From this article you will learn everything about arthritis of the knee: what it is, why it occurs, what its different stages look like.How to treat and how to prevent the disease.
Knee osteoarthritis (arthrosis) is a degenerative disease of the joints in which cartilage is destroyed, muscles and ligaments are damaged, and bones are deformed.
The disease mainly occurs after the age of 40 (12-16% of people in this age group are affected).Women are twice as likely to get sick than men.Athletes and people who do strenuous physical labor are susceptible to this disease.
Knee arthritis gradually develops and is accompanied by joint pain:
- Decreased range of motion of joints;
- Bone and cartilage tissue grows, interfering with the normal function of the joint.
Over time, this can lead to a complete loss of movement in the joint.If left untreated, this disease can lead to disability.
Conservative treatment of arthritis of the knee is only possible during the initial stages of the process (1 and 2), which allows you to slow down and stop the progression of the pathology.
As the disease progresses, surgical treatment is the only option.Only with endoprosthesis - knee replacement you can completely (100%) eliminate the lesion.
Diagnosis and treatment of knee arthritis are performed by orthopedic traumatologists and other doctors.Based on the signs, schedule a consultation with a rheumatologist.Sports doctors can also identify symptoms of disease.
Causes and types of disease
Knee joint disease can be divided into two types based on the factors that trigger the disease:
Primary (idiopathic)
This type of joint disease affects middle-aged and older adults.The initial stages are diagnosed after the age of 40, and knee joint disease is found in 60% of people over the age of 70.Usually 2 joints are affected at the same time.
Primary arthropathy occurs due to changes in the body that occur with age, worsening circulation and slowing metabolism.Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle increase developmental risks.
secondary form
Secondary - can occur in people of any age and affects 2 joints and 1 joint at the same time.
The reason is:
- The legs are under a lot of pressure.
- Ligament injuries, knee meniscal injuries, intra-articular fractures.
- Diseases in which metabolic processes are disrupted (parathyroid disease, diabetes, hemochromatosis, Wilson's disease, gout, mucopolysaccharidoses and other diseases).
- Connective tissue diseases.
- Inflammatory diseases (infectious and non-infectious synovitis and arthritis), hemophilia (a rare genetic disorder associated with blood clotting disorders).
Next, we will understand in more detail what it is - arthritis of the knee, its extent, what changes in the tissue begin to occur during the pathological process.
Symptoms and Three Stages of Disease
As the disease progresses, the cartilage begins to thin due to heavy loading or lack of nutrients.This causes friction between the bones that connect the knee joint.
Erosion of bone tissue is a protective response of the body - growth begins to form on the bone tissue.All these factors lead to knee joint deformation and limited movement.
The symptoms of knee arthritis are divided into three stages:
| stage | clinical signs | processes that occur in joints |
|---|---|---|
1 |
May be asymptomatic Knee pain may occur in the morning, after squatting, walking up stairs, prolonged exercise, and hypothermia My knees are stiff when I wake up in the morning Synovitis may occur - an accumulation of fluid in the joint, which must be removed by puncture (piercing the cavity with fluid and collecting the fluid) |
The cartilage surface becomes rough and dry Cracks and ulcers appear on it |
| 2 |
Pain occurs with even slight exertion and is more pronounced with active walking. The legs are not fully bent and the joints creak periodically Visual expansion of the knee The risk of synovitis is even increased |
As load on a joint increases, it appears to flatten Osteophyte formation - bone begins to grow Synovial fluid becomes thicker and less nutritious The cartilage destruction process is accelerated |
| 3 |
The pain becomes chronic and bothers the patient even at rest. Neither full flexion nor full extension of the knee is possible increased joint volume Walking becomes difficult and many people begin to use crutches or canes Valgus deformity (X-leg position) or varus deformity (O-leg position) of the leg may occur. |
almost no cartilage tissue Bones deform and "press" against each other, resulting in limited joint movement |
acute form
Acute arthropathy of the knee joint is a period when the disease progresses rapidly and the clinical manifestations are more obvious.
Exacerbations may be due to:
- Too much pressure on the joints;
- low temperature;
- Failure to adhere to prescribed diet;
- Injuried.
Sometimes knee joint disease starts so violently that it seems to bypass the first stage.This may be due to a knee injury.
diagnosis
If you notice stiffness in your joints in the morning or after sitting for long periods of time, as well as pain when walking down stairs or squatting, this may be a sign of stage one knee arthritis.
To make an accurate diagnosis, make an appointment with your general practitioner, who will refer you to an orthopedic or other doctor.
Before treating osteoarthritis or knee joint disease, your doctor will perform an initial examination and palpation of the joint and will also consider:
- Radiographs - will help assess the condition of the joints;
- Ultrasound allows you to determine whether there is an accompanying inflammatory process.
Treatment
When it comes to knee arthritis, its symptoms and treatments are interrelated, as many treatments are specifically aimed at eliminating disturbing signs and improving a person's quality of life.
Take medication, diet, and exercise therapy:
- Slows down the further destruction process of cartilage;
- Prevent the disease from progressing to a more advanced stage.
It is impossible to completely cure the disease, but it is possible to prevent and slow down the progression of the pathology.
diet
The goal of following the diet is to slow further progression of the disease.
