The most common bone and joint disease, osteoarthritis, is the gradual thinning of the articular cartilage that protects the articulating surfaces of bones. Causing severe pain, this disease can lead to disability. The most loaded joints suffer first of all. This happens especially often with the knees. However, it is possible to alleviate suffering, increase your flexibility and avoid disability.
Classification according to ICD-10
There is an international classification of diseases, injuries and conditions that affect human he alth, called the ICD-10. According to it, all diseases are indicated by an abbreviated code for the convenience of doctors and statistics instead of a long name consisting of several words. For example, the ICD-10 code for osteoarthritis of the knee joint, or gonarthrosis, is M17. This is a very common disease in which deformity occurs.
Bin old age, osteoarthritis of the knee joint is detected in the vast majority. X-ray shows its signs in 80% of people over 65, but only 30% of them have characteristic symptoms. Then osteoarthritis is more severe and progresses faster. Almost asymptomatic periods alternate with bouts of painful swelling of the joints. In any medical institution, the doctor will understand the code provided in the patient's hospital documents. Osteoarthritis of the knee joint according to ICD-10 has its own designation, just like other ailments. After 65 years, women suffer from this disease more often than men, it usually occurs in a more severe form. Articular cartilage forms a smooth and elastic coating that reduces friction and pressure on the surface of the bones. With osteoarthritis, it becomes thinner, becomes rough, in some places it is completely rubbed. Pressure and friction on the bone tissue increase, and it reacts to this growth in the form of bone spurs, or osteophytes. They make it difficult to move in the affected joint. Sometimes crystalline calcium s alts are deposited in the cartilage.
Causes of osteoarthritis
It has not yet been established why some people are affected by this disease, while others are not. Establishing specific causes of osteoarthritis of the knee is not easy. But predisposing factors to this disease are known.
- Age.
- Genes.
- Gender
- Hormones.
- Obesity.
- Injuries.
- Sport.
- Congenital pathologies.
- Diseases.
- Profession.
It is worth dwelling oneach risk factor.
The chance of developing osteoarthritis increases with age. Usually its development begins after 40 years, which is due to age-related cartilage wear.
Heredity also matters: if one of the parents suffered from a similar ailment, the likelihood of developing the disease will be considerable, although so far no genes associated with arthrosis have been found.
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint is more common in the fair sex. The disease most often affects postmenopausal women: it is believed that this is due to a drop in estrogen levels in the body.
Obesity is one of the age-related risk factors and the first enemy of the knee joints, since the knees in this case have a huge load.
Severe joint injuries, especially dislocations and fractures, are likely to increase the risk of arthrosis, although it can develop many years after the injury. Previous joint surgeries have the same effect.
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint is predisposed by sports activities associated with regular increased stress on the joints, especially shock. For example, in professional football players and rugby players, the risk of developing this pathology is considered high after 30 years. The profession also has an impact. If daily work is associated with an increased load on the knee joints, this provokes the development of osteoarthritis.
Some joint defects observed at birth can trigger the development of osteoarthritis in the future. Riskdisease increases with inflammatory joint pathologies, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Signs of illness
Often the symptoms of this disease depend on the weather and are often aggravated by high humidity. Nevertheless, the diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the knee joint is common in all climatic zones of the world, even in hot deserts.
This or that degree of knee arthrosis affects approximately 40% of people over 75 years of age. In women, it develops more often and is usually bilateral. The pain is usually felt in front and on the sides of the knee. Sometimes it deforms. With the development of the disease, there is direct contact between the femur and tibia. In this case, such signs of osteoarthritis of the knee joint are characteristic, as:
- pain aggravated by pressure
- joint stiffness,
- limited range of motion,
- fluid accumulation in the joint capsule in the form of edema.
Typically stiffness worsens at rest and lessens with movement. Pain, on the contrary, increases with movement and subsides when the joint is allowed to rest.
Diagnostic Methods
For diagnosis, the presence of characteristic symptoms and external examination is usually sufficient. The doctor diagnoses the disease by pain in osteoarthritis of the knee joint, limited mobility, instability and swelling of the joint. X-ray shows bone abnormalities only at an advanced stage of the disease. Nuclear magnetic resonance scanning using a magnetic field and radio waves creates a three-dimensional imageinternal structures of the body. This method allows you to detect the initial degrees of osteoarthritis of the knee joint and the earliest cartilage damage. Its changes are also detected by arthroscopy, which consists in examining the joint by inserting a thin fiber-optic tube into its cavity, which gives an image on the monitor.
