Knee joint disease

The following factors may contribute to the development of knee arthropathy:

• Excessive physical activity that does not meet the age requirements, resulting in joint damage;
• A sedentary lifestyle;
• Knee joint injury-knee joint dislocation, fracture, ligament tear, meniscus injury, severe knee joint fall, bruise;
• An increase in body mass index leads to increased joint pressure and meniscus rupture;
• Genetic
• Arthritis or other joint diseases (inflammation can lead to edema or accumulation of a large amount of synovial fluid in the joint, causing cartilage tissue destruction);
• Metabolic disorders cause calcium to be excreted from the body;
• Any type of diabetes, hormonal disorders and other pathologies of the endocrine system;
• Chronic or past diseases with inflammation and infectiousness;
• Violation of blood flow;
• Lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid, gout and psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis;
• Flat feet, so the center of gravity shifts and joint load increases;
• Nerve overload and stress conditions.

Why does knee joint arthropathy occur

In most cases, people themselves become the culprits in the development of this stubborn disease. Usually, when knee joint pain occurs, people will ignore the feeling of pain and would rather go to the doctor and use any medicine that simply masks the pain.

After a few years, you still need to consult a specialist, because based on this diagnosis, self-medication will not produce any results. However, the severity of joint disease is at least average. Here, ointments, intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid and preventive physical education are no longer sufficient, which can be done in the early stages of the disease. Most likely, radical measures must be taken, including the sometimes use of surgical interventions.

Symptoms and diagnosis of knee arthropathy

The disease can be distinguished by the following characteristics:

• Pain syndrome. The painful sensation usually occurs suddenly, but the most common is physical exertion, even minor physical exertion. Pain may be of different nature. At first, these will be weak back pain (unfortunately few people pay attention to them). Mild pain that occurs only periodically can last for months or even years until the disease progresses to a more severe stage.
• Obvious knee deformity. Similar symptoms are typical in the later stages. And in the early stages of the development of arthropathy, the knee will be swollen and slightly swollen.
• A dense structure appears on the back wall of the knee joint. A large amount of joint fluid accumulates in the cavity of Baker's cyst or the joint itself.
• The joints contract violently, accompanied by pain.
• Decreased joint range of motion. This is especially evident in the final stage of joint disease. In this case, the bending and extension of the knee can cause severe pain, and in the final stage, it is almost impossible to move.

refer to! In patients with arthropathy, gait changes: it is characterized by sagging legs and claudication.

Pathogenesis of knee joint arthropathy

Experts distinguish between primary and secondary arthropathy.

Primary arthropathy of the knee

For primary knee joint disease, the following process is characteristic:

1. Articular cartilage can continue to deteriorate and rapidly renew at the same time. Under normal circumstances, these two processes should balance each other. With age, the destruction of cartilage occurs at the same rate, but its recovery rate slows down. The quality of a person plays an important role here. In fact, if a person's mass is 70 kg, then he walks 10 steps with one leg, he will transfer 700 kg, and a person weighing 120 kg will transfer up to 1200 kg, which will become an important load on joints and joints. Cartilage, so it will wear out faster.
2. It is important to remember that joints only feed on useful elements when they move. A sedentary lifestyle will slow down the metabolic process, which is why essential nutrients cannot reach the destination.
3. People whose parents have this disease are more likely to suffer from knee joint disease.

Secondary arthropathy of the knee

Its development has the following reasons:

• Multiple injuries. In people of any age, they can cause excessive stress on cartilage. When any bone covered by cartilage breaks, there will be irregularities, so-called "steps. "In this area, now, with any movement, the joints will wear out, leading to arthropathy.
• The development of rheumatoid arthritis, Koenig's disease, purulent inflammation of the joint area.
• Vascular dysfunction.

Classification and development stages of knee joint arthropathy

Orthopedics divide knee joint disease into multiple stages, depending on the further treatment of the disease. Of course, the course of treatment will also depend on other factors, such as the cause, location and nature of the joint disease.

important! Only after a complete study of the pictures of the disease can the doctor prescribe qualitative treatment. Self-management treatment can only exacerbate health conditions.

The main classification divides knee joint disease into four stages of development:

