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 arthrosis 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 diseases.
Peculiarities
In a healthy knee joint, cartilage is a kind of lining that does not allow bones to touch, therefore, eliminating the possibility of damage when walking. The diseased cartilage cannot cope with this function, therefore, signs of stiffness appear 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 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 by the thigh muscles and four ligaments. It is this anatomical structure that smooths out the manifestation of the main symptoms at the stage 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 separate reason, one can consider such a violation as hormonal failure.
Patients with suspected arthrosis of the knee joint present with symptoms:
- pain in the knees of a aching nature (possibly in the lower leg);
- pain syndrome associated with weather changes;
- increase in pain when walking up the stairs, after a long walk or standing;
- reduction of pain at rest (at night and at rest);
- starting pains (after breaks of rest);
- stiffness of the knee joint;
- pain when bending/extending the leg;
- crunching, swelling of the joint.
This condition of the knee joint requires urgent medical attention due to the risk of complications, when 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.
Survey
The initial stages of the occurrence of such a pathology as arthrosis of the knee joint do not visually manifest themselves 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 crunch when you need to bend the leg.
The presence of pain, limited movement in the knee makes a person see a doctor and undergo an examination. To do this, he needs to pass tests and take an x-ray of the diseased joint. If these measures are not enough to confirm arthrosis of the knee joint, then magnetic resonance imaging is performed. Based on the collected data, the doctor chooses the optimal 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 developed and actively applied.
The basic drug treatment of knee disease is therapies 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 to treat 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 observing the correct 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 promptly, with full or partial prosthetics using sparing methods.
Medical treatment
In the treatment of gonarthrosis with medications, 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;
- Chondoprotectors. The preparations contain substances that nourish the cartilage tissue, which heals its structure and restores the cartilaginous coating 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 their help, you can treat night pain that occurs in the knee joint due to spasms of small vessels.
- Intra-articular injections with corticosteroid hormones are prescribed to treat inflamed knee joints. Injections relieve swelling and swelling much faster, thereby 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 joint is pointless.
In the initial 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 downside is the need to inject drugs with a course of 5-10 injections.
Good results of treatment (in 80% of cases) can be achieved 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 purchased without a prescription, but a consultation with the attending physician on its use will not hurt. You also need to know that the ointment does not cure knee disease, but only complements the main treatment.
Effectively relieve inflammation in the joints of ointment based on NVPS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
Warming ointments containing capsacin are used to improve blood circulation.
Ointments containing salicylic acid are used to treat inflammation 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 articular apparatus.
With inflammation of the joints, massage on 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 segmental massage performed in the knee area.
Since 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. Next comes the stretching. The massage is completed by a vibration useful for the muscles (non-intense). All these techniques are included in the massage to reduce pain and restore freedom of movement of the knees.
Knee pads and brace
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 pressure on the articular apparatus and thereby stimulate 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 metal, ceramic, plastic, etc. All these characteristics are secondary. The main thing is that you need to purchase knee pads or a bandage only after consulting a doctor.
Knee pads for wearing are chosen in accordance with their purpose. The bandage required in the postoperative period must be carefully sized. 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, warming up the joint and relieving inflammation.
The most popular type is a neoprene bandage, reinforced with spiral ribs, which provides fixation of joints and muscles. Orthopedic bandage is often used as protection 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, the knee pads should have stiffeners and cover the joint completely. For mild pain, open knee pads 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 in the treatment of knee arthrosis 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 arthrosis that are difficult to treat conservatively can now be treated surgically with low invasiveness, that is, arthroplasty, arthroscopy, and endoprosthetics.