Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (gonarthrosis) is a disease that causes deformation of the cartilage of the knee joint. This disease is very common, especially in the elderly. The work of the knee is getting worse and therefore the difficulties in mobility and the feeling of pain are the most important signs of the disease. Today, osteoarthritis of the knee joint is also common in people between the ages of 25 and 30. Which speaks of the versatility of the causes of the disease and, accordingly, its treatment. >There are two types of knee osteoarthritis: unilateral (affecting only one knee) and bilateral (affecting both knees). More often the disease occurs in its bilateral manifestation.
The reasons
Knee osteoarthritis, like hip osteoarthritis, most often manifests at an advanced age. Although there is no exception today and the fact that young people show symptoms of this disease. This suggests that the causes of gonarthrosis are different, and each can in its own way affect the onset, exacerbation and treatment of the disease. There are also possibilities of genetic predisposition of an organism, ie. Osteoarthritis of the knee joint may be more common in some families than others. In addition, this disease may not be genetically determined. Therefore, there are several causes of gonarthrosis.
- Various physical injuries of the knee (bruise, dislocation, etc. ).
- Significant loads that do not correspond to age (5-7% of all cases of gonarthrosis, as well as coxarthrosis).
- Excessive body weight of the patient (10% of all cases of gonarthrosis).
- Accompanying diseases, for example, arthritis (5-7% of all cases of gonarthrosis, polyarthrosis and coxarthrosis).
- Congenital weakness of the ligaments (3 to 5% of cases of gonarthrosis).
- Metabolic syndrome and metabolic problems in the body.
- Spasm of the muscles of the upper thigh (up to 50% of cases of gonarthrosis and coxarthrosis).
Symptoms
Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee joint are mostly the same and appear in almost all patients. Patients also note that the exacerbation of pain falls on the spring-autumn period and depends on weather changes. The main symptom of the disease is knee pain. Most often it does not appear immediately, but is noticeable only after a long walk and appears in the late afternoon. The chime may exhibit knee stiffness when moving. If minor symptoms are left unattended, the disease can be triggered and lead to extremely adverse patient outcomes. Despite the main symptoms, there are several other signs of the disease:
- pain syndrome at rest, which qualitatively decreases when walking;
- limitation of movement of the knee joint and difficulty in controlling its mobility;
- knee stiffness;
- increased sensitivity in the knee area;
- swelling of the knee joint and swelling of the skin around it;
- deformity of the knee joint.
Assessing the condition of the knee joint is done during a medical examination and an x-ray. In addition, the stage of the disease of any arthrosis (including coxarthrosis, gonarthrosis, polyarthrosis and others) can be determined only if there is an x-ray, and only a doctor can assess such a condition. Therefore, it is extremely important not to engage in self-diagnosis and jump to conclusions.
Degrees of gonarthrosis
1st degree
The knee joints have not succumbed to the deforming influence of the disease, but appear only in outward signs and slight swelling of the periarticular skin, color changes are noticeable. At the physiological level, it is characterized by minor changes in the hyaline cartilage. As a result of the accumulation of a significant amount of joint fluid in the synovin, minor joint deformities occur, which are accompanied by pain when walking. Other signs such as reduced mobility are not observed. And so it is also difficult to find them on the x-ray. At this degree, the disease is difficult to diagnose, but with a timely definition, its treatment will be more effective than with another or third degree of gonarthrosis, as well as other types of arthrosis (coxarthrosis, polyarthrosis).
II degree
The main symptom is unbearable or severe pain, even with a light load, which is aggravated by walking and lifting weights. Over time, this will turn into difficulty bending the knee. At the physiological level, this is manifested by the fact that the volume of the cartilage layer decreases sharply and in some places is completely absent. According to the results of x-rays, this degree can be determined by the marginal bone growths and the density of the joint space. In the work of the joint, especially during a long walk, a characteristic creak appears. Gradually, the patient may lose the ability to bend the knee, or it will be given to him with great difficulty. The deforming effect is manifested already at this stage of development of gonarthrosis, as well as other types of arthrosis (coxarthrosis, polyarthrosis). Visually, this is noticeable, and the skin around it becomes rough and changes color. Treatment at this stage is better to start complex and intensive. Here, medicines and folk methods of treatment will be relevant.
III degree
It is characterized by intense pain, even when the knee joint is inactive or immobilized. The deforming effect is very noticeable and significant changes in the structure of the joint and adjacent tissues can be seen visually. At the physiological level, it is marked by the absence of cartilaginous tissues and this is easily diagnosed on an X-ray. Treatment of the III degree of arthrosis disease of the knee joint and other types of arthrosis (polyarthrosis, coxarthrosis) is, in fact, an irreversible process. On the contrary, the main goal of such treatment will be to reduce pain and eliminate some of the symptoms of the manifestation of the disease.