Arthritis is the most common disease of all musculoskeletal diseases. The knee is particularly vulnerable to injury, because the knee bears a great burden. Let us take a closer look at what is knee arthritis and how to treat it.
Disease characteristics
Arthritis of the knee joint is a pathology associated with the development of the process of degenerative dystrophy in the cartilage tissue of these joints. As the disease progresses, the disease not only affects the cartilage itself, but also other tissues, including ligaments and the muscles around the joints. Over time, a process that destroys bones may develop.
Risk Group
With age, the body will encounter various difficulties, leading to malnutrition of tissues and accelerated wear. Under the influence of mechanical, biochemical and other factors, the cartilage tissue gradually began to deteriorate, and further developed into arthritis of the right knee joint or left joint.
With age, the frequency of diagnosis of this pathology increases. Women are particularly susceptible to gonorrhea due to physical characteristics and hormonal changes.
Athletes and people whose jobs are also associated with weightlifting and continuous weight bearing on the legs are also at risk.
Generally, the following risk categories can be distinguished:
- seniors;
- athlete;
- People with knee injuries;
- Patients undergoing knee surgery; Sedentary;
- Obesity;
- Related to manual labor or the need to stand up frequently;
- Patients suffering from endocrine diseases; People with hormonal imbalance;
- leads an unhealthy lifestyle;
- Congenital disease with musculoskeletal system.
When entering the risk group, you must regularly monitor the condition of your joints and take preventive measures.
Reason for development
If we talk about the specific causes of malnutrition processes in cartilage tissue, they are related to people's daily life in many ways. Existing health problems also play a role.
The main causes of gonorrhea are:
- Harm. Any injuries to the knee and nearby tissues, namely bruises, dislocations, tears and sprains, cracks, fractures, etc. Consequences may occur after the injured area is completely healed.
- Congenital diseases. For example, this includes joint instability, bending, and other developmental and dysfunction related to the structural characteristics of human bones.
- Age changes. Gradually, the cartilage tissue gradually wears away, and calcium is flushed out of the bone. The older a person is, the more obvious these processes are.
- Obesity. Excess weight slows down the metabolic process and causes excessive stress on the limbs. Obese people almost always have foot problems.
- Endocrine diseases.The unhealthy state of the endocrine system can cause hormonal imbalance and abnormal metabolism.
- Operational intervention. It has a particularly strong effect on the operation of the meniscus. After removal, it will develop into gonorrhea in 90% of cases.
- Pressure. Strong emotional experience will have a negative impact on the state of the entire organism, including the various elements of the musculoskeletal system.
- Tissue malnutrition. These processes are usually related to impaired blood circulation, because all the necessary nutrients are provided through the blood vessels in the tissues.
- Heavy objects.Lifting heavy objects, running and jumping incorrectly, violating physical exercise skills, standing for long periods of time-all of which put a heavy burden on one’s legs.
If you do not take measures to prevent the effects of these causes, many problems with the musculoskeletal system and other body systems will represent the cost of this negligent health treatment.
Show symptoms
First of all, the disease is asymptomatic or only occasionally anxious. Usually, after staying in a posture for a long time or a day of intense work, the knees begin to sore. Since these signs are not annoying and disappear completely after a break, a person will not immediately realize that he has a serious health problem.
Gradually, the discomfort increases and severe pain appears. They are painful in nature, but they may become sharp and sudden when moving. As the disease progresses, discomfort increases.
Other symptoms of gonorrhea are:
- Decreased knee joint exercise ability;
- The appearance of rattling when moving;
- Tissue swelling and hyperemia;
- Curved limbs.
The desire to relieve pain is usually the main stimulus for referral to the clinic. The sooner you perform this operation, the more chance you have to stop the pathological process. Otherwise, the change will become irreversible, and the problem cannot be solved by conservative methods.
In some cases, an increase in temperature was observed. This phenomenon is rarely observed, and it indicates a strong inflammatory process. It may be caused by an infection, for example, if you recently injured your leg.
Pathology type
In medical practice, the disease has a special classification.
