There are diseases that progress over time. It is impossible to fully recover as well as return to the starting point, but it is quite possible to be diagnosed and stopped in a timely manner. Previously, it was possible to meet the symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee in the elderly, but now the disease is "becoming younger" 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 joints.
The articular surfaces of human bones are covered with cartilage. In some joints, such as the knee, there are menisci - cartilaginous layers 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 of the body are affected. The disease develops as a result of destruction of articular cartilage and bone exposure.
When the knee joint is affected, changes also occur in the production of joint fluid. Part or all of the cartilage is lost and, over time, the joint is consumed. When this is noticed in most of the joints, the diagnosis is made: polyarthritis.
The body tries to cope with such a violation as well as limit the pain. As the disease progresses, the joint deforms, the bones begin to grow due to the bumps (osteophytes). They can often be felt during the investigation in advanced situations, when polyarthritis 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 these are not salts, which everyone is so accustomed to thinking so often with knee pain.
When the alarm goes off
The first thing that causes knee osteoarthritis, or polyarthritis, is pain, which can occur after prolonged physical exertion or just 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 visiting your doctor, because the simplest diagnosis - a radiograph, can reveal a violation, and in some cases, polyarthritis. The photograph will show a narrowing of the ankle gap, which shows thinning of the cartilage.
Symptoms
There are three degrees of osteoarthritis, each of which has its own specific signs. With their help, you can also suspect polyarthritis, which will require special treatment.
In the first stage, the pain is not strong and it seems to many that it will pass soon. In addition it is discomfort and a slight, periodic swelling. This will require minor treatment, which will be discussed below. Furthermore, laser therapy and other physiotherapy are indicated.
In the second degree, the symptoms become more complex, all of the above adds a flaw and mobility is impaired. There may be a slight hemorrhage.
Laser therapy and the doctor's recommendations for taking medication 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 can not talk about a normal gait. Climbing stairs becomes a real problem, the joints are swollen. When you move, a sharp crack occurs, the joint deforms, the pain is felt on palpation.
Polyarthrosis is also manifested by redness of the skin, it is hot when touched. There is a hemorrhage on the skin as a result of rupture of blood vessels or a venous network. If this cosmetic defect interferes, then it is really possible to get rid of it with laser.
In the later stages, the person becomes unstable as a result of weakening of the muscles and ligaments. Walking is only possible with the support of a stick, and even then for short distances. It all ends with a knee deformity, which even a laser can not correct. Changes can no longer be reversed, a person becomes incapacitated. In this case, the nodes are placed towards each other or in opposite directions.
Medical diagnosis can reveal a slight change in shape, and for important ones, additional diagnosis will be required. Usually, the doctor prescribes an x-ray, which shows changes in the joints. A more delicate diagnosis is performed using CT, MRI and an ultrasound of the knee joint is also used.
Treatment
Treating this disease is very exciting, and only a doctor can understand it. The arsenal of drugs is so large, it is impossible to use them in an uncontrolled manner.
With improper use of medications, osteoarthritis can also add to stomach ulcers. But it is almost impossible to restore damaged cartilage.
First of all, the doctor prescribes the patient non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which, together with the inflammation, relieve the pain. But the treatment does not end there. Exercises, physiotherapy are widely used. Special therapeutic exercises are selected only by a doctor, then give the maximum therapeutic effect. For everything in more detail.
Use of drugs
The main treatment falls on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In addition, agents are used that improve cartilage nutrition and promote its gradual regeneration. The most tested in this regard are glucosamine and chondroitin based drugs. Special creams and ointments that have a local effect allow you to adjust the treatment.
It is worth noting that medications reduce pain and relieve inflammation, but it is very dangerous to use them consistently. Long-term treatment adversely 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, consequently, joint nutrition. Special exercises can strengthen ligaments and muscles. This is just the effect of gymnastics in the early stages, when the key has not changed much. Exercises are chosen strictly individually, depending on the severity of the course of the disease and the physical abilities of the patient.
Also, exercises are supplemented with physiotherapy, there are a large number of them. Magnetotherapy, laser therapy, diodynamics, UHF, novocaine electrophoresis, ultrasound and much more are used.
Joint injections
In the later stages, when physiotherapy or laser does not help, to relieve the pain, they use injections into the ankle cavity. Hyaluronic acid-based preparations are introduced, which enhance the restorative properties of cartilage. The introduction of hormonal drugs is often practiced, however, this is not safe, because over time, the duration of the therapeutic effect is reduced, and cartilage simply becomes unusable.
Endoprosthetics
Wrist replacement is the last resort when your node can no longer be saved and is no longer able to function. This operation is called arthroplasty and allows you to almost completely restore lost function, remove pain. In reality, it is possible to replace the entire joint (total arthroplasty) or most of it. At the present stage, the level of surgical technique, the implants produced is so perfect that it makes it possible to obtain successful results and introduce this method of treatment everywhere.
It is not difficult to diagnose knee polyarthritis, especially if you pay attention to the characteristic symptoms. A visit to the doctor will allow you to disprove or confirm the diagnosis. There are many treatment options, as well as the choice of medications, which allow you to quickly remove the pain. But it is not worth it to bring your knees to a joint replacement, because your native joint is much better than the artificial one, no matter how good it may be.