Osteoarthritis of the knee – causes, symptoms & therapy

Knee arthrosis

The knees are a zone that is subject to enormous stress and, in the event of abnormalities, often means an immense restriction in mobility. In addition, under certain circumstances, the knee joints are subject to a specific abnormality known as knee osteoarthritis .

What is knee osteoarthritis?

Very few medically inexperienced people are familiar with knee arthrosis under the name gonarthrosis. Osteoarthritis of the knee or gonarthrosis is a disease of the knee joints that progresses steadily and does not show any typical signs of inflammation .

In the end result of untreated knee arthrosis, the articulated parts are destroyed, resulting in a permanent loss of function. In osteoarthritis of the knee, the cartilaginous tissue is affected.

causes

Not all sufferers who have to struggle with osteoarthritis of the knee have physical conditions that are the cause. Osteoarthritis of the knee can also be caused by external criteria such as mechanical forces in accidents. In addition, knee arthrosis is often a normal wear and tear process that becomes more important, especially as we get older.By shifting a balanced load on the knees, progressive destruction of the knees occurs as knee arthrosis and in this regard can occur as a result of excessive body weight , persistent or constantly recurring incorrect loading or as a result of an existing previous illness as secondary arthrosis.

In contrast to secondary knee arthrosis, primary joint destruction in the knees can also be caused by a genetic predisposition. Many patients, who are surprisingly young, suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee caused by misalignment of the legs or hip joints. Since the entire skeletal system forms a unit with the holding and muscular apparatus, misalignments of the vertebrae can also contribute to knee arthrosis.

symptoms and course

Typical symptoms of knee osteoarthritis:

The unfavorable changes in the joints of one or both knees caused by knee arthrosis trigger not only painful symptoms, which are initially limited and only occur occasionally or under stress, but also swelling and restricted mobility.

A key indicator of knee arthrosis, however, is knee pain . These are largely noticed when climbing stairs, after a long period of sedentary work, or when the weather changes. If osteoarthritis of the knee progresses and is not treated, the pain becomes chronic and permanent. Joint pain in knee arthrosis is particularly stressful when those affected are at rest and there is no strain on the knees.

Diagnose

When diagnosing suspected osteoarthritis of the knee, the treating physicians first use the information provided by the patient so that clinical signs can be recorded first.

In combination with a test of the mobility and the external condition of the knees, an approximately correct diagnosis can usually be made.

This is substantiated by X-rays of the affected knee or knees. An ultrasound examination , which provides clear indications of the extent and localization of the knee arthrosis, is also beneficial.

Other diagnostic procedures that are used for knee arthrosis are magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) , what is known as arthroscopy and the puncture of the joint if body fluid has accumulated in the knee joints .

complications

The most common complication of knee osteoarthritis is inflammation of the joint. Complications such as joint swelling, joint effusion and soft tissue inflammation also occur as the disease progresses. In the worst case, the entire joint structure changes – the knee undergoes degenerative changes. Bone thickening can also occur under the cartilage layer. This promotes movement disorders and the original symptoms increase.

If osteoarthritis of the knee is not treated appropriately, the disease can become chronic. As a result, the quality of life is often impaired and sleep disorders and other complaints occur. Complications cannot be ruled out when treating osteoarthritis. Surgical intervention can cause bleeding, scarring and sensory disturbancesto be connected. Typical risks are also infections and thrombosis. The prescribed medication often causes side effects and, in the worst case, can result in serious health complications. Known side effects are, for example, tiredness, dizziness and gastrointestinal complaints as well as irritability, burning and itching. Occasionally, osteoarthritis drugs such as ketoprofen and diclofenac promote the development of intestinal ulcers.

treatment and therapy

In contrast to previous treatment methods, the knee joints are no longer punctured as often to relieve the pain in knee arthrosis. This drastically reduces the risk of introducing infectious agents .

When treating knee arthrosis, a well-balanced combination of the use of drugs, physiotherapy exercises and so-called physical applications is important. Physiotherapy services for osteoarthritis of the knee include treatments with heat and cold as well as electricity and gentle movement exercises.

If the specialists refer to a selection of medications intended to relieve the symptoms of knee arthrosis, there are pain medications to be taken orally , injections containing cortisone and substances from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( ibuprofen in varying strengths and diclofenac to reduce pain and inflammation as well as ketoprofen) for application. Local injections are very effective.In most cases, surgical interventions make sense in the case of advanced knee arthrosis. These are based on an arthroscopy , a smoothing of the cartilage relief or a transplantation of healthy cartilage tissue. If all of these measures are unsuccessful and if those affected have reached the limit of their resilience and suffering, surgical methods such as the replacement of the knee joint or joints can represent an optimal opportunity.

prevention

When it comes to preventing osteoarthritis of the knee, it is important to avoid all disease-causing factors. This applies to avoiding obesity, incorrect and excessive strain on the knees and the selection of foot-friendly footwear.

Longer one-sided positions while standing, kneeling or sitting should be reduced by balancing movement patterns so that no knee arthrosis can develop. In addition, a balanced and sometimes quite special diet is of prophylactic importance in the case of knee arthrosis.

Dorothy Farrar

Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.

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