Many people with age appears a disease of the joints that the doctors call osteoarthritis). Often osteoarthritis affects people over the age of 45 years and very often it is the osteoarthritis of the knee. If this is not osteoarthritis, the cartilage disappears and the bone bare, and this will make it impossible to execute the functions of the knee joint.
The reasons that lead to the onset of osteoarthritis
The onset of osteoarthritis in the knee joint can contribute to a number of factors. Among them, the medical doctors are distinguished the following:
Mechanics of the injury. These may be fractures and dislocations, but they are extremely dangerous damage to the menisci. The lesions are precisely the factors that can lead to the development of osteoarthritis at a very early age. Doctors say that the cause of the arthritis is not in itself an injury, and the treatment of this injury, which is related to the locking of the extremities and, as a consequence, the violation of the microcirculation of the blood in the area of the joint, which leads to the development of the disorder of the arthritis. In the case of damage in the meniscus of his subsequent elimination, the statistics of the doctors says that in nine out of every ten cases, prevent osteoarthritis cannot be;
Excess weight by itself, the knee is not painful, but it is a risk factor for injury to the menisci. This injury is very dangerous, the process of recovery of injury in the meniscus is long and in most cases leads to osteoarthritis. Authors believe that the severe forms of osteoarthritis of the knee occur in people who are overweight, suffer from varicose veins;
The problem of ligaments. Very common the case of people who are in good physical shape. These people have a great mobility of the joints and, by themselves, are flexible. As the people are able to sit on the twine, and can perform a variety of stretching exercises, even without heating. However, these people strongly "loose" ligaments. Performed by these persons exercise make the joint of the knee is micro injuries, and later become the cause of osteoarthritis;
What is the joint disease like arthritis is very easy, it enters into the osteoarthritis. The fact that arthritis is an inflammatory process that leads to the formation of large amounts of fluid in the cavity of the joint, which eventually leads to cartilage destruction and osteoarthritis of the knee;
The changes in metabolism also lead to the development of arthritis, especially important for the joints is the exchange of calcium; In the last time have emerged several theories that explain the onset of osteoarthritis the influence of stress. In the opinion of madcow, after 40 most women accumulate emotional exhaustion, and this is the cause of the breaches in the processes of the circulation of the blood, even in the lower extremities, which suffers, and the joint of the knee.
The symptoms of the disease
Osteoarthritis of the knee to often notice the following symptoms:
The pain in the knee joint. The main feature is that the pain does not appear suddenly. Generally, the person experiences a feeling of discomfort and a nagging pain over a period of several months and even years. Intensify the sensations of pain when you run or walk fast. If the pain appeared in the joint of the knee sharply, probably, the place is not osteoarthritis and crushing on the meniscus. The more the disease develops, the more they become in pain. Especially strong pain after the loads associated with extended periods of standing or lifting weights. The pain will subside after the holiday break, but once that occurs the exercise, the pain appear again. In many cases, the sick patients, and the knee occurs exacerbation of pain when weather conditions change, and the pain is felt as in movement and at rest. To relieve the pain of the symptoms, it is recommended the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
The deformation of the own tribe. This symptom is manifested in the stages eugen end, d, of the development of the disease. Do not confuse the deformation of the joint of the knee with swelling, which may manifest itself already in the beginning of the disease; the Accumulation of an excessive amount of fluid in the knee joint. This is the phenomenon of doctors call the synovitis, but with the time the synovitis can go in the baker's cyst, which is manifested in the education of a seal in the back of the knee joint. Fortunately, the baker's cyst be treated without surgery;
The crunch. Unlike popping in the joints of healthy people when the crisis in the stages eugen end, d development of osteoarthritis is accompanied by strong pains. In addition, the crunch of the arthritis-specific, "dry". The cause of the crack is the problem of the ligaments, or excessive mobility of the joint;
The limitation of motion of the knee. Because of the strong pain that the patient is unable to bend freely and straighten the leg. As a general rule, the limitation of motion accompanied by the deformation of the joints, which is seen outwardly. In the stages eugen end, d development of osteoarthritis of the joints become totally immobile and autonomous displacement of the patients to be very problematic. According to the degree of severity of the symptoms of osteoarthritis of knee in the medical practice is divided as to the degree of development of the disease:
- Osteoarthritis of the joint of the first grade. Minor aches and are manifested, primarily, in the execution of movements. In a state of rest the pain go away. The cartilage at this stage already surprised, but the deformation is not visible in a visual way. In the knee, fluid can build up and form a baker's cyst;
- Osteoarthritis of the joint of the second degree. The cartilage of the affected tissue due to a narrowing of the joint cleft. Joint x-rays at this stage show that the bone has increased in size. The patient, any movement is accompanied by acute pain, but in a state of rest, the pain did not. In flexion and correct to the extension of the leg, hear, characteristic of osteoarthritis, the "dry" crunch. With the proper bending and straightening of the knee the problems appear, the doctors say that in patients, the fact of the deformation of the joint;
- Osteoarthritis of the joint of the third degree. The cartilage is so diminished, that in some places the bone was completely undressed. In addition, in the cavities of the joints appear salt deposits, medically referred to as osteophytes. The sick are gravely concerned about the pain, that is not calm nor in movement nor in rest.
