Diseases of the knee joints are quite common. Injuries, excessive stress, infectious and metabolic disorders literally knock patients down and lead to severe disability. But few people know what arthritis and arthrosis of the knee joint are, what are the similarities and differences between these ailments.
Arthrosis is a chronic degenerative lesion of cartilage and bone tissue in the joints. The disease occurs primarily due to congenital inferiority of the musculoskeletal system or secondarily as a result of exposure to unfavorable factors. Most often, gonarthrosis develops as a result of:
This disease affects people after 40 years of age. The incidence of knee arthrosis is increasing in patients of retirement age. The destruction of articular cartilage and underlying bone tissue irreversibly leads to impaired mobility and pain in the affected area.
Arthritis of the knee joint is a group of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. They occur at any age, most patients are young people. The pathological process primarily affects the internal synovial membrane. In some cases, arthritis occurs as an autoimmune lesion. The body then begins to produce antibodies against its own cells and tissues, supporting the inflammatory response. With arthritis, it is possible that there is a primary lesion located outside the joints.
The causes of inflammation are:
To understand how arthritis differs from arthrosis of the knee joint, we should list the main symptoms of these diseases.
Manifestations of gonarthrosis are local in nature - all symptoms describe only the condition and functioning of the affected joint:
A typical difference between arthritis and arthrosis is that the occurrence of inflammation in the joint often occurs secondaryly, a connection with a general disease is visible, in addition to local symptoms, the clinic is determined by systemic manifestations - infection, damage to other organs (genitourinary tract, eyes, heart, pathologies of the immune system). Before the joint is involved in the process, there may be an increase in body temperature, weakness, lack of appetite, and loss of body weight.
Arthritis manifests itself as follows:
Arthritis can occur against or after characteristic skin manifestations:
The described symptoms of arthritis and arthrosis of the knee joint do not always allow one to clearly distinguish one disease from another. Comparing the manifestations of the disease will help to understand this issue:
It is worth dwelling on the description of the differences between arthritis and arthrosis of the knee joint on x-ray.
Arthrosis manifests itself as follows:
Arthritis of the knee joint looks different in the picture. The only common feature is narrowing of the joint space:
With tuberculous arthritis - bone cavities with pieces of necrotic tissue, destruction of articular surfaces, subluxations.
Gouty arthritis of the knee joint has the following symptoms: round cysts in the bone tissue, a symptom of “swelling” of the bone edge, destruction of surfaces with replacement by urate masses.
Patients are interested in the question: what is more dangerous: arthrosis or arthritis of the knee. This comparison is incorrect. Arthrosis is a chronic progressive disease that steadily leads to the destruction of joint tissue. Arthritis is an inflammation that can occur quite easily as one of the symptoms of an infectious process that can be completely cured (rubella, Lyme disease).
If arthritis is of an autoimmune nature, develops in a child and has a malignant course, disorders in the musculoskeletal system quickly lead to disability of the patient, despite long-term and rather toxic treatment.
To understand how and how to treat arthritis and arthrosis, it is necessary to recall that the therapy of these diseases has different goals.
The fight against arthrosis of the knee joint is aimed at preserving cartilage tissue. Treatment that combats the underlying mechanism of the disease is called basic treatment. For arthrosis this is:
To relieve pain, drugs that have a rapid anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect help. Treatment of gonarthrosis begins with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Paracetamol, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Nimesulide).
If there is an effect from taking the medication, it is left, it can be used in combination with basic drugs, a local form of a non-steroidal drug - ointment, cream or gel. If there is no relief during regular treatment within 1 week, the remedy is changed.
Severe pain syndrome requires injections of corticosteroid hormones directly into the knee joint (Kenalog, hydrocortisone acetate).
Non-drug treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint consists of the following:
Treatment with folk remedies is aimed at reducing swelling and obtaining a local irritating effect. Followers of traditional medicine recommend infusions and decoctions of plants that remove excess salt and liquid - horsetail, nettle, St. John's wort, elderberry flowers, birch buds. Compresses with cabbage leaves and honey and medical bile are used locally.
Surgical treatment of arthrosis or arthritis of the knee joint does not differ much. It consists of joint replacement when other methods of therapy are ineffective and there is severe dysfunction.
