Gonarthrosis, or osteoarthritis of the knee joint, is a very common disease. This diagnosis is often made in people of the older age group, but osteoarthritis "begins" much earlier, even at the age of 35-40. Gonarthrosis with severe symptoms significantly disrupts the entire lifestyle, so it is important to consult a doctor at the first manifestations of the knee joints and receive timely treatment.
Causes of osteoarthritis
We can say that osteoarthritis of the knee joint is a disease, on the one hand, due to lifestyle, on the other, age.
The immediate (internal) causes of osteoarthritis are:
- past injuries in the joint area (sports, domestic and others),
- inflammatory diseases of the musculoskeletal system (arthritis),
- metabolic diseases (diabetes mellitus),
- common orthopedic defects of the lower limbs, including flat feet and flatfoot, X-shaped deformities of the legs; these defects violate the correct movements of the knee joints, leading to their deformation and degeneration of the joint tissues.
Factors (external, individual) that provoke osteoarthritis:
- overweight, obesity,
- female,
- age,
- constant heavy loads (work in a standing position, monotonous movements of the joints with weights during the working day).
Under the influence of external and internal factors, degeneration and aging of the knee joint begin, all its structures are involved in the process: bones, cartilage, synovial membrane, joint capsule, ligaments.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis
Manifestations of the knee joints are directly related to the stage of osteoarthritis. The more pathological changes in the joint and adjacent tissues, the more pronounced the symptoms.
- In the initial stages, a person may be bothered by discomfort, mild pain after physical activity, which passes by itself.
- Over time (from 1 year to several years), the pain intensifies, becomes permanent, joint movements are limited, a characteristic "creak", "creak" appears during movement.
- In the final stage of gonarthrosis, movements are severely limited, the joint is visually deformed, walking is difficult and serious complications can develop up to complete immobility ("joint mice", joint fusion, etc. ).
Diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the knee joints
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint is detected using the available diagnostic methods:
- Ultrasound of the knee joint allows you to assess the condition of the cartilage and bone surface of the joint, the surrounding soft tissues; it is of particular importance in the initial stages of osteoarthritis, as it helps to identify pathological changes even before the onset of severe symptoms;
- radiography is also one of the main diagnostic methods, but it is not always available, in addition, it is associated with radiation exposure of the body;
- to clarify the diagnosis or identify the features of the course of the disease, MRI, CT and arthroscopy are also used.
Treatment of gonarthrosis
In arthrosis of the knee joint, various methods of exposure are used:
- drug therapy, including intra-articular administration of drugs,
- traction (discharge) therapy,
- physiotherapy, classical and innovative methods,
- physiotherapy and massage,
- manual therapy,
- autoplasm therapy (PRP therapy).
The combination of these methods, selected by the doctor, can reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis, stop inflammation and degeneration of the joint, maintain its mobility and freedom of movement.
The initial stages of osteoarthritis
In the initial stages of the disease, drugs with an analgesic and restorative effect (NSAIDs, chondroprotectors, vitamins) are used, they are prescribed by a doctor. In addition, a variety of orthopedic devices are used: insoles, shoe inserts, special shoes). Physiotherapy, manual massage, physiotherapy exercises give a good effect.
A noticeable effect of treatment does not occur immediately, but if the doctor's recommendations are followed, the condition improves.
Progressive osteoarthritis
Here, more serious measures are needed, in such cases the doctor can resort to minimally invasive interventions: arthroscopy, introduction of enriched plasma into the joint (PRP therapy).
In severe forms of osteoarthritis, severe pain, with concomitant synovitis (accumulation of excess intra-articular fluid), corticosteroids are injected into the joint, which leads to quick pain relief. The method is considered one of the most effective, and if the intervention is performed correctly, there are no complications (it is rarely possible to increase pain as a reaction to the drug, a negative effect on cartilage and some others).
Among the surgical methods that preserve the functionality and mobility of the joint, the operations of arthroplasty, arthroscopy and endoprosthesis deserve attention.
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee in a professional clinic
In a modern and professional clinic, experienced surgeons and arthrologists conduct appointments. The clinic uses an individual approach for each patient, conducts accurate diagnostics using expert-class equipment (ultrasound), selects the optimal combination of treatment methods, taking into account the stage of osteoarthritis and the main symptoms, and timely prescribes drugs to reduce the painful manifestations.
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint is rightly considered an age-related disease, but its development can be prevented or slowed down if the condition of the joints is assessed in time and therapy is carried out (for preventive or therapeutic purposes).
The professional clinic provides physiotherapeutic procedures (electrophoresis, darsonval, massage, acupuncture) and minimally invasive interventions (arthroscopy, intra-articular injections) that improve the condition of the joints, courses of support drugs are prescribed to help consolidate and prolong the effect of the main therapy, prevent exacerbation.