The diagnosis of osteoarthritis
A presumptive diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the knee, the doctor can put you on the questioning of the patient during the examination. However, for an accurate diagnosis you need two compulsory research: diagnostic ultrasound and x-ray. In regard to the laboratory analysis of blood, may be assigned, which could exclude diseases that have such a box clinical, for example, arthritis. More informative for the physician are the results of the x-ray, which gives the possibility to judge about the degree of narrowing of the joint cleft, and it also gives you the opportunity to see the osteophytes. At the same time, the ultrasound provides information on the thickness of the cartilage joint guidance, and also gives an idea of in which state are located here adjacent to the knee joint of the fabric.
The treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee
If you suspect osteoarthritis in the knee joint, you must contact the doctor, if necessary, send you to an orthopedic surgeon or. The treatment of the disease involves different treatment strategies, however, one of the most efficient today is the pharmacological treatment of osteoarthritis. In fact, doctors use several groups of drugs. Is:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- Chondroprotectors;
- Hormones steroid series;
- Drugs that improve the circulation of the blood;
- Vitamins
Ozone therapy
This methodology includes the exposure to ozone (o3) in the knee joint affected by osteoarthritis). This methodology can be implemented as direct to the outside by the action of ozone on the joint, and the introduction of the injection. What is the exposure to ozone has no contraindications, but at the same time has well expressed the effect of the treatment. In patients to decrease pain, decrease inflammation, and also restores the circulation of the blood in the knee joint. It is considered that the ozone therapy well helps in the treatment combined with the application of chondroprotectors.
Kinesitherapy
This methodology is based on the assumption that, during the implementation of the special exercises that restores the blood supply of the knee, and along with him, begins to rebuild the cartilage and occurs the recovery of the elasticity of the ligaments. A set of exercises individually for each patient by the doctor. This treatment goes very well with medication.
Physiotherapy
In the opinion of many physicians in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee, physical therapy is one of the major, and not minor, the methods of treatment. In the course of physiotherapy procedures take the sensations of pain and recovers most of the functions of the joint, what is more, some of the methods in the course of physiotherapy procedures remove the pain and recovers most of the functions of the joint, in addition, some of the physiotherapy techniques enable the introduction of drugs for the treatment of the disease. Today, all physical therapy procedures for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee are divided into groups such as:
- Reduce the pain;
- Acute inflammatory processes;
- Repair the blood supply;
- Painkillers Physiotherapy
Rough sf
As such a procedure is often used through the ultraviolet radiation (rough sf). In the course of procedures for the ultraviolet rays, go to the knee and focusing on it until you don't see a slight redness in the skin. It is considered that this demonstrates the production of substances that reduce the sensitivity to the painful sensations. As a general rule, patients are prescribed 6-7 sessions rough sf.
Magnetic therapy
In the last time, especially popular become magnetic therapy. It is considered that the methodology refers to the arthritis of first and second degree. Patients undergoing 10-25 procedures of equipment, each procedure takes about 30 minutes. Thanks to the influence of a magnetic field, restores the blood supply of the cartilage and, as a consequence, recovery begins.
Exercise a physical for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee
Gymnastics for the treatment of osteoarthritis is very important. There are many developments in this direction, but the most significant of the results has given a series of exercises created by dr. Evdokimenko and Wool tabaci. Unfortunately, the complex account with restrictions. You cannot perform the exercises of the people:
- Critical for women days;
- Patients with high intracranial increased and the blood pressure;
- When the temperature of body over 37,5 0 ° C;
- If you have an inguinal hernia;
- In the heart failure;
- With the acute diseases of the internal organs.
The complex has nine exercises. Before you begin to journal, the execution of this complex, you should consult with your doctor. The practice shows that the correct implementation of the complex of exercises Evdokimenko – tabaci under the control of physicians, gives excellent results. And remember that you perform these exercises with a warming ointment.
The diet in the treatment of osteoarthritis
One of the causes of arthrosis of the joints of the knee is the excess weight puts additional pressure on the joints. Therefore, the reduction of weight is one of the most important tasks in the complex treatment and prevention of osteoarthritis. The data of numerous studies demonstrate that weight reduction 5 pounds to have an important influence in improving the state of the patient's joints. Nutritionists believe that the diet of the patient must have sufficient amount of vitamins and trace elements, and at the same time you must have a minimum of calories. Osteoarthritis, in any case, it is not worth to be involved in the diuretic tea, you want to use lovers take the excess weight. The case is that by doing so, it causes the leaching of calcium, which is very desirable to osteoarthritis of the joints. The power of the sick person must be fractions, and to eat you must use the fruits and vegetables. It is believed that the morning should begin with a breakfast, otherwise the metabolic processes for a long time are not included and it is very likely that errors will occur. In the same way influence and the later dinner, which should be no more than 2-3 hours before bedtime. Not less important is to consume a sufficient amount of water (not less than 2 liters per day). And also important is the quality of the food. Osteoarthritis is very important to the inclusion of products such as:
- Soups, broths and jelly, soldiers in the bones. In these products contains a large number of natural chondroprotectors and collagen;
- The meat of chicken or turkey, which are an excellent source of protein that is essential for the proper metabolism;
- Fish, walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts are very important as a source of vitamin E;
- Cereals and whole-grain bread is one of the best options of complex carbohydrates necessary for proper feeding of the sick;
- The oil of sunflower, linseed or olive oil are also important components of the food, as they are a source of unsaturated fatty acids.
The treatment of osteoarthritis is to remember the fact that the treatment of this disease may not be instant and, in fact, consists in the driving of a certain lifestyle, on the contrary, the patient may lose the ability to move by itself.