Osteoarthritis is a disease of the musculoskeletal system in which degenerative changes occur on the articular surfaces of the cartilage, the cartilage gradually thins and destroys. The main symptoms of the disease are pain and restricted mobility. And due to the pathological proliferation of cartilage and bone tissue, there is a gradual deformation of the joint, which exacerbates functional limitations.
The knee joint is one of the most common localizations of osteoarthritis (knee osteoarthritis is also called gonarthrosis). Its symptoms manifest to varying degrees in almost 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 makes the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint easier and 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 in more detail about the methods of treatment.
Drug therapy
The drug therapy of osteoarthritis of the knee has the following goals:
- Reduction of pain sensations;
- Improving the nutrition of the articular cartilage;
- Normalization of the microcirculatory processes of blood and lymph;
- Return to the previous range of motion.
Medicines can be used at any stage of the disease, but are only sufficiently 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 the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint with chondroprotectors in the early stages, then significant therapeutic results are likely: 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 drugs of this group must be taken in courses for a long period (at least a year). Treatment is useless if used only occasionally.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Nonsteroidal 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 becomes possible to use active methods of therapy, including physical therapy exercises and massages - this is important in the case of severe knee damage. 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 that contain NSAIDs are relatively ineffective. It has been found that only 3% of the active ingredients penetrate through the surface tissue and reach the intra-articular structures.
Corticosteroid hormones
The use of corticosteroid hormones is advisable in cases where the symptoms of the disease need to be temporarily relieved as soon as possible. Injectable forms of drugs are commonly 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 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 tissues.
- Medicinal bile has a warming and absorbing effect, it is most effective with accompanying inflammatory changes in the joint membranes.
- Bischofite is a natural mineral that warms and improves microcirculation in the affected area.
For the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint in the initial stages, intra-articular administration of hyaluronic acid has also been used for a relatively short time. It is the main component of synovial fluid, so its use significantly reduces the abrasion of the articular surfaces of the cartilage. When treating osteoarthritis of the knee, it is essential to ensure that this substance does not enter the bloodstream. In this case, if the drug enters the arteries of the internal organs and leads to impairment of blood flow, the risk of developing embolic complications increases. The cost of the procedure is quite high.
strain
In osteoarthritis, the size of the intra-articular gap gradually decreases, which increases the friction between the articular surfaces. As a result, the pain sensations increase and there is a significant restriction in mobility. In some cases, to increase the distance between the cartilages, the use of apparatus pulling (traction) is indicated. Thanks to such procedures, the stress 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
Manual therapy and special massages can be used to treat osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Its effects are: pain relief, relief from muscle spasms, restoration of range of motion. However, these methods of treatment are effective only in the early stages of the pathology, since with pronounced deformation of bone and cartilage tissues, it becomes difficult to perform manipulations.
Hirudotherapy
The use of medicinal leeches can be useful in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: thanks to such procedures, the blood properties, local blood circulation and tissue nutrition are improved. It is also possible to activate regenerative processes in cartilage tissue and increase the amount of intra-articular fluid.
physical therapy
Physiotherapy procedures are usually used as an additional treatment method. Most often, electrophoresis is used: with its help, external drugs penetrate the surface of the skin much more deeply than with conventional application.
You can also use ultrasound, magnetic devices, laser radiation. Thanks to their action, microcirculation and tissue nutrition improve, the processes of destruction and deformation slow down.
Surgical intervention
Surgical intervention in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis is carried out in the event 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 arthroplasty with titanium structures is performed. The operation is very traumatic and the rehabilitation period can take several months. However, well-executed prosthetics help restore joint function even in apparently hopeless cases.
Home treatment
You can treat osteoarthritis of the knee at home, but you must first coordinate all of your measures with your doctor to avoid harming yourself.
diet
Adhering to a diet plays an important role in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee, since the substances necessary for the renewal of cartilage and bone cells are supplied with the food.
If you are overweight, the right diet will reduce it and thus relieve the musculoskeletal system.
physical therapy
Gymnastics and physiotherapy exercises are an integral part of the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. Thanks to the exercises, the thigh and lower leg muscles are strengthened, the mobility of the limbs increased and the condition of the ligaments improved. By improving blood flow to the affected area, it increases the supply of nutrients and oxygen. It is very important to regularly conduct an individual exercise therapy complex. From time to time it is advisable to work with an instructor - this way you can check the correctness of the exercises and change them if necessary.
physical therapy
Physiotherapy can also be used to treat osteoarthritis of the knee joints at home. To do this, portable devices for UHF, small magnets, paraffin compresses are used. During the procedures it is necessary to achieve maximum muscle relaxation, and during physiotherapy it is desirable to reduce the load on the affected limb. To do this, you can use a walking stick: if a person leans on it, then a person reduces the load on the knee by 40%. In order for the stick to be effective, it is important to choose the right size for it.
Folk tunes
There are many popular recipes that can provide noticeable benefits in treating osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Here are some of them:
- chopped warmed horseradish root should be tied to the knee at night;
- with pain, you can drink a glass of onion broth (one liter of boiling water for two onions) three times a day;
- Baths with a decoction of malt and senna herbs are recommended several times a week;
- If the inflammation is severe, you can wipe the knee joint with a lemon wedge or tie a compress of oatmeal.
diploma
There is no clear answer to the question of how osteoarthritis of the knee joint can be cured. Most experts believe that the disease is incurable, and with the help of modern methods it is possible to only slow down (stop) the process of joint destruction and only partially restore the lost functions. It is therefore important to pay special attention to prevention and to carry it out at a young age.