Osteoarthritis of the knee joint: symptoms and treatment, exercises, drugs

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (also called gonoarthrosis) is a damage to the knee joint, resulting in the destruction of the articular cartilage, deforming the knee and limiting the movements of the knee.The article will help you learn about the symptoms and start the necessary treatment in time.

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint

Experts divide gonoarthrosis into primary and secondary forms:

1. The cause of the primary form is a congenital defect of the joint, and the period of development of the disease occurs in childhood and adolescence.
2. The secondary form can develop at any age.

Experts call the main causes of the disease:

• bad posture;
• overweight;
• various types of knee joint injuries.
• disorders of metabolism and mineral metabolism.
• the presence of endocrine diseases;
• increased load on the knee joints.
• impaired calcium metabolism due to taking drugs containing hormones.
• operations to remove the meniscus.
• presence of arthritis;
• weak connective tissue.
• Menopause and menopause in women.

Osteoarthritis of the knee joints can be bilateral or unilateral.

Arthritis stages and their symptoms

Depending on the symptoms and approach to the disease, experts divide the disease into 3 stages.

Initial or 1st stage of articulation

At this stage mild pain occurs with increased loads on the knee.The initial stage can last from 1 year to several years.To prevent the progression of the stage to a more severe form, certain measures should be taken aimed at restoring the deformed cartilage, strengthening the ligaments and restoring movement in the knee.

At this stage, timely treatment will allow you to completely get rid of the pathology.But most patients ignore the symptom in the form of mild pain and therefore do not consult a doctor.Arthritis of the knee joint is treated by an orthopedist, rheumatologist or surgeon.

Average or 2nd stage of articulation

At this stage, the symptoms of the disease appear more clearly and therefore cannot be ignored.Doctors note that it is at stage 2 that most patients seek medical help.At this stage, an accurate diagnosis can be made.Early treatment can stop the disease from progressing to stage 3.

Serious symptoms include:

• sore knees due to hypothermia.
• presence of a soft crease.
• swelling or swelling in the knee joints.
• severe knee pain when climbing stairs or other forms of increased stress.
• pain and tingling in the calves.
• stiffness when bending and straightening the knee.

The last or 3rd stage of articulation

At this stage, the consequences of the disease are irreversible and it is impossible to stop the development of the pathology.But the treatment will relieve the patient's condition for a while.You should never ignore symptoms or self-medicate as this can lead to a change in gait, walking with a stick or disability.

In addition to the above, doctors include the main symptoms of stage 3:

• pathologies of the endocrine system (thyroid problems, diabetes).
• hereditary and age factors.

Diagnostic methods

The specialist makes a diagnosis based on the patient's medical history and the results of laboratory and instrumental studies.

Laboratory tests include:

• general blood test.Using the study, you can determine the causative agent of the disease and assess the degree of inflammation.
• general urine testallows you to determine or exclude the autoimmune origin of the disease and assess whether the source of the pathology is the kidneys and urinary system.
• biochemical blood test, which is divided into many others, the indicators of almost all studies are outside the normal range.

Laboratory tests are carried out during the period of exacerbation of the disease, since during remission all indicators are within normal limits.

Instrumental studies include:

