knee osteoarthritis(Knee arthritis, knee osteoarthritis, knee deforming arthritis) is a degenerative disease of the knee joint, characterized by destruction of articular surface cartilage, joint deformation and functional destruction.
It is thought that the first changes in the knee joint are formed at a molecular level in the cartilage tissue.Over time, these changes cause the physical and chemical properties of cartilage to be destroyed.When the cartilage preparations are examined, it can be seen that in some places the cartilage begins to become cloudy, thin, flake and crack in different directions.
Eventually, the pathological process ends with the complete disappearance of the cartilage in a smaller or larger area, resulting in the exposure of the underlying bone.Knee osteoarthritis is most common in people over the age of 50.
Women more commonly suffer from knee arthritis.Knee osteoarthritis can be unilateral or bilateral.The most common arthropathy is medial arthropathy.
Causes of arthritis in the knee joint
Science does not yet know the exact cause of arthrosis, but there are often a number of factors that contribute to the development of this disease:
- Previous knee injuries increase the risk of osteoarthritis;
- Genetics - In some cases, in patients with arthrosis, defects in genes responsible for the development of cartilage tissue are detected, causing these individuals to be more susceptible to arthropathy due to a lower resistance of cartilage tissue to damage;
- Weight gain - It has been observed that the most common arthropathy of the large joints of the lower limbs (knee, hip) occurs in patients who have gained weight and occurs due to overloading of these joints.This can also cause the disease to progress more quickly;
- Excessive load on joints;
- Crystal deposition in joints - occurs in some diseases related to metabolic disorders, especially elevated uric acid, which can lead to cartilage destruction.
Symptoms of knee arthritis
Symptoms of knee osteoarthritis are known to develop slowly over several years.
The most typical symptoms of knee arthritis are:
- Pain deep in the knee joint, especially when moving and walking;
- swelling of the knee joint;
- Morning stiffness in the morning will disappear after a period of exercise. The patient points out that he needs to "disperse", and then it will be relieved and the knee joint activity will improve;
- Crepitus (crepitus) in the joints during movement.
Treatment of knee arthritis
Currently, knee arthritis cannot be completely cured.However, by starting treatment in the early stages of the disease, the progression of joint cartilage tissue destruction can be halted in the long term.
The treatment center provides modern treatment for knee arthritis based on a comprehensive multilateral approach, including:
- Use a knee brace to relieve pressure on the inner part of the joint;
- Taking NSAIDs can stop joint inflammation and reduce pain;
- Losing excess weight does slow the progression of joint disease;
- Therapeutic exercises remove axial loads from joints, allowing you to restore muscle tone, prevent muscle atrophy, and restore joint range of motion;
- Taking a small dose of a muscle relaxant can significantly reduce pain by reducing spasm in the muscles around your joints;
- physical therapy sessions;
- A hyaluronic acid preparation is injected into the joint, which is a synovial fluid prosthesis;
- Taking medications from the chondroprotective group;
- Taking medications that improve hemorheology and blood supply to bones;
- In some cases, arthroscopy of the knee joint is required;
- Knee Replacement – Knee replacement is performed when conservative treatments fail.
Knee surgery is free as part of the VMP.
If there is a medical indication and there is a referral quota, our center will operate using funds allocated from the High Technology Medical Care Scheme (HTMC).
Learn more about high-tech healthcare plans.
PRP method for treating knee joint disease
In addition to the above-mentioned classic conservative treatment methods for knee deformities, our clinic also has the unique opportunity to use a unique technology for treatment, which is to introduce bioactive substances separated from the patient's own blood - autologous platelet-enriched plasma (PRP therapy) into the affected area, thereby affecting the key link in the pathogenesis of arthrosis - the regeneration and recovery of cartilage tissue.
Since autologous platelet-enriched plasma is used for treatment, patients do not use "chemical" drugs and do not need to see a physical therapist every day. Therefore, the drugs have no impact on the body as a whole, and the burden on important organs such as the liver and kidneys is also reduced.