What to add to the menu and what to exclude:
| health products | Disable product |
|---|---|
| Rabbit, turkey, chicken, dairy products, eggs (no more than 3 per day, preferably without yolk) - as protein sources |
Fatty meats, sausages, sausages – contribute to weight gain, put extra stress on joints, and interfere with normal synovial fluid formation |
| Fish, especially red varieties, are rich in Omega-3 |
Flour, candy, mayonnaise, fast food – foods that lead to excessive weight gain |
| Aspic made from bone broth, gelatin - contains chondroitin and collagen to help form new cartilage tissue |
According to some versions, cabbage, tomatoes, green peppers, eggplants contain substances that destroy collagen and chondroitin (the "building blocks" of cartilage tissue) However, some studies refute their risk for joint disease |
| Rice, millet and buckwheat contain complex carbohydrates that promote synovial fluid formation |
Egg yolks, cod liver – increase the risk of gout |
| Cottage cheese, cheese - source of calcium |
Coffee – Leach calcium from the body, which is good for bones and joints. |
| Apples, broccoli, beans, pumpkins, zucchini, parsley, dill, cucumbers, carrots, celery, spinach, cereals, currants, grapefruit, pomegranates, papayas, almonds – the healthiest plant-based foods Rich in ingredients that are good for joints |
Alcohol disrupts normal nutritional and metabolic processes in joints |
| Water (1.5-2 liters per day) – helps normalize the metabolism of the body, especially the joints Juice (fruits and vegetables listed above) |
Salt – can make your condition worse |
physical education
If you have knee arthritis, you should perform therapeutic exercises every day.Special exercises help stimulate blood circulation in the joints, thereby preventing further damage to the cartilage.Exercise therapy can also increase the mobility of the affected knee and prevent pain.However, in acute cases of this disease, any gymnastics are contraindicated.
Knee Healing Gymnastics by Dr. Evdokimenko
The goal of this complex therapeutic exercise is to get the muscles around the joint to work without loading them.Gymnastics using the Evdokimenko method shows very good results for knee arthritis.
practise:
- Lie on your stomach with your legs straight and arms at your sides.Lift your straight legs 15 cm off the ground and tighten your buttocks and thigh muscles.Hold this leg position for 30-40 seconds.Put it down.Repeat this movement 1 time with each leg.
- Lift the straight leg 15 cm off the floor and hold for 1-3 seconds.Returns the original location (IP).Repeat 10-12 times on each leg.
- Bend your knees 90 degrees.Raise the bent leg to a height of 10 cm above the floor and hold for 30-40 seconds.Do this 1 time with each leg.Then repeat the same exercise, but hold each leg for 1-3 seconds.Repeat 10-12 times on each leg.
- Lift both straight legs 10-15 cm off the floor.Spread them out to the sides and bring them back.Do this 8 times without lowering your feet to the floor.In this case, the thigh muscles should work as hard as possible.
- Lying next to you.Bend your calves at the knees.Keep the top straight and raise it 45 degrees above the floor.Stay this way for 30-40 seconds.Perform 1 exercise per leg.
- Sit on a chair.Extend your legs as straight as possible at the knees.Hold for 30 seconds.Lift each leg 2-4 times.
- stand up.Lean back.Stand on tiptoes.Hold for 30-60 seconds.Return IP.
- Stand on your tiptoes and hold this position for 1-3 seconds.Return IP.Repeat this action 10-12 times.
- Place your right foot completely on the floor.Stand on the toes of your left foot.Smoothly lift your right foot up to your toes, then lower your left heel to the floor.Roll like this 10-12 times.
This author’s gym class was more intense than the last one’s.This is possible only when the first signs of knee joint disease appear.Always consult your doctor before starting to practice on your own.
If you feel severe pain while performing the movement, stop immediately.
surgical method
Since it is impossible to cure knee arthritis with a completely conservative approach, in severe cases, doctors will resort to surgery.
One of the most effective is knee replacement, which replaces the joint's friction surfaces with artificial ones.
The recovery period after endoprosthesis surgery is 3 to 6 months.
The following surgical procedures are also performed:
- Arthroplasty - Orthopedic surgery to restore the normal structure of a joint;
- Corrective Osteotomy – Corrects the valgus or varus deformity of the leg that may occur with advanced arthrosis.
folk remedies
Homemade remedies can be a perfect complement to traditional remedies.
However, before using folk remedies to treat your knee joints, consult your doctor, as some natural ingredients may have contraindications or may not be combined with the medications you are prescribed.
Here are some effective and time-tested recipes:
- Cow Hoof and Achyranthes Knee – Helps restore cartilage tissue.Cook them for several hours.Drink 100 ml of broth before each meal.
- Honey, Apple Cider Vinegar – Relieves swelling and pain.Mix the ingredients in a 3 to 1 ratio.At night, apply the dressing and leave it on for 30 minutes.
- Jerusalem artichoke - helps relieve pain.Pour 350 g of chopped Jerusalem artichoke leaves and stems into 2 liters of boiling water.Cool to room temperature.Soak a gauze bandage in the infusion and apply it to the sore joint.
prevention
Preventive measures are very simple:
- Exercise, but don't put too much pressure on your knees.Never drive on asphalt.Special tracks or dirt roads are suitable for running.
- Avoid knee injuries or treat them promptly.If bruises and sprains occur, contact a traumatologist immediately and follow all of his recommendations.
- Eat right.
- Give up bad habits.
predict
Arthropathy is a disease that cannot be completely cured by conservative methods.
However, don't despair.If you follow all of your doctor's recommendations closely, you can avoid complications, reduce pain, and improve your joint's range of motion.
Do not put off seeing a specialist, because in its later stages, the disease can lead to deformities and disability in the legs.Modern medicine treats them through surgery.