Osteoarthritis is a disease of the musculoskeletal system in which degenerative changes occur in the articular surfaces of the cartilage, and the cartilage gradually thins and dies. The main symptoms of the disease are pain and limited mobility. And due to the pathological proliferation of cartilage and bone tissue, the joint gradually deforms, aggravating functional limitations.
The knee joint is one of the most common localizations of osteoarthritis (knee arthrosis is also called gonarthrosis). Its symptoms manifest themselves to varying degrees in almost 30% of the adult population. Because anxiety develops very quickly when walking with this disease, patients usually seek medical attention in the early stages of the pathology. This fact simplifies the treatment of osteoarthritis 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 a diet, massage and exercise therapy.
Let's talk more about treatment methods.
Drug therapy
Drug treatment for gonarthrosis has the following objectives:
- reduction of pain sensations;
- improving the nutrition of articular cartilage;
- normalization of blood and lymph microcirculation processes;
- return to the previous range of motion.
Medications can be used at any stage of the disease, but they are only effective enough for small knee lesions.
Chondroprotectors
Chondroprotective drugs are the only group of drugs that directly affect the cause of the disease. The most effective products are glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.
If you start treating osteoarthritis of the knee joint with chondroprotectors in the early stages, the therapy is likely to achieve significant results: it is possible not only to slow down the destruction of cartilage tissue, but also to partially restore it. It should be noted that drugs in this group should be taken in long-term (at least one year) courses. If 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 therapies, including physiotherapy exercises and massage - this is important for serious knee injuries. It is not recommended to use these drugs regularly for a long time, as they can damage the walls of the stomach.
You can use other dosage forms to reduce side effects: 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 was found that only 3% of the active substances pass through the surface tissues and reach the intraarticular structures.
Corticosteroid hormones
In cases where it is necessary to temporarily reduce the symptoms of the disease as soon as possible, the use of corticosteroid hormones is advisable. As a rule, injectable forms of drugs are used for intraarticular administration.
Other drug groups
An important group of drugs used in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee (topically) are vasodilators that improve microcirculation in the affected area and facilitate lymphatic drainage.
Compresses are often used for this purpose, the effectiveness of which is slightly higher than ointments. Noteworthy:
- Dimexide has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, improves blood flow properties and tissue nutrition. Unlike many similar drugs, it penetrates deep into the tissues.
- Medical bile has a warming and resorption effect, is most effective for inflammatory changes accompanied by articular membranes.
- Bischofite is a natural mineral that warms and improves microcirculation in the affected area.
Also, intraarticular application of hyaluronic acid for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint in the early stages has been used relatively recently. It is a major component of synovial fluid, so its use significantly reduces wear on the articular surfaces of cartilage. When treating gonarthrosis, it is very important to ensure that this substance does not enter the bloodstream. In this case, when the drug enters the blood vessels of internal organs and causes disruption of blood flow, the risk of developing embolic complications increases. The cost of the procedures is very high.
Extension
With osteoarthritis, the size of the intraarticular space gradually decreases, so the friction of the articular surfaces against each other increases. As a result, pain increases, there is a significant limitation of mobility. In some cases, the use of a device to increase the distance between the cartilages is indicated. Thanks to such procedures, the joint load and the severity of the symptoms of the disease are reduced. This method is usually used in 5-7 procedure courses.
Manual therapy and massage
Manual therapy and special massage can be used to treat osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Their effects are: analgesic, relieving muscle spasms, restoring range of motion. However, these treatments are effective only in the early stages of the pathology, as it is difficult to manipulate with open deformation of bone and cartilage tissue.
Hirudotherapy
The use of medicinal leeches can be useful in the treatment of gonarthrosis: such procedures improve the properties of the blood, local blood flow and tissue nutrition. It is also possible to activate the regenerative processes in cartilage tissue and increase the amount of intraarticular fluid.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy procedures are usually used as an adjunct therapy. Electrophoresis is often used: with its help, external drugs penetrate deeper into the skin surface than usual.
You can also use ultrasound, magnetic devices, laser radiation. Their effect improves microcirculation and tissue nutrition, slows down the processes of destruction and deformation.
Surgical intervention
In the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee, surgery is performed in case of ineffectiveness of conservative methods. Usually, in this condition, the patient has an obvious deformation of the knee joint and almost complete immobility. Excess tissue that restricts mobility can be removed during surgery.
In advanced cases, complete or partial endoprosthetics are performed using titanium structures. The operation is very traumatic, after which the rehabilitation period can last several months. However, a well-performed prosthesis will help restore joint function, even in seemingly hopeless situations.
Home treatment
You can treat osteoarthritis of the knee at home, but to avoid harming yourself, you should first coordinate all your actions with your doctor.
Diet
Dietary compliance plays an important role in the treatment of gonarthrosis, as it provides nutrients necessary for the renewal of cartilage and bone cells.
When you are overweight, a properly chosen diet will reduce it, thereby reducing the burden on the musculoskeletal system.
Physiotherapy
Gymnastics and physiotherapy exercises are an integral part of the treatment of gonarthrosis. Exercise strengthens the muscles of the thighs and lower legs, increases the mobility of the joints, improves the condition of the joints. By improving the blood supply to the affected area, the supply of nutrients and oxygen increases. It is very important to perform a set of individual exercise therapy on a regular basis. It is advisable to work with an instructor from time to time - this way you can monitor the accuracy of the exercises and change them if necessary.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy can also be used to treat osteoarthritis of the knee joints at home. For this purpose, portable devices for UHF, small magnets, paraffin compresses are used. Maximum muscle relaxation should be achieved during the procedures and it is recommended to reduce the load on the affected area during physiotherapy. To do this, you can use a walking stick: a person leaning on it 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 ways
There are many popular recipes that can bring significant benefits in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Here are some of them:
- chopped warmed horseradish root should be tied to the knee at night;
- in case of pain you can drink a glass of onion juice (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 several times a week;
- With severe inflammation, you can wipe the knee joint with a lemon wedge or close the oatmeal compress.
The result
There is no clear answer to the question of how to treat osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Most experts believe that the disease is incurable, and with the help of modern methods it is possible to slow down (stop) the process of joint destruction and restore only partially lost functions. Therefore, it is important to pay special attention to prevention and its implementation from an early age.