Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (gonarthrosis) is a disease of the cartilage of the knee, in which it is gradually destroyed and replaced by connective tissue. Osteoarthritis of the knee can occur suddenly, when there are no signs and causes of joint damage. In other cases, the onset of the disease is accompanied by trauma or other joint disease.
Features
In a healthy knee joint, cartilage is a type of lining that does not allow the bones to be touched, thus eliminating the possibility of injury while walking. The diseased cartilage can not withstand this function, so in the joints appear signs of stiffness during movement, accompanied by pain. This condition becomes permanent due to internal pathological changes, when the thinning of cartilage tissue leads to thickening of the bone and creates conditions for the appearance of bone spurs - osteophytes, which provoke acute pain.
Causes and symptoms
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint develops gradually, but we do not notice pronounced symptoms of cartilage damage due to the fact that the knee joint is held in the proper position by the thigh muscles and the four ligaments. It is this anatomical structure that mitigates the manifestation of the main symptoms in the early stage of the disease.
Reliable causes of the disease have not yet been identified by medicine. However, there are factors that, under certain conditions, can play the role of the cause of this disease. These include injuries, strenuous exercise and being overweight. As a separate reason, such a violation can be considered as hormonal failure.
Patients with suspected osteoarthritis of the knee present with symptoms:
- knee pain of a painful nature (probably in the lower leg);
- pain syndrome associated with weather changes;
- increased pain when walking on stairs, after a long walk or standing;
- reduction of pain at rest (at night and at rest);
- initial pain (after rest breaks);
- knee joint stiffness;
- pain during flexion / extension of the leg;
- crackling, swelling of the wrist.
This condition of the knee joint requires urgent medical attention because of the risk of complications, when the spill may begin to accumulate in the joint. The doctor performs an external examination of the patient and prescribes an examination, based on the results of which the methods of treatment will be selected.
Survey
The initial stages of the appearance of a pathology such as osteoarthritis of the knee joint are not manifested visually in any way. However, after a certain time, the patient notices signs of knee deformity as well as a characteristic curvature along the axis of the lower leg (directed inwards). There is also a crack when you have to bend the leg.
The presence of pain, limited movement in the knee makes a person visit a doctor and undergo an examination. To do this, he must pass tests and do a radiograph of the diseased wrist. If these measures are not sufficient to confirm osteoarthritis of the knee, then magnetic resonance imaging is performed. Based on the data collected, the doctor selects the best treatment methods.
Treatment Methods
Modern medicine has enough tools to treat osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Also in clinical practice, new approaches to treatment with traditional methods are being actively developed and implemented.
The basic medical treatment of knee disease is therapy in combination with adjuvants.
An example is kinesiotherapy, which is part of the physical therapy of restorative medicine, which is complemented by psychological work with patients.
Help in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee such restorative methods as massage, exercise, water treatments. To alleviate the condition, the patient is recommended to wear knee pads or a bandage. It is impossible to treat gonarthrosis without respecting the proper diet, which should contain white, not red meat, sardines, salmon, vegetables, fruits and enough water (up to 7 glasses).
Severe cases of the disease are treated immediately, with full or partial prostheses using sparing methods.
Medical treatment
In the treatment of gonarthrosis with drugs, the following are actively used:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The prescribed pills help treat a condition such as swelling and swelling of the knee joint;
- Condoprotectors. The preparations contain substances that nourish the cartilage tissue, which heals its structure and restores the cartilaginous lining of the ankle. If the cartilage is almost completely destroyed, chondroprotectors are not used to treat osteoarthritis of the knee (usually this is typical of stage 3);
- Vasodilator tablets. With their help, you can treat night pains that occur in the knee joint due to spasms of small vessels.
- Intra-articular injections of corticosteroid hormones are prescribed to treat inflamed knee joints. Injections relieve swelling and swelling much faster, thus improving the patient's condition. However, such injections can be done 1 time in 2 weeks due to the high probability of their side effects. If a person has symptoms of anatomical changes in the joints, for example, bone deformity, then making injections into the joints is futile.
In the early stages of gonarthrosis, uncomplicated by joint edema (synovitis), the patient may be given injections of chondroprotectors with enzymes. They help to partially restore cartilage tissue, and the downside is the need to inject medication at a rate of 5-10 injections.
Good treatment results (in 80% of cases) can be achieved by traction (knee joint extension).
It is performed using a special apparatus or manual therapy. Such traction provides an increase in the distance between the bones, due to which there is a reduction of the load on the joint and restoration of its performance.
ointment
In the therapy of drugs for the treatment of joints, various types of ointments and gels are actively used, consisting mainly of natural substances. In pharmacies, ointments can be purchased without a prescription, but a consultation with the attending physician for its use will not hurt. You should also know that the ointment does not cure knee disease, but only complements the main treatment.
Effectively relieves inflammation in oil joints based on NVPS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
Capsicum-containing warming ointments are used to improve blood circulation.
Ointments containing salicylic acid are used to treat inflammation in the knees.
Ointments - Chondroprotectors are successfully used in the initial stages of treatment of the disease to restore damaged cartilage. In order for the active substances of the oil to better penetrate the focus of inflammation, it is necessary to use them in combination with a physiotherapeutic procedure - phonophoresis.
Support measures
Massage
In the complex treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joints, therapeutic massage is actively used, which contributes to the normalization of blood circulation in the damaged joint and restores its functions. Massage not only heals but also awakens the body's defenses, allowing you to quickly restore the efficiency of the articular apparatus.
With inflammation of the joints, massage is usually used in the knee area and general healing massage. It is to achieve a greater effect that doctors recommend combining a general massage with a segmental massage performed in the knee area.
Since massage has a positive effect on muscle tone, the patient's muscle strength increases and the lost performance from the knee joints is restored. Therapeutic massage begins with strokes, and then rubbing is performed to improve joint mobility. Then comes the alignment. The massage ends with a tremor that is beneficial to the muscles (not intense). All of these techniques are included in the massage to reduce pain and restore freedom of movement of the knees.
Knee pads and braces
To reduce the load on the knee joint, as well as on the muscles, ligaments and tendons, patients are advised to place a bandage on it. The knee bandage helps to evenly distribute the pressure in the articular apparatus and thus stimulates the regeneration of damaged tissue.
Since the bandage is a product, the range of these products is distinguished by a variety of corporate colors and styles. Bandages are also metal, ceramic, plastic, etc. All of these features are secondary. The main thing is that you should buy knee pads or a bandage only after consulting a doctor.
Knee pads for clothing are chosen according to their purpose. The bandage required in the postoperative period should be carefully measured. Such knee pads are a rigid bandage.
It is best to wear underwear made of cotton fabric or other natural materials under the knee pads. Knee fillings of dog hair have a pronounced healing effect, warming the joint and relieving inflammation.
The most popular type is a neoprene bandage, reinforced with spiral ribs, which provides fixation of the joints and muscles. Orthopedic bandages are often used as protection against injury during sports.
You should choose open or closed knee pads based on the nature of the pain. In case of severe pain, the knee pads should have stiffeners and completely cover the wrist. For mild pain, open knee pads should be worn.
A sought after innovation are knee pads made of elastane or polyester. This bandage will last a long time and is easy to care for.
Conclusion
A distinctive feature of modern approaches in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis is a combination of traditional methods and techniques based on new generation medicines, as well as improved surgical methods. Of the new generation drugs, biostimulants, chondroprotectors, synovial fluid protectors are widely used. Forms of knee osteoarthritis that are difficult to treat conservatively can now be treated surgically with low invasiveness, i. e. , arthroplasty, arthroscopy, and endoprosthetics.