There are several types of knee arthritis:
- Left or Right. It is only on one side, that is, it affects the left or right knee. In most cases, this condition is observed after a limb injury.
- Double-sided. At the same time, pathological processes occurred in both legs. In most cases, the symmetrical development of this disease is typical, because the internal processes of the human body have a huge impact.
- Main. It develops into an independent disease. Precipitating factors include lifestyle errors, stress, and age-related changes.
- Auxiliary. Gonorrhea becomes the result of another disease of the musculoskeletal system and the systems closely related to it. This category also includes trauma to the limbs.
It is also necessary to distinguish arthritis. This disease involves muscles and ligaments, and joints move as a result.
Another important category is knee hyperarthritis. This is the name of the gradual degradation process of cartilage. In the final stage, there is obvious metamorphic gonorrhea. It is worth discussing the developmental stages of pathology in more detail.
Progressive stage
There are four main stages of knee arthritis. Each of them is characterized by more pronounced manifestations of the disease and the emergence of new negative processes.
- Phase 1. Discomfort may occasionally occur, but after resting and exercising the legs, the discomfort will disappear. The diagnosing doctor has still not noticed the changes in the tissue structure, but the nutrition of the cartilage has been destroyed, gradually causing the development of pathology.
- Phase 2. The pain becomes annoying and the cartilage becomes noticeably thinner, resulting in a narrowing of the joint space. There is a typical crunch, and the movement is accompanied by an unpleasant feeling.
- The third to fourth stages. X-ray pictures clearly show the changes that have occurred in the joints. The cartilage tissue has worn away, the bones begin to deform at the friction point, some areas are covered with osteophytes, and there are salt deposits. All these hinder the movement of the legs and cause the strongest constant pain.
If primary gonorrhea can be completely eliminated through economical methods and the health of the limbs can be completely restored, the third to fourth stages are irreversible, and conservative treatment is not actually appropriate. This is why it is important to seek help from medical institutions as early as possible.
Consequences and possible complications
Regarding the consequences of gonorrhea, if appropriate measures are taken in time, there is initially no special risk to human health. Of course, knee inflammation can cause some discomfort, but the symptoms and the malnutrition process itself can still be eliminated.The more patients ignore the problem, the more they will be ignored. In the second stage, the cartilage begins to deteriorate and it is difficult to recover. Severe pain can disrupt a person's daily life and exert psychological pressure.
The main consequences of progressive gonorrhea are:
- Continuous pain;
- Prevent leg movement;
- The formation of bone salt growth;
- Completely destroy hyaline cartilage;
- The pathological process spread to other areas; Participation of muscle equipment;
- Disability.
Main question: Is it possible to walk due to knee joint disease? Exercise helps the whole organism to recover, but this rule is only effective if the disease is detected early.
In the later stages, exercise will only exacerbate the destructive process, so it is recommended that patients stay in bed and wear special orthoses. As the mobility of the legs is deformed and hindered, walking is impaired, that is, the person becomes disabled. This is the main risk for the development of gonorrhea.
Diagnostic rules
In order to prevent such complications and will not be disabled, you must seek help immediately. Orthopedics can provide advice on the treatment of gonorrhea.
The success of further treatment depends to a large extent on the level of detail of the diagnosis. Therefore, the expert prescription for certain examination procedures should not be ignored.
Comprehensive diagnosis of arthritis may include the following methods:
- Laboratory blood tests. Need to determine the deviation from the benchmark index specification. The presence of violations indicates inflammatory processes or other problems that can directly or indirectly refer to joint disease. If necessary, the rheumatism test can be performed separately. It is also important to assess the level of glucose in the blood, because an increase in glucose may indicate a problem with the endocrine system, which also affects the state of the musculoskeletal system and metabolic processes in the body.
- Radiography. This is a mandatory procedure that allows you to consider the condition of the affected area. The image shows the bone area. The degree of cartilage wear is evaluated by the size of the joint gap, the position of each joint component, the presence of external structures and other indicators.
- Ultrasound. Ultrasound can examine the state of soft tissues themselves, including cartilage, in more detail. Ultrasound detects inflammatory processes, solid inclusions and tumor formation.
