Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (gonarthrosis) is a disease that causes deformity of the cartilage of the knee joint. This disease is very common, especially in the older generation. The work of the knee deteriorates and therefore difficulties in its mobility and sensation of pain are the most important signs of the disease. Today, osteoarthritis of the knee is also common in people 25-30 years old. What speaks to the versatility of the causes of the disease and, accordingly, its treatment. >There are two types of gonarthrosis: unilateral (affecting only one knee) and bilateral (affecting both knees). Most often the disease manifests itself in its bilateral manifestation.
reason
Gonarthrosis, like coxarthrosis, most often occurs in old age. Although today is no exception and the fact that young people have symptoms of this disease. This suggests that the causes of gonarthrosis are different and each can affect in its own way the onset, worsening and treatment of the disease. There are also possibilities of genetic predisposition of an organism, d. m. th. Knee osteoarthritis may be more common in some families than in others. In addition, this disease may not be genetically determined. Therefore, there are several causes of gonarthrosis.
- Various physical injuries of the knee (bruising, dislocation, etc. ).
- Large loads that do not correspond to age (5-7% of all cases of gonarthrosis, as well as coxarthrosis).
- Excess body weight of the patient (10% of all cases of gonarthrosis).
- Concomitant diseases, for example, arthritis (5-7% of all cases of gonarthrosis, polyarthritis and coxarthrosis).
- Congenital ligament weakness (3-5% of gonarthrosis cases).
- Metabolic syndrome and metabolic problems in the body.
- Muscle spasm of the upper thigh (up to 50% of cases of gonarthrosis and coxarthrosis).
Symptoms
The symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee joint are mostly the same and appear in almost all patients. Patients also notice that the aggravation of pain falls in 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 noticed only after a long walk and appears in the late afternoon. Tingling can present stiffness in the knee when moving. If minor symptoms are left unattended, then the disease can be triggered and can bring extremely undesirable results to the patient. Despite the main symptoms, there are several other signs of the disease:
- resting pain syndrome, which qualitatively decreases when walking;
- restriction of movement of the knee joint and difficulty in controlling its mobility;
- knee stiffness;
- increased sensitivity in the knee area;
- swelling in the knee joint and swelling of the surrounding skin;
- knee joint deformity.
The condition of the knee joint is assessed during the examination by the doctor and radiography. Moreover, the disease stage of any osteoarthritis (including coxarthrosis, gonarthrosis, polyarthrosis and others) can only be determined if there is a radiograph and only a doctor can make an assessment of such a condition. Therefore, it is extremely important not to get involved in self-diagnosis and not to rush to conclusions.
Degrees of gonarthrosis
degree of 1
The knee joints were not subjected to the deforming influence of the disease, but appear only by external signs and a slight swelling of the periarticular skin, changes in its color are noticeable. At the physiological level, it is characterized by small changes in the hyaline cartilage. As a result of the accumulation of a significant amount of joint fluid in the synovium, small deformities of the joints occur, which are accompanied by pain while walking. Other signs such as limited mobility are not noticed. And for this reason it is also difficult to trace them on radiographs. At this stage, the disease is difficult to diagnose, but with a quick diagnosis, its treatment will be more effective than with another or third degree of gonarthrosis, as well as other types of osteoarthritis (coxarthrosis, polyarthritis).
degree II
The main symptom is unbearable or intense pain, even with a light load, which is aggravated by walking and lifting weights. Over time, this will develop into difficulty in bending the knee. At the physiological level, this is manifested by the fact that the volume of the cartilage layer is significantly reduced, and in some places completely absent. According to the radiation results, this degree can be determined by the marginal bone growths and the density of the joint space. In the work of the wrist, especially with a long walk, a characteristic crack appears. Gradually, the patient may lose the ability to bend the knee, or it will be given with great difficulty. The deforming effect is already manifested at this stage of development of gonarthrosis, as well as other types of osteoarthritis (coxarthrosis, polyarthrosis). Visually, this is noticeable, and the surrounding skin becomes rough and changes its color. Treatment at this stage is better to start complex and intensive. Here, both medications and traditional methods of treatment will be important.
degree III
It is characterized by severe pain, even when the knee joint is inactive or immobile. The deforming effect is very noticeable and visually significant changes in the structure of joints and adjacent tissues can be observed. At the physiological level, it is characterized by the absence of cartilage tissue and this is easy to diagnose on a radiograph. Treatment of grade III arthritis of the knee joint and other types of osteoarthritis (polyarthrosis, coxarthrosis) is in fact an irreversible process. Rather, the main goal of such treatment will be to reduce pain and eliminate some of the symptoms of the disease manifestation.