Arthrosis of the knee joint is the most common disease of the musculoskeletal system, which is complete destruction or deformation of cartilage tissue.According to statistics, up to 22% of the entire population of the world suffer from it.Basically, such a disease is found in people of advanced age or in athletes.Each person who encounters such an unpleasant disease has the question: how to treat arthrosis of the knee joint?
The causes of arthrosis
Before starting direct treatment of arthrosis, it is necessary to find out why it arose.The reasons for this are very diverse:
- Large loads.Active physical exercises must correspond to age.Therefore, it is advisable for a person after 40 years to play sports in moderate limits and loads.Unable to cope with the difficult task that older people set themselves, the joints cannot withstand and are damaged.Sometimes microcracks may appear, which are not visually visible, and they can cause harm to the harm;
- Traumatism.This is what becomes a source of arthrosis in young people.Any fracture, dislocation or damage to meniscus can cause the development of the disease.Indeed, in order to cure the injury, you need to fix the knee.Deterioration in this blood circulation leads to arthrosis;
- Obesity and excess weight.The whole severity of the body to go to the knee joint, the cartilage tissue is destroyed under such a load that it leads to the disease.If, in addition to obesity, there is also varicose veins, it is quite possible to develop a severe form of arthrosis;
- Violation of metabolism.In such a situation, there is often a lack of calcium, which negatively affects the state of bone and cartilage as a whole;
- stressful situations.Any nervous overstrain, stress negatively affects the health of human joints.In order to avoid this, it is worth resting more often, not overwork and constantly alternate mental work with physical.
Symptoms of arthrosis of the knee joint
Symptoms with arthrosis of the knee are quite diverse, but very characteristic:
- pain.In the first stages of the disease, it is quite weak and felt with strong physical exertion.This condition can last a couple of years until the disease is aggravated.When arthrosis of the knee joint occurs, the pain becomes more pronounced.The knee can hurt even at rest after a long walk on foot or upsurge of heavy things;
- crunch.It is characteristic of severe pain.Appears at 2-3 stages of arthrosis;
- deformation.In the early stages of the knee, slightly swollen, then it begins to change its shape;
- Limited mobility.It occurs in the late stages of the disease.All attempts to bend, and to straighten the knee causes acute pain.Movement is possible only on half -bent legs;
- Baker's cyst.This is the name of an elastic seal on the back of the knee.It occurs due to the accumulation of a large amount of joint fluid.It is easily treated without surgical intervention.
Degree of arthrosis
- 1 degree of arthrosis of the knee joint proceeds almost asymptomatic.It can be characterized by fatigue in the legs and a short -term violation of mobility that occurs after sleep.The pain can be insignificant.The pathology can only be detected using an X -ray.
- 2 degree of arthrosis of the knee joint, the pain becomes tangible.It occurs with prolonged loads on the joint and disappears after a long rest.A crunch is added to it when walking, the progression of the synovitis (baker cysts), a change in the bones of the joints, the difficulties in flexion of the knee.
- 3 degree of arthrosis of the knee joint is characterized by severe pains outside the loads.The second feature is the inability of a person to bend the leg in the knee on his own.The pains are very disturbing during sleep, the affected area actively reacts to the weather.The deformation of the knee joint can lead to disability.
Diagnosis of the disease
To begin with, the attending physician interviews the patient and examines him.After that, an examination in the form of radiography is necessarily prescribed.Additionally, the doctor can be directed to MRI and computed tomography.Using such a complex of procedures, you can find out the exact causes of the disease and understand that these are gonartrosis, and not another disease.
Ways to cure arthrosis of the knee joint
When the diagnosis is made, you can proceed to direct treatment.It includes several methods:
- Drug treatment.
- Massage therapy, physiotherapy.
- Surgery.
- Recovery.
Physical procedures, massage and diet are very important.Comprehensive treatment should eliminate pain, establish the motor function of the joint, if possible to restore cartilage.
Treatment with drugs
Medicines are more aimed at getting rid of pain, as it prevents you from starting direct treatment itself.To do this, the doctor prescribes painkillers and non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs, ointments, gels.
When all of the above do not help, they prescribe treatment with hormonal drugs. This method can cause a lot of side effects.That is why only short courses of their application are prescribed.
- Ointments can relieve pain and slightly reduce inflammation.
- Hyaluronic acid is a very effective remedy in the early stages of arthrosis.The drug is administered directly into the joint.This procedure should only be carried out by a highly qualified specialist.Indeed, in the case of the penetration of acid into the blood, there can be large complications.
- Drugs for joints can affect the very cause of arthrosis, especially at the initial stage. The drugs restore the production of joint fluid and damaged cartilage.
Physical therapy
Such treatment is very effective in the early stages of arthrosis of the knee joint: relieves pain, helps to restore the functional abilities of the joint, eliminates spasm with a muscle.An individual program of physical exertion is selected by the doctor based on the results of the examination.
Surgery
Surgical treatment is different.It depends on the degree of intervention:
- Arthroscopy.This procedure is carried out using the introduction of an endoscope and auxiliary tools into specially made punctures in the joint.Thus, fabrics that have become a source of pain are removed.The operation is sparing and can repeatedly repeat.It is carried out even at the first stage of the disease;
- Osteotomy.It is an artificial fracture so that bone tissue is growing correctly.Such a procedure is carried out with the deformation of the knee joint;
- Endoprosthetics.Such an operation is carried out by the complete replacement of the injured knee joint with the implant.
Proper nutrition
Very often, the cause of the development of arthrosis can be a simple malfunction in the metabolism.After all, this leads to a set of excess weight and obesity, which causes arthrosis.That is why a special diet must be observed during the treatment period.
The patient should consume foods rich in vitamins and macro elements, as well as counting calories.You need to eat often in small portions, which will accelerate metabolism.Breakfast should be full and hearty to stock up on energy for the whole day.In the everyday diet, cereals, herbs, vegetables, fruits and vegetables must be present.
It is necessary to exclude fat and sharp dishes, soda, semi -finished products from the reception.It is undesirable to use bananas, grapes, cabbage, tomato, Bulgarian pepper, all kinds of confectionery and chocolate.Do not forget that in this period, more than ever, protein is needed.Therefore, the use of cottage cheese, kefir and cheese should be mandatory.
You need to have dinner no later than two hours before bedtime.Throughout the day it is advisable to drink up to two liters of water.Unless of course the patient does not suffer from kidney disease.
Traditional medicine
A cure for arthrosis of the knee joint can be prepared with your own hands.It can be all kinds of ointments, compresses, lotions.But you need to use them only in combination with other drugs and only after consulting a doctor.
- Dandelion.Its flowers are washed and eaten up to 6 pieces per day.They also prepare a decoction.For this, dried dandelion is poured with boiling water.After he has cooled, they drink 1/3 cup three times a day.Dandelion tincture is also prepared.To prepare it, you need to take a dark bottle, fill it with flowers and pour alcohol.After a month of insisting, you can use it as rubbing into the sore joint.
- Aloe.A cleaned sheet can be adjusted to the knee for the whole night.This will help reduce pain and relieve swelling.From this plant, you can prepare a tool for rubbing.To do this, a dozen leaves are crushed on a meat grinder.After squeeze the juice through gauze and mix it with a half glass of honey.Add 150 milliliters of wine and mix, put everything in a dark place.You need to use a month.
- For an effective compress, you can take salt, mustard and sand.Mix all the ingredients, heat in a pan and put in a bag.Apply to the sore area.This method of treatment will help activate the recovery process, improve blood flow and relieve pain.