- MRI. Magnetic resonance imaging is the best way to check the condition of joints. The image clearly shows all the elements of the joints and adjacent soft tissues and blood vessels. The image contains a layered structure, and the process itself occurs dynamically, so the doctor can see everything needed for diagnosis. If MRI is contraindicated, CT can be substituted.
- Arthroscopy. By introducing an arthroscopy into its cavity, the knee can be studied in more detail. The process is less traumatic, so you can proceed without worrying about your health. The camera clearly shows the condition of cartilage and other tissues.
Treatment method
In order to get rid of gonorrhea and its consequences, it is necessary to correctly solve the problem. In each case, only the attending physician can choose the most effective treatment.
In most cases, various drugs and folk methods are used. Some technologies closely overlap each other, for example, various compressions.
If the operation is correct, it may greatly weaken the performance of the disease and restore the health of the legs to a certain extent. Under no circumstances should he hesitate. Otherwise, it would be impossible to do it without strict measures.
Medications
The first thing to start treatment is medication. According to the goals of the plan, it can be divided into several areas:
- Relieve pain. When suffering from joint disease, pain needs to be relieved, which makes most patients need to seek expert help to obtain a list of medications. Severe discomfort requires analgesics, for example, injections in the third stage of gonorrhea.
- Remove inflammation. Since the pain of knee joint arthritis can be relieved by stopping the inflammatory process, over-the-counter steroid anti-inflammatory drugs must be used successfully.
If the situation is ignored, a short course of corticosteroids can be prescribed to enhance the efficacy. - Cartilage repair. It is necessary to stimulate the regeneration of hyaline cartilage and improve its nutrition, and protect it from future destruction. For this, different groups of chondroprotective agents are used. If you consider whether the drug can help the knee arthritis problem, please pay attention to the composition of the drug. The combination of important ingredients is one of the most effective products in this category.
- Improve tissue nutrition. In order to accelerate the recovery process and strengthen the joints, various drugs and additives are prescribed to improve metabolism, stimulate blood circulation and saturate cells with vitamins and minerals.
Only the attending physician is authorized to prescribe and correct medications for knee arthritis. Independent use of drugs is not advisable, only vitamin supplements and certain chondroprotective agents are allowed.
Diet and lifestyle
An important stage in the treatment process is to change your lifestyle, especially your eating habits. Much depends on the severity of the disease, for example, cycling at the beginning of development may be beneficial and stimulate the recovery process.
At the same time, when flexion and extension problems occur, this load will only worsen the patient's condition and worsen the destruction process.
Generally, exercise is encouraged, because exercise helps treat many diseases of the musculoskeletal system. In this case, it is very important to observe the way of rest, not to overload the legs, and to avoid sudden movements.
In particular, I am considering whether I can run in arthritis of the knee joint. It is best to use brisk walking instead of this kind of physical exercise.
If we talk about nutrition, the contraindications of gonorrhea are related to the consumption of alcohol and junk food. It is especially important to exclude fat and salty foods.
Physiotherapy and other procedures
Physical therapy is a mandatory part of treatment. In addition, modern medicine actively uses various manual and non-traditional methods that affect the body. It is recommended to pay attention to these procedures.
- Magnetic therapy. This is one of the techniques of physical therapy. The magnetic effect stimulates the recovery process and enhances the effect of the drug. Electrophoresis can also be used as an alternative method.
- Massage. Qualified experts should take various manual intervention measures based on the diagnosis and prescription of the attending doctor. Massage stimulates the metabolic processes in the tissues, improves leg mobility and relieves discomfort.
- Sham therapy. This is a water ech treatment. Water ches is known for its safe blood purification. They bite the patient’s skin, and saliva is mixed with substances that prevent blood clotting. Such a small amount of bleeding helps to eliminate the inflammatory process, improve tissue nutrition and have an overall health impact on the body.
- Acupuncture. This is one of the methods of reflexology, its essence is to affect not only the affected area but also all over the body. The doctor inserts a special needle into the skin just where it needs to be used to resolve lupus.