If the disease develops as a result of a bacterial or viral infection, timely therapy with antimicrobial and antiviral agents should be started. The choice of drug for treatment depends on the type of flora and its sensitivity.
To relieve inflammation, it is recommended:
The hormone therapy regimen depends on the type of disease and can vary: cutaneous application, intra-articular injections, oral administration (continuously, pulse therapy, in combination with other drugs).
Basic treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is aimed at inhibiting excessive immune reactions that trigger the disease, reducing inflammation, and preventing the development of sclerosis in tissues. For this purpose, various groups of funds are prescribed:
For gouty arthritis, treatment with drugs that relieve inflammation and reduce uric acid in the blood is recommended.
In the acute period, the joint is unloaded using orthoses with an O-shaped gel pad in the projection of the patella. If necessary, the patient can return to wearing this device after stabilization.
After the exacerbation subsides, exercise therapy is recommended to maintain mobility in the joints and baths with Bischofite and sea salt.
Physiotherapy is prescribed in the acute and subacute periods of arthritis. Light therapy, magnetic therapy, and ultrasound sessions are performed.
For arthritis, it is recommended to eat enough vegetables and fruits, limit the use of table salt and have a high protein content in food. The exception is nutrition for gouty arthritis, in which you should adhere to a diet with a small amount of protein.
Traditional methods of treating arthritis should be treated with caution, avoiding possible allergic reactions during drug therapy.
Arthritis and arthrosis of the knee joint have different origins, clinical manifestations and approaches to treatment. Both diseases pose a danger to the patient; their aggressive course leads to dysfunction of the joint and severe disability.
Treatment of knee arthritis should be comprehensive and should begin when the first alarming symptoms of the disease are detected. Lost time significantly increases the risk of complications, including loss of joint mobility, development of sepsis and disability.
Inflammation that develops in the joint cavity and affects intra-articular and periarticular areas is called arthritis.
According to statistics, inflammation of the knee joint, one or both, is most common, which is understandable from a physiological point of view:
A third of the diseases occur in children; women, especially after thirty years, are more susceptible to arthritis than men.
The severity of symptoms depends on the degree of damage to the knee joint.
Both forms can replace each other over time.
Diseases affecting the joints, arthritis and arthrosis, have similar features, but it is important to understand the key difference: with arthrosis, only the joints are affected, while arthritis is only one of the symptoms signaling the occurrence of pathological processes in the body.
Therapeutic measures are aimed at:
To relieve inflammation in the joint, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used:
If arthritis is infectious, then antibiotics are used for treatment, prescribed by a doctor.
To increase immunity, chondroprotectors are used; the dosage and duration of the course are selected by a specialist, assessing the patient’s condition, the degree of damage to the joint, the results of tests and examinations.
Excess weight negatively affects the health of the knee joints. However, when limiting the amount of food during arthritis, it is important not to upset the balance of microelements and vitamins. The diet should be balanced.
List of prohibited products:
Meals are frequent, but small. After 18 hours it is not recommended to eat, only drink water.
Physiotherapeutic methods of treatment are popular, especially for children, because they do not cause pain, maintain the integrity of the skin (unlike injections), are accessible and have a direct, quick effect.
Many people with knee joints affected by arthritis wonder: is it possible to play sports in their situation?
Exercise therapy is not only not prohibited, but is also indicated for the treatment of knee arthritis, provided that the load is adequate. Therapeutic exercises are recommended in the initial stages of joint diseases with stiffness and loss of mobility.
The exercises that Dr. Bubnovsky developed, coupled with massage, will help prevent the degradation of cartilage and bone tissue in the joints.
Performing exercises is possible only after the muscles are warmed up (charging, warming up, massage are necessary). The duration of the exercises should increase gradually. The end of the workout is stretching.
Exercises are performed in a lying/sitting position:
From this video, you will understand how these exercises are performed.
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Alternative medicine offers to get rid of pain and discomfort in the knee joint by making herbal remedies at home.
In addition to medications, the use of auxiliary aids - canes, crutches - is recommended to maintain healthy joints. The knee brace will keep the joint in the correct position, reduce the load, and serve as a prevention of relapse of the disease.
