Gonarthrosis

Most often, the disease occurs in older patients (especially women).Joint pain in gonarthrosis is explained by dystrophic changes in the cartilage that covers the intra-articular surfaces of the bones.First, blood circulation in the vessels supplying the cartilage deteriorates.After that, the cartilaginous shell begins to thin and is completely erased.The bones inside the knee joint are exposed.As a result, when walking, they rub against each other, causing severe pain.

Over the years, bony growths begin to appear in the joint.They provoke the development of deformation, the leg becomes bent.

Causes of gonarthrosis

Gonarthrosis of the knee joint occurs for various reasons.It is customary to distinguish two forms:

• primary;
• secondary.

Primary gonarthrosis usually develops in older people.Its appearance is due to:

• metabolic disorders;
• obesity;
• hereditary predisposition;
• taking hormonal drugs.

The primary form affects two knee joints simultaneously and is called bilateral gonarthrosis.But there are cases when the inflammatory process first covers one knee and only a few years later it moves to the second.

Secondary gonarthrosis, on the contrary, is always unilateral.It is called:

• heavy physical work and sports that stress the right or left knee joint;
• trauma (tear of ligaments, dislocation, hemorrhage in the cavity of the knee joint, damage to the meniscus, intra-articular fracture, etc.).
• operations performed on the knee joint;
• inflammation/swelling of the joint.

Symptoms of gonarthrosis

Common symptoms of gonarthrosis of the knee joints include:

• severe pain in the knee during movement;
• knee dysfunction;
• swelling in the area of the knee joint;
• lameness;
• joint stiffness;
• instability in the affected joint.

The late stages of the disease are also characterized by a deformity (curvature) of the leg.

In most cases, gonarthrosis develops slowly and proceeds in four consecutive stages.

Gonarthrosis of the knee joint of the first degree is characterized by the following symptoms:

• Unexpressed pain in the knee when climbing / descending stairs, during squats.
• "Start-up" pain when starting to move.
• Limitation of mobility.
• Disappearance of discomfort when the patient "disappears".
• Knee pain after heavy physical exertion.
• The knee appears firm or slightly swollen.
• Manifestations of synovitis (inflammation of the inner lining, due to which fluid begins to form in the joint) may appear.

Bilateral gonarthrosis of the knee joint of the second degree has the following symptoms:

• The pain becomes more intense.
• Discomfort increases sharply during squatting and walking.
• The pain is localized on the inside of the knees and gradually disappears at rest.
• Creaking in the knees.
• The joint expands and fluid begins to accumulate inside it (synovitis).
• Intra-articular fluid can fill the popliteal fossa at the back of the joint (Baker's cyst).
• Individual areas of the joints are hot to the touch.
• After physical warm-up, the stiffness may disappear.
• The shape of the legs in the knee area changes (distortion is observed).

The following symptoms are characteristic of third-degree gonarthrosis:

• The pain occurs day and night, during rest and when walking.The patient should seek a position to reduce the severity of the pain symptom.
• The joint is difficult to straighten and bend.He is limited in movement.It is not possible to fully straighten the leg.
• An O- or X-shaped deformity of the lower limbs may form.
• The knee joint significantly increases in size and deforms.Severe synovitis is observed.
• The patient's gait becomes unsteady, trembling, he must use a cane / crutches or resort to external assistance while moving.

There is also fourth degree gonarthrosis of the knee joints.Clinically, orthopedists classify it as the third stage of the disease.It can only be determined by x-ray examination.

In the fourth degree, the articular surfaces of the bones are deformed so much that there is almost no gap between them, without which movement is impossible.The patient suffers from constant pain.

If you notice such symptoms, consult a doctor immediately.It is easier to prevent a disease than to deal with the consequences.