How to relieve joint pain?
There are many ways to slow down the progression of osteoarthritis and relieve its symptoms. These include reducing the load on the diseased joint and maintaining its activity. According to statistics, every kilogram of excess weight increases the risk of developing the disease by 9-13%. Losing weight, the patient significantly reduces the load on the knee joints. Therefore, it is so important to reduce weight gradually, combining a he althy diet with increased physical activity. With especially painful knee joints, you can unload them by leaning on a stick. You also need to try not to stand in one place for a long time.
Heat can be applied to the knees to relieve joint pain, such as a heating pad. Heat relieves knee pain and increases knee mobility. Swimming is very useful, this sport pumps up muscles, improves joint mobility, and often relieves pain.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ("Diclofenac", "Nimesulide") can be used in the form of gels and ointments for osteoarthritis of the knee joint. By regularly rubbing them, they reduce pain and improve mobility. Anesthetic effect gives massage with rubbing into the jointwarming cream.
Gymnastics for osteoarthritis of the knee
To improve the metabolism in the body and remove toxins, you need to move. For this, aerobic exercise is perfect: simple walking and swimming. Experts recommend doing them 3-4 times a week for 20-30 minutes.
In addition to these, you can do exercises that increase flexibility. They will help increase muscle elasticity, reduce stiffness, and prevent spasms.
These exercises strengthen the muscles that are responsible for the mobility and stability of diseased joints. It is advisable to do twice a day for 5 repetitions of each exercise:
- Sit on the edge of a chair or bed and cross your ankles. Straighten your legs, lift your feet off the floor. Now you should try to move your left leg down, and your right leg up so that they press on each other. In this case, tension in the muscles of the anterior surface of the thigh should be felt. Count to 10 and relax. Repeat the exercise by changing the position of the legs.
- The next stretching exercise should be done twice a day for 5 repetitions.
- Lying on your back, slowly raise one knee to your chest. Stretch the other leg as much as possible at the same time. Repeat, switching legs.
- Sit on the floor, keeping the body upright, connect the soles of the feet so that the bent knees move apart. Gently press on them, trying to spread them as wide as possible.
Traditional treatment
In the treatment of deforming osteoarthritis of the knee jointuse symptomatic agents to relieve knee pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are available in the form of ointments, creams or gels. Their rubbing into the affected joints relieves the symptoms of osteoarthritis. Side effects are unlikely, as too little of the active substance penetrates the skin. Hot cream with capsaicin is also used as an analgesic.
Analgesics in the form of tablets based on paracetamol relieve acute pain well. Tablets such as Ibuprofen, Naproxen and Diclofenac effectively reduce not only pain, but also swelling. Usually they are used for a limited time. Since these medicines can cause side effects, it is necessary to take the active ingredients in the form of rectal suppositories, which is more effective and safe.
For severe pain caused by osteoarthritis of the knee, the doctor will prescribe a course of injections. To do this, use corticosteroids that act as an anesthetic ("Diprospan"). They do not inhibit joint degeneration and do not restore cartilage.
Hyaluronic acid is injected directly into the knee joint to replenish its natural reserves in the synovial fluid. This improves lubrication of the articulating surfaces, and as a result, symptoms can be reduced for up to six months.
Surgical treatment
This method is used if the patient is at risk of disability, the mobility of the joint is sharply limited, and the excruciating pain is not relieved by any means. Now, for prosthetics of the knee joint, arthroplasty is used, that is, replacementdamaged cartilage with artificial turf. This relieves pain and improves joint mobility. The worn ends of the femur and tibia articulated at the knee joint are replaced with metal and plastic.
With full arthroplasty, both articular surfaces are prosthetized, with partial - only one of them. The success of the operation is very individual - in some patients, normal mobility is restored, while others continue to walk with difficulty, although almost painlessly. Most of these knee prostheses last over 10 years. It should be remembered that any type of surgical intervention is associated with risks, especially in the elderly. Therefore, before the operation, it is necessary to discuss all the pros and cons with your doctor.
Nutrition for osteoarthritis
The ability of foods to cause or exacerbate osteoarthritis has not been confirmed, but some foods may increase the symptoms of the disease. These include cheese, tomatoes, wine, meat.
Perhaps solanine, a substance found in potatoes, eggplant, tomatoes, and capsicum, contributes to the development of osteoarthritis. The diet for osteoarthritis of the knee is to limit the use of these products.
Essential fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6 are vital for the body. They are not synthesized in it, which is why it is so important to get them with food, as they are very useful for the joints and the body as a whole. These acids are converted into anti-inflammatory molecules.
