arthritis

Most of the time, the disease occurs in older patients, especially women. Joint pain with arthropathy is caused by dystrophic changes in the cartilage, which coats the articular surfaces of bones. First, blood circulation in the blood vessels supplying the cartilage deteriorates. Then the cartilage coating starts to thin out, completely wiped away. The bones inside the knee joint are exposed. As a result, when walking, they rub against each other, causing severe pain.

Over the years, bone growths begin to appear in the joints. They cause the development of deformation, the bending of the legs.

Causes of knee joint disease

Knee arthropathy of the knee joint occurs due to various reasons. It is customary to distinguish two forms of it:

• basic;
• Minor.

Primary arthropathy usually occurs in older people. It appears due to:

• Violation of metabolic processes;
• obesity;
• genetic predisposition;
• Take hormonal medicines.

The predominant form affects both knee joints at a time and is called bilateral knee arthropathy. But in some cases, the inflammatory process first covers one knee and spreads to the second knee several years later.

In contrast, secondary arthropathy is always unilateral. It is called:

• Heavy physical labor and exercise will put a burden on the left and right knee joints;
• Trauma (ligament rupture, dislocation, knee cavity hemorrhage, meniscus injury, intra-articular fracture, etc. ).
• surgery on the knee joint;
• Joint inflammation/swelling.

Symptoms of knee joint disease

Common symptoms of knee joint disease include:

• severe pain in the knee when moving;
• Knee joint dysfunction;
• Knee swelling;
• lame
• joint stiffness;
• The affected joint is unstable.

Deformation (bending) of the legs is also characteristic of later stages of the disease.

In most cases, knee arthropathy develops slowly and goes through four consecutive stages.

Class I Knee Knee Arthropathy is characterized by:

• Significant pain in knee when squatting when going up/down stairs.
• "Start" pain at the beginning of the movement.
• Limit mobility.
• The discomfort disappears when the patient "diversifies".
• Knee pain after strenuous exercise.
• The knee looks healthy or slightly swollen.
• There may be manifestations of synovitis (inflammation of the lining so fluid starts to form in the joint).

Bilateral Knee Arthropathy of the Second Degree Knee has the following symptoms:

• The pain becomes more severe.
• The discomfort when squatting and walking increases sharply.
• The pain is localized to the inside of the knee and gradually disappears with rest.
• Knee crunch.
• The joint expands and fluid begins to build up inside it (synovitis).
• Intra-articular fluid may fill the popliteal fossa at the back of the joint (Baker's cyst).
• Individual joint areas are hot to the touch.
• Stiffness may disappear after the body has warmed up.
• A change in the shape of the leg (bending) in the knee area.

For third-degree arthropathy, the following symptoms are characteristic:

• Pain plagued day and night, while resting and walking. Patients must look for positions that reduce the severity of pain symptoms.
• Joints are difficult to straighten and bend. His movement is restricted. Legs cannot be fully extended.
• O-shaped or X-shaped deformities of the lower extremities can be formed.
• The knee joint was significantly enlarged and deformed. There was obvious synovitis.
• The patient's gait became unstable and wobbly, and he had to use crutches/crutches, resorting to external assistance during movement.

There is also fourth degree arthropathy of the knee joint. Clinically, orthopedists refer to this as the third stage of the disease. It can only be determined by taking an X-ray.

In the fourth degree, the articular surfaces of the bones are deformed so much that there are almost no gaps, and it is impossible to have no gaps. The patient has been in pain.

If you experience similar symptoms, contact your doctor immediately. It is easier to prevent disease than to deal with the consequences.

