What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a very serious disease that affects the joints. With the disease, the damaged joints and surrounding bones thicken. There is pain on exertion, which gradually subsides at rest.
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint, the causes of which are quite different, does not cause an inflammatory process, so it does not manifest itself in the form of swelling and redness, which is different from arthritis or polyarthritis.
It should be noted that among the patients there are many women suffering from diseases - varicose veins and obesity.
Why does the disease appear?
Osteoarthritis is an unpredictable disease that occurs due to:
- Overloads
- Injuries
- Hereditary predisposition
- Obesity
- Flat legs
How to define a disease?
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint of the 1st degree - the initial stage of the disease, in which timely treatment is in a state of joint performance. In the initial stage, the movements are limited and the areas of the joints begin to ossify. At this stage, it is almost impossible to detect osteoarthritis of the knee joint, the treatment of which is quite diverse: X-ray examination will not show visible bone growths. The main signs are the sharpening of the joint edges and the narrowing of the joint space, which the doctor may find during the examination. Additional ultrasound and MRI of the joints are prescribed to clarify the diagnosis.
Patients usually notice a short tingling sensation in the joint and a crunching sound while moving. Painful sensations occur after rest and pass quickly when walking. Such "starting" pains occur as a result of friction of the joints, on which cartilage and bone destruction (detritus) are deposited.
In the initial stage, osteoarthritis does not cause significant inconvenience, so patients do not pay attention to the symptoms. Therefore, if there is the slightest suspicion of osteoarthritis of the knee joint, treatment should be carried out immediately.
Treatment of osteoarthritis
Before you start fighting the disease, try to find a good doctor and after a complete examination make a joint treatment plan. Do not diagnose yourself, this can only make the situation worse. There are many similar diseases, so without an examination you can go wrong in the definition of the disease.
Upon confirmation of the diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the knee, treatment is prescribed depending on the stage of the disease. In the initial stage, when the joint is more or less preserved, it is suggested to conduct drug therapy with chondroprotective drugs. Today they are presented in a fairly wide range. Regardless of the choice, the drugs are taken for up to 6 months. After six months, it is recommended that the course of treatment be repeated. The duration of treatment is from 3 to 5 years.
It should be noted that creams and ointments are not able to relieve the patient of osteoarthritis, but can relieve pain. It is recommended to use warming drugs to improve blood circulation.
Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the knee joint, treatment can be prescribed only by the attending physician. They are encouraged to perform daily health exercises and adhere to a composite diet. Try not to overload your joints. This can adversely affect your health. After recovery, try to gradually accumulate the load and avoid pain.