When you walk or run, our knee joints experience constant stress and strain, which often causes pain. The most common referral topic to healthcare professionals is knee pain. The standard diagnosis after a physical examination is the initial stage of osteoarthritis of the knee joints. How to determine the cause of pain and what should be done to eliminate it?
Unfortunately, it is impossible to fully and clearly answer these questions that concern almost everyone. Knee problems are so diverse, and the reasons for their occurrence are so numerous that one should not rush to conclusions.
Today we will talk about the most common of these reasons, the consequence of which is a pathology such as the initial stage of osteoarthritis. In addition, we will explain its symptoms as well as methods of prevention and treatment.
The leading cause of knee osteoarthritis
There is another medical term for such a joint lesion without an inflammatory process - this is gonarthrosis. It is gonarthrosis that can then lead to deformity and destruction of the articular cartilage, which includes a pain syndrome and restricts its mobility.
The cause of knee osteoarthritis, or gonarthrosis, can be divided into 2 stages:
- beginner, i. e. one who arose as a result of an existing common pathology;
- secondary, i. e. one born as a result of acquired injuries or infections.
Let us dwell on stage 1. This form of initial pathology is quite common and can appear at a very early age. It is not caused by the natural formation of the superficial tissue of a person's joints or ligament apparatus. Quite it is quite natural that when you walk, the degenerative joint is disproportionately loaded, this causes pain and devastating consequences.
Phase 2 involves all damage and mechanical effects of varying degrees of health damage. These can be bruising, fractures, sprains and dislocations of the knee joint. The consequences of surgery are possible, which undoubtedly leads to the destruction of the integrity of the knee. A high rate of sports load, excess weight that does not correspond to the proportions of the body - all these are factors that provoke the initial stages of knee osteoarthritis.
By the way, excess weight not only provokes the disease, but also creates an unfavorable background that contributes to the formation of excessive pressure on the knees in the cartilage of the article and completely disrupts metabolism.
At the same time, fluid accumulates in the articular cavities of the knee, which leads to additional complications, which also return to the osteoarthritis stage. We add here any previous leg surgery or disease accompanied by prolonged spasms of blood vessels or leg muscles - deformity is inevitable!
Usually, unilateral gonarthrosis develops due to traumatic effects on the knees or hip joint. If this is the effect of excess weight, then it is bilateral.
Main Signs of Knee Osteoarthritis
This process does not happen immediately. Usually, for a long time, at first, a person feels little discomfort in the area of the knee joints, and only after years these sensations develop into severe pain. People over 40, who suffer from overweight and have extra loads in the form of varicose veins, are prone to the initial stage of osteoarthritis of the knee joints much earlier.
Let's look at the traditional sequence of stages of this disease:
- Long or beginner. A period of one to several years is common. From time to time, not very sharp pains are observed in moments of stress in the knees.
- Second or critical stage. Here there is already a characteristic characteristic association of crushing of any sharp movement of the knee joint. The volume of his motor activity decreases and is visually determined by an increase in the knee, which indicates its deformation and possible accumulation of fluid in the joint cavity.
- The final stage of osteoarthritis of the knee joints, accordingly, will be characterized by an acute painful condition of the knee joints even at rest. At this time, the stage of osteoarthritis becomes chronic, a person reacts with pain to any weather phenomenon and his gait acquires a specific "duck", "shaking" movement. In this case, the patient's legs at this stage are bent.
In the case of osteoarthritis of the knee due to an injury, all of these stages listed above begin to pass even faster.
Prevention and treatment of the initial stage of knee osteoarthritis
It should be borne in mind that absolutely all therapeutic measures will depend entirely on the degree of knee injury. At the same time, the effectiveness of treatment can be achieved only if the cause of osteoarthritis is eliminated. If this process is at an early stage of formation, then a complete cure is possible! With an advanced chronic process, it is initially possible to achieve only a more or less prolonged phase of rest of the diseased organ.
