitherapy is a specific exercises with a carefully calculated load and the hydrotherapy — exercises that are performed with specialized medical devices. Physical therapy enables you to restore your mobility, improve blood circulation, develop, and strengthen the bond.
Grip the
The gripor traction of joints carried out on a special orthopedic apparatus. In this method, the stretching of the joint, and extends in the joint area, which reduces the friction of the articular surfaces and the patient's overall is low. A positive effect is observed in 80% of cases.
Intra-articular injections of
How to drain excess synovial fluid, and the injection of drugs — anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and improve blood circulation in the articular cartilage of drugs, etc.
It is necessary to tell about such a method, such as injection of their own and the patient plasma in the joint capsule of the growth factors from the plasma. They are the faster the recovery and the regeneration of damaged joint cartilage. An advantage of PRP is that on its own the plasma is not an allergy, it is a safe bio-stimulator of regeneration. 2 to 3 months after the expiration of the PRP, the patients note that the pain and stiffness has decreased to half, and the mobility of the joint improved.
The muscles of your
This method of treatment is based on stimulation of the muscles of the microcurrents. In the case of arthrosis of the knee joint is atrophy of the thigh muscles, compromised blood supply. This dramatically increases the load on the joints.
The stimulation helps to strengthen these muscles, thereby allowing you to relieve the load on the joint, improve blood circulation, to form a solid frame for the a total of.
Operation of the
arthroscopic debridment. The choice of the method to be used for the removal of common items, the destroyed cartilage, the part of the meniscus. The operation is performed under video control. The endoprosthesis. If the joint is completely destroyed, it can only be replaced by an artificial. The endoprosthesis used only in the most severe cases, third -, or fourth, stage of the disease.
Your new knee will last 12-15 years. The timely diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the knee, it is important not to pull, and don't put off a visit to the doctor and self-treated with over-the-counter remedies.
Osteoarthritis develops gradually, but in some people, the first symptoms of the disease and the time of the resolution of the joint may be just a function, after a few years, it all depends on the individual. In the majority of cases, an early diagnosis and an holistic approach to the treatment can control the symptoms of arthritis and restore joint.