Diagnosis of knee joint disease

Diagnosis of the disease involves questioning the patient, examining the inflamed joint, examining its volume, and assessing mobility. If knee disease is suspected, an orthopaedic surgeon may prescribe instrumentation:

• radiography. For arthropathy, radiographs show narrowing of the fissures, thinning of bone tissue and its subchondral compaction, and ossification of the articular cartilage. There may be osteophytes - bones that grow along the edges of cartilage.
• Ultrasound diagnosis of knee joint.
• Arthroscopy. During the study, the surgeon inserted a special tiny camera attached to the arthroscope into the joint through a puncture. Images of all parts of the study area appear on the screen.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It can assess the extent of damage to the knee joint.
• A blood test is an aid in diagnosis and does not always provide a complete clinical picture. The truth is, with knee joint disease, it may not be possible to identify signs of inflammation in the blood.

Treatment of knee joint disease

drug

In the treatment of knee arthropathy, the following drug groups are used:

• Anti-inflammatory (drug;
• painkiller;
• Chondroprotectant (ensures restoration of damaged cartilage tissue).

They are delivered in different forms - ointment, cream, gel, tablet, capsule, intra-articular and intramuscular injection.

orthopedics

Orthopedic treatment of pathology involves the use of special devices to minimize the load on the affected joint:

• Orthopedic insoles for shoes
• Orthotics (special rigid knee braces that limit the mobility of the affected joint),
• cane.

Operation

The treatment of third-degree knee arthropathy is surgical. Indications for endoprostheses are:

• uncontrollable pain,
• Significant dysfunction of the knee and hip joints.

Implantation time is 2-3 hours. Before the prosthesis is installed, the broken part of the joint and the posterior part of the patella are removed and the axis of the leg is aligned. Ligaments are restored if necessary. When the endoprosthesis is installed, the wound is sutured.

During the first few hours after surgery, the patient cannot feel the lower extremities due to anesthesia. The recovery period is long - 3-4 months.

Arthroplasty is not possible if the patient has osteoporosis (weakness and fragility of the bones).

Other Ways to Treat Arthropathy

For knee joint disease, as an adjunct therapy, the following methods can be used:

• manual therapy;
• massage;
• acupuncture;
• leech therapy;
• physiotherapy;
• Exercise therapy.

Exercise therapy for joint disease

Exercises for knee arthropathy are individually selected. Their regular implementation allows you to strengthen the muscles around the inflamed joints and improve blood circulation in the pathological area. They should be performed supine or seated.

During the first few days, treatment exercises for knee arthropathy should not exceed 10 minutes. Gradually, the class time should be increased to half an hour. It is important to perform all movements smoothly to ensure that the pain does not increase.

General exercises include:

• Raise the straight leg to a height of 15-20 cm above the ground and hold that position for the longest time.
• Raise the straight leg to a height of 15-20 cm, then gradually lower back to the original position.
• Bend your legs and sit on a chair.

Any squats and long walks are prohibited without prior consultation with an orthopaedic surgeon.

The characteristics of arthropathy treatment depend on the extent of the disease

Treatment of first-degree knee osteoarthropathy

Level 1 of the disease is the easiest. Patients are assigned:

• massage.
• physiotherapy.
• Physical therapy program.

In the case of obesity, weight loss is necessary. For this, special diets are observed.

Treatment of Second Degree Knee Knee Arthropathy

Pathological comprehensive treatment includes:

• Do the exercises your therapist recommends.
• Take anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs, chondroprotectants, and introduce hyaluronic acid into the joints.
• Phytotherapy procedure (if there is no obvious inflammatory process).
• Weight normalization.

Treatment of Third Degree Knee Arthropathy

The treatment of third-degree pathology is similar to the measures used in the second stage of the disease. However, in the absence of the desired effect, the patient is advised to use a surgical approach.

If we are talking about the onset of the third degree, part of the damaged cartilage and bone growth can be removed. Doctors use arthroscopy to examine the knee joint cavity and study the extent of the problem.

Corrective osteotomy is required if areas of healthy tissue are preserved. In this surgery, the doctor corrects the shape of the bone by breaking the bone. Then he installs a special plate that allows you to hold the limb in the correct position.

