Our joints are very healthy. The ends of the bones fit into each other and are covered with cartilage from above for better sliding. The joint itself is protected by a joint capsule, and ligaments and muscles strengthen it in front, back and on the sides. Inside the joint capsule there is a special fluid that provides smooth movement without jerking, creaking and throbbing. This is how healthy joints work. And what happens to those with arthrosis?
How and why arthrosis occurs: obesity, trauma, arthritis
For starters, how is arthrosis different from arthritis? Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints and can be treated and treated until fully recovered. With arthrosis, the cartilage on the articular surface of the bone changes shape, becomes thinner, loses elasticity, becomes covered with cracks and becomes layered, the amount of synovial fluid decreases. And this change is already, unfortunately, irreversible. Therefore, the disease is called degenerative, that is, destructive. Joint destruction is influenced by age-over time, cartilage wears out, but at the heart of everything is our upright posture, which causes a huge load to be placed on the knee joint.
Gonarthrosis is arthrosis of the knee joint. This type of arthrosis is more common in women and is exacerbated by obesity and venous disease. Many older people develop arthrosis, which is explained by age -related changes in the joints. At a young age, arthrosis can occur with joint injuries during sports or with high physical exertion. In addition, the development of arthrosis is influenced by weakness of ligaments and muscles in the knee area, inactive lifestyle, arthritis, stress and metabolic disorders, and in everyday life - high -heeled shoes and carrying loads (eg, shopping. Bags). Joint defeat is bilateral, but it can also develop on one foot.
Manifestations of arthrosis: pain, dryness, stiffness
Knee pain, cracking, stiffness during flexion and extension of the joint, in particular, when a person gets up and sits down - all these are signs of arthrosis of the knee joint. However, the pain did not come suddenly. At the onset of the disease, it is quite a discomfort in the knee, which turns into pain with strenuous effort, running, and exercising. If the pain is acute, it may be associated with dislocations, sprains, damage to the menisci (elastic cartilage pads in the joints).
With stage 2 arthrosis, knee pain becomes a frequent companion, it is especially noticeable after long walks, heavy lifting. If you give the joint a break, the pain goes away, but returns when the load is resumed. An additional symptom of arthrosis is swelling of the knee joint. In addition, there is excessive accumulation of joint fluid (synovitis), characteristic irritation during movement, where pain occurs, and then limited movement in the knee. The patient is unable to easily bend and flex the leg. Trying to straighten it completely causes severe pain.
When arthrosis reaches the third stage, the knee joint sometimes loses mobility completely. People walk with slightly bent legs at the knees, experience aching pain that often occurs when the weather changes, and can be excruciating during rest, including at night. Patients should use painkillers. At this stage, it is also possible to change the shape of the legs - they are bent either outwards (legs with wheels) or inwards. It is not uncommon for people to rub their sore knees, intuitively trying to improve blood flow in them.
Treatment of arthrosis: weight loss, movement is life
The diagnosis of arthrosis is made by X-ray examination. Common changes are narrowing of the joint space, the appearance of osteophytes (salt deposits), bone destruction. Many patients come to the doctor at a stage when it becomes a problem to sleep at night without an anesthetic. While changes in the joints are irreversible, there are a few things you can do to improve a patient’s life. Treatment for arthrosis begins with weight loss. Moreover, it is necessary to rely on a rational diet and not too high in calories, because the possibilities of physical activity are limited. This is the first thing any doctor would say to a patient with knee joint arthrosis.
The second aspect of arthrosis treatment is, oddly enough, movement. When the change in the joint is not yet fatal, not in the last stage, only the movement - but the movement is right! - can prolong their life. There are no blood vessels in the cartilage, nutrition is through diffusion, and for the exchange to continue, so that the cells are renewed and the cartilage can live, movement is required.
But which movement should be considered right? Of course, those who do not load the knee joint. Don’t torture the reader - the best sport for arthrosis is swimming. This is an excellent exercise for ligaments, cartilage, muscles without vertical load, given by walking and standing. It is necessary to avoid running, sports games, jumping. Yes, joint pain and will not allow you to particularly accelerate.
The second method of movement is suitable for those who visit the gym or have purchased a simulator at home called an ellipsoid. It looks like a bike while standing and at the same time like cross -country skiing. When working on this simulator, we avoid shock loads on the knee joint and at the same time train the muscles and ligaments. The ellipsoid moves smoothly, but gives a non -weak aerobic load, therefore, by training it, we also solve the problem of excess weight.
Medical treatment and surgery of the knee joint
As for the medical part of arthrosis treatment, it is the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for pain. The doctor will help you choose a dose that will relieve both pain and inflammation (and it still will), and swelling. Sometimes analgesics are added, as the pain can be very severe - they disrupt sleep, disrupt eating and generally disrupt life. In some cases, it depends on the prescription of antidepressants.
If, despite all efforts, the treatment of arthrosis described does not help, and the destruction of the joint continues, which leads to complete immobility (and, as you know, the less we move, the faster the fat layer grows), there is a radical remedy - surgical replacement of the jointdiseased on the prosthesis. It consists of an artificial end of the femur (upper) and menisci, which corresponds to the surface of the tibia (lower). The operation is not easy, but steady and, so to speak, routine. There are many of them in the world. After surgery, a rehabilitation program has been developed that allows a person to not only start moving, but to return to a full and active lifestyle.