Which means that the diagnosis of "osteoarthritis of the knee"
It is a disease in which the cartilage is deformed and disintegrate. The cartilage, being the dense tissue, plays a role of shock absorber in each municipality, it is necessary for its movement. With the destruction of the cartilage tissue joint gradually loses mobility, and if the disease is not treated, and does not stop working. However, in the early stages of osteoarthritis are perfectly curable with the help of medicines and physiotherapy.
About 12% of young people are afflicted with arthritis, and in the age of retirement, with this figure above the half — a quarter of all senior citizens complain of the symptoms of this disease.
Women suffer from osteoarthritis more often than men.
At risk are athletes — active exercise, and minor injuries cartilage often lead to restrict the mobility of joints at a young age.
There are data, that in osteoarthritis there is a certain genetic predisposition. If you have family there have been cases of this disease, it is necessary to carefully monitor the state of the joints.
The causes of the disease
The reasons for the development of osteoarthritis of the knee many. These include:
- trauma and microtrauma to the joints;
- being overweight is an extra burden to the knee joint;
- disorders of the metabolism, where the cartilage is lacking in essential nutrients;
- unbalanced loads during the physical work or overly intense workouts;
- the malfunction of the circulatory system, which is a violation of the nutrition of the cartilage tissue;
- long-lasting spasms of the blood vessels of the legs. The degree of osteoarthritis of the knee and symptoms
Osteoarthritis of the knee develops gradually.Then there are different degrees of this disease.
1 degree. In this phase the changes are very small and may not be even weakly determined by instrumental investigations. In the developing of osteoarthritis indicate the symptoms, as the lower stiffness of the joint after a long immobility (often in the morning) and a crunch in the joint, sharp movements. Severe pain usually is not, then, people often ignore these signals and turn to the doctor only when osteoarthritis of the knee reaches the 2nd phase.
2 can the Joint deforms, the x-ray evident narrowing of the joint space and the deformation of the cartilage. The symptoms become obvious — the patients complain of constant pain, which is reinforced by the beginning of the movement, limitation of mobility, a significant stiffness in the morning. Small efforts (for example, the increase of the load) also cause pain. Sometimes the skin over the joint blushes a little swells and becomes hot to the touch — there is talk of the development of the inflammatory process. With osteoarthritis of the knee 2nd degree the patients indicate an increase in pain during the change of time or after hypothermia.
3 grade. Heavy osteoarthritis of the knee is characterized by severe pain in any movement, lameness, sometimes of considerable shortening of a limb. Common area very swollen, and in the morning, a person simply can't get out of bed — sometimes you have to wait half an hour before mobility is restored. During the 3 ° degree of osteoarthritis of the knee cartilage thins greatly, and here everything falls down, so that the bones touch each other.
4. The complete destruction of the cartilage, unbearable pain and immobility — here's what you can get, if you ignore the signs of osteoarthritis until the last. The articular slit disappears and it starts the deformation of the bones. The diagnosis as the first step of the treatment
If you suspect the disease you must immediately schedule an appointment with an orthopedic technician, and the diagnosis.
The diagnosis of osteoarthritis includes laboratory and instrumental techniques.
To the first belong in common and biochemical analysis of blood and urine analysis. These analyses allow to exclude autoimmune diseases, which lead to the defeat of the joints, to identify the presence of inflammation.
Of the instrumental methods of diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the most commonly used are a simple x-ray in two projections, ULTRASOUND, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging.
Methods of treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee
Osteoarthritis of the knee treated, but the prognosis is more favourable, if to start treatment as soon as possible, for 1-2 ° initial phase of the disease. Methods of treatment of many, but only a complete treatment gives the desired result.
Among the most effective methods — shockwave, drug therapy, traction, joints, intra medications, muscle toning and therapeutic exercise (THERAPY).
Drug therapy
It helps to fight only with the symptoms of the disease.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
relieve inflammation and pain.
chondroprotectors
stimulate the nutrition of the articular cartilage. As a supplement widely used creams and gel with analgesic effect, but also of external means to relieve the inflammation and improve the microcirculation of the blood.
UHT milk
Shockwave therapy is a technique in which the therapeutic effect you get the effect of sound waves on the modified joint tissue. The procedure is relatively painless, however, allows you to achieve impressive results — to relieve pain, destroy and soften the calcium of the body (osteophytes), improve the metabolic processes in the tissues, lead to the normal blood circulation and relieve swelling, to speak the language of the common people — "clean up" the joint. The effectiveness of the treatment reaches 90%.
LFK
Physiotherapy — practically an essential part of the therapy of osteoarthritis of the knee. kinesitherapy — it is the special exercises carefully counted the load and physiotherapy — exercises performed with the help of medical simulators. THERAPY allows you to return the joint mobility, improve its blood supply, to develop and strengthen the ligaments.
Traction joints
Traction, or the unloading of the joints, is held on a special brace. This method extends the joint and expands the articular slot, which reduces the friction of the articular surfaces and the patient the joint of the exhaust. The positive effect observed in 80% of cases.
Intra-articular injections
How to pump excess synovial fluid, and for the administration of medications — anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and improve the blood circulation of the articular cartilage, drugs etc
It is worth to talk about this method, as the injection of a plasma of a patient in a joint stock — growth factors present in the plasma. They accelerate recovery and regeneration of damaged articular cartilage. Advantage with prp is that the plasma is not allergy, that's for sure biological stimulating the regeneration. After 2-3 months after the course of prp are the patients say that the pain and stiffness are decreased by half, and the joint mobility is improved.
Muscle toning
The method of treatment based on the stimulation of the muscles with microcurrents. With osteoarthritis of the knee occurs atrophy of the muscles of the thigh, is broken their blood supply. This increases the load on the joints.
Muscle toning helps to strengthen these muscles, reducing joint stiffness, improving the blood circulation, to form a frame reliable for the joint.
Surgery
arthroscopic debridment. The method, aimed at the removal from the articulation of elements, destruction of the cartilage, the menisci. The operation takes place under the control of the camera. Arthroplasty. If the joint has been completely destroyed, it is possible to replace only the artificial. The restoration appeal only in the most severe cases — in the third or fourth stage of the disease.
A new joint will last 12-15 years. For a timely diagnosis for osteoarthritis of the knee is important not to pull up to the last one and do not postpone visit to the doctor, doing self-medication and the application of bench-top instruments.
Osteoarthritis develops gradually, however, some people from the first signs of the disease and the time in which to save the joint can only operation, it is only a few years — it all depends on the individual. In most cases, an early diagnosis and an integrated approach to the treatment can cure the symptoms of osteoarthritis and restore the articulation.