The knee, like a person's other joints, consists of bone and cartilage.Cartoon is a smooth, elastic and elastic layer that guarantees ease of walking and lack of friction.Is called cartilage damage from chronic coatingKnee joint arthrosis.
There are many factors that lead to arthritis of the knee joint:
- genetic predisposition;
- overweight;
- abnormal movement;
- Injuries.
For a long time, a person does not experience pain and only when knee arthritis leads to strain deformity, the first symptoms appear.The patient is consulted with a doctor, but treatment of an advanced disease may already be successful.
Knee joint arthrosis is often a consequence of accidents and injuries, but can only manifest after a few years.Therefore, with the slightest suspicion of this disease, you should consult a doctor.
The symptoms of arthrosis of the knee joint
Symptoms of knee joint arthrosis include:
- increased pain during activity;
- swelling;
- increased skin temperature;
- decreased motility of the knee joint;
- The clutter, the fresh sound that is heard during the movement.
Pain after periods of inaction is one of the most common symptoms of knee arthrosis.It is expressed in the morning, when the joints need time to warm up in the proper way.Once a person is like a time, the pain decreases.
Sometimes you can notice the first signs of knee arthritis by seeing it only.Even if the knee sticks more than usual, this may be the first sign.The increased knee trend for swelling is easy to recognize.The bulge on the thick finger is formed over the knee cup, as this place is weaker.This is due to an increase in fluid accumulation in the joint.
Reduce flexibility in the foot can indicate arthrosis of the knee joint.Those who were once able to touch the buttocks of the buttocks, standing on one leg, but can go halfway today should consult a doctor.The thigh muscles may begin to function more than before, due to knee arthrosis, becoming shorter and starting to hurt.These muscles must stretch and strengthen to restore previous functions.
Another sign of arthrosis of the knee joint is to reduce the strength of the muscle on the foot.
Arthrosis converts cartilage, which is polished as glass on a rough fabric that looks like sandpaper in the early stages.When these surfaces rub each other, you can hear the wrinkles and sounds of friction in the joint.
How is knee arthrosis diagnosed?
The diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis will begin with a medical examination by a doctor.Before you get, determine what pain arises to help the doctor make the right diagnosis.In addition, find out if someone has arthritis in your family.
Your doctor may prescribe additional diagnosis, including:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images scan X -rays that can indicate bones and cartilage damage, as well as the presence of bone stimuli;
- MRI can be ordered when X -rays do not give a clear cause of joint pain or when X -rays indicate that other types of joint tissue can be damaged.Doctors can use blood tests to rule out other conditions that can cause pain, such as rheumatoid arthritis, another type of arthritis caused by the damaged immune system.
How is the knee joint arthrosis treated?
The main tasks of treating the knee osteoarthritis are pain relief and restoring mobility.
Treatment plan, as a rule, includes a combination of the following actions:
- Weight loss.Losing a small amount of weight, if necessary, can significantly reduce the knee pain from osteoarthritis.
- drillStrengthening the muscles around the knee makes the condition of the joints more stable and reduces pain.Stretch exercises help keep the knee moving and flexible.
- Anesthetic and anti -inflammatory drugs:Acetaminophen, ibuprofen or sodium.If medicines do not bring relief, your doctor can give you a recipe of another anti -inflammatory drug to help relieve pain.
- Injections of corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid in the knee.Steroids are powerful anti -inflammatory drugs.Hyaluronic acid is usually present in the joints as a type of lubricant, but with diseases of the categorically missing joints.
- Alternative treatment methods.Some alternative treatment methods that may be effective include: capsaicin creams, acupuncture or additives, including glucosamine and chondroitin.
- Using devices such as brackets.There are two types of brackets: those that discharge brackets, removing the weight from the knee;and "support" brackets that provide support to the entire knee.
- Physical activity and work therapy. If you have problems with daily activities, physical exercise or work therapy can help.Physiotherapists will teach you how to strengthen your muscles and increase flexibility in the joint.Specialists will compose a set of exercises suitable for you to perform at home in order to reduce the pain.
- Surgery.When other treatment methods do not work, surgery is the only option to get rid of the disease.
Is the surgery used to treat knee osteoarthritis?
For the treatment of knee osteoarthritis with the help of surgical intervention, the following options are possible: arthroscopy, osteotomy, endoprosthetics.
onarthroscopyA small telescope (arthroscope) and other small remedies are used.The operation is performed through small incisions.The surgeon uses an arthroscope so that the union can be seen.Once the surgeon can remove the cartilage or free -damaged particles, it can clean the bone surface.The procedure is often used for patients aged 55 (and younger) in order to delay a more serious surgery.
Osteotomy- This is a procedure that seeks to approximate the knee, changing the shape of the bones.This type of surgery can be recommended if you have damage, first of all, in a knee area.It can also be recommended if you have damaged your knee and has not returned.Osteotomy does not have a continuous effect and surgery may be required in the future.
Endoprosthetics- This is a surgical procedure in which the joints are replaced by artificial parts of metals or plastic.Replacement may include one side or the entire knee.As a rule, people over the age of 50 and a severe form of osteoarthritis need replacement.Operation may be required later, if replacement is tired after a few years, but with modern achievements, most prostheses have served for more than 20 years.The operation has risks, but the results are usually very good.