1. In the early days. At this stage, this disease has just emerged. The external symptoms are almost insignificant or absent, and the shape of the joints is in a satisfactory state. Symptoms include slight discomfort or heaviness of the knee only after prolonged walking, and intense physical exertion. X-rays have very little information: X-rays may only show a slight narrowing of the joint space. Unfortunately, at this stage, a person will not seek medical help because the symptoms are not obvious.
2. The second stage is characterized by a pronounced pain syndrome, especially when walking and climbing stairs, and at night. The severity of pain decreases during rest. Joint movement becomes difficult. You will hear a crunch or squeak of your knees when you walk. On X-rays, the narrowing of the joint space and osteophytes become obvious. The patient began to limp.
3. When the arthropathy enters the third stage, even if there is no exercise, you will continue to feel the pain syndrome. The process of deformation and degradation has entered an irreversible stage. The deformation of the joints becomes obvious, the distance between the articular surfaces is significantly reduced, and the size of many osteophytes increases. Even in a state of complete rest, the painful sensation can now interfere with the patient. A person becomes dependent on external support (walkers, canes) and needs help from others. Conservative treatment at this stage is less effective.
4. The fourth stage is characterized by persistent debilitating pain. The number and size of osteophytes increase, cartilage is completely destroyed, there is almost no or no joint space, and bones are severely deformed. Even weak movements can cause torture to the patient. At this stage of knee joint disease, the patient is considered a handicapped person. Without surgery, this disease can cause disability.

Complications of knee arthropathy

Advanced arthropathy can lead to dislocation and subluxation of the knee joint. During dislocation, the femoral epiphysis completely extends outside the joint, so movement within the joint becomes impossible, and the axis of the leg is basically shifted to one side. Fortunately, negative variants in the development of this disease are quite rare.

Subluxation is more common. They are characterized by the partial displacement of the joints relative to each other and the slight deviation of the tibial axis. In this case, subluxation is accompanied by severe joint pain and dysfunction.

Neglecting the disease can lead to complete loss of lower limb function.

attention! The habit of avoiding sore legs can sometimes lead to disc deformation and hernias.

Consequences of neglected knee joint disease

The advanced stages of knee joint disease are almost always characterized by the following adverse symptoms:

• All-weather pain, no painkiller can save;
• Loss of support to the limbs (it is impossible to stand on a sore leg or at least lean on it);
• Fixation of joint blocks;
• Bone around the knee is obviously bent;
• Severe swelling around the affected area.

Treatment of knee joint arthropathy

The prescribed treatment depends on the degree of disease progression. There are several treatment options.

Hormones

These drugs are used for severe exacerbations, accompanied by synovitis and severe pain. Hormones are usually given by injection. The following drugs are the most commonly used:

• Fluorosterone;
• Diprofen
• Hydrocortisone.

The duration of hormone therapy is usually very short; injections are only given during periods of severe deterioration. The average frequency of hormone administration is once every 10 days.

Chondroprotective agent

Cartilage protective agents are prescribed at the initial stage of disease development. This therapy is currently considered to be the most effective and safest: there are few contraindications, and side effects can occur in rare cases.

These drugs are designed to restore cartilage, improve metabolic processes, nourish cartilage tissue and protect it from further damage. But in the final stage of joint disease, chondroprotective agents are also helpless.

This group of drugs is produced in the form of injections, ointments, gels, and tablets.

Vasodilators

These funds are necessary to eliminate small vasospasm, increase blood circulation, and provide nutrition to the affected joint area. It is prescribed to take vasodilators together with chondroprotective agents.

If joint fluid does not accumulate during arthritis (no synovitis), warm ointment is recommended.

Hyaluronic acid

In other words, this tool is called an intra-articular fluid prosthesis because the composition of the acid is similar to that of the intra-articular fluid. When acid is injected into the joint, it will form a film to prevent the cartilage from generating strong friction during exercise, affect the extracellular matrix, improve the metabolic process in the joint, and trigger the production of hyaluronic acid in the joint—even ifThe joint function returns to normal and the pathological process that destroys cartilage is stopped. . . .

Acid treatment is prescribed only when it worsens-synovitis is eliminated.

physiotherapy

Only after the doctor has prescribed a complete study of the medical history, and all exercises are carried out under the supervision of a specialist, can physical therapy practice courses bring positive results.

Self-medication usually causes deterioration of joint conditions. Exercise therapy is designated for the following purposes:

• Slow down the development of stiffness;
• Prevent further destruction of cartilage tissue;
• Eliminates muscle spasms and causes pain.

physiotherapy

As an additional therapy, various procedures can be prescribed: electrophoresis, acupuncture, laser therapy, UHF, and permeable current. Partial massage will also have good results.

Physical therapy aims to reduce the severity of pain, eliminate inflammation, normalize the metabolic processes in the affected joints and restore their normal functions.

important! It is important for patients to monitor their diet and avoid strenuous physical exertion.

forecast. prevention

With the advanced stages of the disease, the forecast is disappointing. Therefore, it is recommended to consult your doctor even if you have mild joint symptoms.

People at risk (elderly people, athletes, and overweight people) must follow the doctor’s advice and observe the following rules:

1. Eat a reasonable diet and control your weight. Follow a weight loss diet as needed.
2. Reduce the load on the joints during exercise and constantly monitor it.
3. Treat infectious diseases in time to prevent them from transitioning to the chronic phase.
4. Get plenty of rest and avoid stressful situations as much as possible.
5. Increase the body's protective function (regularly take vitamins, temper).
6. Avoid hypothermia, especially the lower extremities.