The knee, like other articulations of a person, consists of bones and cartilage.The cartoon is a smooth, elastic and elastic layer that ensures ease of march and lack of friction.Os danos à cartilagem por desgaste crônico são chamadosKnee articulation arthrosis.
There are many factors that lead to knee joint arthrosis:
- genetic predisposition;
- overweight;
- abnormal movement;
- wounds.
For a long time, a person does not feel pain and only when knee arthrosis leads to tension deformation, the first symptoms appear.The patient consults a doctor, but the treatment of an advanced disease can already be successful.
Knee joint arthrosis is often a consequence of accidents and injury, but can only manifest after a few years.Therefore, with the slightest suspicion of this disease, you should consult a doctor.
Knee joint arthrosis symptoms
Knee joint arthrosis symptoms include:
- Pain increasing during activity;
- swelling;
- increase skin temperature;
- decreased knee joint mobility;
- The creak, the crispy sound that is heard during movement.
Pain after periods of inaction is one of the most common symptoms of knee arthrosis.She expresses herself in the morning when the joints need time to warm the right way.After a person is like a time, the pain disappears.
Sometimes you can notice the first signs of knee arthrosis just looking at him.Even if the knee stands out more than normal, this may be the first sign.Increasing knee trend to swelling is easy to recognize.The bulge in the thick finger is formed above the knee glass, as this place is the weakest.This is due to an increase in fluid accumulation in the joint.
Reducing leg flexibility may indicate knee joint arthrosis.Those who used to touch the jumps of the buttocks, standing on one leg, but can go halfway today, should consult a doctor.The thigh muscles can start working harder than before, due to knee arthrosis, getting shorter and starting to hurt.These muscles need to be stretched and strengthened to restore previous functions.
Another sign of knee articulation arthrosis is the decrease in muscle strength in the legs.
Arthrosis transforms cartilage, which is smooth as glass into a rough fabric that looks like sandpaper in the early stages.When these surfaces rub, you can hear the creak and friction sounds in the joint.
How is knee arthrosis diagnosed?
The diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis will begin with a medical examination by a doctor.Before taking, determine which pain arises to help the doctor make the correct diagnosis.Also, find out if someone has arthritis in your family.
Your doctor may prescribe additional diagnosis, including:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (magnetic resonance imaging) digitizes X-rays that can show bones and damage to cartilage, as well as the presence of bone spur;
- Magnetic resonance imaging can be ordered when X -rays do not give a clear cause of joint pain or when X -rays show that other types of joint tissue can be damaged.Doctors can use blood tests to exclude other conditions that can cause pain, such as rheumatoid arthritis, another type of arthritis caused by the impaired immune system.
How is knee articulation arthrosis treated?
The main tasks of knee joint osteoarthritis treatment are pain relief and the return of mobility.
Treatment plan, as a rule, it includes a combination of the following actions:
- Weight loss.Loss of up to a small amount of weight, if necessary, can significantly reduce osteoarthritis knee pain.
- Exercise.The strengthening of the muscles around the knee makes the joint condition more stable and reduces pain.Stretching exercises help maintain knee joint and flexible.
- Anesthetic and anti -inflammatory drugs:Acetaminophen, ibuprofen or sodium.If medications do not bring relief, your doctor may give you a recipe for another anti -inflammatory medicine to help relieve pain.
- Corticosteroid injections or hyaluronic acid in the knee.Steroids are powerful anti -inflammatory drugs.Hyaluronic acid is usually present in the joints as a type of lubricant, but with joint diseases, it is categorically lacking.
- Alternative treatment methods.Some alternative treatment methods that may be effective include: capsaicin creams, acupuncture or additives, including glucosamine and chondroitin.
- Using devices like brackets.There are two types of brackets: those that unload the devices, thus removing the weight on the knee side;and "Support" supports that provide support for the entire knee.
- Physical activity and labor therapy. If you have problems with daily activities, exercise or labor therapy can help.Physiotherapists will teach how to strengthen muscles and increase joint flexibility.Experts will compose a set of exercises suitable for you to perform at home to reduce pain.
- Surgery.When other treatment methods do not work, surgery is the only option to get rid of the disease.
Is surgery used to treat knee osteoarthritis?
For the treatment of knee osteoarthritis with the help of surgical intervention, the following options are possible: arthroscopy, osteotomy, endoprotics.
NodeArthroscopyA small telescope (arthroscope) and other small tools are used.The operation is performed through small incisions.The surgeon uses an arthroscope so that the articulation can be seen.Once the surgeon can remove cartilage or damaged free particles, it can clean the bone surface.The procedure is often used in 55 -year -old patients (and younger) in order to delay a more severe operation.
Osteotomy- This is a procedure that seeks to align the knee, changing the shape of the bones.This type of operation can be recommended if you have damage, first and foremost, in a knee area.It can also be recommended if you damage the knee and has not been restored.Osteotomy has no constant effect and surgery may be necessary in the future.
Endoprostrate- This is a surgical procedure in which the joints are replaced by artificial parts of metals or plastic.The replacement can include one side or the whole knee.As a rule, people over 50 and a severe form of osteoarthritis need replacement.The operation may be necessary later if the replacement is exhausted after several years, but with modern achievements, most prostheses have been operating for over 20 years.The operation has risks, but the results are usually very good.