There are diseases that progress over time. It is impossible to completely cure them, as well as to return to the starting point, but it is quite possible to diagnose them and stop in time. Previously, it was possible to experience symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee in the elderly, but now the disease "rejuvenates" and is often the cause of injury. the treatment?
The essence of what is happening
Before starting treatment or determining the specific signs of the disease, it is necessary to understand what is happening in the joint.
The articular surfaces of human bones are covered with cartilage. In some joints, as well as in the knee, there are menisci - cartilaginous layers that act as shock absorbers. The joint fluid produced by the capsule acts as a lubricant.
Polyarthritis is a disease that affects all or most of the joints in the body. The disease develops as a result of the destruction of articular cartilage and the exposure of bone.
When the knee joint is affected, changes occur in the production of joint fluid. Part or all of the cartilage is lost and over time the joint wears out. When this is observed in most joints, the diagnosis is made: polyarthritis.
The body tries to cope with such a violation, as well as to limit the pain. As the disease progresses, the joint deforms, the bones begin to grow due to thorns (osteophytes). They can often be felt when probing in advanced situations when polyarthritis has developed. The surface of the bones is uneven and does not fit together. The result is limited mobility.
From the above symptoms it is clear that these are not salts that everyone is so used to thinking about with knee pain.
When to sound the alarm
The first thing that causes osteoarthritis of the knee or polyarthritis is the pain that can occur after prolonged exercise or just bother you all the time. Its nature is different, often the pain intensifies in the evening or at night, interferes with sleep, leading to disruption of normal life. Even at this stage it is worth visiting your doctor, as the simplest diagnosis - an X-ray, can reveal a disorder, and in some cases polyarthritis. The photo will show a narrowing of the joint space, which shows a thinning of cartilage.
Symptoms
There are three degrees of osteoarthritis, each of which has its own specific symptoms. With their help you can also suspect polyarthritis, which will require special treatment.
In the first stage, the pain is not severe and it seems to many that it will soon pass. In addition, there is discomfort and mild, intermittent swelling. This will require minor treatment, which will be discussed below. In addition, laser therapy and other physiotherapy are indicated.
In the second degree, the symptoms become more complex, crunching is added to all of the above, and mobility is impaired. There may be a slight hemorrhage.
Laser therapy and your doctor's recommendations for medication may help in this case. If this is not done, the pain will become permanent and it will be time to think about the third degree.
In the third stage, the integrity of the cartilage is completely destroyed. The pain is constant and we cannot talk about normal gait. Climbing stairs becomes a real problem, joints swell. When moving there is a pronounced crunch, the joint is deformed, the pain is felt on palpation.
Polyarthritis is further manifested by redness of the skin, it is hot to the touch. There is bleeding on the skin as a result of rupture of blood vessels or venous network. If this cosmetic defect interferes, then it is really possible to get rid of it with a laser.
In the last stages, the person becomes unstable as a result of muscle and ligament weakness. Walking is possible only with a support on a stick and even then for short distances. It all ends with a deformity of the knee, which even a laser can not correct. Changes can no longer be undone, a person becomes disabled. In this case, the joints unfold towards each other or in opposite directions.
Medical diagnostics may reveal a slight change in shape, and significant ones will require additional diagnostics. The doctor usually prescribes an X-ray that shows changes in the joints. A finer diagnosis is made with the help of CT, MRI and additionally ultrasound of the knee joint is used.
Treatment
The treatment of this disease excites many and only a doctor can understand it. The arsenal of drugs is very large, it is impossible to use them uncontrollably.
In case of improper use of drugs, gastric ulcer can be added to osteoarthritis. But it is almost impossible to repair damaged cartilage.
First, the doctor prescribes the patient nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which together with inflammation relieve pain. But the treatment does not end there. Exercise, physiotherapy are widely used. Special therapeutic exercises are selected only by a doctor, after which it gives maximum therapeutic effect. For everything in more detail.
Drug use
The main treatment is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In addition, agents are used that improve the nutrition of cartilage and promote its gradual regeneration. The most tested in this regard are drugs based on glucosamine and chondroitin. Special creams and ointments that have a local effect allow you to fix the treatment.
It is worth noting that drugs reduce pain and relieve inflammation, but it is very dangerous to use them constantly. Prolonged treatment has a negative effect on the condition of the gastric mucosa, liver and heart. Recently began to produce drugs with minimal adverse effects, according to some manufacturers, they can be used for several months.
Gymnastics and physiotherapy
Complementary therapies can improve blood flow and therefore joint nutrition. Special exercises can strengthen ligaments and muscles. This is just the effect of gymnastics in the early stages, when the joint has not changed much. Exercises are chosen strictly individually, depending on the severity of the disease and the patient's physical abilities.
Also, the exercises are complemented by physiotherapy, there are a large number of them. Magnetic therapy, laser therapy, diodynamics, UHF, novocaine electrophoresis, ultrasound and many others are used.
Injections into the joint
In the final stages, when physiotherapy or laser do not help, injections into the joint cavity are used to relieve pain. Preparations based on hyaluronic acid are introduced, which increase the restorative properties of cartilage. The introduction of hormonal drugs is often practiced, but this is not safe, because over time the duration of the therapeutic effect decreases and the cartilage simply becomes unusable.
Endoprosthesis
Joint replacement is the last resort when your own joint cannot be saved and it can no longer function. This operation is called arthroplasty and allows you to almost completely restore lost function, eliminate pain. In fact, it is possible to replace the whole joint (total arthroplasty) or its most altered part. At this stage, the level of surgical technique, the implants produced is so perfect that it allows to obtain successful results and the introduction of this method of treatment everywhere.
It is not difficult to diagnose polyarthritis of the knee, especially if you pay attention to the characteristic symptoms. A visit to the doctor will allow you to refute or confirm the diagnosis. There are many treatment options as well as a choice of medications that allow you to quickly eliminate the pain. But it is not worthwhile to subject your knees to joint replacement, because your native joint is much better than artificial, no matter how high quality it is.