Arthritis of the knee joint - symptoms and treatment

The knee joints are distinguished by a particularly thick and dense cartilage lining - after all, nature intended them to withstand the weight of our body and absorb shocks when walking, running and jumping. And although the average person runs much less than his wild ancestors, this does not make it easier for the joints: they suffer from excess body weight, monotonous loads and even the wrong selection of furniture, due to which the legs do not rest, even if we are sitting. Most sports injuries occur in the knee area.

Doctors warn: gonarthritis (or arthritis of the knee joint) increasingly begins at a young age - starting at 30 years old. What are the symptoms and treatment of knee arthritis? How to treat knee arthritis?

Causes of knee arthritis

The following factors can cause arthritis of the knee joint and trigger the degenerative-inflammatory process:

hormonal changes associated with age (especially in women);
congenital abnormalities of posture, foot, hip joints, as well as acquired disorders of the musculoskeletal system;
excess body weight;
the presence of autoimmune, metabolic diseases, severe allergies;
intoxication (for example, from snake bites, insect bites);
hypothermia, dehydration or other severe stress;
endocrine disorders;
surgical interventions (any operations on the legs);
infectious diseases (in particular, urogenital and intestinal infections);
age-related changes in bone, muscle and cartilage tissue;
active sports (running, gym, strength training), especially a sports career;
injuries (both single serious injuries and a series of repeated minor injuries);
professional and everyday stress on the joint (carrying heavy objects, monotonous work in an uncomfortable position).

Depending on the causes of arthritis of the knee joint, the following types of disease are distinguished:

reactive (occurs in response to an infectious pathogen that enters the body from the outside or from an internal source of chronic infection);
rheumatoid (the joint is destroyed due to a congenital or acquired autoimmune disease);
gouty (associated with impaired metabolism of uric acid due to poor lifestyle or kidney disease);
post-traumatic (consequence of injury to the joint or periarticular tissues);
arthrosis complicated by arthritis (the inflammatory process is associated with joint wear, injury to ligaments and muscles, and impaired tissue trophism).

List of degenerative diseases of this joint

Arthritis is a pathological condition manifested by inflammation and deformation of bone structures. If a patient is diagnosed with this pathology in the elbow joint, then according to the international classification of diseases, a code indicating unspecified arthritis is placed on the patient’s medical record. By looking at the code, the doctor will immediately understand what is wrong with the person who contacts him.

There is no misunderstanding between the patient and the medical staff, since the code on the card provides understanding regarding the person’s visit to a medical facility. A note in the patient's document - arthritis ICD 10 - will give doctors an idea of what they are faced with. Elbow pathology belongs to inflammatory polyarthropathies. According to the ICD, 10 arthritis codes range from M00 to M99. There are many types of degenerative pathologies. At first glance, by comparing the clinical pictures of patients, they can be classified into the same class, but radiological signs may indicate completely different nosologies. Codes by which doctors determine the type of disease localized in the elbow joint:

other seropositive rheumatoid arthritis - M05.82;
seronegative rheumatoid arthritis - M06.02;
juvenile rheumatoid arthritis - M08.02;
juvenile with systemic onset - M08.22, M08.23;
youth unspecified - M08.93;
unspecified - M13.92.

This is not the entire list of codes for degenerative pathology localized in the elbow joint. This classification is used all over the world. It is convenient for maintaining electronic documentation.

Symptoms and signs of knee arthritis

Arthritis of one or both knee joints affects the functioning of the entire body, and therefore the manifestations of the disease are complex. The first and most noticeable symptom of knee arthritis is pain. As a rule, it is unexpected, shooting when the joint is flexed or extended (especially sharply). But it can also be aching, bursting (“legs twist”) after a long rest or overwork of the legs. Pain may occur when pressing or walking.

In addition to pain, joint symptoms of knee arthritis include:

swelling - the knees become noticeably swollen, and the leg is shaped like a spindle;
redness and increased temperature of the skin over the kneecap;
feeling of heaviness in the legs;
growths, nodes, palpable or noticeable to the naked eye, joint deformities;
changes in gait (caused by joint deformation or an attempt to compensate for the load, a “gentle” attitude towards the joint);
joint stiffness.