Arthritis is an insidious disease. In some cases, arthritis itself becomes a complication of other diseases, in others it entails even greater complications. At the first symptoms of the onset of a pathological process in the joint, you should seek medical advice. The diagnosis and treatment must be determined by a doctor; self-medication can be dangerous.
Knee arthritis (gonitis) is an acute or chronic inflammation that affects one or both knee joints.
There are several types of inflammation of the knee joint:
There are other types of knee arthritis that develop with systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatism, psoriasis, gout, and tuberculosis.
A possible cause of the development of knee arthritis (gonitis) may be exogenous (external) and endogenous (internal) factors. Exogenous causes include some viruses, bacteria, and allergens. Of the endogenous causes, a large role is played by the characteristics of the immune system, imbalance of sex hormones and genetic factors.
The symptoms of knee arthritis vary depending on the cause of the disease. But at the same time, there are signs that are universal for any arthritis. There are three main symptoms of knee arthritis: pain, swelling and deformity.
The pain during driving is usually diffuse in nature. In the initial stages of the disease, it occurs periodically and intensifies after physical activity. At the same time, pain in the knee joint can be quite sharp and severe after a long rest, in the morning after sleep, or when walking quickly. In the morning, stiffness and stiffness in the joint may also bother you, which gradually decrease during the day. With infectious arthritis, pain in the knee joints can be unbearable.
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Another important symptom that characterizes knee pain or arthritis is swelling. The joint increases in volume, the skin over it may be hot to the touch and hyperemic. These signs indicate an inflammatory process in the joint. Long-term progression of the disease leads to deformation of the knee joint. This is especially true for rheumatoid arthritis and arthrosis-arthritis.
With rheumatism, systemic lupus erythematosus and reactive arthritis, deformation develops very rarely. Most often, this type of pain is benign in nature and does not lead to serious dysfunction of the joints.
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In addition to local signs, there are also general symptoms of this disease. They depend on the type and cause of arthritis. In rheumatoid arthritis, the onset of the disease is characterized by general malaise, a slight increase in body temperature, decreased appetite, weight loss, palpitations, and sometimes sweating.
With an acute onset, the general symptoms are quite pronounced. Often several joints are affected at once. Rheumatism is characterized by an acute onset, associated with a past infection (sore throat, scarlet fever). Fever and chills appear.
In some types of knee arthritis, symptoms may be extra-articular in nature. The following organs are affected:
Arthritis of the knee joint (gonitis) often has a slow progressive course with alternating exacerbation and remission and ultimately leads to persistent dysfunction of the joint and its deformation.
In the general blood test: increased ESR, increased number of leukocytes, eosinophils, platelets, anemia.
A biochemical blood test reveals signs of inflammation - CRP, seromucoid, the presence of the so-called rheumatoid factor.
X-ray examination of the knee joints can reveal periarticular osteoporosis, narrowing of the joint space, erosions and nodes in the bone tissue, and ankylosis. The severity of these changes depends on the stage of arthritis.
Typically, the symptoms of this disease make it easy to diagnose knee arthritis. The situation is more difficult with the differential diagnosis of arthrosis and arthritis of the knee, as well as various types of arthritis.
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Osteoarthritis is characterized by a gradual, sometimes imperceptible onset. Morning stiffness is mild and does not exceed 30 minutes. The pain is “mechanical” in nature: it occurs or intensifies when walking, in the evening hours, and decreases with rest, at night.
The radiograph shows signs of cartilage degeneration and osteophytes. Blood tests usually show no significant signs of inflammation or rheumatoid factor. Unlike osteoarthritis, with rheumatoid arthritis the onset is usually acute or subacute, and the general symptoms are quite pronounced.
With infectious persecution (tuberculous, septic, urogenital) there is an acute onset, accelerated development, sharp pain, exudative phenomena - swelling, hyperemia in the joint area. Characterized by high fever with large temperature changes, pronounced inflammatory changes in the blood, and rapid effect of antibacterial therapy.
With gouty arthritis of the knee, the symptoms include acute, paroxysmal joint pain, the presence of tophi (gouty nodules), characteristic changes in the composition of the blood (increased levels of urate and uric acid). Gout occurs more often in men.
