Osteoarthritis is a pathology of the musculoskeletal system, in which degenerative changes occur in the articular surface of cartilage, gradually the cartilage becomes thinner and destroyed. The main symptoms of the disease are pain and limited range of motion. And due to the pathological proliferation of cartilage and bone tissue, joint deformity gradually occurs, exacerbating functional limitations.
The knee joint is one of the most common sites of arthritis (arthritis of the knee is also known as gonarthrosis). Its symptoms are expressed to varying degrees in almost 30% of the adult population. Due to the fact that with this disease, discomfort when walking develops quite quickly, as a rule, patients should consult a doctor in the early stages of the pathology. This fact facilitates the treatment of knee osteoarthritis to take place more effectively. For treatment, doctors use medical and surgical contact methods. It is also important that you follow your diet, massage therapy, and exercise.
Let's talk about the treatment methods in more detail.
Drug treatment
Drug treatment for gonarthrosis has the following goals:
- reduced pain sensation;
- improve the nutrition of articular cartilage;
- normalizes blood and lymphatic microcirculation;
- return of the previous range of motion.
Medications can be used at any stage of the disease, but they are only commensurate with minor injuries to the knee.
Chondroprotectors
Chondroprotective drugs are the only group of drugs that act directly on the causative agent of the disease. The most effective products are those containing glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.
If you start the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee with chondroprotectors in the early stages, then there is a possibility to achieve significant results in treatment: it is possible not only to slow down the destruction of cartilage tissue, but also to restore somecartilage part. It is important to note that drugs in this class must be taken for a long time (at least a year). If done only occasionally, the treatment will be useless.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have a symptomatic treatment in knee osteoarthritis: they reduce the severity of inflammation and pain. Thanks to this effect, it is possible to use active therapeutic methods, including physiotherapeutic exercises and massage - this is important for severe knee injuries. Because these drugs can damage the stomach wall, their long-term regular 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, but the effectiveness of the drug is still high.
Gels or creams containing NSAIDs are relatively ineffective. It was found that only 3% of the active substances penetrated through surface tissues and into intra-articular structures.
Corticosteroid hormone
The use of corticosteroid hormones is recommended in cases where it is necessary to temporarily relieve the symptoms of the disease as soon as possible. Typically, injectable forms of the drug are used for intra-articular injection.
Other drug classes
An important class of drugs used in the (topical) treatment of knee arthropathy 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. Remarkable:
- Dimexide has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, improves blood flow properties and tissue nutrition. Unlike many similar drugs, it penetrates deep into the tissues.
- Bile has a warming and restorative effect, it is most effective for concomitant inflammatory changes in the articular membranes.
- Bischofite is a natural mineral that warms and improves microcirculation in the affected area.
In addition, for the treatment of arthritis of the knee joint in its early stages, the use of intra-articular hyaluronic acid has recently begun to be used. It is the main component of synovial fluid, therefore, thanks to its use, the wear of the articular surface of the cartilage is significantly reduced. When treating gonarthrosis, it is very important to make sure that the substance does not enter the bloodstream. In this case, the risk of developing thromboembolic complications increases as the drug enters the arteries of internal organs and leads to a decrease in blood flow. The cost of the procedure is quite high.
Lengthen
With osteoarthritis, the size of the space in the joint gradually decreases, so the friction of the joint surfaces increases. As a result, pain sensation increases and mobility is significantly limited. To increase the distance between the chambers, in some cases the use of the traction of the movement (traction) is indicated. Thanks to such procedures, the load on the joint and the severity of the symptoms of the disease is reduced. Usually this method is used in courses of 5-7 procedures.
Manual therapy and massage
To treat osteoarthritis of the knee, special massage and manual therapy can be applied. Their effects are: pain relief, reduction 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 the bone and cartilage tissues, it becomes difficult to perform manipulations.
Hirudotherapy
The medicinal use of leeches can be useful in the treatment of gonarthrosis: thanks to such procedures, the properties of blood, local blood flow and tissue nutrition are improved. It can also activate regenerative processes in cartilage tissue and increase the amount of intra-articular fluid.
Physical therapy
Physical therapy procedures are often used as a complementary treatment. Most often, electrophoresis is used: with its help, external drugs penetrate much deeper than conventional application to the surface of the skin.
You can also use ultrasound, magnetic devices, laser radiation. Thanks to their action, microcirculation and tissue nutrition are improved, the processes of destruction and deformation slow down.
Surgical intervention
Surgical intervention in the treatment of knee effusion is performed in cases where conservative methods are not effective. Usually, in this case, the patient has a marked deformity of the knee joint and is almost completely immobilized. During surgery, excess tissue that limits mobility can be removed.
In advanced cases, full or partial endoscopy is performed using titanium structures. The surgery is very painful and the recovery time after surgery can take several months. However, a well-executed prosthesis helps restore joint function even in seemingly hopeless circumstances.
Treatment at home
You can treat knee effusion at home, but you must first coordinate all actions with your doctor so as not to harm yourself.
Diet
Adherence to the diet plays an important role in the treatment of gonarthrosis, as food provides the substances necessary for the renewal of cartilage and bone cells.
In the face of overweight, a properly selected diet will reduce and thus reduce the load on the musculoskeletal system.
Physical therapy
Exercise and physical therapy are an integral part of the treatment of gonarthrosis. Thanks to the exercises, the muscles of the thighs and shins are strengthened, the mobility of the limbs increases, and the stretching of the ligaments is improved. By improving the blood supply to the affected area, the supply of nutrients and oxygen is increased. It is very important to do an individualized complex exercise therapy on a regular basis. It's a good idea to work with an instructor from time to time - this way you can control the correctness of the exercises and, if necessary, change them.
Physical therapy
Physiotherapy can also be used to treat osteoarthritis of the knee at home. For this, portable devices for UHF, small magnets, paraffin compression are used. During the procedure, it is necessary to maximally relax the muscles, and during physical therapy it is desirable to reduce the load on the affected limb. To perform, you can use a cane: 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 for it.
Folk way
There are many popular recipes that can provide tangible benefits in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Here are some of them:
- horseradish root has been warmed and chopped, so it is tied to the knee day and 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;
- bathing with decoction of malt and senna herbs is recommended several times a week;
- If the inflammation is severe, you can wipe the knee joint with lemon or tie a piece of oatmeal.
Conclusion
There is no definite answer to the question of how to cure knee osteoarthritis. Most experts believe that the disease cannot be cured, and with the help of modern methods, it is only possible to slow down (stop) the process of joint destruction and restore only part of the function. pass away. Therefore, special attention should be paid to prevention and implementation from an early age.