When walking or running, our knee joints experience constant stress and tension, which often causes pain. The most frequently referred topic to health professionals is knee pain. After physical examination, the standard diagnosis is the initial stage of osteoarthritis of the knee joint. How to determine the cause of pain and what to do to eliminate it?
Unfortunately, it is impossible to give an unambiguous answer to these questions, which concern almost everyone. The problems of the knee joint are so diverse that there are so many reasons for them that you should not rush to a conclusion.
Today we will talk about the most common of these causes, the outcome of which is a pathology such as the initial stage of osteoarthritis. In addition, we will explain the symptoms, as well as methods of prevention and treatment.
The main cause of osteoarthritis of the knee joint
There is another medical term for such a joint lesion without an inflammatory process - it is Gonarthrosis. It is gonarthrosis, which can lead to pain syndrome and deformation and destruction of the cartilage of the joints, which restricts mobility.
The cause of osteoarthritis of the knee joint or gonarthrosis can be divided into 2 stages:
- onset, ie resulting from an existing joint pathology;
- secondary, ie resulting from acquired injuries or infections.
Let's stop at the first stage. This primary pathological form is very common and can manifest itself from a very early age. This is due to the natural formation of the surface tissue of the joints or a person's ligament. Disproportionate loading of the degenerative joint during walking leads to completely painful and destructive consequences.
Phase 2 covers all injuries and the mechanical effects of varying degrees of damage to health. These can be bruises, fractures, sprains and dislocations of the knee joint. The results of the operation are possible, and this always leads to a violation of the integrity of the directory. High levels of exercise, obesity that does not match the proportions of the body - all these are factors that trigger the early stages of osteoarthritis of the knee.
By the way, being overweight not only provokes the disease, but also creates an unfavorable background, which contributes to excessive pressure on the articular cartilage in the knees and completely disrupts the metabolism.
At the same time, fluid accumulates in the joint spaces of the knee, which leads to additional complications that turn into the stage of osteoarthritis. We add to this the operations previously performed on the legs or in diseases accompanied by prolonged spasm of blood vessels or leg muscles - deformation is inevitable!
Generally, unilateral gonarthrosis develops due to traumatic effects on the knees or hip joint. If this is the effect of overweight, it is two-sided.
Basic features of the knee joint
This process does not happen immediately. Generally, for a long time, a person initially feels a slight discomfort in the knee joint, and only years later do these feelings turn into severe pain. People over the age of 40 who are overweight and have an additional burden in the form of varicose veins are more prone to the early stages of osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
Let's look at the traditional stage sequence of this disease:
- Long or initial. It is common for a period of one to several years. Occasionally there is no severe pain in the knees during stress.
- Second or critical stage. There is already a noticeable characteristic crunching accompaniment of any sharp movement of the knee joint. The volume of motor activity decreases and an increase in the knee is visually identified, which indicates deformation and possible accumulation of fluid in the joint space.
- The final stage of osteoarthritis of the knee joint, therefore, will be characterized by a sharp painful condition of the knee joint at rest. By this time, the stage of osteoarthritis becomes chronic, the person reacts painfully to any weather event, and gait acquires a certain "duck" movement, "walking". In this case, the patient's legs are bent at this stage.
In the case of osteoarthritis of the knee joint due to injury, all these stages listed above begin to pass faster.
Prevention and treatment of early stage 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 when the cause of osteoarthritis is eliminated. If this process is in the early stages of formation, a complete cure is possible! With a chronically advanced process, it is initially possible to achieve only a more or less prolonged resting phase of the patient's body.
Complex therapy is needed to restore deformed cartilage, strengthen ligaments and increase motor activity in the joint. This includes not only medications, but also hand massage, physiotherapy procedures and, if necessary, surgery.
The choice of medication should never be independent, because self-medication for such a complex disease is fraught with serious consequences. The main direction of drug treatment is to relieve pain, localize the inflammatory process and neutralize the stage of osteoarthritis. For this purpose, special preparations may be prescribed to enter the cavity of the knee joint. Prescribing hormonal drugs is not excluded.
Means are used to relieve vascular spasms and relax muscles for active blood circulation in the affected area. In addition, drugs are prescribed to increase vitamins and restore cartilage tissue.
A set of preventive measures and a soothing hand massage for the treatment of the early stages of knee osteoarthritis should be included. With its help, an increase in the volume of movement, the elimination of spasms and an increase in blood circulation are achieved, the condition of the joints and bones, including the hip bones, is corrected.
If the initial stage has long been irreversible damage to the knee joint, then a radical correction of the deformed organ, ie implantation (prosthesis) is performed. Today, there is only 1 way to replace a destroyed joint - and the metal is actively used to build an endoprosthesis. Such implantation is by no means sustainable, and the cost is so high that there is no need to talk about mass application of this method.
Important!If you still decide to go to the operating table, keep in mind that knee replacement and rehabilitation are interrelated things. You will have to work hard to reach a good level.
Treatment of the early stages of osteoarthritis also includes a complex of rehabilitation therapies that cover the entire spa treatment, from physiotherapy and physiotherapy exercises to kinesitherapy. The concept of kinesiotherapy includes specially designed exercises using different weights and medical simulators.
If necessary, it is recommended to reduce the pressure on the knee with sticks, crutches or orthoses - knee pads that soften the load during movement. Many simple and complex recipes of traditional medicine are successfully used in the treatment of any stage of osteoarthritis.
There can be a variety of compresses and ointments based on natural ingredients, from animal hair and medical bile to herbal preparations. For the most part, prescriptions from traditional medicine are very effective because they aim to relieve the symptoms of knee joint disease and relieve painful sensations.
Additional prevention methods
First of all, it is a complete and balanced diet. In addition to protein and carbohydrates, the diet should contain the optimal content of vitamins and trace elements. At the same time, it is recommended to avoid bad habits and try to bring your weight back to normal.
Here are some general nutrition guidelines for preventing osteoarthritis:
- avoid red meat;
- Refrain from high-fat foods;
- use mixed meat and similar dishes containing a substance with cartilage and gelatin as part of the recipe;
- increase in consumption of pure spring water by 2. 5 liters and more;
- Absolute rejection of alcohol and regular intake of vitamins A, D and B.
It is recommended that you go through your wardrobe to remove uncomfortable shoes, such as one-sided worn-out or high-heeled shoes. Watch your postures to avoid cutting or tying your legs in a sitting position. Protect your joints from prolonged cooling and hypothermia. Avoid stressful situations and do not be irritated by small things.
Try to lead a healthy lifestyle that will keep your body in good shape. In addition, such physical activity, which corresponds to the condition of the knee and hip joints, is extremely important. Therefore, when playing sports, you need to be self-controlled and extra careful before lifting weights or performing an intensive performance in certain exercises.
After determining the initial stage of the disease, the most important preventive condition is to prevent its further development, as the process can lead to disability. There is a high probability of complete cure if preventive measures are taken for the timely detection and prevention of osteoarthritis.
Be sure to consult your doctor before treating the disease. This will help to take into account individual tolerance, confirm the diagnosis, make sure the treatment is correct, and rule out adverse drug interactions. If you use prescriptions without consulting a doctor, it is entirely at your own risk. All information is provided for informational purposes only and is not medical assistance.