Once a joint degenerates, there is "no going back"! Medical warning: Young people who are too fat and suffer trauma may make their knees "age faster"
My knees “click” after walking a few steps, which may be a precursor to “degenerative knee arthritis”
If you have recently started to experience knee pain after not taking a few steps, and occasionally make a “clicking” sound when you squat down, you should pay attention to the possible signs of “degenerative knee arthritis”. Dr. Zhou Lizhi, vice president and director of the Department of Orthopedics at Losheng Sanatorium, pointed out that patients with degenerative knee arthritis generally experience joint pain, sometimes intermittent dull pain and limited movement. The symptoms may worsen until they eventually lose their ability to move.
Dr. Zhou Lizhi explained that the knee joint is composed of the femur (thigh bone), patella, anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, cartilage and tibia. The patella is a small, triangular-shaped bone that floats above the femur and calf bone. By being stuck in the groove on the femur, it provides stability when the knee moves. It is connected by the pulling forces from up, down, left and right, allowing the human body to do what it wants. Perform various walking, running, jumping and squatting movements. The anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments connect the femur and tibia, stabilizing the knee joint and preventing excessive displacement of the tibia. As for the upper end of the tibia, it is enlarged and has cartilage on it. There are half menisci on the left and right sides, which can absorb the pressure of joint activities.
Obese young people and injured knees age faster! Doctors reveal “6 ways” to alleviate joint degeneration
Dr. Zhou Lizhi emphasized that although “degenerative arthritis” is more likely to occur in older people, young people may also suffer from premature joint degeneration due to various reasons such as obesity, joint trauma, peripheral bone disease, muscle deterioration, and joint nerve damage. result. However, if people take the following measures in their daily lives, it will indeed help slow down the degeneration of knee arthritis:
Lifestyle changes: Lose weight or avoid excessive daily loads (such as climbing mountains, going up and down stairs, squatting, kneeling, sitting on low stools, etc.).
Use assistive devices appropriately: such as knee pads, handrails, hiking poles, etc.
Adopt physical therapy: Use hot and cold therapy, vector interference waves, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, ultrasound and short waves to help relax muscles, increase circulation of local ligament tissue and deep cartilage tissue, reduce pain and joint stiffness. Through rehabilitation training of leg muscle strength and muscular endurance, the burden on the joints can be reduced.
Supplementary health food: Glucosamine is a component of cartilage matrix and joint fluid; calcium plus vitamin D3 can help maintain bone tissue.
Take drug treatment: Oral medicine, analgesic injections and other treatment measures can effectively relieve symptoms, help get through the acute inflammation and pain period early, and improve the quality of life.
Injection treatment: A small amount of steroids can inhibit inflammation; hyaluronic acid can increase lubrication; and PRP platelet injection can help cartilage regeneration.
Dr. Zhou Lizhi said that “degenerative arthritis” is still an irreversible disease so far, so the goal of treatment is basically to improve symptoms and cannot change the degenerative state. “Surgery” is the final treatment, and arthroscopy and artificial knee surgery have certain effects.
The current new “half-knee artificial knee surgery” is suitable for patients with mild joint degeneration. The surgical method only needs to remove and replace the worn parts, with minimal damage to the original bones, small wounds, less bleeding, and hospitalization The time is short, post-operative recovery time is shortened and the implant is more durable. Dr. Zhou Lizhi urges people to seek medical treatment immediately if they feel joint discomfort recently and discuss the best treatment plan with the doctor to avoid worsening of symptoms and eventual loss of mobility.
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