To restore deformed cartilage, strengthen ligaments and increase motor activity in the joints, it is necessary to undergo a complex therapy. This includes not only medication but also manual massage, physiotherapy procedures and, if absolutely necessary, surgery.
The choice of medication in no case should be independent, as self-medication for such a complex disease is fraught with serious consequences. The main focus of medication treatment is the elimination of pain, localization of the inflammatory process and neutralization of the osteoarthritis stage. For this purpose, special preparations may be prescribed for insertion into the knee joint cavity. The appointment of hormonal drugs is not excluded.
For active blood circulation to the affected area, tools are used to relieve vascular spasms and relax muscles. Furthermore, preparations are prescribed for vitamin replenishment and restoration of cartilage tissue.
The complex of preventive measures and for the treatment of the initial stage of knee osteoarthritis should include a relaxing manual massage. With its help, an increase in the volume of movement is achieved, the removal of spasm and an increase in blood circulation, the position of the joints and bones, including the hip bones, is corrected.
If the initial stage has long developed into irreversible damage to the knee joints, then in this case, a radical correction of the deformed organ is performed, i. e. , implantation (prosthesis). Today there is and is actively used only 1 way to replace a broken joint - to install a metal endoprosthesis. Such an implant is not at all sustainable, and its cost is so high that there is no need to talk about the mass implementation of this method.
Important!If you still decide to go to the operating table, keep in mind that knee replacement and rehabilitation are interrelated. You will have to work hard to recover to a good level.
Treatment of the initial stage of osteoarthritis also includes a complex of rehabilitation therapy, which includes absolutely the entire range of spa treatment - from physiotherapy and physiotherapy exercises to kinesitherapy. The concept of kinesiotherapy includes exercises specially designed using loads of varying degrees of severity and medical simulations.
If necessary, it is recommended to reduce the pressure on the knee with a cane, crutch or orthosis - the so-called knee pads that soften the load during movement. A large number of simple and complex recipes of traditional medicine are used successfully in the treatment of any stage of osteoarthritis.
They can be various compresses and ointments based on natural ingredients from animal hair and medical gall to herbal preparations. Mostly, the prescription of traditional medicine is quite effective, as it aims at eliminating the symptoms of knee joint disease and eliminating painful sensations.
Additional prevention methods
First, it is a complete and well-balanced diet. The diet, in addition to protein and carbohydrates, should contain the optimal content of vitamins and trace elements. At the same time, it is strongly recommended that you avoid bad habits and try to get your weight back to normal.
General nutritional guidelines for preventing osteoarthritis are as follows:
- avoid red meat;
- rejection of high fat foods;
- the use of jelly meat and similar dishes containing cartilage and a gelatinous substance as part of their recipe;
- increase the consumption of clean spring water up to 2. 5 liters or more;
- complete rejection of alcoholic beverages and regular intake of vitamins A, D and B.
It is highly recommended that you switch your wardrobe to exclude uncomfortable shoes from it, for example, worn heels on one side or high heels. Watch your postures to avoid crossing or crossing your legs in a sitting position. Protect your joints from prolonged cold and, moreover, from hypothermia. Avoid stressful situations and do not worry about small things.
Try to lead a healthy lifestyle in which the body will be in good shape. In addition, such physical activity is extremely important, which would correspond to the condition of the knees and hip joints. Strong for this reason that self-control and extra care are needed when playing sports, before lifting weights or performing certain exercises intensively.
The most important preventive condition after ascertaining the initial stage of the disease is to prevent its further development, as if the process begins, it can lead to disability. In the case of early detection of osteoarthritis and preventive measures to prevent it, the probability of a complete cure is high.
Be sure to consult your doctor before treating illnesses. This will help to take into account individual tolerance, to confirm the diagnosis, to ensure that the treatment is correct and to rule out adverse drug interactions. If you use prescriptions without consulting a doctor, then this is entirely at your own risk. All information is provided for informational purposes only and is not a medical aid.