Deforming osteoarthrosis (abbreviated DOA) of the knee joints is a degenerative-dystrophic disease. Almost constantly, our
knee joints are under pressure, because they hold the entire body mass, and at the same time provide mobility to the legs.
The hyaline cartilage responsible for the amortization of the joints becomes thinner over time, and when it is completely erased, the bone is exposed and begins to grow, forming spikes (exostoses). Due to these changes, the knee is deformed. In general, the disease is considered to be age-related, mainly people after forty years of age suffer from it, and more than twice as often it develops in women than in men.
DOA of the knee: possible causes
The disease may be primary or secondary. In the first case, it is impossible to say exactly what causes the development of the pathological process. Experts suggest that DOA of the knee joints is the result of excessive stress on them or, conversely, low physical activity, age-related changes, and excess weight. Doctors call the causes of the secondary form of the disease joint injuries, such as ruptures of ligaments and meniscus, and some diseases (diabetes, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.).
DOA of the knee: stages and symptoms
Generally speaking, the disease is manifested by pain in the knees and stiffness of movements in the joint. However, the intensity of the symptoms depends on the severity of the deforming osteoarthrosis.
With DOA of the knee joint of the 1st degree, the clinical picture is very weakly expressed. In the knee there is a feeling of tightness. After sleep or a long stay in a static position, a person may experience difficulty walking, but after short movements the pain subsides. At this stage, deforming changes have not yet occurred, joint mobility remains normal.
When deforming osteoarthritis passes into the 2nd degree, the symptoms are significantly amplified, which is expressed in the appearance of prolonged severe pain in the knee. The joint begins to deform, and very soon it becomes noticeable. It becomes difficult to bend and unbend a leg in the knee, it swells, and crunching is felt when walking. Even despite the pronounced symptoms, most people are in no hurry to consult a doctor. And in vain! Indeed, the treatment of the disease at this stage may be the most effective.
DOA of the knee joints of the 3rd degree is an already neglected disease characterized by ongoing pains that persist during movement and at rest. The progressive deformation of the joint is visible with the naked eye, and besides, lameness appears. The mobility of the joint is so limited that the knee is almost impossible to bend.
DOA treatment of the knee
The disease is treated with conservative or surgical methods (depending on the degree of the disease and the individual indications of the patient). The attending physician is an orthopedic traumatologist. First of all, he prescribes anti-inflammatory drugs designed to relieve pain and reduce inflammation in the joint. In the acute phase, corticosteroids may be administered intraarticularly. In the form of a course of treatment, chondroprotectors are used. But only medication alone will not be able to cope with the disease. To restore joint mobility, it is necessary to comprehensively engage in physical therapy. If the DOA of the knee joints is in advanced form, joint replacement may be recommended, i.e. replacing it with an artificial implant.