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 disease.
Oddity
In a healthy knee joint, cartilage is a type of layer that does not allow bones to touch, therefore, eliminating the possibility of damage when walking. Diseased cartilage is unable to cope with this function, therefore, signs of stiffness appear in the joints during movement, accompanied by pain. This condition becomes permanent as a result of 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 are not aware of symptoms of significant 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 launches the manifestation of the main symptoms in the early stages of the disease.
The credible cause of the disease has not yet been identified by medicine. However, there are factors that, in certain circumstances, can play a causative role in the disease. These include injuries, strenuous exercise, and being overweight. As a separate reason, one can consider violations such as hormonal failure.
Patients with suspected arthrosis of the knee joint have symptoms:
- pain in the knee of a painful nature (possibly in the lower part of the foot);
- weather -related pain syndrome;
- increased pain when walking up stairs, after long walks or standing;
- pain reduction during rest (at night and at rest);
- begin to ache (after a rest break);
- knee joint stiffness;
- pain when bending / extending legs;
- throbbing, swollen joints.
This condition of the knee joint requires immediate medical attention because of the risk of complications, when effusions 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 the treatment method to be selected.
Review
The early stages of pathology such 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 characteristic curvature along the axis of the lower leg (directed inwards). There is also dryness when you have to bend the legs.
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 a test and take an x-ray of the diseased joint. If these measures are not sufficient to confirm arthrosis of the knee joint, then magnetic resonance imaging is performed. Based on the data collected, the doctor chooses the best method of treatment.
Methods of Treatment
Modern medicine has ample ways to treat osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Also in clinical practice, new approaches to treatment with traditional methods are being developed and actively used.
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.
Helps treat osteoarthritis of the knee rehabilitation methods such as massage, exercise, water treatment. To alleviate the condition, patients are recommended to wear knee pads or bandages. It is not possible to treat gonarthrosis without adhering to a proper diet, which should contain white, not red meat, sardines, salmon, vegetables, fruits and adequate water (up to 7 glasses).
Severe cases of the disease are treated immediately, with full or partial prosthetics using economical methods.
Medical treatment
In the treatment of gonarthrosis with drugs, the following are actively used:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Prescribed pills help treat conditions such as swelling and puffiness in the knee joint;
- Chondoprotectors. The preparation contains a substance that nourishes the cartilage tissue, which heals the structure and restores the cartilage coating of the joints. If the cartilage is almost completely destroyed, chondoprotectors are not used in the treatment of knee arthrosis (usually this is typical for stage 3);
- Tablet vasodilator. With their help, you can treat night pain that occurs in the knee joint due to spasm of small ducts.
- Intra-articular injections with corticosteroid hormones are prescribed to treat inflamed knee joints. The injections relieve swelling and puffiness more quickly, thus improving the patient’s condition. However, such injections can be done 1 time in 2 weeks due to the high probability of its side effects. If a person has symptoms of anatomical changes in the joint, for example, a bone defect, then making an injection into the joint is futile.
In the early stages of gonarthrosis, not complicated by joint edema (synovitis), patients can be given injections of chondoprotectors with enzymes. They help to restore part of the cartilage tissue, and the disadvantage is the need to inject the drug with a course of 5-10 injections.
Good treatment results (in 80% of cases) can be achieved with traction (stretching of the knee joint).
It is carried out using special tools or manual therapy. Such traction provides an increase in the distance between the bones, which leads to a decrease in the load on the joint and restoration of its performance.
Ointment
In drug therapy for the treatment of joints, various types of ointments and gels are actively used, consisting mainly of natural ingredients. At the pharmacy, the ointment can be purchased without a prescription, but consultation with the attending physician about its use will not be painful. You also need to know that the ointment does not cure knee disease, but only complements the main treatment.
Effectively relieves inflammation in the joints ointment based on NVPS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug).
Warming ointments containing capsacin are used to improve blood circulation.
Ointments containing salicylic acid are used to treat inflammation in the knee.
Ointments - chondoprotectors are successfully used in the early stages of disease treatment to restore damaged cartilage. In order for the active ingredient of the ointment to better penetrate the focus of inflammation, it is necessary to use it in combination with a physiotherapeutic procedure - phonophoresis.
Support measures
massage
In the complex treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint, therapeutic massage is actively used, which contributes to the normalization of blood circulation in the damaged joint and restores its function. Massage not only heals, but also awakens the body's defenses, which allows you to quickly restore the efficiency of the articular apparatus.
With joint inflammation, 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 segmental massage performed on the knee area.
Because massage has a positive effect on muscle tone, the patient’s muscle strength is increased and the performance lost by the knee joint is restored. Therapeutic massage begins with rubbing, and then rubbing is done to increase joint mobility. Next comes the stretch. The sequence ends with vibrations that are beneficial to the muscles (not intense). All of these techniques are included in the sequence to reduce pain and restore freedom of movement of the knee.
Knee pads and braces
To reduce the load on the knee joint, as well as on the muscles, ligaments and tendons, the patient is recommended to place a bandage over it. Knee bandages help distribute pressure evenly on the articular apparatus and thus stimulate the regrowth of damaged tissue.
Since bandages are a product, this product range is distinguished by a variety of colors and corporate styles. Bandages are also metal, ceramic, plastic, etc. All of these features are secondary. The main thing is that you should buy a knee pad or bandage only after consulting a doctor.
The knee pads to be worn are selected according to their purpose. Bandages required in the postoperative period must be carefully sized. Such a knee pad is a rigid bandage.
It is better to wear underwear made of cotton or other natural material below the knee pads. Dog fur knee pads have a significant healing effect, warming the joints and relieving inflammation.
The most popular type is a neoprene bandage, reinforced with spiral ribs, which provides fixation of joints and muscles. Orthopedic bandages are often used as protection against damage during sports.
You should choose an open or closed knee pad based on the nature of the pain. In case of severe pain, the knee pad should have a hardener and cover the joint completely. For mild pain, open knee pads should be worn.
A novelty in demand is knee pads made of elastane or polyester. This bandage will last a long time and be 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, i. e. , arthroplasty, arthroscopy and endoprosthetics.