The second method of surgical treatment is an endoprosthesis - a procedure that replaces the entire knee joint or parts of it with a prosthesis.

Treating Knee Arthropathy with Folk Remedies

Folk recipes only help to achieve good results in stages 1 and 2 of the disease. When the cartilage tissue is destroyed and the joint is severely deformed, there is nothing they can do.

banyan tincture

Prepare the solution according to the recipe:

• Skip the ficus leaves through the meat grinder.
• Put in a glass dish.
• Add 100 ml of vodka.
• Cover and let stand for 3 weeks.
• Store the prepared liquid in the refrigerator. Rub the joint with the tincture once a day for 10 days.

Clay Compression

• Place the blue/red clay in a glass dish.
• Thin with water to the consistency of sour cream.
• Spread the clay on linen/cotton fabric about 1. 5-2 cm thick.
• Apply to affected joints.
• Secure with a bandage and wrap in a towel.
• Compress 2-3 times a day. The treatment time was 1. 5 weeks.

dandelion tincture

• Fill a mason jar with dandelion flowers.
• There is a triple cologne on top.
• Close the lid.
• Store in a dark place for a month.
• After the prescribed time, strain the tincture. Rub her knees 2 times a day.

Apple Cider Vinegar for Knee Arthritis

• Mix 6 tablespoons apple cider vinegar with 2 tablespoons natural honey.
• Apply the mixture to the joint area.
• Top with cabbage leaves.
• Wrap in plastic wrap and scarf.
• It is best to apply the compress at night. Remove the leaves when they are completely dry. The course of treatment is about 4 weeks.

Garlic with Celery and Lemon

• 250g celery, 120g garlic, 3 lemons chopped, mix. Transfer to a three-liter jar and pour in boiling water.
• Cover with a warm blanket.
• After cooling, 70 ml should be taken before meals, 1 time a day, after a few days - 2-3 times a day.

arthritis diet

The Knee Arthropathy diet is designed to normalize weight, fight obesity, and saturate the body with nutrients. If the patient manages to lose weight, the pain becomes less noticeable because there is less pressure on the joint. In this case, you should not starve or resort to a single diet. Nutrition must be balanced.

Protein helps restore cartilage in joints. Their patients can get it from lean meat, cheese, cottage cheese, fish, lentils, beans, buckwheat. Can be used in arthritic jelly made from bone broth as it contains a lot of collagen.

Carbohydrates should be obtained by eating vegetables and fruits. Fats should be mostly plant-based. A small amount of butter is allowed. Vitamins, especially the B group, are very important for improving the patient's condition. They are found in eggs, beans, bananas, dairy products, cabbage, nuts and lentils.

Alcohol consumption associated with knee joint disease is prohibited. Not only does it have a negative effect on the entire body, but it also increases appetite, which is not desirable.

risk of knee disease

With primary and secondary arthropathy, we're not talking about disability. The third stage of the disease can be disabling, when joint function is completely lost and unassisted movement becomes impossible.

It should be understood that knee arthropathy is an evolving chronic condition. For a good prognosis, it is necessary to choose the right medication and to exercise regularly.

Arthritis risk group

Risk groups for arthritis include:

• professional dancer;
• athlete;
• builders, loaders, miners;
• a person with a genetic predisposition;
• obese;
• Postural disturbance;
• suffer a fracture;
• Ligament joint device deformity;
• Suffering from hormonal, rheumatoid and metabolic diseases.

prevent arthritis

To reduce the risk of developing knee arthropathy, the following recommendations should be followed:

• do physical education
• avoid excessive physical activity;
• Weight control;
• Seek qualified medical assistance for joint injuries, inflammatory diseases;
• Do not get too cold (if there is a problem, warm knee pads are recommended);
• drink 2 liters of water a day;
• wear comfortable shoes;
• Avoid stressful situations.

This article is published for educational purposes only and does not constitute scientific material or professional medical advice.