Osteoarthritis is most common among the numerous diseases of the joints.With the development of this pathology, the patient begins problems with the mobility of the limbs, swelling, inflammation and intensive pain syndrome.And when we talk about the causes of osteoarthritis of the knee joint at a young age, you can contain many predisposing factors.
General information
The development of deformation processes in the area of knee joint in official medicine is referred to as gonarthrosis.The disease is accompanied by degenerative-dystrophic phenomena in the hyalink norp, which develops in stages and provides the patient many problems.The main signs of the disease are:
- Pain syndrome.
- Station of the makers.
- Inflammation.
- Edema.
Under different forms of osteoarthritis, the damage to the knee joint is considered the most common.In most cases, the problem for women at the age of 40 is.It can also manifest themselves in young people against the background of mechanical injuries or colossal stress.For example, professional athletes are most susceptible to this pathology.
If you do not take suitable measures in the early stages of developing the disease, gonarthrosis will become a difficult form over time, which brings irreversible consequences.The dimensions of the joint are increasing at incredible speed, the deformation process begins in cartilage and bones, and every physical activity is accompanied by intensive pain and symptoms.In the worst case, the patient will lose the opportunity to move independently.
Many falsely think that arthrosis and arthritis are the same pathologies.However, the first disease implies an acute inflammatory reaction and the second - a number of chronic diseases with a degenerative character.If the patient has the symptoms of both problems, arthroso arthritis can be diagnosed.
The causes of osteoarthritis of the knee joint
The causes of the disease are very different, so it is problematic to distinguish a single one.In most cases, the problem is developed with the occurrence of several provoking factors that lead to a violation.Modern medicine identifies such arthrosis mechanisms:
- Primary.It is a natural process that occurs in people at the age of 40 and is explained by the aging of the body tissue.The main mechanism for the development of osteoarthritis is also contributed to related factors, including obesity, inheritance or high load.
- Secondary - it covers 30% of all diseases arthrosis.The cause of the occurrence is associated with the transfer of mechanical injuries, fractures of the lower leg or the ligaments of the ligaments.The first symptoms of pathology can occur a few years after the damage.In the event of serious injuries, however, this can happen after 2-3 months.
There is another development mechanism that has 7-8% of the cases of osteoarthritis.It is as follows: If a person suddenly started driving or going to professional sports at the age of 40, this can lead to quick dystrophic and degenerative changes.In addition, osteoarthritis also manifests itself with simultaneous diseases, including various forms of arthritis, gout, overweight, etc.
The reasons for the development of the disease are often associated with intensive stress, lifting weights or frequent increase in the steps (especially in old age).Patients who have suffered in spinal violations or neurological diseases also fall into the risk zone.
In most cases, the predisposing factor when gonartrosis occurs is muscle spasm in the front surface of the thigh.Since the appearance of the first pain may not manifest itself for a long time and the only signs are characteristic tiredness and severity in the legs.
Development levels and symptoms
After finding out which osteoarthritis of the knee joint appears, you can begin to examine the main symptoms and stages of the development of the disease.Experts argue that pathology is characterized by slow progress when negative symptoms increase.Depending on the patient's ability to work, three arthrosis levels are differentiated:
- First.
- The second.
- The third.
It should be noted that gonarthrosis naturally has no acute shape because it is a degenerative process of chronic nature.As far as the term “acute osteoarthritis” is concerned, it affects the third stage with weighted symptoms in most cases.
The first stage
In the first stage of gonarthrosis in the joint, the circulation of a special liquid begins that nourishes and smears it.Special changes in the structure are not noticed and the cartilage tissue is slightly inflamed.
The initial stage of the development of osteoarthritis is accompanied by slight symptoms and a feeling of stiffness during the movement.The patient becomes problematic to climb the steps, to take away races or to stand on his feet for a long time.Every increased activity leads to the occurrence of pain in the knees.In the least calm, however, pain syndrome is localized and disappears.
A further progress of pathology improves pain, but the patient's ability to work is in no way disturbed.In this regard, the patient continues to lead the usual lifestyle.
It is not easy to determine the development of osteoarthritis in the initial phases.The fact is that people simply do not notice the symptoms and attribute everything to revise.
Second and third degree
Several months can take several months between the initial symptoms and the transition of the pathology to the second stage.At the same time, the patient can forget the first symptoms for some time and continue to lead an ordinary life.However, the progression of degenerative changes will bring more serious consequences, namely:
- Improved pain in every load.
- Station of the makers.
- Edema.
- Inflammation.
In addition to the symptoms described, a crunch also occurs in the knee molar, which is explained by a violation of the structure.The cartilage fabric becomes thinner, and the volume of the synovial fluid that lubricates and feeds the joint decreases significantly.
If the patient did not start treatment in the second stage of arthrosis, this leads to the development of the third more dangerous.It is a very neglected form of pathology in which the joint loses its basic functionality, and the patient's ability to work is at risk.