Extra-articular signs of knee arthritis include:

an increase in temperature that is accompanied by fever or chills or persists for a long time;
sweating;
swelling of the lymph nodes;
lack of energy, muscle weakness, drowsiness;
poor appetite and weight loss.

In addition to the inflammatory process, a common symptom of arthritis of the knee joint is a feeling of numbness, stiffness, deterioration of flexibility and mobility. You can recognize the disease in the earliest stages by the characteristic tension of the muscles, which cannot be relaxed by force of will - only “stretched” manually. In the morning, it becomes increasingly difficult for the patient to begin daily activities without some kind of warm-up in the form of rubbing, stretching, and medications for knee arthritis. After a long rest (usually overnight), the condition of the limb noticeably worsens, but after an hour of activity, pain and stiffness recede or even go away altogether.

Not all of the listed symptoms of arthritis of the knee joint are observed at the same time and greatly disturb the patient - the patient may occasionally notice only 2-3 signs until the disease progresses to later stages.

The intensity of symptoms may subside in a state of remission - sometimes it occurs even without taking medications, however, degenerative processes in the joint and its deformation in this case continue, proceeding covertly. A sharp increase in symptoms indicates that the erosion of the articular surfaces is worsening and the affected area is increasing. Treatment of knee arthritis in this case is required immediately, since the disease is aggressive.

Rheumatoid type of disease

Each code has its own pathology, you should know it before starting treatment.
Rheumatoid arthritis is assigned code M06, but there are also other subtypes that indicate the location of the disease and symptoms (for example, nodules). ICD 10 assigned the following codes to rheumatoid arthritis of the elbow joint:

seronegative - M06.02;
inflammatory polyarthropathy - M06.42;
specified rheumatoid arthritis - M06.82;
unspecified type of disease - M06.92.

The cause of the rheumatoid type of pathology is hypothermia, viral diseases, injury, heredity, and psycho-emotional disorders. The nosology begins to develop against the background of the Epstein-Barr virus, rubella, herpes, and mycoplasma. This condition is characterized by daily fluctuations in body temperature of 3–4 degrees Celsius, enlarged lymph nodes, and atrophy of the elbow muscles. The seronegative type of the disease is characterized by kidney damage and necrosis. Rheumatoid pathology of the elbow joint is manifested by pain, asthenia, arthralgia, and increased sweating. The disease is characterized by symmetry. It is formed in a person regardless of age category.

Degrees and stages of knee arthritis

There are 4 stages of the pathological process:

Arthritis of the knee joint 1st degree. There are usually no obvious symptoms. There may be slight morning stiffness of the joint, slight swelling, and increased fatigue. With grade 1 arthritis of the knee joint, the pain is not severe and is periodic and irregular (“pinched”). At this stage, doctors usually give a positive answer to patients' questions about whether knee arthritis can be cured. A complete cure is possible.
Arthritis of the knee joint 2 degrees. The pain syndrome is noticeably expressed, swelling of the joint is clearly visible. An unpleasant crunching sound may occur when bending your legs. With grade 2 arthritis of the knee joint, redness of the skin and a local increase in temperature begin.
Arthritis of the knee joint grade 3. From the side, the deformation of the joint is noticeable, the patient’s gait changes. The pain is felt constantly, interfering with normal daily activities and significantly limiting the patient even when taking medications for knee arthritis.
Arthritis of the knee joint 4 degrees. The joints become ankylosed (fused) and almost completely lose mobility. Irreversible changes affect the bones. The leg muscles suffer from contractures, and the ligaments shorten. At this stage, surgery is required.

Juvenile type of pathology

According to the International Classification, the juvenile type of nosology in the elbow has code M08.02. The disease is formed due to a hereditary predisposition to the development of inflammation, against the background of hypothermia, joint injury, prolonged exposure to the sun, and previous viral and infectious pathologies. The disease occurs predominantly in young patients, boys and girls under the age of 16. According to ICD 10, juvenile arthritis of the elbow joint is divided into several types:

with systemic onset - M08.22;
seronegative polyarthritis - M08.32;
pauciarticular - M08.42;
other juvenile arthritis - M08.82;
unspecified type - M08.92.

