I. What is osteoarthritis of the knee?
Osteoarthritis has been called hypertrophic osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis, degenerative arthritis, proliferative osteoarthritis or osteoarthrosis, all referring to a disease, domestic uniform use of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis of the knee is degenerative and wear of the articular cartilage, as well as osteophyte formation of bone fragments (bone spurs), and this causes knee pain, stiffness deformity and functional impairment. Normal knee articular cartilage is smooth and flat, but after degeneration, it looks like jagged.
Who has osteoarthritis of the knee?
Age: The joint starts to degenerate after the age of 20, and it is most common in elderly people over 55. Gender: It is more common in women than in men. However, the symptoms are more severe and widespread in women after menopause. Weight: Obese people have a higher incidence of joint wear and tear because their knees are subject to greater gravity. Work type: Heavy manual laborers (farmers, porters, miners, railroad workers and athletes, etc.).
Why do older people get osteoarthritis of the knee?
Degenerative arthritis is a common disease in the middle-aged and elderly. As people age, the natural degeneration of the knee joint, combined with years of use, leads to wear and tear of the original smooth articular cartilage, and inflammation and pain of the synovial membrane occurs as a result of wear and tear of the chips. The formation of degenerative arthritis is related to factors such as aging, excessive weight, poor congenital joint structure, and joint trauma, while certain chronic diseases such as diabetes and gout can cause early aging of the joints. If you stand for a long time, some repetitive actions: such as repeated ascents, heavy lifting and repeated poor work posture can further accelerate the development of osteoarthritis.
Fourth, what are the symptoms of osteoarthritis?
The early stage of the disease mainly feels joint pain, swelling, especially when walking long distances, strenuous exercise, cold or rainy days aggravated. Gradually, it becomes difficult to walk up and down the stairs, and both knees become weak and easy to fall down. Pain and stiffness when squatting, and a clacking sound in the knee joints when moving passively. Some elderly people may experience increased pain after exertion or minor trauma, transient joint swelling and effusion, or even inability to stand and walk.
Early mild: joint swelling and discomfort occurs after greater activity or minor trauma, and joint pain increases spontaneously when walking up and down stairs.
Moderate in the middle stage: pain cannot be relieved at rest.
In the later stage, severe: joint redness, swelling, fever and pain; joint effusion and even joint degeneration.
Four, osteoarthritis X-ray changes.
In the early stage, X-ray examination is mostly normal. With the development of the disease, there is narrowing of the joint space or asymmetric changes in the joint space narrowing. The subchondral bone becomes hard and hyperplastic, and bone spurs are formed around the joint. In severe cases, the joint may become subluxated.
V. How to treat arthritis of the knee and what should I do?
Once arthritis has occurred, it is important to see a specialist at the earliest possible time in order to receive early treatment and improve your quality of life!
(1) Asymptomatic patients with osteoarthritis do not require special treatment.
(2) Those with mild symptoms can take proper rest and avoid strain, cold or chill. Appropriate oral treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving drugs.
(3) For moderate knee arthritis, arthroscopic surgery should be used in patients with mild to moderate degeneration. The arthroscope can be used for dilation, irrigation, removal of free bodies, detached cartilage fragments, repair of semilunar cartilage, subchondral drilling, removal of hyperplastic bone spurs, and repair of worn cartilage surfaces.
(4) In more severe cases with joint deformation, total artificial knee replacement surgery must be performed
Knee and muscle strengthening exercises: Rehabilitation exercises are required after surgery to help you get out of bed smoothly and to promote recovery.
Use of crutches and walkers: For 2-3 months after surgery, the knee joint will not be able to bear your body weight for a while, so you will have to use crutches or walkers to walk. Proper rest and exercise: Gradually increase your activity level, avoid too much strain, and have a moderate amount of rest after activity to allow the joint to relax and increase comfort in a normal position as much as possible. Maintain an ideal weight to reduce the burden on the knee joint. Daily activities should avoid overburdening the knee joint to reduce the chance of joint wear and tear: for example, use a cart to carry heavier things instead of hand-carrying, and make more use of handrails when going up and down stairs.
After knee surgery, please try to avoid the following movements.
Horse stance, squatting. Hill climbing. Walking up and down stairs. Running, walking long distances, lifting heavy objects, jumping on heavy loads.
7.What should I pay attention to in terms of diet and living after knee arthritis?
Since osteoarthritis is associated with obesity, decalcification, and vitamin E and D deficiency, the following points should be noted in diet and living.
(1) Increase outdoor activities and exercise (e.g. swimming, walking and cycling) and avoid prolonged bed rest as much as possible.
(2) Eat foods high in calcium to ensure the normal needs of bone metabolism in the elderly. The calcium intake of the elderly should be increased by about 50% compared with that of the average adult, i.e. not less than 1200 mg of calcium per day, so it is advisable to eat more milk, eggs, soy products, vegetables and fruits, and to take calcium supplements when necessary.
(3) Overweight people should control their diet, increase their activities and reduce their weight to help reduce the weight of the joints.
(4) The intake of protein should be limited, too much protein in food will promote the excretion of calcium from the body.
(5) To increase the intake of multivitamins, such as vitamin E,,Bl, B6, B12, C and D, etc.