Flaxseed oil is an excellent source of omega-3 acids,slowing down the destruction of cartilage. They are also present in oily fish such as mackerel, herring, sardines, and salmon. It can be replaced with fish oil, which is rich not only in essential fatty acids, but also in vitamin D, which is needed for the absorption of calcium and vitamins. You need to include nuts and seeds in your diet. Plants effectively cope with many diseases. They are also used to treat diseased joints, as they restore the disturbed balance of vital processes in the body, destroy pathogenic microorganisms and remove toxins. Medicines in the form of plants should be present in the daily diet for osteoarthritis of the knee.
For knee joints will be useful:
- Any green: parsley, fennel, lettuce, dill, celery.
- Spices such as ginger and turmeric reduce pain sensitivity and eliminate swelling in patients with osteoarthritis. They can be used as an additive to tea and food.
- Red pepper has the ability to reduce pain due to capsaicin, a compound in its composition. Many ointments and creams have been created with this substance, which are used for joint diseases.
- Broccoli, cauliflower can also relieve inflammation.
- Foods that contain B vitamins - liver, eggs, bran - are required to improve metabolic processes in the body.
Use of folk remedies
It is possible to treat deforming osteoarthritis of the knee joint and even restore cartilage with decoctions and infusions of medicinal plants recommended by traditional medicine. They are easycook on your own. A good result is given by such remedies:
- Pour 1 tbsp. l. St. John's wort 200 ml of boiling water, soak in a water bath (or in a thermos) for 25-30 minutes. Take 1 tbsp. l. three times a day. The same infusion is rubbed on damaged joints.
- Pour 1 tbsp. l. dried herb wormwood 200 ml of boiling water, wrap and infuse in a warm place for 2-3 hours. Use for compresses.
- Mix 6 tsp. tricolor violet herbs, 5 tsp. burdock root, 4 tsp. herbs of succession and veronica and wheatgrass root. Then 1 tbsp. l. mix pour 200 ml of water, steam in a water bath for 15 minutes. Strained infusion drink 200 ml per day.
- Treatment of knee joints is also carried out with the help of compresses from fresh burdock leaves, fresh dandelion grass, and raw potatoes are tied according to the ancient Indian method of treatment.
- Onion stew. Saute finely chopped onion in oil and pour 500 ml of hot water. Boil over low heat until the onion is fully cooked. Add a glass of vegetable broth. Consume warm before meals.
- 1 tbsp l. birch leaves brew 200 ml of boiling water, stand for 1 hour, then strain. Consume the infusion after meals.
Recipes for compresses and rubbing for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee with folk remedies:
- Burdock root tincture in the form of a warm compress is used to relieve pain in the knee joint. To do this, the burdock root should be cleaned, washed and chopped in a blender. Put the mass intoglass jar so that the product takes up half of it. Fill the jar to the top with vodka. Insist for a week. A piece of cloth is impregnated with the finished tincture, put on a sore knee and wrapped up for the night.
- Burdock leaves with honey are used to relieve inflammation. Honey is smeared on the inside of the leaf and applied to the knee. Top wrapped with polyethylene, then fixed with a bandage and left overnight.
- Nettle, applied as a compress on the knee, relieves pain and swelling.
- An effective home remedy that has an anti-inflammatory effect is a cold cabbage leaf. The pain subsides when it is applied to the sore knee joint.
Supplements and other treatments
Supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are also beneficial for arthritis. They are freely sold in pharmacies. Glucosamine from chitin (crustacean shells) relieves the symptoms of the disease and even stimulates cartilage repair. Chonroitin sulfate from animal cartilage increases the porosity and elasticity of cartilage, promoting water absorption. Acupuncture today is performed to relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee. Pain relief acupuncture is offered by many medical centers. The patient receives a course of treatment sessions. After that, she can go once a month for maintenance sessions.
Many herbal medicines are used to treat osteoarthritis. Among them are anti-inflammatory extracts of meadowsweet, birch leaves, willow bark. They contain salicylates - substances close toaspirin. Algae patches are also applied to inflamed, painful joints. For mild symptoms, use creams and lotions with menthol, lavender, and rosemary oil.
Today there are many ways to control the course of the disease. Many patients with osteoarthritis do not need constant medical attention. They relieve symptoms and relieve pain on their own by losing weight, exercising, taking medications and supplements. The operation is an extreme option, which is resorted to only in the most severe cases, when no other methods help.