In this case, the content of the synovial fluid in the cartilage tissue becomes minimal, the cartilage loses its previous thickness and thicken.A lymphatic fluid also occurs in the affected area and an inflammatory process is started.
In an advanced form, gonar rose has such symptoms:
- Excessive pain syndrome that occurs in all movements.In addition, even if the patient is in a lying or seated position without activity, he can suddenly feel severe pain.
- The motor skills of the knee joint are very limited.
- The common changes experience many changes, increases in size and deformation.You can notice such episodes with the naked eye.
As for acute pain syndrome in the third stage of osteoarthritis, it appears spontaneous and practically does not become localized by pain relievers that are available in pharmacies.In this case, the prostheses of the joint are the only way out of the situation.
In particularly complex forms of gonarthrosis, experts differentiate a different stage in which the destruction of the common bag begins.Unfortunately, there are no effective ways to treat pathology in modern medicine, which has switched to 2 and 3 levels.In this regard, doctors recommend help in the clinic in good time when the slightest suspicion of gonar rose is determined.
Diagnosis
If you call an understanding of the causes of gonarthrosis, it is important to know about the correct diagnosis of pathology.After all, you have to be able to differentiate it from other diseases that can have similar symptoms.
In order to determine the development of the disease, a comprehensive examination is used, which includes a biochemical blood test, radiography, MRI and ultrasound.It should be noted that the composition of the blood with different arthrosis stages remains almost similar, so that all changes to the norm indicate the presence of a different problem.
In connection with this feature, it is possible to make a precise diagnosis and only to determine the presence of gonarthrosis with the help of an X beam examination.The absorbed image clearly shows violations in the structure of the joints and bones and also determines the surface defects.
Despite the high accuracy of the diagnosis, X -Ray soft tissues, including cartilage and meniscus, cannot examine.Ultrasound, MRI or CT is used as an additional diagnosis product.
If you determine the development of the pathology in good time and start comprehensive treatment, this avoids irreparable consequences and prevent the problem from changing to more serious phases.Due to the specific course of the disease, however, many patients do not even believe that joint pain, stiffness and other changes are not the result of tiredness after hard work, but a sign of the beginning of the degenerative processes.
Treatment methodology
There are currently many ways to treat gonarthrosis.You can differ in the action principle, a list of tasks that are to be solved, as well as individual characteristics.A comprehensive treatment is used for a more productive fight against the disease:
- Localization of the pain.
- Improvement of mobile functions.
- Improvement of the condition of cartilage tissues and the patient as a whole.
- Strengthening the muscle structure that surrounds the affected joint.
The most common methodology for the treatment of osteoarthritis is physiotherapy.It includes a number of special procedures that aim to strengthen muscle tissue and restore blood circulation.
During the physiotherapeutic treatment, the patient determines a significant improvement in the fountain and slowing down degenerative processes.However, it is strictly forbidden to start the procedure independently of one another, since the problem that is not properly calculated can only make the problem worse.
If you try to remove pain, relieve swelling and inflammation, it is necessary to use a number of non -steroidal medicines.This includes ibuprofen, ketoprofen, diclofenac and others.The task of the drugs is to quickly relieve pain for more productive treatment in the future.
If the use of non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs does not provide any results, you must use the use of corticosteroids with a more pronounced anti -inflammatory effect.However, it is not recommended to use pain relievers over a long period of time, since they only reduce the symptoms and slow down the process of tissue control.If the pain has disappeared after taking a tablet, it is better to refuse medication.
External funds and surgical interventions
The causes of osteoarthritis of the common fight with the help of various ointments, compresses and creams.And although this medication does not treat osteoarthritis, improve the patient's borehole and reduce the pain.A distinction is made between warming and anti -inflammatory ointments to the most effective external means.
With the development of the second stage of the disease, the patient can prescribe intra -karticular injections of corticosteroids, namely:
- Betamethasone.
When selecting the drug, it is necessary to take into account his tolerance by the patient.When we talk about corticosteroids, you can effectively eliminate pain, but do not deal with the heavy stages of osteoarthritis.
If the disease is in the last stage, which is considered the most dangerous than the operation, the operation is the only way out.In this case, you have to carry out a surgical decompression of the common bag in order to expand the lumen between the bones and restore cartilage areas.
Whether this approach will be effective depends on many factors.First you have to take into account the severity of the disease.If it is not the most unfortunate, it is quite possible to restore the previous mobility of the joints and get rid of pain.
However, the painful joint will still feel so that the patient should seriously revise his lifestyle.It will also be necessary to make physiotherapy exercises, appropriate nutrition and appropriate physical activity very attentive.
Prevention is recommended to give up the consumption of salted or spicy foods, alcoholic beverages and cigarettes.Such actions have a positive effect on the body's disease and store the joint in front of unnecessary loads.
A comprehensive treatment of osteoarthritis in accordance with the above -mentioned recommendations is the best way to suspend a dangerous pathology and restore the previous operation of the knee joints.