Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (gonarthrosis) is a disease of the knee cartilage, in which it is gradually destroyed and replaced by connective tissue. Knee osteoarthritis can occur suddenly, when there are no signs or causes of joint damage. In other cases, the onset of the disease is associated with trauma or other joint diseases.
Peculiarities
In a healthy knee joint, cartilage is a type of lining that does not allow the bones to touch, therefore eliminating the possibility of damage from walking. Sick cartilage is not able to cope with this function, therefore signs of stiffness in the joint appear 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 the pronounced symptoms of cartilage damage due to the fact that the knee joint is held in the correct position thanks to the thigh muscles and four ligaments. It is this anatomical structure that softens the manifestation of the main symptoms at the stage of the onset of the disease.
Medicine has not yet identified the reliable causes of the disease. 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, one can consider such a violation as a hormonal failure.
Patients with suspected osteoarthritis of the knee joint have symptoms:
- pain in the knees of an aching nature (possibly in the lower leg);
- pain syndrome associated with weather changes;
- increased pain when climbing stairs, after a long walk or standing;
- reduction of pain at rest (at night and at rest);
- initial pains (after breaks);
- knee joint stiffness;
- pain when bending/extending the leg;
- crunch, swelling of the joint.
This knee joint condition requires urgent medical attention due to the risk of complications, when the effusion can begin to accumulate in the joint. The doctor conducts an external examination of the patient and prescribes an examination, based on the results of which treatment methods will be selected.
Poll
The initial stages of the appearance of such a pathology as arthrosis of the knee joint do not manifest themselves 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 inward). There is also a crunch when you need to bend your leg.
The presence of pain, limited movement in the knee causes a person to consult a doctor and undergo an examination. To do this, you need to pass tests and take an x-ray of the diseased joint. If these measurements are not enough to confirm osteoarthritis of the knee joint, an MRI is performed. Based on the data collected, the doctor chooses the best treatment methods.
treatment methods
Modern medicine has sufficient means to treat osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Also in clinical practice, new approaches to treatment by traditional methods are being actively developed and applied.
The basic medical treatment of knee disease is therapies in combination with adjuvants.
An example is kinesiotherapy, which is part of the physiotherapy of restorative medicine, which is complemented by psychological work with patients.
Helps treat osteoarthritis of the knee with restorative methods such as massage, exercises, water treatments. To alleviate the condition, it is recommended that the patient wear knee braces or a bandage. It is impossible to treat gonarthrosis without observing the correct diet, which should contain white meat, not red, sardines, salmon, vegetables, fruits and enough water (up to 7 glasses).
Severe cases of the disease are treated promptly with full or partial dentures using conservative methods.
Medical treatment
In the treatment of gonarthrosis with drugs, the following are actively used:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Prescription pills help treat a condition like swelling and inflammation of the knee joint;
- Condoprotectors. The preparations contain substances that nourish cartilage tissue, which heals its structure and restores the cartilage lining of the joint. If the cartilage is almost completely destroyed, chondoprotectors are not used in the treatment of arthrosis of the knees (usually this is typical for stage 3);
- Vasodilator tablets. With its help, you can treat night pain that occurs in the knee joint due to spasm of small blood vessels.
- Intra-articular injections with corticosteroid hormones are prescribed to treat swollen knee joints. Injections relieve puffiness and swelling much faster, thereby improving the patient's condition. However, such injections can be carried out 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 there is no point in giving injections into the joint.
In the early stages of gonarthrosis, not complicated by joint edema (synovitis), the patient may be given injections of chondoprotectors with enzymes. They help to partially restore cartilage tissue, and the disadvantage is the need to inject drugs with a cycle of 5-10 injections.
Good treatment results can be achieved (in 80% of cases) by traction (stretching of the knee joint).
It is carried out using a special apparatus or manual therapy. Such traction provides an increase in the distance between the bones, due to which there is a decrease in the load on the joint and the restoration of its performance.
ointments
In drug therapy for the treatment of joints, various types of ointments and gels are actively used, consisting mainly of natural substances. In pharmacies, ointments can be bought without a prescription, but a consultation with the attending physician about their use will not hurt. You should also know that the ointment does not cure knee disease, but only supplements the main treatment.
Effectively relieves inflammation in the joints ointment based on NVPS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
Hot ointments containing capsacin are used to improve blood circulation.
Salicylic acid-containing ointments are used to treat swelling in the knees.
Ointments - chondoprotectors are successfully used in the initial stages of the treatment of the disease to restore damaged cartilage. In order for the active substances of the ointment to better penetrate into 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 arthrosis 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, which allows you to quickly restore the efficiency of the joint apparatus.
With inflammation of the joints, massage in the knee area and general healing massage are usually used. It is to achieve a greater effect that doctors recommend combining a general massage with a segmented 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 of the knee joints is restored. The therapeutic massage begins with caresses, and then rubbing is performed to improve joint mobility. Then comes the stretch. The massage ends with a beneficial vibration for the muscles (not intense). All of these techniques are included in the massage to reduce pain and restore freedom of movement to the knees.
knee pads and knee pads
To reduce the load on the knee joint, as well as on the muscles, ligaments and tendons, patients are recommended to put a bandage on it. The knee bandage helps to evenly distribute the pressure on the joint apparatus and thus stimulates the regeneration of damaged tissues.
Since the bandage is a product, the range of these products is distinguished by a variety of colors and corporate styles. The bandage is also made of metal, ceramic, plastic, etc. All these characteristics are secondary. The main thing is that you need to buy knee braces or a bandage only after consulting a doctor.
Knee pads to wear are chosen according to their purpose. The bandage required in the postoperative period must be carefully dimensioned. Such knee pads are a rigid bandage.
It is better to wear underwear made of cotton fabric or other natural material under the knee pads. Dog hair knee pads have a pronounced healing effect, they warm the joint and relieve inflammation.
The most popular type is a neoprene bandage, reinforced with spiral ribs, which provides joint and muscle fixation. The orthopedic bandage is often used as protection against damage during sports.
You should choose open or closed knee braces depending on the nature of the pain. In case of severe pain, knee pads should have reinforcements and cover the joint completely. For mild pain, open knee braces should be worn.
A novelty that is in demand 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 to the treatment of knee osteoarthritis is a combination of traditional methods and techniques based on new generation drugs, as well as improved surgical methods. Of the new generation drugs, biostimulants, chondoprotectors, synovial fluid protectors are widely used. Forms of knee osteoarthritis that are difficult to treat conservatively can now be treated surgically with minimal invasiveness, ie, arthroplasty, arthroscopy, and endoprosthesis.