Osteoarthritis refers to degenerative pathological processes of articular-cartilaginous tissues, followed by their thinning and destruction.Osteoarthritis is characterized by limited motor skills and severe pain.The treatment of knee osteoarthritis or gonarthrosis is quite multifaceted, because there are many effective anti-osteoarthritis therapeutic methods: medications, surgery, diet, massage, etc.
How and why pathology develops
Gonarthrosis develops for the following reasons:
- Damage to the meniscus that can lead to knee locking.Statistics show that patients who have had their meniscus removed develop osteoarthritis of the knee in 90% of cases;
- Other injuries such as sprains, fractures, cracks, bruises, etc.This factor is more often present in young patients;
- Obesity causes increased stress on joint structures, especially the knees, as any excess weight puts pressure on the lower extremities.And if, in addition to obesity, the patient also has varicose veins, there is a high probability of developing a serious form of gonarthrosis, which is difficult to treat;
- Increased load on the knees, typical of athletes, loaders, etc. ;
- Joint pathological processes such as arthritis, etc. ;
- Metabolic disorders;
- Stress, hypothermia.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee
Osteoarthritis has the following symptomatic manifestations:
- Accumulations of fluid in the joint cavity, leading to the development of Baker's cyst;
- The pain is initially weak and intermittent, but with the development of pathological processes it becomes intense and constant.Moreover, the process of such a transition can extend over several years, until a factor provoking an exacerbation appears;
- Cracking in the knee, causing pain.A similar symptom appears already at the 2nd or 3rd stage of development of gonarthrosis;
- Impaired joint mobility is manifested by the inability to bend the limb and the patient experiences severe pain.Along with this, joint deformation develops, visible without any special devices.
Degree of development of pathology
Gonarthrosis is characterized by three degrees of development.The first degree is characterized by the presence of slight pain during physical activity.At this stage, synovitis may develop with subsequent cyst formation.Joint cartilage lesions are not noticeable from the outside, but they have already become active and are gradually gaining intensity.
During a flexion movement, painful symptoms can be supplemented by specific tightening.This sign is considered specific to knee osteoarthritis.
With second-degree gonarthrosis, the joint space narrows, which is clearly visible on the x-ray.Bone tissue begins to grow.Any movement, even slight, of the knee causes acute pain.These symptoms disappear quickly after a short rest, but reappear after the next activity.
A typical sign of third degree knee osteoarthritis is a noticeable deformity of the knee.In addition, it is no longer possible to get rid of the pain by stopping the movement, because the pain is present even in a calm state.
Approach to the treatment of knee osteoarthritis
Complex therapeutic tactics can solve the following problems:
- Strengthen the muscles that support the joints, increase the elasticity and flexibility of tendon and ligament tissues;
- Get rid of pain symptoms;
- Accelerate recovery processes and improve nutrition of the cartilaginous structures of the knee;
- Normalize blood flow in the affected area;
- Increase joint mobility;
- Reduce compression in the affected area;
- Increase the distance between the bones.
Treatment processes are based on medication prescription, surgery, special diet, physiotherapeutic procedures, therapeutic exercises, etc.
Drugs used
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint is based on the use of drugs that provide symptomatic treatment and stop the progression of gonarthrosis.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hormonal drugs and chondroprotectors cope well with these tasks.These drugs effectively relieve pain, but are contraindicated for long-term use to avoid the development of unwanted side reactions.Therefore, the duration of treatment with NSAIDs should not exceed 2 weeks.
Among the hormonal drugs often prescribed for gonarthrosis, the following deserve attention:
Hormonal drugs are prescribed in cases where NSAIDs do not cope with the pathological process.But hormone therapy is characterized by a multitude of side effects, so it does not last long.
Chondroprotective drugs quite effectively restore joint functions.These drugs have a complex effect: they reduce pain symptoms, stabilize pathological processes and provide increased nutrition to the articular cartilage.There are the latest chondroprotectors, which, in addition to the effect of restoring joint tissue, are also endowed with an anti-inflammatory effect.