The juvenile type of the disease is manifested by swelling of the joints, weakness and lethargy, and febrile fever. The pathology is characterized by stiffness of movement, changes in the length of the upper limbs, and rashes. A juvenile type of degenerative disease in the elbow joint, in the absence of therapeutic measures, will lead to joint deformation, complete or partial loss of mobility, and growth retardation.

Diagnosis of knee arthritis

Diagnosis of knee arthritis is possible at the earliest stages of the disease, when cartilage erosion is completely reversible with the help of drugs for the treatment of knee arthritis. Therefore, if you experience the slightest discomfort in your knees, it is better to consult a doctor. Late diagnosis is the main reason why the disease enters the chronic stage.

To evaluate symptoms and treat knee arthritis:

initial examination of the patient (visual assessment, joint palpation, mobility testing, gait observation);
radiography (detects the presence of osteoporosis, microcracks, osteophytes and neoplasms, narrowing of the joint space, disruption of the natural position of bones in the joint and other characteristic signs);
Ultrasound of the knees (determines changes in cartilage tissue, fluid accumulation in the joint);
general and biochemical blood test (to assess the inflammatory process);
blood test for rheumatoid factor (to diagnose or exclude rheumatoid arthritis);
arthroscopy (a minimally invasive technique for examining a joint from the inside through a microscopic incision);
joint fluid sample (to identify pathogenic microorganisms, reduce viscosity, assess specific cellular and protein composition);
computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (to collect information about the condition of soft tissues);
scintigraphy (demonstrates disease activity and bone tissue condition).

Using these methods, a doctor (rheumatologist, traumatologist or orthopedist) excludes bursitis, arthrosis, muscle pain, cysts and other symptomatically similar diseases, and prescribes highly specialized medications for the treatment of arthritis of the knee joint.

Since various factors can provoke the inflammatory process, differential diagnosis is important, with the help of which the type of arthritis is determined.

Why is post-traumatic arthritis dangerous?

Traumatic arthritis is dangerous because it can occur unnoticed, moving from one stage to another with gradual impairment of joint function and numerous complications.

Stages

The stages of the disease depend on the nature of its course. But most often the pathological process occurs chronically. The following stages of post-traumatic arthritis are distinguished:

Initial
– inflammation of the synovial membrane – synovitis with effusion in the articular cavity. With severe trauma, the cartilage covering the articular joints is destroyed. The intensity of swelling, redness and pain depends on the severity of the injury.
Expanded
- during an acute process, all symptoms of inflammation intensify. In chronic cases, the inflammatory process proceeds slowly, but gradually progresses. In areas of inflammation and erosion of cartilage, connective tissue grows, covering the surface of the articular joints. All symptoms are smoothed out and go unnoticed.
The final stage in the acute course
is that all symptoms of inflammation gradually disappear and recovery occurs. Or the acute process becomes chronic with gradual progression.
Progressive in a chronic course
- the pathological process progresses during an exacerbation, which is replaced by the proliferation of dense connective tissue (proliferation) during remission. Soft ankylosis develops - partial immobility. The pain in the area of the affected joint increases and worries constantly. Minor swelling and redness appear during exacerbations. The limb bends and unbends with difficulty and to an incomplete extent.
Neglected
is the result of a chronic inflammatory process. Dense connective tissue in the joint cavity is replaced by bone and complete immobility develops - bone ankylosis. Bone tissue grows along the edges of the articular surfaces, deforming the joint. The pain syndrome is constant, the function of the joint is completely lost.

Any form of arthritis has serious complications, so you should not delay treatment.
See how easily the disease can be cured in 10-12 sessions.

Possible complications

It is possible to help a patient with traumatic arthritis at any stage, but the longer the pathology proceeds, the more irreversible changes appear in the joint. All possible complications are divided into early and late. Early:

the addition of infection and the development of a purulent inflammatory process;
transition of purulent inflammation to periarticular tissues with the formation of phlegmons and abscesses;
purulent infection can become generalized, spreading to many organs and systems (sepsis).

Complications of traumatic arthritis - infections, purulent process, abscess

Late complications:

slow and imperceptible development of the disease with the transition of chronic inflammation to degenerative-dystrophic; constant debilitating pain syndrome with complete loss of joint function.

To avoid complications, you need to seek medical help, preferably from a clinic that has experience in treating such diseases. For example, in medical, Moscow.