• x-ray.It is performed in two views - back-front and side.Usually, to compare diseased and healthy knees, the doctor takes an X-ray of both knees.
• arthroscopy.This process should be understood not only as a study, but also as a mini-operation.The fact is that through a small hole in the knee, the doctor inserts a small LED pipe inside, and the computer screen displays a complete picture of the internal state of the knee.the resulting tissue fragments are sent to the laboratory if a cartilaginous or malignant tumor is suspected.Regarding operations, the shape of the menisci can be corrected endoscopically, polyps and chondrophytes can be removed.In addition to the diagnosis of arthropathy, other diseases can be carried out and examined, since the knee joint is a large organ and allows you to get a complete picture of the state of the body.
• Ultrasound (ultrasound examination).This research method has two important advantages over radiographs: it is safe and helps to visualize the soft tissues of the joint due to its wide visualization capabilities.
• CT (computed tomography).The examination is an improved form of X-ray, as in this procedure, the doctor takes several pictures, and thanks to them, a three-dimensional image of the diseased organ is created on a computer.This form is used less often than others because of the time required and the large amount of radiation.
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).Unlike the previous method, it is more harmless.MRI also allows you to get a better view of the soft tissues compared to CT.But magnetic resonance imaging is used as rarely as computed tomography, since its use requires high material costs and cannot be used in patients whose body contains metal objects (knitting needles, crowns).CT and MRI are contraindicated in people whose weight exceeds 120 kg.
• scintigraphy.Accurate and radiation intensity method.Therefore, it is used in cases where less expensive methods are ineffective.In this study, a substance is introduced into the patient's body that reacts to the diseased organ and localizes around it.
• tomographyThe study is based on thermal radiation from the body surface.Typically, the affected organ manifests itself in the form of lesions with increased temperature.The tomograph is a bulky instrument and the procedure is expensive, so this study is carried out only in large clinics.

Medicines to treat and relieve symptoms

Experts note that treatment cannot begin without relieving pain and eliminating inflammation.Therefore, doctors prescribe various non-steroidal (i.e. non-hormonal) drugs.But you can not take them more than prescribed, as this group of drugs does not treat the disease, but relieves the symptoms, while the disease progresses.

Ointments for joints

Treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint in the presence of symptoms such as swelling and pain is rarely possible without ointments.

Unlike other forms of drug release, this group has clear advantages:

• quickly reduces pain and inflammation.
• The ease of use makes it easy to combine with other treatment methods, such as physiotherapy.
• there is no negative effect on the liver.

Many years of experience in the treatment of arthropathy and studies of positive reviews among patients made it possible to identify some effective ointments that have a warming vasodilator effect.They contain red pepper extract, bee and snake venoms.

Exercise for joints

Gymnastics is one of the important methods of treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint, which should be used during the period of remission after the elimination of pain symptoms.

Promotes:

• improving articular cartilage nutrition and general health:
• pain reduction;
• strengthening the muscles and ligaments of the knee joint.
• increasing joint mobility.

To see the positive result,you need to exercise daily or every other day, increasing the load to 30 minutes per workout.

1. Hot.You need to walk on your toes or heels for 3-5 minutes.
2. Pedal an imaginary bicycle 20-30 times (10-15 times with each leg).
3. Lie on your stomach, bend and straighten your knees 10-15 times.With each bend, hold the leg in this position for 5 seconds.
4. Stretch your legs while lying on your back.Lift your leg and bend at the knee.The heel should be parallel to the floor.
5. Lie on your right side, lift your left leg, pull it towards your stomach and then stretch it back as far as possible.Turn to the other side and repeat the exercise.Repeat 5-6 times for each leg.

Exercises should be avoided if:

• abdominal or thigh hernia.
• cardiovascular disease;
• infectious diseases;
• blood diseases;
• recovery period after surgery.

It rubs and compresses

Various rubs and compresses are widely used in the treatment of arthrosis.Their important advantages include the availability of the ingredients and the absence of side effects.

• Garlic.Pour 1 head of vegetable with any vegetable oil (200 ml), cover with a lid and leave in a dark and cool place for 7 days.Then wash off the product overnight.To eliminate a specific smell, cover the knee with a thick gauze bandage and rinse thoroughly with water in the morning.
• Egg.Mix vinegar with 1 yolk 1:1 and immediately rub some of the product on the knee.Apply 3 a week.After rubbing, wrap your knee in something warm.
• Honey.Mix 100 grams of honey and 3 grams of mumiyo and immediately rub on the knee.Wrap your knee.
• Cabbage.Soak a piece of woolen material in the juice of the vegetable and apply it to the knee.
• Oatmeal.Cook regular porridge from 1-2 tablespoons of flakes in water.You can not boil the flakes for more than 7 minutes!Place the thick product on a clean cloth and apply to the knee.