Diagnosis of gonarthrosis of the knee joints

Diagnosis of the disease includes an interview with the patient, an examination of the inflamed joint, checking its volume and assessing mobility.If gonarthrosis is suspected, the orthopedist prescribes instrumental methods:

• x-ray.In gonarthrosis, the X-ray shows narrowing of the cracks, thinning of the bone tissue and its compaction under the cartilage, ossification of the articular cartilage.There may be osteophytes - bone growths running along the edges of the cartilage.
• Ultrasound diagnosis of the knee joint.
• Arthroscopy.During the examination, the surgeon inserts a special micro-video camera connected to an arthroscope into the joint through punctures.An image of all parts of the studied area appears on the screen.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Allows to assess the degree of damage to the knee joints.
• The blood test is an auxiliary diagnostic method and does not always give a complete picture of the clinical picture.The fact is that with gonarthrosis, signs of inflammation may not be detected in the blood.

Treatment of gonarthrosis of the knee joints

medicines

In the treatment of gonarthrosis of the knee joint, the following groups of drugs are used:

• anti-inflammatory;
• pain relievers;
• chondroprotectors (ensure restoration of damaged cartilage tissue).

They are available in various forms - ointments, creams, gels, tablets, capsules, intra-articular and muscle injections.

Orthopedics

Orthopedic treatment of the pathology includes the use of special devices to minimize the load on the diseased joints:

• orthopedic shoe insoles,
• orthoses (special hard knee braces that limit mobility in the affected joint),
• walking sticks.

surgery

Surgical methods are used in the treatment of gonarthrosis of the knee joint of the third degree.Indications for endoprosthesis are:

• uncontrollable pain
• significant knee and hip dysfunction.

Implantation time is 2-3 hours.Before installing the prosthesis, the destroyed part of the joint and the back of the knee cap are removed and the axis of the leg is aligned.If necessary, the connections are restored.When the endoprosthesis is installed, the wound is sutured.

In the first hours after the operation, due to the anesthesia, the patient does not feel the lower limbs.The rehabilitation period is long - 3-4 months.

It is impossible to perform endoprosthetic surgery if the patient suffers from osteoporosis (fragility and fragility of the bones).

Additional methods for the treatment of gonarthrosis

For gonarthrosis, the following can be used as auxiliary treatment methods:

• manual therapy;
• massage;
• acupuncture;
• hirudotherapy;
• physical therapy;
• Exercise therapy.

Exercise therapy for gonarthrosis

Exercises for gonarthrosis of the knee joint are selected individually.Their regular application allows you to strengthen the muscles that surround the inflamed joint and improve blood circulation in the area of pathology.They should be performed lying on your back or sitting.

In the first days, therapeutic exercises for gonarthrosis of the knee joint should not take more than 10 minutes.Gradually, the training time should be increased to half an hour.It is important that all movements are performed smoothly and ensure that the pain does not increase.

Universal exercises include the following:

• Raising a straight leg at a height of 15-20 cm from the floor and holding it in this position for the maximum time.
• Raising the straight leg to a height of 15-20 cm and gradually lowering to the starting position.
• Bending and extending the legs while sitting in a chair.

Any squatting and long walking are contraindicated without prior consultation with an orthopedist.

Features of the treatment of gonarthrosis depending on the degree of the disease

Treatment of gonarthrosis of the knee joint of the first degree

The first degree of the disease is the mildest.The patient is prescribed:

• massage.
• Therapeutic gymnastics.
• Physiotherapy procedures.

If you are overweight, weight loss is necessary.A special diet is followed for this.

Treatment of gonarthrosis of the knee joint of the second degree

The complex treatment of the pathology includes:

• Performing exercises recommended by the therapist.
• Reception of anti-inflammatory and pain relievers, chondroprotectors, introduction of hyaluronic acid into the joint.
• Phytotherapeutic procedures (if there is no pronounced inflammatory process).
• Weight normalization.

Treatment of gonarthrosis of the third degree

Therapeutic treatment of pathology of the third degree is similar to the measures used in the second stage of the disease.However, in the absence of the expected effect, the patient is recommended to undergo a surgical method.

If we are talking about the beginning of the third degree, it is possible to remove part of the damaged cartilage and bone growths.With the help of an arthroscope, the doctor examines the cavity of the knee joint and studies how severe the problem is.