What to do if your arthritis gets worse

Algorithm of actions during exacerbation of post-traumatic arthritis:

call a doctor at home;
take any painkiller orally: Analgin, Pentalgin, Iburofen, Nise, etc.; Apply ointment or gel with analgesic properties (Volmaren, Fastum-gel, etc.) to the skin in the periarticular area;
lie down and take a position that ensures the immobility of the joint.

First aid for joint injury:

call a doctor or ambulance to your home (in case of severe injury);
take an anesthetic orally; apply heparin ointment externally to the injured area;
apply cold to the injury site;
lie down and keep the affected joint immobile.

Chondroprotectors: what are they, how to choose, how effective are they?

Joint pain at rest

Treatment of knee arthritis

Treatment for knee arthritis is specific to each type of disease. For example, with rheumatoid arthritis, patients require immunosuppressive therapy, with infectious arthritis - taking antibiotic drugs to treat arthritis of the knee joint, with gout and the like - treatment of the underlying disease.

Below we will look at drugs common to all types of arthritis for the treatment of arthritis of the knee joint and techniques that help stop the inflammatory process, maintain joint mobility and relieve pain.

How to treat knee arthritis with medication?

For the drug treatment of knee arthritis, the following pharmacological groups of drugs are used:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of knee arthritis (NSAIDs or NSAIDs) in the form of tablets, ointments, gels and creams. Tablets are prescribed in courses in the acute phase of the disease, while external agents can be used continuously.
Glucocorticoids (GC). These hormonal drugs are used in short courses, no more than several times a year, strictly according to doctor’s indications. Drug treatment of knee arthritis with GCs is prescribed for severe pain and ineffectiveness of NSAIDs - often in the form of intra-articular injections. The effect after administration is achieved within the first seconds.
Antispasmodics and muscle relaxants. They help relax muscles, improve joint nutrition and alleviate pain. Most often used for post-traumatic arthritis.
Angioprotectors and warming agents. Strengthen the walls of blood vessels and improve blood circulation - and therefore nutrition of the knee joint. Also recommended for post-traumatic and other types of arthritis.
Antienzyme and anabolic agents. The first tablets for arthritis of the knee joint restrain degenerative processes in the tissues of the joint, and the second accelerate their regeneration.
Chondroprotectors, vitamin-mineral and restorative complexes. In the drug treatment of knee arthritis, drugs from these groups are used for healthy synthesis of cartilage tissue and prolongation of remission.

Basic drugs - tablets for knee arthritis - are used only for rheumatoid gonarthritis. Such drugs for the treatment of arthritis of the knees help preserve the volume of red bone marrow and reduce the activity of the autoimmune disease.

Treatment of knee arthritis with tablets

Treatment of knee arthritis with tablets usually involves the use of drugs such as:

NSAIDs: ibuprofen, nimesulide, meloxicam, diclofenac, ketoprofen, piroxicam, napraxen, indomethacin, butadione and others;
glucocorticosteroids: hydrocortisone, diprospan;
vasodilators: pentoxifylline (trental), aminophylline, theonicol;
muscle relaxants: tolperisone, tizanidine;
chondroprotectors: artracam, artradol.

Tablets for knee arthritis should be prescribed by a doctor.

Ointments in the treatment of knee arthritis

Ointments for arthritis of the knee joint have an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, warming effect, improve blood circulation, elasticity of ligaments and muscles, and also distract from pain and discomfort.

The most popular drugs are voltaren-gel, menovazin, finalgon, nicoflex, fastum-gel, dolobene, diclofenac-gel, dollit-cream, ketonal-gel, indometacionic, butadionic ointment and others.

Ointments for arthritis of the knee joint can be used constantly, but there are restrictions for preparations based on bee and snake venom: they can provoke allergies and inflammation of the skin, they cannot be used by women during menstruation and children.

Treatment of knee arthritis with injections

Treatment of knee arthritis with injections (intra-articular injections) is indicated in cases where the active substance must be quickly delivered to the joint. Sometimes antibiotics are administered in this way for infectious arthritis. But most often, injections for knee arthritis include glucocorticoids. For rapid pain relief and inflammation relief, prednisolone and methylprednisolone, hydrocortisone, triamcinolone and others are used.

