Osteoarthritis is the most common of all diseases of the musculoskeletal system. His knees are especially vulnerable, because they are the ones who bear the bulk of the burden. Let's take a closer look at what knee arthrosis is and how to deal with this disease.
Osteoarthritis of the knee joints is a pathology associated with the development of degenerative-dystrophic processes in the cartilage tissue of these joints. As the disease progresses, the disease affects not only cartilage, but also other tissues, including ligaments and periarticular muscles, and over time, processes can develop that contribute to bone destruction.

As we age, the body has difficulties that lead to tissue malnutrition and accelerated wear. Under the influence of mechanical, biochemical and other factors, the cartilage tissue gradually begins to deteriorate, which further develops into arthrosis of the right knee or left joint.
The frequency of diagnosis of this pathology increases with age. Women are especially prone to developing gonarthrosis, which is due to the characteristics of their body and hormonal changes.
Also at risk are athletes and people whose job involves weightlifting and constant leg strain.
In general, the following risk groups can be distinguished:
When entering the risk group, you must regularly monitor the condition of the joints, as well as take preventive measures.
If we talk about the specific causes of dystrophic processes in cartilage tissue, they are in many aspects related to a person's daily life. Existing health problems also play a role.
The main causes of gonarthrosis are:

If you do not take steps to prevent the impact of these causes, the cost of such careless treatment of your health will pose multiple problems with the musculoskeletal system and other body systems.

Initially, the disease is asymptomatic or anxiety occurs only occasionally. Mostly the knees start to ache after a long stay in one position or an intense day at work. Since such signs are not annoying and completely disappear after the rest, the person does not immediately realize that he has serious health problems.
Gradually the discomfort increases, severe pains appear. They are painful in nature, but when they move, they can be sharp and sudden. As the disease progresses, the discomfort increases.
Other symptoms of gonarthrosis are:
It is the desire to relieve pain that is most often the main stimulating factor for a person's referral to a clinic. The sooner you do this, the better your chances of stopping the pathological process. Otherwise, the changes will become irreversible and it will not be possible to solve the problem by conservative methods.
In some cases there is a fever. This phenomenon is rarely noticed, indicating an intense inflammatory process. The cause could be an infection, for example, if you have recently suffered a leg injury.
In medical practice, the disease has a special classification.
There are the following types of osteoarthritis of the knee:
It is also worth distinguishing between periarthrosis. This disease covers the muscles and the ligament apparatus, thanks to which the ankle joint moves.
Another important category is knee hyperarthrosis. This is the name of progressive degenerative processes in cartilage. In the last stages, there is a pronounced deforming gonarthrosis. It is worth discussing in more detail the stages of pathology development.
There are four main stages of knee osteoarthritis. Each of them is characterized by a more pronounced manifestation of the disease and the appearance of new negative processes.
If the first degree of gonarthrosis is quite possible to eliminate by sparing methods and completely restore the health of the extremities, the third - fourth phase are irreversible and practically not subject to conservative treatment. That is why it is important to seek help from a medical institution as soon as possible.
As for the consequences of gonarthrosis, initially there are no special risks to human health if appropriate measures are taken in a timely manner. Of course, knee inflammation causes some discomfort, but the symptoms and the dystrophic process itself can still be removed.
The more the patient ignores the problem, the more neglected it becomes. In the second stage, the cartilage begins to deteriorate and is difficult to regenerate. Severe pain disrupts a person's normal lifestyle, exerts psychological pressure.
The main consequences of progressive gonarthrosis are:
The main question: is it possible to walk with osteoarthritis of the knee? Movement contributes to the healing of the whole organism, but this rule works only if the disease is detected early.
In the later stages, movement can only worsen the destructive process, so the patient is recommended to rest in bed and wear special orthoses. By deforming and blocking the mobility of the legs, walking is weakened, ie the person becomes disabled. This is the main risk in developing gonarthrosis.
To prevent such complications and not become disabled, you must seek help immediately. An orthopedic surgeon can advise on the treatment of gonarthrosis.
The success of further treatment largely depends on the level of detail in the diagnosis, and therefore it is not necessary to disregard the prescriptions of the specialist regarding the need to undergo certain examination procedures.
A comprehensive diagnosis of osteoarthritis may include the following methods:
In order to get rid of gonarthrosis and its consequences, it is necessary to approach the solution of this problem correctly. Only the attending physician will be able to choose the most effective medication in each case.
Various medicines are most often used, as well as folk methods. Some techniques overlap, for example, various wraps.
If performed correctly, it will be possible to significantly reduce the manifestations of the disease and to some extent restore the health of your feet. In no case should he hesitate with treatment, otherwise he will not be able to do so without drastic measures.
The first thing to start treatment with is drug therapy. It can be divided into several areas, depending on the goals you plan to achieve:
If the situation is ignored, short courses of glucocorticoids may be prescribed to enhance the effect.Only a doctor who has the right to prescribe and correct therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee. Independent use of drugs is undesirable, only the use of vitamin supplements and the use of some chondroprotectors are allowed.