Remedial gymnastics
If we carefully observe the treatment with the help of physical exercise, we should first notice that the allowable load standard is set by the expert. It is best to take a group exercise therapy course. Knee exercise is a compulsory course, including during postoperative rehabilitation.
Let us focus on the main directions for gonorrhea:
- Swimming pool. Swimming can relieve the pressure and tension in the legs and help to smoothly solve the problem area. In particular, water aerobic exercise can be used for knee joint disease, especially for overweight people and elderly patients.
- Hiking. There is no doubt whether walking is helpful for gonorrhea, but at the same time walking should be short and regular. However, running is not recommended as a treatment.
- Simulator training. If you have no contraindications, these can be special fitness trainers, such as exercise bikes. They are useful for strengthening muscle and ligament devices.
- Remedial gymnastics. Orthopedics and professional rehabilitation therapists will develop special exercises to help gently train all joints and restore health.
Physical exercise for knee arthritis should be regular and strictly controlled. If your legs are overloaded or skip lessons, there will be no beneficial effects. It is also important to choose the right exercise according to your specific situation. For example, confirm this with the curator in advance, whether it is possible to squat down due to your situation.
Traditional Medicine
In addition, the treatment of knee arthritis at home is closely related to the use of traditional medicine formulations. It is worth remembering that you need to make sure that there are no allergies and other contraindications, and consult a doctor before using one or the other therapies you prepare.
Otherwise, the effect may be opposite, or the effect of home remedies may excessively increase the effect of pharmacy drugs. However, folk methods are still needed because their prices are much lower than most purchased drugs.
For gonorrhea, the following remedies are most commonly used:
- Herbal tea. Infusions and decoctions of bay leaf, chamomile, St. John's wort, Oarrow grass and other medicinal plants are actively used internally and externally. They can relieve inflammation, relieve pain, remove salt, and nourish the body with vitamins and other useful substances.
- Beekeeping products. Propolis, perga, bee plague, wax and honey have a full range of healing properties. This is why the use of honey to treat knee arthritis is so popular. However, it should be remembered that beekeeping products may cause severe allergies, so please make sure to use them safely first.
- Alcohol tincture. It is an excellent treatment for warming and stimulating blood flow, reducing inflammation and improving leg mobility. For joints, white cloves are particularly useful, they must be cleared of green and watered with vodka for two weeks. In addition, the infusion is used to rub the affected area.
- Fresh plants. You can also use nature's original gifts. For example, cattle slightly or cabbage leaves must be gently kneaded and then tied to the knee for at least 10 hours. You can use pre-made compresses, for example, add medical bile, unrefined sunflower oil, honey, etc.
- Animal fat. Add them to homemade creams. To achieve the best consistency, fat must be mixed with beeswax, herbal soup and other ingredients can be added.
Surgery and rehabilitation
Most patients worry about the following questions: If the knee joint arthritis has entered the second to third stages, can it be cured? Unfortunately, it is impossible to restore the health of the cartilage lining, but there is still no solution.
If your knee joint suffers from advanced arthritis, the treatment is divided into surgery and conservative assistive technology. If the cartilage is completely worn out, only surgery can restore the function of the damaged limb.
The best option is to use an endoprosthesis. In this case, the damaged elements of the joint are partially or completely removed, and bolts and surgical cement are used to fix a special prosthesis in its place. Over time, they will become overgrown with bone tissue and will fully bear all the necessary loads.
Since it is not always possible to treat knee arthropathy in this way, arthrodesis can reduce pain and prevent further limb deformation.
If in the first case, the exercise ability of the leg is restored to the greatest extent, the opposite effect will occur during arthrodesis-fix the limb in a certain position and fuse after the bone is cutelement. Therefore, it can only move in one direction.
Disease prevention
In order to prevent the development of the disease, arthritis of the knee joint should be prevented.
To do this, please follow these guidelines:
- Avoid injury;
- Don’t overload your knees;
- Reduce tension;
- Live an active lifestyle;
- Give up bad habits;
- Eat right;
- Track weight;
- Treat other diseases promptly.
First, see a doctor so that you can start fighting this disease in time.