Among the many diseases of the joints, osteoarthrosis is the most common.With the development of this pathology, the patient begins to problems with the mobility of the limbs, swelling, inflammation and intensive pain syndrome.And if we talk about the causes of arthrosis at the knee joint at a young age, they may include many disposing factors.
General information
The development of deformation processes in the area of the knee joint in official medicine is called gonarthrosis.The disease is accompanied by degenerative-dystrophic phenomena in hyaline cartilage that develop in steps and deliver a lot of problems to the patient.The main signs of the disease include:
- Pain syndrome.
- Station of Movers.
- Inflammation.
- Edema.
Among different types of arthosis, the damage to the knee joint is considered the most common.In most cases, the problem of women aged 40 years.It can also manifest in adolescents based on mechanical damage or colossal stress.For example, professional athletes are the most vulnerable to this pathology.
If you do not take appropriate measures in the early stages of the development of the disease, gonarthrosis over time will become a serious form, which will have irreversible consequences.Common dimensions will begin to rise at an incredible speed, the deformation process starts in cartilage and bones, and any physical activity will be accompanied by intense pain and discomfort.In the worst case, the patient loses the opportunity to move independently.
Many people mistakenly seem that arthrosis and arthritis are the same pathologies.However, the first disease involves an acute inflammatory reaction, and the second - a number of chronic diseases with a degenerative nature.If the patient has the symptoms of both problems, he can be diagnosed with arthroso arthritis.
The causes of osteoarthritis in the knee joint
The causes of the disease are very different, so it is problematic to distinguish a single.In most cases, the development of the problem of the appearance of several provocative factors causes a violation.Modern medicine identifies such mechanisms for arthrosis:
- Primary.It is a natural process that occurs in people aged 40, and is explained by the aging of the body tissue.The primary mechanism for the development of arthrosis is also contributed to related factors, including obesity, heredity or high loads.
- Secondary - it covers 30% of all diseases arthrosis.The cause of the occurrence is associated with the transfer of mechanical damage, lower leg break or ligament.The first symptoms of pathology can appear a few years after the injury.With serious injuries, however, this can happen after 2-3 months.
There is another development mechanism that owns 7-8% of cases of arthrosis.It's as follows: If a person aged 40 suddenly started running or professional sports, this can lead to quick dystrophic and degenerative changes.In addition, arthrosis also manifests itself with contemporary diseases, including various forms of arthritis, arthritis, overweight, etc.
The causes of the development of the disease are often associated with intense stress, lifting weights or frequent increases in the steps (especially in old age).Patients who have suffered spinal cord injuries or neurological diseases also fall into risk zone.
In most cases, the predisposing factor in the occurrence of gonar rose is muscle spasm in the anterior surface of the thigh.Since the appearance of the first pain, pathology may not manifest for a long time and the only signs will be characteristic fatigue and severity in the legs.
Phases of development and symptoms
After finding out what Arthosis of the knee joint appears, you can begin to study the main symptoms and stages of the development of the disease.Experts claim that pathology is characterized by slow progression when negative symptoms increase.Depending on the patient's ability to work, three phases of arthrosis are distinguished:
- First.
- The other.
- The third.
It should be noted that gonarthrosis does not even have an acute form because it is a degenerative process of chronic nature.As for the term "acute arthrosis," it relates in most cases the third phase of weighted symptoms.
The first phase
On the first phase of gonarthrosis in the joint, the circulation of a special fluid begins to be disturbed, which nourishes it and lubricates.Special changes in the structure are not noted and the cartilage is slightly inflamed.
The initial phase of the development of arthrosis is accompanied by slight discomfort and a feeling of stiffness during movement.The patient becomes problematic to climb the steps, make distant running or stand on the feet for a long time.Any increased activity leads to the appearance of pain in the knees.At the slightest rest, however, the pain syndrome is localized and disappears.
Further progression of pathology improves pain, but the patient's ability to work is not disturbed in any way.In this regard, the patient continues to lead the usual lifestyle.
It is not easy to determine the development of arthrosis in the initial stages.The fact is that people may simply not notice the symptoms that attribute everything to overtime.
Second and third degree
Between the initial symptoms and the transition of pathology to the second step may take several months.At the same time, the patient may forget the first symptoms for some time and continue to live an ordinary life.But the development of degenerative changes will have more serious consequences, namely:
- Improved pain on any strain.
- Station of Movers.
- Edema.
- Inflammation.
In addition to the symptoms described, a crunch in the knee joints also appears, which is explained by a violation of the structure.The cartilage tissue will begin to become thinner and the amount of synovial fluid that lubricates and nourishes the joint will significantly reduce.
If the patient did not start treatment on the second phase of arthosis, this will lead to the development of the third, more dangerous.It is a very neglected form of pathology where the joint loses its basic functionality and the patient's ability to work is at risk.