Functioning
Sometimes surgical treatment is necessary.Treatment of knee osteoarthritis is possible using several surgical methods:
- Arthroscopy;
- Stents;
- Osteotomy.
The simplest surgical option is arthroscopy, during which the affected areas of the joint are removed through small punctures.
The main goal of the arthroscopic procedure is to prolong the functionality and performance of the knee affected by osteoarthritis.
But the most definitive surgical method is the endoprosthesis, which consists of replacing the joint fraction of the knee with an artificial implant.The efficiency of this operation is approximately 90%.As for osteotomy, this operation involves making an artificial fracture, after which the bone is fixed in the anatomically correct position.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapeutic procedures also play one of the main roles in complex anti-osteoarthritis therapy.They facilitate the course of gonarthrosis, eliminate pain, relieve muscle tissue spasms and shorten the duration of regeneration.And if electrophoresis is used with the drug, the dose of this drug given to the patient orally is reduced.
The goals of physiotherapeutic procedures for gonarthrosis are to eliminate pain, reduce the severity of symptomatic signs, accelerate joint regeneration and improve nutrition of the damaged joint.
Ultraviolet irradiation and magnetic therapy are used to relieve pain.To eliminate inflammatory processes, infrared laser therapy or UHF treatment procedures are prescribed.Additionally, ultrasound therapy, darsonvalization and medicinal baths are indicated.
Diet therapy
The success of anti-arthritis therapeutic measures is largely determined by a correctly formulated diet.For what?Sometimes the cause of osteoarthritis processes is metabolic disorders, in the development of which an unhealthy diet plays an important role.
An unbalanced diet leads to obesity, which adds stress on the knee joints.This is why it is recommended to follow a diet during and after treatment of knee osteoarthritis to prevent joint pathologies.
Dietary therapy for knee osteoarthritis is based on the consumption of foods enriched with enriched compounds and essential microelements.At the same time, you need to monitor the calorie content of the foods you consume in order to avoid extra pounds.If you are overweight, it is recommended to expend more calories than you consume, then your weight will return to normal.
Exercise therapy
Therapeutic and gymnastic treatment is rightly considered one of the main elements of the complex treatment of gonarthrosis.Performing exercises helps strengthen and restore joint activity.The main thing is to perform the elements smoothly and slowly.Popular exercises:
- Lie on your stomach.Raise your legs one by one;
- From a side position, lift the limb with a delay of several seconds;
- While lying down, raise your legs and perform abduction and spread movements.
Attention!This exercise is contraindicated in hypertensive and other cardiac patients because it causes an increase in blood pressure.
It is useful to perform friction massage in the direction from the knee joint to the hip joint.The massage ends with caresses on the skin.
Methodology of a rheumatologist
The method of treating knee osteoarthritis according to the program of a rheumatologist is based on the use of physiotherapy coupled with drug treatment:
- Taking NSAIDs;
- Chondroprotective drugs;
- Topical analgesic medications such as ointments and creams;
- Injectable infusions into the joint;
- Manual therapeutic procedures;
- Physiotherapy;
- Light physical activities.
Through the use of this technique, anterior mobility is restored, blood supply to the affected knee is normalized, pain is relieved, and joint cells receive increased nutrition.
Author's technique
This exclusive technique has unique therapeutic properties.This program can save a patient from osteoarthritis without resorting to surgery or medication.This technique is a mixture of physiotherapeutic and physiotherapeutic treatment methods.Each patient receives a private treatment regimen and training program.
The patient is not recommended to use painkillers, since this problem can be easily solved by applying ice to the knee and a contrast shower.Through regular training using the method:
- The patient is relieved of pain;
- Bone joints, joints and cartilage begin to receive increased nutrition;
- The former functionality of the knee is restored.
These courses are taught under the supervision of an experienced instructor in specialized clinics.Massage procedures, swimming and sauna are indicated as additional therapy.