Arthrosis (Greek: arthr) is a group of diseases that damage the joints of the human body.
On the left is a photo of a healthy person.On the right, a person with severe arthrosis of the right hip joint.It can be seen that the channel has been completely closed.Severe pain occurs and the patient cannot get up.
There are more than 100 different forms of arthrosis.The most common form, osteoarthritis (damage to the articular end of the articular bone) is the result of joint trauma, joint infection, or age-related factors.
Other forms of arthrosis include rheumatoid arthrosis (rheumatism), gout, psoriatic arthrosis and related autoimmune diseases.Septic arthrosis occurs as a result of joint infection.All forms have one common symptom - joint pain.
symptoms
All types of arthrosis are accompanied by pain, the nature of which determines the type.Characterized by redness of the skin, limited mobility in the knee joint, and changes in its shape.Joints prone to disease often crack abnormally when stressed.The patient may experience difficulties in cases where it is necessary to undergo physical activity.
Elements of the medical history determine the diagnosis.Important elements are the time of onset and the rate of development of the disease, the presence of morning immobility, pain, "locking" of the joints due to inactivity, etc.For a more accurate diagnosis, radiography and tomography are used.
Causes of arthrosis
Osteoarthritis pain occurs due to inflammation that occurs around the joints.Joint damage due to disease, daily wear and tear, muscle tension.Joint pain is often persistent.Pain may be localized in the affected area.
Classification of osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is divided into primary and secondary.There are 4 degrees of arthrosis:
Arthrosis of the knee joint degree 1 - softening of the cartilage appears, can be felt on the surface of the knee.Not visible on x-rays.
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint degree 2 - the cartilage begins to wear out and in the picture you can see the narrowing of the joint space.
Knee joint arthrosis degree 3 - osteophytes appear, treatment is more difficult.It is difficult to distinguish it from the 2nd degree.
Arthrosis of the knee joint 4 degrees - bones touch each other, osteophytes increase, and distortion of the joint occurs.
Patellofemoral joint arthrosis
Patellofemoral osteoarthritis is damage to the cartilage between the kneecap and femur.Unlike other types of knee OA, which occurs on the inside (medial) and outside (lateral) sides of the knee and causes difficulty walking on flat surfaces, patellofemoral osteoarthritis causes pain in the front of the knee when squatting and rising from a sitting position.In this case, a knee brace helps a lot.Patients who wore braces daily were observed to have reduced joint damage on MRI and decreased knee pain.
Prevention and treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint
Osteoarthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis, cannot be completely cured without surgery, but steps can be taken to prevent the condition from getting worse.Weight measurement is key to improving symptoms and preventing disease progression.For osteoarthritis, physical therapy is indicated to strengthen muscles and joints.In particular, ESMA equipment is effective for its treatment.Patients also need drug treatment.When the disease progresses rapidly and the pain persists, surgery may be suggested.Unlike rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis benefits from joint replacement for many people.There are synovial injections - intra-articular fluid injections.They allow the patient to relieve pain for 8 months, after which the procedure is repeated.Bee venom treatment is also effective in relieving pain.
X-ray of the knee with an artificial prosthesis after joint replacement surgery.
Prevention of arthrosis
Includes a set of procedures: massage, hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, herbal preparations, nutritional supplements, aromatherapy, hot and cold treatments, health exercises, diet.
According to statistics, today more than 43 million Americans experience pain when bending their knees.According to statistics, this is one of the main causes of disability in this country.About 1 in 7 Americans experience it.With age, the likelihood of developing arthrosis increases.