When walking or running, the joints in our knees are under constant stress and tension, which often causes pain. Knee pain is the most common subject of referral to healthcare professionals. The standard diagnosis after a physical exam is the initial stage of osteoarthritis of the knee joint. How to determine the cause of the pain and what to do to eliminate it?
Unfortunately, it is impossible to answer unambiguously these questions which concern almost everyone. The problems of the knee joint are so diverse and the reasons for their occurrence are so many that one should not rush to draw conclusions.
Today we will talk about the most common of these reasons, the consequence of which is such a pathology as the initial stage of osteoarthritis. In addition to this, we will explain its symptoms, as well as methods of prevention and treatment.
The main cause of osteoarthritis of the knee joint
There is another medical term for such a joint injury without an inflammatory process - this is knee osteoarthritis. It is knee osteoarthritis that can subsequently lead to deformation and destruction of the cartilage in the joints, which leads to a pain syndrome and limits its mobility.
The cause of osteoarthritis of the knee joint, or knee osteoarthritis, can be divided into 2 stages:
- initial, that is, which arose as a result of an existing joint pathology;
- secondary, that is, occurring as a result of injuries or acquired infections.
Let us stop at step 1. This form of initial pathology is quite common and can appear from a young age. It is not caused by the natural formation of the surface tissue of a person's joints or ligament system. It is quite natural that when walking the degenerative joint is disproportionately loaded, it causes pain and destructive consequences.
Level 2 includes all damage and mechanical effects of varying severity of health damage. These can be bruises, fractures, sprains and dislocations of the knee joint. The consequences of surgery are possible, which invariably leads to the destruction of the integrity of the knee. A high level of sports loads, excessive obesity not corresponding to the proportions of the body - these are all factors that provoke the early stages of osteoarthritis of the knee.
By the way, excessive weight not only causes the disease, but also creates an unfavorable background that contributes to the formation of excessive pressure in the knees on the articular cartilage and completely disrupts the metabolism.
At the same time, fluid accumulates in the joint cavities of the knee, which leads to additional complications, which also turn into the stage of osteoarthritis. Here we add all previous operations on the legs or diseases accompanied by prolonged spasms of blood vessels or muscles of the legs - deformity is inevitable!
Usually, unilateral knee osteoarthritis develops due to traumatic effects on the knees or the hip joint. If it is the effect of excess weight, then it is bilateral.
The main signs of osteoarthritis of the knee joint
This process does not happen instantly. Usually for a long time at first a person feels slight discomfort in the knee joint, and only after years these sensations turn into severe pain. People over 40, suffering from overweight and having additional loads in the form of varicose veins, are prone to the initial stage of osteoarthritis of the knee much earlier.
Let's look at the traditional sequence of stages of this disease:
- Long or initial. A period of one to several years is common. From time to time, not too sharp pains are observed during moments of stress on the knees.
- Second step or critical step. Here there is already a noticeable characteristic crunching accompaniment of any sudden movement of the knee joint. The volume of its motor activity decreases, and an increase in the knee is determined visually, which indicates its deformation and the possible accumulation of fluid in the joint cavity.
- The last stage of osteoarthritis of the knee joint will therefore be characterized by an acute painful condition of the knee joint even at rest. At this time, the stage of osteoarthritis becomes chronic, a person reacts painfully to any meteorological phenomenon, and his gait acquires a specific "duck", "waddling" movement. In this case, the patient's legs at this stage are bent.
In case of osteoarthritis of the knee joint due to injury, all of these steps listed above start to pass even faster.
Prevention and treatment of the initial stage of osteoarthritis of the knee
It should be borne in mind that absolutely all therapeutic measures will depend entirely on the degree of injury to the knee. At the same time, the effectiveness of treatment can only be achieved if the cause of osteoarthritis is eliminated. If this process is at an early stage of formation, then complete recovery is possible! With a chronically advanced process, it is initially possible to obtain only a more or less prolonged phase of rest of the diseased organ.
