Osteoarthritis is a disease of the musculoskeletal system, in which degenerative changes occur on 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, exacerbating functional limitations.
The knee joint is one of the most common locations of osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis of the knee is also called gonarthrosis). Its symptoms manifest themselves to varying degrees in almost 30% of the adult population. Due to the fact that with this disease, discomfort when walking develops quite quickly, patients, as a rule, consult a doctor in the early stages of pathology. This fact facilitates the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint and makes it more effective. For therapy, the doctor uses medical and surgical exposure methods. It is also important to follow your diet, massage, and exercise therapy.
Let's talk about the treatment methods in more detail.
Drug therapy
Drug therapy for gonarthrosis has the following goals:
- reduction of pain sensations;
- improve the nutrition of the articular cartilage;
- normalization of blood and lymphatic microcirculation processes;
- return to previous range of motion.
The drugs can be used at any stage of the disease, but are only adequately effective for minor knee injuries.
Chondroprotectors
Chondroprotective drugs are the only group of drugs that act directly on the cause of the disease. The most effective products are those that contain glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.
If you start to treat arthrosis of the knee joint with chondroprotectors in the early stages, there is a possibility 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 should be taken in courses for a long time (at least a year). If it is taken only occasionally, the treatment will be useless.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have a symptomatic effect on osteoarthritis of the knee joint: they reduce the severity of inflammation and pain. Thanks to this effect, it is possible to use active methods of therapy, including physical therapy exercises and massage, this is important for severe knee damage. Since these drugs can damage the stomach lining, their regular long-term use is not recommended.
To reduce side effects, you can use other dosage forms: suppositories or injections. In this case, it is possible to avoid direct contact of the drug with the gastric mucosa, and the efficacy of the agent remains high.
Gels or creams that contain NSAIDs are relatively ineffective. It was found that only 3% of the active substances 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. Injectable forms of drugs are generally used for intra-articular administration.
Other drug groups
An important group of drugs used in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (topically) 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 somewhat greater than that of ointments. Remarkable:
- 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 heating and reabsorption effect, it is most effective for concomitant inflammatory changes in the joint membranes.
- Bischofite is a natural mineral that heats and improves microcirculation in the affected area.
Furthermore, for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint in the initial stages, intra-articular administration of hyaluronic acid has come into use 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 ensure 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 poor blood flow. The cost of the procedures is quite high.
Extension
With osteoarthritis, the size of the intra-articular space gradually decreases, due to this, the friction of the articular surfaces with each other increases. As a result, pain sensations increase and there is a significant limitation of mobility. To increase the distance between cartilages, in some cases, the use of traction devices (traction) 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.
Massage and manual therapy
To treat osteoarthritis of the knee joint, manual therapy and special massages can be used. Its effects are: pain relief, muscle spasm relief, range of motion restoration. However, these treatment methods are effective only in the early stages of 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 blood, local blood flow and nutrition of tissues are improved. It is also possible to activate regenerative processes in cartilage tissue and increase the amount of intra-articular fluid.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy procedures are generally used as an additional method of treatment. Most often, electrophoresis is used: with its help, external drugs penetrate much more deeply than with conventional application on the surface of the skin.
You can also use ultrasound, magnetic devices, laser radiation. Thanks to its effect, it improves microcirculation and nutrition of tissues, the processes of destruction and deformation are slowed down.
Surgical intervention
Surgical intervention in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis 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 restricts mobility.
In advanced cases, full or partial stents are performed using titanium frameworks. The operation is very traumatic and the duration of the subsequent rehabilitation period can reach several months. However, a well-made prosthesis will help restore joint function even in seemingly hopeless cases.
Treatment at home
You can treat knee osteoarthritis at home, but you must first coordinate all your actions with your doctor so that you do not injure yourself.
Diet
Compliance with a diet plays an important role in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, 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 physical therapy exercises are an integral part of the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. 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, it increases the delivery of nutrients and oxygen. It is very important to perform individual exercise therapy complex on a regular basis. From time to time, it is advisable to work with an instructor; In this way, you can control the correctness of the exercises and, if necessary, change them.
Physiotherapy
Physical therapy can also be used to treat osteoarthritis of the knee joints at home. For this, portable devices for UHF, small magnets, paraffin compresses 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%. For the cane to be effective, it is important to choose the right size.
Popular forms
There are many popular recipes that can bring tangible benefits in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Here are some of them:
- Chopped hot horseradish root should be tied to the knee at night;
- in case of pain, you can drink a glass of onion broth (a 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 clean the knee joint with a lemon slice 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 destruction of the joints and only partially restore the lost functions. Therefore, it is important to pay special attention to prevention and carry it out from an early age.