Osteoarthritis is a disease of the musculoskeletal system, in which degenerative changes occur in the articular surfaces of the cartilage, gradually the cartilage becomes thinner and destroyed. The main symptoms of the disease are pain and limitation of movement. And due to the pathological proliferation of cartilage and bone tissue, a gradual deformation of the joint occurs, which aggravates functional limitations.
The knee joint is one of the most common localizations of osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis of the knee is also called gonarthrosis). Its symptoms occur to varying degrees in nearly 30% of the adult population. Due to the fact that with this disease discomfort when walking develops rather quickly, patients, as a rule, consult a doctor in the early stages of the pathology. This fact facilitates the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint and makes it more effective. For therapy, the doctor uses medical and surgical methods of exposure. It is also important to follow diet, massage and physical therapy.
Let's talk about the methods of treatment in more detail.
Pharmacological therapy
Drug therapy for gonarthrosis has the following objectives:
- reduction of pain sensations;
- improve the nutrition of joint cartilage;
- normalization of blood and lymphatic microcirculation processes;
- return of the previous range of motion.
Drugs can be used at any stage of the disease, but are adequately effective for only minor knee injuries.
Chondroprotector
Chondroprotective drugs are the only group of drugs that act directly on the cause of the disease. The most effective products are those containing glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.
If you start to treat osteoarthritis of the knee joint with chondroprotector in the early stages, then there is a likelihood of significant results in therapy: it is possible not only to slow down the destruction of cartilage tissue, but also to partially restore it. It is important to note that the drugs of this group must be taken in courses for a long time (at least one year). If taken only occasionally, the treatment will be useless.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have a symptomatic effect in osteoarthritis of the knee joint: they reduce the severity of inflammation and pain. Thanks to this effect, it becomes possible to use active methods of therapy, including physiotherapy exercises and massage - this is important for severe damage to the knee. Since these drugs can damage the stomach walls, regular long-term use is not recommended.
To reduce side effects, you can use other dosage forms - suppositories or injections. In this case, direct contact of the drug with the gastric mucosa can be avoided, and the effectiveness of the agent remains high.
Gels or creams containing NSAIDs are relatively ineffective. It has been found that only 3% of the active ingredients penetrate through the superficial tissues and reach the intra-articular structures.
Corticosteroid hormones
The use of corticosteroid hormones is advisable in cases where it is necessary to temporarily reduce the symptoms of the disease as soon as possible. Usually, injectable forms of drugs are used for intra-articular administration.
Other drug groups
An important group of drugs used in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee (topical) are vasodilators, which improve microcirculation in the affected area and facilitate lymphatic drainage.
Most often, compresses are used for these purposes, the effectiveness of which is slightly higher than that of ointments. Noteworthy:
- Dimexide has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, improves the properties of blood flow and nutrition of tissues. Unlike many similar drugs, it penetrates deep into the tissues.
- Medical bile has a warming and resorbing effect, it is more effective for concomitant inflammatory changes in the joint membranes.
- Bischofite is a natural mineral that heats and improves microcirculation in the affected area.
In addition, for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint in the initial stages, intra-articular administration of hyaluronic acid has begun to be used relatively recently. It is the main component of the synovial fluid, therefore, thanks to its use, the abrasion of the articular surfaces of the cartilage is significantly reduced. When treating gonarthrosis, it is very important to make sure that this substance does not enter the bloodstream. In this case, the risk of developing embolic complications increases when the drug enters the arteries of the internal organs and leads to impaired blood flow. The cost of the procedures is quite high.
Elongation
With osteoarthritis, the size of the intra-articular space gradually decreases, due to this the friction of the articular surfaces against each other increases. As a result, pain sensations increase and there is a significant limitation of mobility. To increase the distance between the cartilages, in some cases, the use of the traction (traction) apparatus is indicated. Thanks to such procedures, the load on the joint and the severity of the symptoms of the disease are reduced. Usually this method is used in courses of 5-7 procedures.
Manual therapy and massage
To treat arthrosis of the knee joint, manual therapy and special massage can be used. Their effects are: pain relief, relief of muscle spasms, restoration of range of motion. However, these methods of treatment are effective only in the early stages of the pathology, since with a pronounced deformation of bone and cartilage tissues, it becomes difficult to carry out manipulations.
Hirudotherapy
The use of medicinal leeches can be useful in the treatment of gonarthrosis: thanks to such procedures, the properties of the blood, local blood flow and tissue nutrition are improved. It is also possible to activate regenerative processes in the cartilage tissue and increase the amount of intra-articular fluid.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy procedures are usually used as an additional treatment method. Most often, electrophoresis is used: with its help, external drugs penetrate much deeper than with conventional application to the surface of the skin.
You can also use ultrasound, magnetic devices, laser radiation. Thanks to their effect improves microcirculation and nutrition of tissues, slow down the processes of destruction and deformation.
Surgical intervention
Surgical intervention in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee is carried out in case of ineffectiveness of conservative methods. Usually, in this case, the patient has a pronounced deformation of the knee joint and its almost complete immobility. During the operation, it is possible to remove excess tissue that limits mobility.
In advanced cases, complete or partial endoprostheses are performed using titanium structures. The operation is very traumatic, and the duration of the rehabilitation period can reach several months. However, a well-made prosthesis will help restore joint function even in seemingly hopeless cases.
Home treatment
You can treat osteoarthritis of the knee at home, but you must first coordinate all your actions with your doctor so as not to harm yourself.
Diet
Compliance with a diet plays an important role in the treatment of gonarthrosis, since it is with food that the substances necessary for the renewal of cartilage and bone cells are provided.
In the presence of excess weight, a properly selected diet will reduce it and thus reduce the load on the musculoskeletal system.
Physiotherapy
Gymnastics and physiotherapy exercises are an integral part of the treatment of gonarthrosis. Thanks to the exercises, the muscles of the thigh and lower leg are strengthened, the mobility of the limb increases and the condition of the ligaments improves. By improving the blood supply to the affected area, the supply of nutrients and oxygen is increased. It is very important to regularly carry out an individual physical therapy complex. From time to time, it is advisable to work with an instructor: in this way it is possible to check the correctness of the exercises and, if necessary, to modify them.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy can also be used to treat osteoarthritis of the knee joints at home. For this, portable devices for UHF, small magnets, paraffin tablets are used. During the procedures, it is necessary to achieve maximum muscle relaxation, and during the course of physiotherapy it is desirable to reduce the load on the affected limb. To do this, you can use a walking stick - leaning on it, a person reduces the load on the knee by 40%. In order for the rod to be effective, it is important to choose the right size.
folk ways
There are many folk recipes that can bring tangible benefits in treating osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Here are some of them:
- chopped heated horseradish root should be tied to the knee at night;
- in case of pain you can drink a glass of onion broth (one liter of boiling water for two onions) three times a day;
- it is recommended to take baths with a decoction of malt and senna herbs several times a week;
- with severe inflammation, you can wipe the knee joint with a slice of lemon or tie an oatmeal compress.
Conclusion
There is no definitive answer to the question of how to cure osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Most experts believe that the disease is incurable, and with the help of modern methods it is only possible to slow down (stop) the process of joint destruction and only partially restore the lost functions. Therefore, it is important to pay special attention to prevention and implement it from an early age.