An important step in the healing process is lifestyle changes, especially eating habits. Much depends on the severity of the disease, for example, cycling at the beginning of development can be useful and stimulate recovery processes.
At the same time, when problems with flexion extension movements occur, such a load can only worsen the patient's condition and worsen the destructive processes.
Activity is generally encouraged, as movement contributes to the treatment of many diseases of the musculoskeletal system. At the same time, it is extremely important to adhere to a rest regime, not to overload your legs and avoid sudden movements.
Special consideration is given to whether it is possible to run with osteoarthritis of the knee. It is better to replace this type of physical activity with brisk walking.
If we talk about diet, contraindications for gonarthrosis are related to alcohol intake and unhealthy foods. It is especially important to exclude fatty and salty foods.
The diet should be as close to healthy as possible, that is, include vegetables and fruits, whole grains, milk and cheese, lean meat and fish. Products that help restore hyaline cartilage are very useful: seafood, offal, jellies, apples, algae, etc.
Physiotherapy is a mandatory component of treatment. Also, modern medicine actively uses various manual and non-traditional methods of influencing the body. It is recommended to pay attention to such procedures.

If we look more closely at the treatment with the help of physical exercises, it should first be noted that the norms of permissible loads are determined by a specialist. It is best to attend group therapy classes with exercise. Sports for osteoarthritis of the knee are included in the mandatory program, including during rehabilitation after surgery.

Let's highlight the main instructions used for gonarthrosis:
Physical activity in osteoarthritis of the knee joint should be regular and strictly dosed. If you overload your legs or skip classes, there will be no beneficial effect. It is also important to choose the right exercises for your specific situation. Check this point with the curator in advance, for example, whether it is possible in your case to squat from osteoarthritis.
Also, the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint at home is closely related to the use of traditional medicine recipes. It is worth remembering that before using this or that medicine that you have prepared yourself, you must be sure that there are no allergies and other contraindications, and also consult your doctor.
Otherwise, the effect may be reversed or the effect of home remedies may increase the effect of pharmacy drugs too much. However, traditional methods are still in demand, as their price is much lower than most medicines purchased.
The following medications are most commonly used for gonarthrosis:

Most patients are concerned about the question: is osteoarthritis of the knee joint curable if it has already passed into the 2nd - 3rd phase? Unfortunately, it will not be possible to restore the health of the cartilage lining, but there is still a way out of the situation.
If you have advanced osteoarthritis of the knee, treatment options are divided into operative and conservative assistive techniques. If the cartilage is completely worn out, only surgery can restore the functions of the damaged limb.
The best option is to use endoprostheses. In this case, the damaged elements of the ankle joint are partially or completely removed, and special prostheses are placed in their place using screws and surgical cement. Over time, it will become overgrown with bone tissue and will completely take over all the necessary load.
Because osteoarthritis of the knee joint is not always treatable, the arthrodesis method is used as an alternative to reduce pain and prevent further limb deformities.
If in the first case the motor ability of the leg is maximally restored, the opposite effect occurs in arthrodesis - the limb is fixed in a certain position, and after the bone incision the elements are fused. Thus, movement will only be available in one direction.
To prevent the development of the disease, osteoarthritis of the knee joint should be prevented.
To do this, follow these guidelines:
In the first place, visit your doctor to start fighting the disease in time.