Corrective osteotomy is indicated when areas of healthy tissue are preserved.During this operation, the doctor corrects the shape of the bone by breaking it.Then he installs a special plate that allows you to fix the limb in the right position.

The second method of surgical treatment is endoprosthesis - an operation to replace the entire knee joint or individual parts of it with prostheses.

Treatment of gonarthrosis of the knee joints with folk remedies

Traditional recipes help to achieve good results only in stages 1 and 2 of the disease.When the cartilage tissue is destroyed and the joint is severely deformed, they are powerless.

Ficus tincture

The solution is prepared according to the following recipe:

• Pass the ficus leaves through a meat grinder.
• Place in a glass container.
• Add 100 ml of vodka.
• Cover with a lid and let infuse for 3 weeks.
• Store the finished liquid in the refrigerator.Rub the joints with the tincture once a day for 10 days.

Compresses with clay

• Place the blue/red clay in a glass bowl.
• Dilute with water to the consistency of sour cream.
• Apply clay to a linen/cotton fabric about 1.5-2 cm thick.
• Apply to the affected joint.
• Secure with a bandage and wrap with a towel.
• Make compresses 2-3 times a day.The duration of treatment is 1.5 weeks.

Dandelion tincture

• Fill a glass bottle with dandelion flowers.
• A triple cologne is poured on top.
• Close the lid.
• Put in a dark place for a month.
• After the specified time, strain the tincture.Rub her knees twice a day.

Apple cider vinegar for arthrosis of the knee joints

• Mix 6 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with 2 tablespoons of natural honey.
• Apply the mixture to the joint area.
• Cover with a cabbage leaf on top.
• Wrap in nylon and scarf.
• It is best to apply the compress at night.Remove after the leaves are completely dry.The course of treatment is about 4 weeks.

Garlic with celery and lemon

• 250 g of celery, 120 g of garlic, 3 lemons, minced meat, mix.Transfer to a three liter jar and top up with boiling water.
• Cover with a warm blanket.
• After cooling, use 70 ml before meals, first once a day, after a few days - 2-3 times a day.

Diet for gonarthrosis

The diet for gonarthrosis of the knee joint is aimed at normalizing body weight, fighting obesity and saturating the body with nutrients.If the patient manages to lose weight, the pain becomes less pronounced, as the joints are less stressed.In this case, you should not starve or resort to mono-diets.Nutrition should be balanced.

Proteins support the repair of intra-articular cartilage.The patient can get them from lean meat, cheese, cottage cheese, fish, lentils, beans and buckwheat.Jellied meat from bone broth is useful for gonarthrosis, as it contains a lot of collagen.

Carbohydrates should be obtained through the consumption of vegetables and fruits.Fats should be mostly vegetable.Small amounts of oil are allowed.Vitamins, especially group B, are of great importance in improving the patient's condition.They are found in eggs, legumes, bananas, dairy products, cabbage, nuts and lentils.

With gonarthrosis of the knee joints, it is forbidden to drink alcohol.It not only has a negative effect on the body as a whole, but also increases appetite, which is undesirable.

The danger of gonarthrosis

With gonarthrosis of the first and second degree, we are not talking about disability.The third stage of the disease can make the patient incapacitated, when joint functions are completely lost and unaided movement becomes impossible.

It should be understood that gonarthrosis is a chronic pathology that is constantly progressing.For a favorable prognosis, the correct selection of drugs and regular exercise are necessary.

Risk group for gonarthrosis

The risk group for gonarthrosis includes:

• professional dancers;
• athletes;
• builders, loaders, miners;
• people with a hereditary predisposition;
• obese persons;
• with bad posture;
• suffered fractures;
• with malformations of the ligamentous-articular apparatus;
• suffering from hormonal, rheumatoid and metabolic diseases.

Prevention of gonarthrosis

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

• do physical exercises;
• avoid excessive physical activity;
• weight control;
• seek qualified medical assistance for injuries, inflammatory diseases of the joints;
• do not overcool (if there is a problem, it is recommended to wear warm knee pads);
• 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.