Thus, arthritis of the knee joint (gonitis) is a serious disease, in many cases it can lead to permanent deformation of the joint and impairment of its function, that is, to disability. Early diagnosis and timely treatment in most cases prevent these complications. Therefore, if symptoms characteristic of gonitis appear, you should urgently consult a doctor.
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The course of joint diseases is accompanied by pain, joint blockage and inflammation. Arthrosis is no exception, when articular cartilage tissue begins to deteriorate. It is important to know the signs of arthrosis of the knee joint in order to seek medical help in time and begin timely treatment of the disease.
Knee arthrosis can develop not only in older people. The pathological process is typical for young people in the presence of certain reasons, which we will discuss further.
Disease does not arise out of nowhere. The development of pathology occurs gradually. You need to learn to listen to the signals that the body gives in order to immediately begin therapeutic measures.
The course of arthrosis is accompanied by a change in the structure of the articular cartilage, and subsequent deformation of the damaged limb. You can see what the affected limb looks like with arthrosis of the knee joint in the photo below.
There are two main reasons leading to knee arthrosis:
The reasons for the development of pathology include excess weight, at which the joint experiences high loads.
It is easier to combat any pathology in the initial stages of its course. This also applies to joint arthrosis. It is necessary to listen to the signals that the body gives. So, the first signs of arthrosis of the knee joint include:
You should seek medical advice if you have the following signs of arthrosis of the knee joint, manifested by symptoms such as:
If you ignore the listed symptoms of knee arthrosis, the disease will progress to more severe stages. When moving to subsequent stages of development of the pathology, the pain becomes more intense, and the swelling no longer disappears in a calm state.
When arthrosis moves to the second stage of development, a crunching sound is heard in the knee during physical activity. Crunching and clicking of the knee indicate that the structure of the articular surfaces has begun to change, and bone growths (osteophytes) have begun to form. The joint cavity is almost completely filled with pathological fluid.
At the last stage of development of the pathology, you can only move with bent knees. The gait and shape of the limbs changes. The knee becomes larger in size, the swelling does not disappear. A similar picture of the development of the disease occurs in the chronic form of arthrosis. With advanced arthrosis, the joint becomes jammed during certain movements. The limb cannot be straightened or bent at the knee. Partial or complete blocking of the injured limb occurs due to the tension of the joint ligaments, their extension beyond the end surfaces of the bones.
Depending on the symptoms of arthrosis of the knee joint, treatment is prescribed, which includes complex techniques. At the initial stage of the disease, and the average degree of development of the pathology, treatment consists of traditional methods (a course of medications, physiotherapeutic procedures, special physical exercises, massage sessions).
At an advanced stage of arthrosis, a conservative technique is used after surgery and is included in complex rehabilitation therapy.
To diagnose arthrosis, laboratory and hardware treatment methods are used. Use the following hardware diagnostics:
With the initial development of the pathology, radiological signs of arthrosis of the knee joint are noticeable, based on structural changes in the bone surfaces.
During radiographic diagnostics, the injured limb is examined in three positions. It is necessary to determine how narrowed the joint space is, and how this indicator affected the articular elements:
the position of the condylar tubercles in relation to the condylar fossa is assessed;
how the bases of the patella are superimposed on the femur area
The first projection photograph can be taken in two positions: the patient lies or stands. If the injury to the knee joint has a mechanical cause, and there is suspicion of damage to the ligamentous apparatus, then the photographs are taken standing. This way you can examine the injured knee under load. A photograph taken in a frontal projection must be combined with a photograph from a lateral position.
To examine the knee joint in the lateral projection, the patient lies on his side and relaxes the injured limb. If the photo is taken in a standing position, then the load on the joint is eliminated. Using the image in the second projection, you can assess the condition of the articular surface and determine the height of the patella.
X-rays of direct and lateral projections can show a clear picture of the development of arthrosis.
The initial development of pathology will be indicated by such radiological signs as:
The images will show the presence of osteophytes (overgrowth of bone tissue), and pointed tubercles on the eminences of the condyles. Such signs indicate stage 2 of the development of arthrosis of the knee joint.
When arthrosis begins to progress, the following points will be noticeable during an X-ray examination:
Of all the listed indications, the main radiographic sign is narrowing of the joint space of the injured limb. It is on this basis that the stage of development of the pathology is determined.
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