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. Knee osteoarthritis can occur suddenly, when there are no signs and causes of joint damage. In other cases, the onset of the disease is associated with trauma or other joint disease.
Special features
In a healthy knee joint, cartilage is a type of lining that does not allow the bones to touch, thus eliminating the possibility of damage while walking. Affected cartilage cannot cope with this function, so there are signs of stiffness in the joint 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 bones and creates conditions for the appearance of bone spurs - osteophytes, which cause 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 keeps the thigh muscles and four ligaments in the correct position. It is this anatomical structure that smooths out the manifestation of the main symptoms in the phase of the onset 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 special reason, such a violation can be considered a hormonal failure.
Patients with suspected osteoarthritis of the knee have symptoms:
- knee pain of a painful nature (possibly in the lower leg);
- weather-related pain syndrome;
- increased pain when walking up stairs, after long walks or standing;
- reduction of pain at rest (at night and at rest);
- initial pain (after a break from rest);
- knee joint stiffness;
- pain when bending / stretching the leg;
- creaking, swelling of the joint.
This condition of the knee joint requires urgent medical attention due to the risk of complications, when an effusion may start to accumulate in the joint. The doctor conducts an external examination of the patient and prescribes an examination, based on which the methods of treatment will be selected.
Poll
The initial stages of the appearance of such pathology as osteoarthritis of the knee joint are not visually manifested in any way. However, after some time, the patient notices signs of knee deformity, as well as the characteristic curvature along the axis of the lower leg (directed inwards). There is also a crunch when you need to bend your leg.
The presence of pain, limited movement in the knee forces the person to consult a doctor and undergo an examination. To do this, he must pass tests and make an X-ray of the diseased joint. If these measures are not sufficient to confirm osteoarthritis of the knee joint, then magnetic resonance imaging is performed. Based on the collected data, the doctor chooses the best treatment methods.
Methods of treatment
Modern medicine has enough resources to treat osteoarthritis of the knee joint. In clinical practice, new approaches to treatment with traditional methods are being developed and actively applied.
The basic medical treatment for 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.
Such restorative methods as massage, exercise, water treatments help in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. To alleviate the condition, the patient is recommended to wear knee pads or bandages. It is impossible to treat gonarthrosis without following a proper diet, which should include white, not red meat, sardines, salmon, vegetables, fruits and enough water (up to 7 glasses).
Severe cases of the disease are treated promptly, with complete or partial prosthetics by sparing methods.
Treatment
In the treatment of gonarthrosis drugs are actively used:
- Nonsteroidal 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, which heals its structure and restores the cartilage coating of the joint. If the cartilage is almost completely destroyed, chondroprotectors are not used in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee (this is usually typical for stage 3);
- Vasodilator tablets. With their help, you can treat night pains that occur in the knee joint due to spasms of small blood vessels.
- Intraarticular injections of corticosteroid hormones are prescribed to treat inflamed knee joints. Injections relieve swelling and edema much faster, which improves 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 giving injections into the joint is meaningless.
In the initial stages of gonarthrosis, which is not complicated by joint edema (synovitis), the patient may be given injections of chondroprotectors with enzymes. They help in partial regeneration of cartilage tissue, and the disadvantage is the need to inject drugs in the course of 5-10 injections.
Good treatment results (in 80% of cases) can be achieved by traction (stretching of the knee joint).
It is performed using a special device or manual therapy. Such traction ensures an increase in the distance between the bones, which reduces the load on the joint and restores its performance.
Fats
Different types of ointments and gels, which mainly consist of natural substances, are actively used in the therapy of drugs for the treatment of joints. Ointments can be bought in pharmacies without a prescription, but consulting a doctor about its use will not hurt. You also need to know that ointment does not cure knee disease, but only complements the main treatment.
Effectively relieve inflammation in the joints of ointments based on NVPS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
Heating ointments containing capsaicin 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 fats 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 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, which allows you to quickly restore the efficiency of the joint apparatus.
In case of joint inflammation, knee massage and general healing massage are usually used. To achieve a greater effect, doctors recommend combining general massage with segmental massage in the knee area.
Because massage has a positive effect on muscle tone, the patient’s muscle strength increases and the performance lost by the knee joints is restored. Therapeutic massage begins with stroking, and then rubbing is performed to improve joint mobility. Then comes the stretching. The massage ends with a vibration that is beneficial for the muscles (not intense). All of these techniques are included in the massage to reduce pain and restore freedom of movement of the knee.
Knee pads and corset
In order 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.
Because the bandage is a product, the range of these products is characterized by a variety of colors and corporate styles. The bandage is also metal, ceramic, plastic, etc. All these characteristics are secondary. The main thing is that knee pads or bandages should be purchased only after consulting a doctor.
Wearing knee pads are chosen according to their purpose. The bandage needed in the postoperative period must be carefully dimensioned. Such knee pads are a rigid bandage.
Under the knee pads it is better to wear underwear made of cotton fabric or other natural material. Dog hair knee pads have a pronounced healing effect, warm the joint and relieve inflammation.
The most popular type is a neoprene bandage, reinforced with spiral ribs, which ensures the fixation of joints and muscles. An orthopedic bandage is often used to protect against damage during sports.
You need to choose open or closed knee pads based on the nature of the pain. In case of severe pain, knee pads should have fasteners and completely cover the wrist. For mild pain, open knee pads should be worn.
A novelty that is in demand are elastane or polyester knee pads. This bandage will last a long time and is easy to maintain.
Conclusion
A special 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. Among 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 low invasiveness, namely arthroplasty, arthroscopy and endoprosthetics.