In this case, the content of the synovial fluid in the cartilage tissue is minimal, the cartilage loses its previous thickness and the bones thicker.In the affected area, a lymphatic fluid is also displayed and an inflammatory process is launched.
In an advanced form, gonarthrosis has such symptoms:
- Excessively severe pain syndrome that occurs in any movements.Even if the patient is in a lying or sitting position without activity, he can suddenly feel severe pain.
- The motor skills of the knee joint are very limited.
- Common experiences many changes, increases in size and deformes.You may notice such consequences with the naked eye.
As for the acute pain syndrome in the third phase of arthosis, it looks spontaneous and is practically not located by painkillers available in pharmacies.In this case, the prosthetics of the joint are the only way out of the situation.
In particularly complex forms of gonarthrosis, experts separate another step where the destruction of the common bag begins.Unfortunately, in modern medicine there are no effective ways to treat pathology that have been changed to 2 and 3 steps.In this regard, doctors recommend in time to help at the clinic if the slightest suspicion of gonarthrosis is detected.
Diagnostics
By taking an understanding of the causes of gonarthrosis, it is important to know about the correct diagnosis of pathology.After all, you should be able to distinguish it from other diseases that may have similar symptoms.
To determine the development of the disease, a comprehensive study is used that includes a biochemical blood test, radiography, MRI and ultrasound.It should be noted that with different stages of arthosis, the composition of the blood remains almost the same, so that any changes from the norm indicate the presence of another problem.
In connection with this feature, it is possible to make an accurate diagnosis and determine the presence of gonarthrosis only using an X -Ray study.The taken picture clearly shows violations in the structure of joints and bones and also determines the surface fects.
However, despite the high accuracy of the diagnosis, X -ray cannot examine soft tissue, including cartilage and meniscus.As an additional product for diagnosis, ultrasound, MRI or CT is used.
If you determine the development of pathology in time and begin extensive treatment, this will avoid irreparable consequences and prevent the problem of moving to more serious stages.However, due to the specific course of illness, many patients do not even believe that joint pain, stiffness and other changes are not the result of fatigue after hard work, but a sign of the beginning of degenerative processes.
Treatment methodology
Currently, there are many ways to treat gonarthrosis.They can vary in principle of action, a list of tasks to be solved, as well as individual characteristics.For a more productive fight against the disease, a comprehensive treatment is used to:
- Location of pain.
- Improving mobile features.
- Improving the condition of the cartilage tissue and the patient as a whole.
- Strengthen the muscle structure that surrounds the affected joint.
The most common method of treating arthrosis is physiotherapy.It includes a set of special procedures aimed at strengthening muscle tissue and recovery of blood circulation.
During physiotherapeutic treatment, the patient notes a significant improvement in well -being and slows down degenerative processes.However, it is strictly prohibited to start the procedure independently because incorrectly calculated stresses can only aggravate the problem.
Trying to get rid of pain, relieving swelling and inflammation, it is necessary to use a number of drugs that are not -steroidal, type.These include ibuprofen, ketoprofen, diclofenac and others.The task of the drugs is quick to relieve pain for more productive treatment in the future.
If the use of non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs does not produce any results, you will have to resort to the use of corticosteroids with a more pronounced anti -inflammatory effect.However, it is not recommended to use painkillers for a long time because they only reduce the symptoms and slow down the process of tissue recovery.If the pain after taking any tablet disappeared, it is better to refuse medication.
External means and surgical intervention
The causes of arthrosis in the common battle using various ointments, compressions and creams.And although these drugs do not treat arthrosis, they improve the patient's well -to -develop and reduce pain.Among the most effective external agents, heating and anti -inflammatory ointments are separated.
With the development of the second phase of the disease, the patient may prescribe intra -articular injections of corticosteroids, namely:
- Betamethasone.
When choosing the drug, it is necessary to take into account its tolerance of the patient.If we talk about corticosteroids, they are able to effectively eliminate pain, but not to cope with the serious stages of arthrosis.
If the disease is on the last step considered the most dangerous, surgery will be the only resort.In this case, you will need to perform surgical decompressation of the common bag to extend the lumen between the bones and restore cartilage surfaces.
Whether this approach will be effective depends on many factors.First of all, take into account the severity of the disease.If it is not the most regrettable, it is very possible to restore the previous mobility of the joints and get rid of pain.
However, the sore joint will still make itself feel, so the patient has to seriously revise his lifestyle.It will also be necessary to pay close attention to physiotherapy exercises, proper nutrition and adequate physical activity.
As a prevention, it is recommended to abandon the consumption of salted or spicy food, alcoholic beverages and cigarettes.Such actions will positively impact the condition of the body and save the joint from unnecessary stresses.
Comprehensive treatment of arthrosis in accordance with the above recommendations is the best way to suspend a dangerous pathology and restore the previous operation of the knee joints.