What does the diagnosis of "knee osteoarthritis"
We are talking about the disease in which the cartilage is deformed or destroyed. Cartilage, a dense cloth that acts as a shock absorber for each joint, it is necessary to the movement. When the breakdown of cartilage in the joint gradually loses mobility, but if the disease is not treated, then completely ceases to work. However, in the early stages of osteoarthritis can be effectively treated with medication, physical therapy.
By the way, About 12% of young people suffer from arthritis, as well as the retirement that number exceeds the half — quarter of older complain of symptoms of the disease.
Women suffer osteoarthritis more often than men.
The risk group also includes athletes, active training micro trauma to the cartilage often leads to the restriction of the mobility of the joints at a young age.
There is evidence that in osteoarthritis there is some genetic predisposition. If you have a family there were cases of the disease, should carefully monitor the condition of the joints.
The causes of the disease
The reasons for the development of osteoarthritis of the knee a lot. These are the following:
- trauma and micro trauma to the joints;
- being overweight is an extra burden on the knee joint;
- metabolic diseases, in which the cartilage is missing the essential nutrients;
- unbalanced load during physical work or excessive intensive training;
- malfunctions of the circulatory system, in which a decrease in the nutrition of cartilage tissue;
- prolonged spastic blood vessels of the legs. If the knee OA symptoms
Knee osteoarthritis develops gradually.There's a couple of degrees of this disease.
1 degree. At this stage, the changes are even smaller, more loosely determined by instrumental surveys. Of developing osteoarthritis of indicative symptoms, such as the small stiffness of the joint after long immobility (usually breakfast), as well as the crunching in the joint when sudden movements. Severe pain is usually there, that people often ignore these signs and go to the doctor only when knee reaches 2.section.
2 the degree of the Joint deformation, the x-rays to a noticeable narrowing of the joint space, deformity of the cartilage. Symptoms become pronounced — they complain the patients with constant pain, which increases the beginning of the movement, restriction of mobility, a noticeable stiffness in the morning. A little effort (e.g., lifting) also may cause pain. Sometimes the skin over the joint becomes red, swells a little warm to the touch — this indicates that the development of inflammation. Osteoarthritis of the knee 2. extent patients have increased pain when the weather changes, or after exposure.
3 degrees. Severe knee osteoarthritis is characterized by severe pain in every movement, lameness, sometimes a considerable shortening of the limb. The common area is significantly swollen, in the morning, people just can't get out of bed — sometimes you have to wait half an hour before motility is partially restored. When 3 degrees of osteoarthritis of the knee articular cartilage significantly thinner, and in some places completely destroyed, so the bones to each other.
4 the degree. The complete destruction of the cartilage, excruciating pain, immobility — that's what you get if you ignore the signs of osteoarthritis to the last. The joint space is lost and it starts the deformation of the bones. Diagnostics as the treatment of first stage
If you suspect the disease you should immediately make an appointment to see a doctor, orthopedic doctor, who treated.
Diagnosis of osteoarthritis involves laboratory or instrumental methods.
The first is the general and biochemical blood, urine analysis. These studies will help to exclude autoimmune disease, which is the defeat of the joints to determine the presence of inflammation.
The instrumental methods of diagnosis of osteoarthritis most commonly used the simple x-ray in two projections, ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging.
The methods of treatment of knee osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis of the knee treated, but the prognosis is more favorable if treatment is started as early as possible in the 1-2 stages of the disease. Many treatment methods, but only a comprehensive treatment gives the desired results.
Among the most effective method of shock wave therapy, traction of joints within the administration of drugs, muscle toning, physical therapy (physical therapy).
Drug therapy
It helps to deal only with the symptoms.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
to reduce inflammation, pain.
chondroprotectors
stimulate the nutrition of the articular cartilage. As a Supplement widely used ointments, gels, as well as the analgesic effect, as well as external sources to relieve the inflammation, and improves blood micro-circulation.
UHT
Shock wave therapy — the method by which the therapeutic effect is achieved by the effect of the sound waves in the fabric of the community. This is a relatively painless procedure, which at the same time, allows to achieve impressive results — to relieve pain, to destroy and to soften calcium deposits (arthritis), improves metabolic processes in tissues, normalizes the blood circulation, relieve swelling, the language of ordinary people — "clean up" the joint. The treatment efficiency of 90% achieved.
Physical therapy
Therapeutic exercise — this is almost a necessary part of the therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee. kinesitherapy is a specific exercises with a carefully calculated load and hydrotherapy — exercises that are performed on the specialized medical equipment. Physical therapy allows to restore joint mobility, improve circulation, develop, strengthen ligaments.
Traction joints
Traction, or traction of joints is carried out, a special orthopedic device. This method stretches the joint covers to the joint space, which is the reduced friction of the articular surfaces and the patient's joints are unloaded. The positive effect is observed in 80% of cases.
Intra-articular injection
How to push off the excess synovial fluid and injection of pharmaceuticals — anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and improve blood flow to the articular cartilage, drugs, etc.
It is necessary to tell a method, like the injection of your own plasma patient the joint capsule of the growth factors found in plasma. They speed up recovery and regeneration of damaged articular cartilage. The advantage of PRP, your own plasma is not allergies, this is a safe biological stimulator of regeneration. After 2-3 months, of course, PRP, patients note that the pain, stiffness decreased by half, the mobility of the joint improved.
Muscle toning
The method of treatment based on stimulation of the muscles with micro currents. In the case of arthrosis of the knee joint and the atrophy of the thigh muscles, compromised blood supply. This significantly increases the load on the joints.
Stimulation helps to strengthen the muscles, thereby relieving the load on the joint, improves blood circulation to a solid framework for the community.
The surgery
arthroscopic debridment. The method used to remove the common elements of the destroyed cartilage, meniscus part. During the operation of the video control. The endoprosthesis. If the joint is completely destroyed, it can only be replaced to the artificial. The endoprosthesis is resorted to only in the most severe cases, the third or the fourth stage of the disease.
The new knee last 12-15 years. The timely diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the knee, it is important to don't tighten you don't have to postpone your visit to the doctor to self-medicate using over-the-counter remedies.
Osteoarthritis develops gradually, but in some people the first symptoms of the disease, and the time to save the community just after the operation a few years — it all depends on the individual. In most cases, early diagnosis, comprehensive approach to the treatment can control the symptoms of arthritis and restore joint.