It folds up

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (symptoms and drug treatment are listed above) can, according to experts, be treated with various types of wrap.The most effective are honey and herbs.

According to research, honey wraps help:

• restoration of tissue and intra-articular cartilage damaged by disease.
• eliminates pain and inflammation.
• burn excess cholesterol.

It is worth noting that honey is most effective when combined with cinnamon.

As far as herbal wraps are concerned, the above properties have:

• bark of willow, oak, birch, poplar.
• valerian roots, comfrey, burdock;
• leaves of hops, birch, nettle.
• herbs wild rosemary and hypericum;
• chamomile flowers, calendula.

Treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint with irudotherapy

One of the most effective methods of treating arthropathy of the knee joint is considered irudotherapy, that is, treatment with leeches.It can be used at the first symptoms and must be guided by the attending physician and under the supervision of specialists.Before the first procedure, you should familiarize yourself with the contraindications.

You should not treat with leeches:

• children and the elderly;
• patients suffering from impaired blood coagulation, hypotension, severe exhaustion, leukemia, anemia, gastrointestinal erosion, stomach ulcers, problems with the digestive system, cancer, tuberculosis, anemia and hemophilia.
• women during pregnancy and lactation.

For the treatment to be effective, 1-2 operations should be performed every 5-6 months.Treatment can be carried out more often or less often - it all depends on the stage of the disease.If after 1-3 sessions the patient feels improvements and does not experience allergic reactions, then the treatment with leeches can be continued.

Otherwise, the patient is given a break for 9 months, and if the allergy recurs or there is no improvement, the irudotherapy sessions are stopped.During the treatment, the specialist treats the knee with an odorless product and then checks the leeches to be used for their suitability.

To do this, leeches are placed in a container of water.If the leeches stick to the walls, then they can be used.The specialist places 2-6 leeches on the kneecap.

When sucked in, leeches release a number of useful enzymes into the human body that will help:

• restoration and strengthening of immunity.
• restoration of blood circulation and metabolic processes.
• eliminates swelling and adhesions.

Hirudotherapy cannot be used as a separate method of treatment.For greater effectiveness, experts recommend combining it with physiotherapy, physical therapy and medication.

Taking baths with turpentine and pine

Bath therapy, that is, taking various baths with a therapeutic effect, is not the least important for the elimination of the symptoms of arthritis.Experts note that there are many different types of thermal baths, but turpentine and pine baths have shown particular effectiveness.They can be taken not only in spa resorts, but also at home.

But, despite their benefits, they should be abandoned:

• patients with heart disease;
• presence of cancer, tuberculosis, varicose veins, diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, atherosclerosis, arterial hypertension,
• if the patient has had a heart attack or stroke.
• presence of skin diseases.
• pregnant women.

For a turpentine bath, you will need to mix 10 grams of baby soap, 0.75 ml of salicylic acid and pour the mixture with 500 ml of boiling water.While the mixture is cooling, you need to fill the tub with hot water.When the mixture cools to 45 degrees, add turpentine and pour 15-20 ml of the mixture into the tub.

The presence of turpentine can make the temperature in the bathroom appear elevated.Therefore, you cannot increase the dose by 1 time more than 20 ml.Baths should be done daily for 10-14 days, gradually increasing the dose of the turpentine mixture to 80 ml per procedure.After taking a bath, you need to wash off the mixture with warm water and put on warm clothes or lie under a blanket.

For pine baths you will need pine needles or branches.About 25-30 branches should be broken into small pieces to fit in the pan.Before preparing the decoction, wash the branches and remove any impurities, add water and cook for 5-10 minutes.Strain the prepared broth and pour it into a bath of hot water.