Surgical treatment of arthritis in the knee joint

Surgical intervention is recommended for chronic arthritis in the later stages, as well as to remove effusion or pus from the joint capsule. Depending on the symptoms and treatment of knee arthritis, your doctor may prescribe the following surgeries:

Puncture. A minimally invasive technique in which a special needle is inserted into the joint to pump out fluid and, if necessary, administer a drug.
Synovectomy. Excision of the synovial membrane is carried out to reduce pain, eliminate inflammatory foci and contain destructive processes in the joint.
Arthroplasty and endoprosthetics. Replacing a diseased joint with a prosthesis, partially or completely, is recommended when the joint is almost completely immobile, when surgery is more effective than treating arthritis of the knee joint. This complex operation helps restore knee function for up to 20 years.

Physiotherapy for knee arthritis

Physiotherapy is used to treat chronic arthritis and is prohibited in the acute stage of the disease (except for certain types of magnetic pulse therapy). Physiotherapeutic techniques enhance the effect of medications, improve joint mobility and nutrition, and have a strengthening effect on muscles. They also stimulate tissue regeneration in the joint and immunity, effectively combat contractures, swelling, inflammation and pain. The most common physiotherapeutic procedures for gonarthritis include:

laser therapy;
magnetic therapy;
ultrasound therapy;
UHF therapy;
acupuncture (acupuncture);
diadynamophoresis;
amplipulse;
exercise therapy complex for knee arthritis;
mud therapy and paraffin therapy;
massotherapy.

General clinical recommendations

Those who have had acute or suffer from chronic post-traumatic arthritis should adhere to the following recommendations:

lead a healthy lifestyle, give up bad habits, alternate between activity and rest, regulate sleep;
eat well; monitor your weight;
eliminate heavy physical activity and stress;
treat all acute and chronic diseases in a timely manner;
regularly perform therapeutic exercises, go swimming; conduct massage courses several times a year; walk more in the fresh air;
as prescribed by the attending physician, conduct courses of anti-relapse treatment.

Prevention

To prevent post-traumatic arthritis, you need to improve your health, harden yourself, avoid risky traumatic situations, as well as permanent injury to a joint. It is especially important to comply with all these conditions for people already suffering from chronic arthritis - additional trauma can worsen its course.

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Physical therapy for knee arthritis

Daily therapeutic exercises for knee arthritis help slow the progression of the disease and reduce the load on the joint by strengthening the muscles and connective tissue. It also reduces pain and discomfort, helps maintain and even restore mobility in the joint.

Examples of exercises for knee arthritis:

Stand straight, with your back to the wall. Raise your leg to the side so that your shin is touching the wall and your big toe is facing forward, then lower it.
With your arms folded across your chest, sit on a chair, keeping your back straight. Slowly rise from the chair, and then slowly lower yourself down.
Standing straight, lift your ankle behind your back so that your heel touches your buttocks. Do not help yourself with your hands unless this is indicated in the exercise for knee arthritis! After 3 seconds, lower your leg.
Lie on your side on the floor and place your bent arm under your head. Bend your knee and hip joint approximately 90° and lift your knee as high as possible.
Lying on your stomach, rest your forearm on the floor in front of you. Bend the knee opposite your forearm and, grabbing your ankle with your hand, slowly pull your leg up. During exercises for knee arthritis, the muscles on the front of the thigh should stretch. Then roll over onto your back and, holding your leg under your knee, pull it towards your chest, feeling the stretch in your back muscles.
Perform the “lying bicycle” exercise until noticeable signs of fatigue appear. Avoid suddenly throwing your leg forward - if the leg muscles are not strong enough for prolonged work, it is better to return to the exercise later.

All exercises for arthritis of the knee joint should be performed 15 times on each leg or (for example, “bicycle”) for at least 1 minute.

Creating an individual set of exercises for knee arthritis and teaching the correct technique should be carried out by a qualified instructor.

Please note that exercise therapy for knee arthritis is only allowed in a state of remission. When arthritis worsens, rest is advisable.

