Rheumatoid arthritis of the knee joint

Of all types of arthritis, the disease of the knee joint is mostly associated with rheumatoid arthritis. It can be acute or chronic. In acute arthritis, exudate accumulates in the cavity of the knee joint, which has a different character, which depends on the cause and stage of the disease.

What is rheumatoid arthritis of the knee joint?

Patients have complaints of pain, redness, swelling in the joints. Movement in the joint becomes limited, an obvious symptom of such arthritis is the bent knee position of the leg. This forced position makes the pain less and therefore patients often use it. With purulent knee joint damage - acute disease, begins with a rapid increase in body temperature, intoxication and chills. The joint swells quite strongly.

The first signs of the disease

In general, the first signs of the disease - swelling of the knee joints, which are more troubling in the morning. In general, with this disease symptoms are more noticeable in the morning, pain in the joints is more felt, they swell and are less mobile. This morning "undeveloped" joints can sometimes last for several hours and leaves only after taking medication. It happens that several days or even weeks pass before the patient realizes that something is wrong with him. It is also worth noting that in addition to joint pain, a person feels broken, he loses his appetite, quickly becomes tired, his temperature may rise, sweating arises, he loses his desire to work and even interest in life. When there is severe inflammation, pain can even be at rest, they can "wake up" the patient. At the same time, there are several symptoms that are indicated above - they are called common symptoms.

Some patients have what makes rheumatoid arthritis of knee joints a serious and unpleasant disease - the destruction of the joints, which can severely limit the ability of the legs and complicate the patient's life. In addition to the destruction of the joint, his condition is affected by changes in the joint bag, the tendons that are located next to each other. The most serious is the deformation and limitation of mobility of the knee joint. The impossibility of complete straightening of the knee joint becomes a serious obstacle to walking.

The most serious consequence of such inflammation and deformity of the joint is complete immobility of the joint. It should be noted that such severe deformities are less common today, because active and purposeful efforts are being used to prevent their occurrence, for example, the method of imposing removable tires from plastics or gypsum dressings, as well as timely surgical intervention to correct joints.

Diagnosis

In the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis of the knee joint, some routine laboratory tests are used. In order to identify the presence of the inflammation process and its intensity, sedimentation of erythrocytes is performed.

Another method of diagnosis - the detection of the presence of rheumatoid factor in the blood. In order to detect the rheumatoid factor, mostly latex particles are used, which are coated with human serum proteins. With them, the serum that contains the rheumatoid factor reacts, resulting in the thickening of the latex particles. Analysis for the presence of such a factor does not always give a positive result in the first months of the disease, and in some patients it never gives results.

In case of complaints about pain in the knee joint, the patient needs to urgently consult a doctor - arthrologist. He will carry out the examination, if necessary, he will send for radiography of the joint. A great diagnostic, as well as therapeutic value, are puncture and arthroscopy of the knee joint.

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Treatment of the disease is begun in a hospital. Mandatory condition - the need for immobilization of the joint. To do this, impose a plaster bandage. Assign antibiotics, various anti-inflammatory drugs and drugs that increase the overall resistance of the body. With purulent arthritis, surgical treatment is required - opening and draining the knee joint bag.