In order to restore the deformed cartilage, strengthen the ligaments and increase the motor activity of the joint, it is necessary to undergo complex therapy. This includes not only medications, but also manual massages, physiotherapy procedures and, if absolutely necessary, surgery.
The selection of drugs should in no case be independent, since self-medication for such a complex disease is fraught with consequences. The main goal of drug therapy is to eliminate pain, localize the inflammatory process and neutralize the stage of osteoarthritis. For this purpose, special preparations may be prescribed for the introduction into the cavity of the knee joint. The appointment of hormonal drugs is not excluded.
For active blood circulation in the affected area, means are used to relieve vascular spasms and relax the muscles. In addition, preparations are prescribed for the replenishment of vitamins and the restoration of cartilage tissue.
The set of preventive measures and for the treatment of the initial stage of osteoarthritis of the knee should include a relaxing manual massage. With its help, an increase in the volume of movement, the elimination of spasms and an increase in blood circulation is achieved, the position of joints and bones is corrected, including the hip bones.
If the initial stage has long developed into irreversible damage to the knee joint, in this case, a radical correction of the deformed organ is carried out, namely implantation (prostheses). Today, there is and is actively used only one way to replace a destroyed joint - to install a metal stent. Such an implantation is in no way durable and its cost is so high that it is not necessary to speak of the mass application of this method.
Important!If you do decide to go to the operating table anyway, keep in mind that knee replacement and rehabilitation are interrelated things. You will have to work hard to recover to a good level.
The treatment of the initial stage of osteoarthritis also includes a rehabilitation therapy complex, which includes absolutely the whole range of spa treatments - from physiotherapy and physiotherapy exercises to physiotherapy. The concept of kinesiotherapy includes specially designed exercises using loads of varying degrees of gravity and medical simulators.
If necessary, it is recommended to reduce the pressure on the knee with canes, crutches or orthotics - the so-called knee braces that soften the load during movement. A large number of simple and complex recipes of folk medicine are successfully used in the treatment of any stage of osteoarthritis.
These can be various compresses and ointments made from natural ingredients ranging from animal hair and medical bile to herbal preparations. Most of the time, the prescription of traditional medicine recipes is quite effective, as it is aimed at eliminating the symptoms of the disease of the knee joint and eliminating painful sensations.
Additional prevention methods
First of all, it's a complete and well-balanced diet. The diet, in addition to proteins and carbohydrates, should include the optimal content of vitamins and microelements. At the same time, it is highly recommended to avoid bad habits and try to bring your weight back to normal.
General nutritional recommendations for preventing osteoarthritis are as follows:
- avoid red meat;
- refusal of foods with a high fat content;
- the use of jellied meat and similar dishes containing cartilage and a gelatinous substance as part of their recipe;
- increasing the consumption of pure spring water up to 2. 5 liters or more;
- complete rejection of alcoholic beverages and regular consumption of vitamins A, D and B.
It is strongly recommended that you browse your wardrobe to exclude uncomfortable shoes, for example, one-sided or high heels. Watch your postures to avoid crossing or intertwining your legs while sitting. Protect your joints from prolonged cooling and, moreover, hypothermia. Avoid stressful situations and don't be nervous about trifles.
Try to lead a healthy lifestyle in which the body will be in good shape. In addition, such physical activity is extremely important, which would correspond to the condition of the knees and hip joint. It is for this reason that self-control and greater caution are necessary when playing sports, before lifting weights or performing certain exercises intensively.
The most important preventive condition after determining the initial stage of the disease is to prevent its further development, because if the process is started, it can lead to disability. With early detection of osteoarthritis and preventive measures to prevent it, the probability of a complete cure is high.
Be sure to consult your doctor before treating any illnesses. This will help to take into account individual tolerance, confirm the diagnosis, ensure that the treatment is correct, and rule out negative drug interactions. If you use prescriptions without seeing a doctor, it is at your own risk. All information is presented for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical aid.