Reactive type of disease, its diagnosis

The reactive type of pathology has code M02. The disease is formed only in case of infection. The HLA-B27 gene is often observed in victims. This type of pathology can form after sexually transmitted infections or dysentery. If a disease is detected in the elbow, the code M02.82 (other reactive arthropathy), M02.92 (unspecified reactive arthropathy) is entered on the medical card.

The classic triad of symptoms includes the development of inflammation of the urethra, arthritis and inflammation of the outer membrane of the eye. The disease is manifested by lacrimation, redness and pain in the eyes, frequent urination with pain and burning, swelling of the joints, hyperthermia of the elbow joint, and arthralgia. Detecting this type of disease is quite simple. To make a final diagnosis of the disease, it is necessary to see a urologist, venereologist, ophthalmologist, or rheumatologist. The diagnosis is made on the basis of ESR, RF, ANF, MRI, X-ray, CT, culture of joint fluid, PCR examination of biological material.

Nutrition for knee arthritis

A diet for knee arthritis includes low-calorie and low-carbohydrate foods, excluding foods that can cause allergies. It is advisable to eat food with a minimum amount of salty and smoked foods, but with an increased amount of calcium and vitamin D3.

For knee arthritis, nutrition should include fatty fish, animal cartilage, jellied meat, jelly and other sources of collagen, antioxidants and fatty acids.

We hope this material helped you understand how to cure knee arthritis! Be healthy!

Gouty type of disease and its symptoms

The diagnosis of “gouty arthritis” is made if, after receiving the results of tests and images, the patient’s doctor discovers metabolic disorders, renal dysfunction, polyarthritis, and disruptions in the water-salt balance system. The disease is characterized by redness of the skin over the inflamed joint, the appearance of tophi, unilateral damage to the elbow, and increased pain during movements. Gouty arthritis of the elbow joint according to ICD 10 is indicated by the following codes:

idiopathic - M10.02;
lead gout - M10.12;
unspecified - M10.92;
secondary - M10.42;
caused by impaired renal function - M10.31.

The disease is formed due to heart failure, hormonal imbalances, poor nutrition and genetic predisposition. To diagnose gouty arthritis of the elbow, you need to take a blood and urine test, undergo an ultrasound, and an x-ray. For diseases of the elbow joint, including arthritis of various origins, it is important to detect the pathology in time. A correct diagnosis increases the prognosis for recovery. Medicine is developing rapidly, and every year scientists are developing new treatment methods. The main thing is to undergo the examination in a timely manner and take prescribed medications. Information on the treatment of types of arthritis of the elbow joint is also available in the International Classification of Diseases.

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Causes of the disease

Arthritis can develop due to injury

Post-traumatic arthritis is a consequence of an injury, as the name implies. Causes of the disease:

dislocation of a limb,
injury,
ligament rupture,
meniscus injury,
cartilage injuries due to impacts or heavy loads,
prolonged exposure to vibration.

A sprained or bruised limb is a very painful incident that anyone can experience. When a dislocation occurs, the joint capsule may be damaged, but most often the ligaments are affected. First aid for a dislocation includes realigning the limb and resting for at least a few days. If, after an injury, a person continues vigorous activity, during which the injured limb is strained, there is a high risk of complications. The cartilage gradually loses its elasticity, microcracks appear in the tissue, due to which inflammation develops.

When a joint is bruised, numerous small hemorrhages are observed, the local blood supply and nutrition of the cartilage tissue are disrupted. All this requires urgent medical attention, as it is fraught with the development of arthritis.

Traumatic arthritis often develops due to the characteristics of professional activity. For example, frequent vibration exposure leads to disruption of the blood supply to cartilage tissue. This, in turn, causes a gradual loss of elasticity of the cartilage, the formation of cracks, which subsequently lead to limited mobility of the affected joint.

Sign up for a consultation with a specialist

Arthritis of the joint is a disease that causes severe pain, limits mobility and deprives a person of the ability to lead a normal lifestyle. The pathology should not be neglected, since in its chronic form it is more difficult to treat. If you notice swelling, redness or the slightest discomfort, make an appointment with a traumatologist or rheumatologist at the Central Epidemiology Hospital of the Russian Academy of Sciences. If you have already been diagnosed with chronic arthritis of the wrist joint, we will help you get rid of the disease by developing an individual comprehensive program. Call or use the online form to schedule an appointment with a doctor at a time convenient for you.