Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (gonarthrosis) is a disease in which the cartilage of the knee is gradually destroyed and replaced by connective tissue. Osteoarthritis of the knee can occur suddenly in the absence of signs and causes of joint damage. In other cases, the onset of the disease is associated with trauma or other joint disease.
Features
In a healthy knee joint, cartilage is a type of lining that prevents the bones from being touched, thus eliminating the possibility of injury during walking. The patient's cartilage is unable to cope with this function, so there are signs of stiffness in the joint, accompanied by pain during movement. This condition is permanent due to internal pathological changes, thinning of cartilage tissue leads to bone thickening and creates the appearance of bone rods - osteophytes, which provoke acute pain.
Causes and symptoms
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint develops gradually, but we do not feel any obvious signs of cartilage damage due to the knee joint being held in the correct position by the thigh muscles and four ligaments. It is this anatomical structure that smooths out the main symptoms in the early stages of the disease.
The exact causes of the disease have not yet been determined by medicine. However, under certain conditions, there are factors that can play a role in the cause of this disease. These include injuries, strenuous exercise and being overweight. As a separate cause, it can be considered a disorder such as hormonal failure.
Patients with suspected osteoarthritis of the knee joint have symptoms:
- pain in the knees of a painful nature (possibly in the lower leg);
- pain syndrome associated with weather changes;
- increased pain when walking up stairs, after a long walk or standing;
- reduction of pain at rest (at night and at rest);
- initial pain (after rest breaks);
- stiffness of the knee joint;
- pain when bending / stretching the leg;
- wheezing, swelling of the joint.
This condition of the knee joint requires immediate medical attention due to the risk of complications when the effusion may begin to accumulate in the joint. The doctor conducts an external examination of the patient and appoints an examination based on the results of which the treatment methods will be selected.
Inquiry
The initial stages of a pathology such as osteoarthritis of the knee joint do not manifest themselves visually. However, after some time, the patient notices signs of knee deformity, as well as a characteristic curvature (inward) along the axis of the lower leg. There is also a crisis when it is necessary to bend the leg.
The presence of pain and limited movement in the knee cause a person to seek medical attention and be examined. To do this, he must undergo tests and take an X-ray of the patient's joint. If these measures are not sufficient to confirm osteoarthritis of the knee joint, then magnetic resonance imaging is performed. Based on the information gathered, the doctor chooses the best treatment.
Methods of treatment
Modern medicine has enough tools to treat osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Also, new approaches to traditional methods of treatment are being developed and actively applied in clinical practice.
The main medical treatment for knee disease is treatment with adjuvants.
An example of this is kinesiotherapy, which is part of the physical therapy of rehabilitative medicine, which is completed by psychological work with patients.
Help treat osteoarthritis of the knee with restorative techniques such as massage, exercise, and water treatments. To alleviate the condition, the patient is advised to wear knee pads or bandages. Red meat should be white, not sardines, salmon, vegetables, fruits and enough water (up to 7 glasses) It is impossible to treat gonarthrosis without following a proper diet.
Severe cases of the disease are treated operatively with full or partial prostheses using careful methods.
Treatment
The following are actively used in the treatment of gonarthrosis with drugs:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Prescribed pills help treat conditions such as swelling and swelling of the knee joint;
- Chondroprotectors. The preparations contain substances that nourish the cartilage tissue, heal its structure and restore the cartilage of the joint. If the cartilage is almost completely destroyed, chondroprotectors are not used to treat osteoarthritis of the knee (usually stage 3);
- Vasodilator tablets. With their help, you can treat nighttime pain in the knee joint due to spasms of small blood vessels.
- Intraarticular injections of corticosteroid hormones are prescribed to treat inflamed knee joints. Injections eliminate swelling and edema faster and thus improve the patient's condition. However, such injections can be done once every 2 weeks, as there is a high probability of side effects. If a person has signs of anatomical changes in the joints, such as a bone deformity, then it is pointless to inject the joint.
In the early stages of gonarthrosis, which is not complicated by joint edema (synovitis), the patient may be given injections of chondoprotectants with enzymes. They help to partially restore cartilage tissue, and the disadvantage is the need to inject drugs with a course of 5-10 injections.
Good results of treatment (80% of cases) can be achieved by traction (elongation of the knee joint).
It is performed using a special device or manual therapy. Such traction increases the distance between the bones, which reduces the load on the joint and restores its function.
Ointments
Various ointments and gels, mainly natural substances, are actively used in drug therapy for the treatment of joints. Ointments can be bought in pharmacies without a prescription, but consulting a doctor involved in its use will not hurt. You should also know that the ointment does not cure knee diseases, but complements the main treatment.
Ointment based on NVPS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) effectively eliminates inflammation in the joints.
Heating ointments containing capsaicin are used to improve blood circulation.
Ointments containing salicylic acid are used to treat inflammation in the knees.
Ointments - chondoprotectors are used successfully in the early stages of treatment of the disease to repair damaged cartilage. In order for the active ingredients of the ointment to better penetrate the site of inflammation, they should be used in conjunction with a physiotherapeutic procedure - phonophoresis.
Support measures
Massage
In the complex treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joints, therapeutic massage is actively used, which helps to normalize blood circulation in the damaged joint and restore its function. Massage not only heals, but also awakens the body's defenses, which allows you to quickly restore the effectiveness of the articular apparatus.
With inflammation of the joints, massage and general therapeutic massage are usually used in the knee area. To achieve a greater effect, doctors recommend combining general massage with segmental massage of the knee.
As massage has a positive effect on muscle tone, the patient's muscle strength increases and the lost performance of the knee joints is restored. Therapeutic massage begins with a stroke, followed by rubbing to improve joint mobility. The next stretch is coming. The massage ends with a vibration that is beneficial to the muscles (not strong). All of these methods include massage to reduce pain and restore freedom of movement of the knees.
Knee pads and brace
Patients are advised to apply a bandage to the knee joint, as well as to reduce the load on the muscles, ligaments and tendons. The knee bandage helps to evenly distribute the pressure on the articular apparatus, thereby stimulating the regeneration of damaged tissues.
As the bandage is a product, the range of these products is distinguished by different colors and corporate styles. Bandages can also be made of metal, ceramic, plastic, etc. All these features are secondary. The main thing is to buy knee pads or bandages only after consulting a doctor.
Knee pads are selected according to their purpose. The dressing required in the postoperative period should be carefully measured. Such knee pads are a tight bandage.
It is better to wear underwear made of cotton fabric or other natural material under the knee pads. Knee pads for dog hair have a clear healing effect, warming the joint and eliminating inflammation.
The most popular type is a neoprene bandage reinforced with spiral ribs that provide fixation of joints and muscles. Orthopedic dressings are often used to prevent injuries during exercise.
Depending on the nature of the pain, open or closed knee pads should be chosen. In severe pain, the knee pads should have stiffeners and completely cover the joint. Open knee pads should be worn for mild pain.
A required innovation is knee pads made of elastane or polyester. This dressing will last a long time and is easy to care for.
The result
A distinctive feature of modern approaches in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee is the combination of traditional methods and techniques based on new generation drugs, as well as improved surgical methods. Biostimulants, chondoprotectants, synovial fluid protectors are widely used in new generation drugs. Forms of osteoarthritis of the knee, which are difficult to treat conservatively, can now be treated surgically with low invasiveness, ie arthroplasty, arthroscopy and endoprosthetic methods.