Gonarthrosis, or osteoarthritis of the knee joint, is a very common disease. Such a diagnosis is most often made to people of the advanced age group, but arthrosis "begins" much earlier, even at the age of 35-40 years. Gonarthrosis with severe symptoms significantly disrupts the entire way of life, so it is important to consult a doctor at the first manifestations of the knee joints and receive timely treatment.
Causes of osteoarthritis
It can be said that arthrosis of the knee joint is a disease, on the one hand, due to lifestyle, on the other hand, to age.
The immediate (internal) causes of osteoarthritis are:
- past injuries in the joint area (sports, household and others),
- inflammatory diseases of the musculoskeletal system (arthritis),
- metabolic diseases (diabetes mellitus),
- common orthopedic defects of the lower limbs, including flat feet and valgus foot, X-shaped deformity 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) provoking osteoarthritis:
- overweight, obesity,
- female,
- age,
- heavy constant 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.
Osteoarthritis symptoms
Manifestations of the knee joints are directly related to the stage of arthrosis. The more pathological changes in the joint and adjacent tissues, the more pronounced the symptoms.
- In the early stages, a person may be disturbed by discomfort, slight pain after physical activity, passing on its own.
- Over time (from 1 year to several years), the pain intensifies, becomes permanent, joint movements are limited, a characteristic "crunch", "crunch" appears when moving.
- 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 mouse", joint fusion, etc. ).
Diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the knee joints
Arthrosis of the knee joint is detected using available diagnostic methods:
- Ultrasound of the knee joint allows you to assess the condition of the cartilage and bone surface of the joint, surrounding soft tissues; is particularly important in the early stages of osteoarthritis, as it helps to identify pathological changes even before serious symptoms appear;
- x-ray is also one of the main diagnostic methods, but is not always available, moreover, it is associated with body exposure to radiation;
- to clarify the diagnosis or identify 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:
- pharmacotherapy, including intra-articular administration of drugs,
- traction therapy (unloading),
- physiotherapy, classic and innovative methods,
- physiotherapy and massages,
- manual therapy,
- autoplasma therapy (PRP therapy).
The combination of these methods, selected by the doctor, can reduce the symptoms of arthrosis, stop inflammation and degeneration of the joint, maintain its mobility and range of motion.
The early stages of osteoarthritis
In the early 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
More serious measures are needed here, in these cases the doctor can resort to minimally invasive interventions - arthroscopy, the introduction of enriched plasma into the joint (PRP therapy).
In severe forms of arthrosis, severe pain, with concomitant synovitis (accumulation of excess intra-articular fluid), corticosteroids are injected into the joint, which leads to rapid pain relief. The method is considered one of the most effective, and if the procedure is performed correctly, there are no complications (it is rarely possible to increase pain as a reaction to the drug, a negative effect on the cartilageand a few others).
Among the surgical methods that preserve the functionality and range of motion of the joint, arthroplasty, arthroscopy and endoprosthesis operations deserve attention.
Treatment of knee osteoarthritis in a professional clinic
In a professional and modern clinic, experienced surgeons and arthrologists provide appointments. The clinic uses an individual approach to each patient, performs accurate diagnostics using expert-class equipment (ultrasound), selects the optimal combination of treatment methods, taking into account the stage of arthrosis and the mainsymptoms, and timely prescribed medication to reduce painful manifestations.
Arthrosis of the knee joint is rightfully 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 (atpreventive or therapeutic purposes).
The professional clinic offers physiotherapy procedures (electrophoresis, darsonval, massage, acupuncture) and minimally invasive interventions (arthroscopy, intra-articular injections) that improve the condition of the joints, supportive drug treatments are prescribed to help consolidateand to prolong the effect of the main therapy, prevent exacerbation.