You need to take a bath for 10-15 minutes.You should then dry yourself and put on warm clothes.Physical work and strain on your knees is not recommended.A course of treatment with pine baths can include 7-12 procedures, which can be taken every other day or daily.After six months, the course can be repeated.This procedure will prolong the remission period and stop the progression of the disease.

Use of chondroprotectants

Arthropathy of the knee joint (symptoms and treatment with folk remedies are listed below) cannot be cured without chondroprotectors - a group of drugs aimed at restoring cartilage tissue and its nutrition.All drugs of this group are divided into 5 groups.Medicines intended for the treatment of arthropathy belong to group 4.

They are made based on:

• glucosamine;
• chondroitin sulfate;
• avocado and soy extracts.
• hyaluronic and hyaluronic acid.
• synthesis of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.

Chondroprotectors are prescribed by specialists along with painkillers.But, unlike the second, the first must be taken throughout life, as only in this case can the development of arthropathy be slowed down and disability stopped.The effect of taking chondroprotectors is visible only after 2-8 days.

Medicines are available in the form of gels, ointments, tablets and injections.A solution is injected into the knee.

Diet: what foods are allowed, dietary rules and approximate diet

Excess weight negatively affects the development of arthropathy - the disease progresses faster than in patients with a normal weight.Therefore, people suffering from excess weight are advised to lose the extra pounds.But at the same time, it is strictly forbidden to starve or sit on mono-diets or diets with dietary restrictions.

Authorized products include:

• Hormone-free farmed meats that can be boiled, baked, stewed or steamed.If you don't have access to farm meat, you can buy regular meat, but you will need to get rid of the skin and fat, as all the harmful substances that are fed or injected into animals or poultry accumulate there.It is better to limit the consumption of such meat to 1-2 times a week, and the rest of the time there are vegetable or fish dishes.
• fruits and vegetables that can be baked or cooked according to your taste.
• all types of cereals (except instant cereals);
• products with pectin: raisins, fructose jelly.
• fermented milk products;
• eggs;
• whole wheat bread and pasta.

It is important to exclude from the diet:

• pastries, sweets and white bread.
• alcoholic beverages and beer;
• various types of fast food and snacks.
• sausages and other types of prepared meat products.

For arthritis, you need to consume 1200 Kcal daily.You need to eat fractionally, that is, every 2-3 hours in small portions.

Folk remedies

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint, symptoms and treatment can be easily carried out using traditional medicine:

• If arthropathy is accompanied by swelling, then a blue clay compress will come to the rescue.To do this, you need to dilute the clay with water to a creamy consistency and place it on a thick cloth folded 4-6 times and apply it to the joint.Wrap the knee with gauze or other cloth so that the compress does not slip.Leave for 2-3 hours and wash off with lukewarm water.The fabric can be washed and reused.
• Experts recommend giving up natural tea and coffee and replacing them with teas and infusions.For example, a decoction of lingonberries.For him 2 tsp.berries should be poured 1 liter.boiling water and leave it for an hour, wrapped in a towel.You need to drink 3-4 times a day.
• Massage ointment will help you get rid of pain and inflammation at any stage of the disease.For this you need to mix 50 grams of petroleum jelly with 10 grams of crushed hops, sweet clover and hypericum.You need to infuse the product for 2-3 hours in a dark place.Rub with light massage movements.You can wrap your knee.

How long is the recovery period?

It is impossible to say clearly how long the rehabilitation of arthropathy will take, as the time depends on various factors.For example, the age and lifestyle of the patient, the degree and severity of the disease.

In general, the recovery period lasts 1-2 months, during which the patient, with the help of specialists:

• removes inflammatory and pain syndromes.
• learns physical exercises and adjusts diet.

To prolong the remission period as long as possible, the patient should exercise regularly and visit the doctor.Arthropathy of the knee joint, with the elimination of symptoms and the right approach to treatment, will allow you not to leave the usual rhythm of your life.