There are diseases that evolve over time. It is impossible to cure them completely, as well as to return to the starting point, but it is quite possible to diagnose them and stop them in a timely manner. Previously, it was possible to encounter the symptoms of arthrosis of the knee joint in older people, but now the disease is "rejuvenating" and is often the cause of disability. So what are the signs you need to pay attention to in time to start 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, like in the knee, there are menisci - layers of cartilage that act as shock absorbers. The joint fluid produced by the capsule acts as a lubricant.
Polyarthrosis is a disease when all or most of the joints in the body are affected. The disease develops as a result of the destruction of articular cartilage and the exposure of bone.
When the knee joint is affected, changes also occur in the production of joint fluid. Some or all of the cartilage is lost and over time the joint wears down. When this is observed in most joints, the diagnosis is made: polyarthrosis.
The body tries to cope with such a violation, as well as to limit pain. With the progression of the disease, the joint becomes deformed, the bones begin to grow due to spikes (osteophytes). They can often be felt when probing in advanced situations, when polyarthrosis has developed. The surface of the bones is uneven and they do not fit together. The result is limited mobility.
From the above symptoms it becomes clear that it is not about salts, which everyone is so often used to thinking about with knee pain.
When to sound the alarm
The first thing in which knee arthrosis, or polyarthrosis, manifests itself is pain, which can occur after prolonged physical exertion or simply bother you all the time. Its nature is different, often the pain intensifies in the evening or at night, preventing sleep, leading to disruption of normal life. Already at this stage, it is worth consulting with your doctor, since the simplest diagnosis - an x-ray, can reveal a violation, and in some cases - polyarthrosis. The image will show a narrowing of the joint gap, which indicates thinning of the cartilage.
Symptoms
There are three degrees of osteoarthritis, each with its own specific signs. With their help, you can also suspect polyarthrosis, which will require special treatment.
At the first stage, the pain is not strong, and it seems to many that it will soon pass. In addition to this, there is periodic discomfort and mild swelling. This will require minor processing, which will be discussed below. In addition, laser therapy and other physiotherapy are indicated.
In the second degree, the symptoms become more complex, a crunch is added to all of the above, and mobility is impaired. There may be slight bleeding.
Laser therapy and doctor's recommendations on taking medications can help in this case. If this is not done, the pain will become permanently pronounced, 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 speak of a normal gait. Climbing the stairs becomes a real problem, the joints are swollen. When moving, a pronounced crunch occurs, the joint deforms, pain is felt on palpation.
Polyarthrosis is further manifested by reddening of the skin, it is hot to the touch. On the skin there is hemorrhage as a result of the bursting of blood vessels or a venous network. If this aesthetic defect interferes, then it is really possible to get rid of it with a laser.
In the later stages, the person becomes unstable due to muscle and ligament weakness. Walking is only possible with the help of a stick, and even for short distances. It all ends with a deformity of the knee, which even a laser cannot correct. Changes can no longer be undone, a person becomes disabled. In this case, the joints deploy towards each other or in opposite directions.
Medical diagnoses may reveal a slight change in shape, and for larger ones additional diagnoses will be required. Usually the doctor prescribes an X-ray, which shows changes in the joints. A more subtle diagnosis is carried out using CT scans, MRIs, and ultrasound of the knee joint is also 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.
With improper use of drugs, a stomach ulcer can also be added to arthrosis. But it is almost impossible to restore damaged cartilage.
First, the doctor prescribes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to the patient, which, together with inflammation, relieve pain. But the treatment does not stop there. Exercises, physiotherapy are widely used. Special therapeutic exercises are selected only by a doctor, then this gives the maximum therapeutic effect. About everything in more detail.
Drug use
The main treatment is based on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In addition, agents are used to improve cartilage nutrition and promote its gradual regeneration. The most tested in this regard are drugs based on glucosamine and chondroitin. Special creams and ointments with a local effect are used to fix the treatment.
It should be noted that drugs reduce pain and relieve inflammation, but constantly using them is very dangerous. Treatment for a long time negatively affects the condition of the gastric mucosa, liver and heart. Recently they began to produce drugs with a minimal negative effect, according to some manufacturers, they can be used for several months.
Gymnastics and physiotherapy
Complementary therapies can improve blood circulation and therefore joint nutrition. Special exercises can strengthen ligaments and muscles. It's just the effect of gymnastics in the early stages, when the joint has not changed much. Exercises are selected strictly individually, depending on the severity of the course of the disease and the physical abilities of the patient.
In addition, exercises are supplemented with physiotherapy, there are a large number of them. Magnetic therapy, laser therapy, diodynamics, UHF, electrophoresis with novocaine, ultrasound and much more are used.
Injections into the joint
In the later stages, when physiotherapy or a laser fails to relieve pain, they resort to injections into the joint cavity. Hyaluronic acid preparations are introduced, which increase the repair properties of cartilage. The introduction of hormonal drugs is often practiced, however, it is not safe, since over time the duration of the therapeutic effect is reduced, and the cartilage simply becomes unusable.
Stents
Joint replacement is a last resort when your own joint cannot be saved and is no longer able to function. This operation is called arthroplasty and allows you to almost completely restore the lost function, remove pain. In reality, it is possible to replace the entire joint (total prosthesis) or its most altered part. At the current stage, at the level of surgical technique, the manufactured implants are so perfect that they make it possible to achieve conclusive results and introduce this method of treatment everywhere.
It is not difficult to diagnose polyarthrosis of the knee, especially if you pay attention to the characteristic symptoms. A visit to the doctor will allow you to rule out or confirm the diagnosis. There are many treatment options, as well as the choice of drugs, which allows you to quickly remove the pain. But it's not worth taking your knees to a joint replacement, because your native joint is much better than an artificial joint, no matter how good it is.