Diseases of the musculoskeletal system occupy an important place among various human ailments. Especially often recently, a disease such as deforming osteoarthrosis has begun to occur. What is it, and what are its clinical manifestations?
What is osteoarthritis?
Currently, osteoarthritis is understood as a disease occurring with a predominance of inflammatory and destructive components. It is spread all over the globe, but a large concentration of cases is noted in agricultural countries. The subchondral cartilaginous tissue of large joints is affected mainly (arthrosis of the knee and hip joints most often develops). The disease is prone to a chronic course, especially if there are prerequisites for a worsening condition and aggravating factors. As a result of the development of this process, partial destruction of bone structures occurs with deformation of the newly formed bone tissue. The process is irreversible, and as a result leads to disability in 90 percent of patients (provided that appropriate treatment has not been started and measures have not been taken to eliminate risk factors). What are the causes of this disease, and what underlies the development of damage to joints and nearby tissues? It is worthwhile to understand this in more detail.
Development reasons
Like many diseases, osteoarthrosis has its own starting points, or triggers, thanks to which it begins to develop. Why does deforming arthrosis of the knee arise? The reasons leading to its development are as follows:
- Increased load on the supporting joints. Normally, most cases of osteoarthrosis develop due to a sedentary lifestyle and the presence of excess body weight. As a parodox, a rather high percentage of the development of the disease in athletes involved in complex sports (for example, wrestling or weightlifting) can be determined. In this case, deforming arthrosis of the right knee joint most often develops, since weightlifters usually use the right leg as a support.
- The presence of a hereditary predisposition. This factor is often detected in families with a burdened hereditary history. The reason for this is a specific antigen - HBA-27.
- Injuries. This factor accounts for up to 20 percent of cases of osteoarthrosis. Typically, the process begins at the time of injury and remains latent for a long time. Over time, in the presence of risk factors, its activation occurs.
Pathogenesis of the disease
How is the development of the process? Under the influence of aggravating factors, a gradual compression of the existing cartilage located between the articular surfaces occurs. Over time, its depletion occurs, due to which there is a decrease in the joint space. Gradually, the cartilaginous layer disappears completely, and the articular surfaces begin to rub against each other. Due to this, they are gradually erased, which leads to a decrease in congruence. Macrophages and leukocytes migrate to the site of bone damage, supporting the process of aseptic inflammation. Also, under the influence of regenerative factors, the formation of a new bone (bone growths - osteophytes) begins, which affects the shape of the joint, deforming it and leading to destruction. All these signs of deforming arthrosis of the knee joint and determine its main clinical manifestations. How can one understand that a pathological process has developed, and how can it be stopped?
Disease classification
According to its clinical and radiological manifestations, osteoarthrosis can be divided into several degrees.
For the first degree of the disease, only a slight depletion of menisci and cartilage is characteristic. The stage is set only on the basis of x-ray confirmation and does not manifest itself clinically. The only signs may be severity and aching pain in the joints after doing any work. Deforming arthrosis of the knee joint can be treated at this stage at home through gymnastics and a therapeutic diet. But all regulations and appointments must be strictly observed!
Deforming arthrosis of the 2nd degree occurs in most patients. The initial clinical manifestations are permanent and appear almost immediately after a period of rest or intense work. There is a significant narrowing of the joint space with the initial signs of bone resorption.
Arthrosis of the third degree has the same symptoms as the second stage, but is characterized by massive erosion and proliferation of osteophytes.
The fourth stage is the most difficult. It is characterized by severe bone deformities with the development of ankylosis.
Clinical signs of the disease
How to understand that deforming arthrosis of the knee joint has developed? Symptoms indicating its development are as follows.
The first symptom is pain. It is aching in nature, intensifies after a period of rest, especially after a night (starting pains). Morning stiffness is characteristic, which makes osteoarthrosis similar to rheumatoid arthritis, but stiffness with arthrosis lasts longer than half an hour.
The next, no less important symptom of joint damage is limitation of mobility. Most often, it manifests itself as a result of muscle contracture (against a background of pain). In the later stages of the disease, impaired mobility is caused by bone fusion between the affected joints.
Over time, due to the inability to perform active movements, muscle atrophy develops in full . Atrophy is reversible in the second and third stages, but it is difficult to stop it in the fourth.
In addition to muscle atrophy, a decrease in sensitivity and blood circulation in the affected joint is observed, which exacerbates the course of the disease.
Treatment
The best stopping amenable to deforming arthrosis of the knee joint 2 degrees. Its treatment must begin with the use of non-drug methods. For this, a diet with a decrease in excess body weight, therapeutic exercises and folk treatment methods are perfectly suitable.
Where should you start?
It all starts with proper nutrition and daily routine.
In order to properly cure a patient, if he has developed deforming arthrosis of the knee joint, diet is the first appointment. An excess of carbohydrates and fats should be excluded from the daily diet. Since proteins are mainly used for tissue repair, it is best to saturate the diet with them.
In patients who have deforming arthrosis of the knee joint, gymnastics helps to restore the necessary volume of active movements and improve blood supply to the affected areas.
Alternative methods are used purely to alleviate the condition and are not always effective. Most often, their use leads to an aggravation of the condition.
Drug therapy
Treatment of deforming arthrosis of the hip joint, as well as the knee, with the ineffectiveness of non-drug methods, should be carried out with the help of drugs. Different groups of drugs are used, but preference is still given to anti-inflammatory drugs and cartilage replacement drugs. Indications for the use of certain funds are different.
If the patient does not cause inconvenience, developed deforming arthrosis of the knee joint of the 2nd degree, treatment can be carried out symptomatically. For this purpose, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used. The most widely used drugs are Meloxicam, Nimesulide, and Indomethacin. The first two drugs are used orally or by injection, and Indomethacin is used mainly locally.
If the radiograph shows signs of bone damage, a diagnosis is made - deforming arthrosis of the knee joint 2 degrees. Treatment in this situation is best done with replacement therapy. Apply such means as “Chondroitin”, the vitreous.
Surgery
This type of therapy is rarely used in the second stage of the disease. However, deforming arthrosis of the knee joint is best treated at this stage. There are no significant violations of the function of the joint, movements are relatively preserved. Most often, a new articular surface is implanted, less often a complete prosthesis. Treatment of deforming arthrosis of the hip joint does not have particular indications for this stage of the disease, but for prevention (especially if there is rapid progression), it is better to carry it out at this stage.
After the operation, the patient can walk within 5-7 days after the implantation of the prosthesis.
If the aseptic conditions are not observed, complications may develop, which can lead to repeated surgery on the joint.
Disease prevention
As can be seen from the reasons leading to the development of this disease, the best prevention of the development of this condition is a healthy lifestyle and the correct distribution of labor and rest.
A healthy lifestyle includes proper nutrition, daily exercise. If possible, you should abandon the consumption of coffee and strong alcohol, since these substances contribute to the loss of calcium from the body and the progression of the process.
A good effect in slowing down the processes of destruction in osteoarthritis is played by physiotherapy. It is best to carry out exercises in water, as it facilitates the movement and reduces pain.
Rest in the sanatorium does not hurt. Deforming arthrosis of the knee joint of the 2nd degree, the treatment of which lends itself well to sanatorium measures, can be partially healed there. Physiotherapy contributes to some restoration of the affected cartilage and articular surfaces. Sanatoriums are equipped with excellent equipment for these procedures, which makes rest in them an indispensable means of preventing deforming osteoarthritis.