Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (gonarthrosis) is a disease that causes the cartilage of the knee joint to deform. This disease is very common, especially among the older generations. The work of the knee worsens and therefore the difficulties in its mobility and in the sensation of pain are the most important signs of the disease. Today, osteoarthritis of the knee joint is also common among people between the ages of 25 and 30. What speaks about 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). More often the disease manifests itself in its bilateral manifestation.
The reasons
Gonarthrosis, like coxarthrosis, occurs more often in old age. Although today there are no exceptions and the fact that young people have symptoms of this disease. This suggests that the causes of gonarthrosis are different, and each can in its own way affect the appearance, exacerbation and treatment of the disease. There are also possibilities of genetic predisposition of an organism, eg. Osteoarthritis of the knee joint may be more common in some families than in others. Furthermore, this disease may not be genetically determined. Therefore, there are several causes of gonarthrosis.
- Various physical injuries of the knee (bruises, dislocation, etc. ).
- Large loads that do not correspond to age (5-7% of all cases of gonarthrosis and 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 (3-5% 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 beep may present knee stiffness during movement. If the minor symptoms are left unattended, the disease can be triggered and can lead to extremely undesirable results for the patient. 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;
- stiffness of the knee;
- increased sensitivity in the knee area;
- swelling of the knee joint and swelling of the skin around it;
- deformity of the knee joint.
Assessment of the state of the knee joint is performed during a medical examination and x-ray. Also, the disease stage of any osteoarthritis (including coxarthrosis, gonarthrosis, polyarthrosis, and others) can only be determined if an x-ray is present, and only a doctor can assess such a condition. Therefore, it is extremely important not to engage in self-diagnosis and not to jump to hasty conclusions.
Degrees of gonarthrosis
1st degree
The knee joints have not succumbed to the deforming influence of the disease, but appear only from external signs and a slight swelling of the periarticular skin, changes in its color are noted. On a physiological level it is characterized by slight alterations of the hyaline cartilage. As a result of the accumulation of a significant amount of joint fluid in the synovina, minor joint deformities occur, which are accompanied by pain when walking. No other signs such as reduced mobility are observed. And therefore it is also difficult to trace them on the x-ray. At this level, the disease is difficult to diagnose, but with a quick definition, its treatment will be more effective than with other or third degree of gonarthrosis, as well as other types of osteoarthritis (coxarthrosis, polyarthrosis).
II degree
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 turn into difficulty in bending the knee. At the physiological level, this is manifested by the fact that the volume of the cartilage layer decreases dramatically and in some places is completely absent. According to the results of the radiographs, this degree can be determined by the marginal bone growths and the density of the joint space. In the work of the joint, especially with a long walk, a characteristic creak appears. Gradually, the patient may lose the ability to bend the knee or it will be administered 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 best to start complex and intensive. Here, both drugs and traditional methods of treatment will be relevant.
III degree
It is characterized by severe 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 occur visually. On a physiological level it is characterized by the absence of cartilage tissues and this is easily diagnosed by X-rays. The treatment of the III degree of the disease of arthrosis of the knee joint and other types of arthrosis (polyarthrosis, coxarthrosis) is actually an irreversible process. Rather, the main goal of such treatment will be to reduce pain and eliminate some of the symptoms of the manifestation of the disease.