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

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (also called gonarthrosis) is a lesion in the knee joint, whereby the joint cartilage is destroyed, the knee is deformed and the knee's movements are limited.The article will help you learn about the symptoms and begin the necessary treatment in a timely manner.

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint

Experts divide gonarthrosis into primary and secondary forms:

1. The cause of the primary form is a congenital defect in 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 attitude;
• overweight;
• different types of knee joint injuries;
• disturbances in mineral metabolism and metabolism;
• the presence of endocrine diseases;
• increased load on the knee joints;
• decreased calcium metabolism due to taking hormonal drugs;
• operations to remove the meniscus;
• presence of arthritis;
• weak ligament devices;
• Menopause and Menopause in Women.

Osteoarthritis of the knee joints can be bilateral or unilateral.

Stages of osteoarthritis and their symptoms

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

Initial or 1st stage of osteoarthritis

At this stage, mild pain appears with increased loads on the knee.The initial phase can last from 1 year to several years.To prevent the stage from developing into a more serious form, a number of measures should be taken aimed at restoring deformed cartilage, strengthening 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.Osteoarthritis in the knee joint is treated by an orthopedist, rheumatologist or surgeon.

Average or 2nd stage of osteoarthritis

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 attention.At this stage, an accurate diagnosis can be made.Timely treatment can stop the progression of the disease to stage 3.

Serious symptoms include:

• sore knees due to hypothermia;
• presence of a soft crunch;
• swelling or swelling of 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 final or 3rd stage of osteoarthritis

At this stage, the consequences of the disease are irreversible, and it is impossible to stop the development of the pathology.But treatment will alleviate 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 cane 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 examinations.

Laboratory tests include:

• general blood test.With the help of the examination, you can identify the cause of the disease and assess the degree of inflammation.
• general urine testallows you to identify or exclude the autoimmune origin of the disease and assess whether the source of the pathology is the kidneys and urinary tract.
• biochemical blood test, which is divided into many others, are the indicators of almost all studies outside the normal range.

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

Instrumental studies include:

• radiography.It is performed in two projections - postero-anterior and lateral.To compare the diseased and healthy knees, the doctor usually takes an X-ray of both knees.
• arthroscopy.This procedure should be understood not only as an examination, but also as a mini-operation.The fact is that through a small hole in the knee, the doctor inserts a small LED conductor inside, and the computer screen shows 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.As for operations, the shape of the menisci can be corrected endoscopically, polyps and chondrophytes can be removed.In addition to diagnosing arthrosis, other diseases can be performed and examined, since the knee joint is a large organ and allows you to get a complete picture of the body's condition.
• Ultrasound (ultrasound examination).This research method has two important advantages over X-rays: it is harmless and helps to see the soft tissues of the joint due to its wide visualization capabilities.
• CT (computed tomography).The examination is an improved form of radiography, since in this procedure the doctor takes several pictures, and thanks to them, a three-dimensional image of the affected 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 soft tissue compared to CT.But MRI is as rarely used as CT, as it requires high material costs and cannot be used on patients whose body contains metal objects (knitting needles, crowns).CT and MRI are contraindicated in people whose weight exceeds 120 kg.
• scintigraphy.Animals and radiation intensive method.Therefore, it is used in cases where cheaper methods are ineffective.In this study, a substance is introduced into the patient's body, which reacts to the diseased organ and is localized around it.
• tomographyThe study is based on thermal radiation from the body's surface.Typically, the affected organ appears in the form of lesions with elevated temperature.A tomograph is a bulky instrument and the procedure is expensive, so this examination is performed 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 (that is, non-hormonal) drugs.But you cannot take them longer than prescribed, as this group of medicines does not treat the disease, but relieves the symptoms while the disease progresses.

Ointments for osteoarthritis

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

In contrast to other forms of drug release, this group has clear advantages:

• quickly reduces pain and inflammation;
• 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 osteoarthritis and studies of positive reviews among patients have made it possible to identify a number of effective ointments that have a warming vasodilating effect.They contain red pepper extract, bee and snake venom.

Gymnastics for osteoarthritis

Gymnastics is one of the important methods of treating arthrosis of the knee joint, which should be used during the period of remission, after pain symptoms have been eliminated.

It promotes:

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

To see the positive effect,you must train daily or every other day, which increases the load to 30 minutes pertraining.

1. Warm up.You must 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. Lying 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 the leg and bend the knee.The heel should be parallel to the floor.
5. Lying on your right side, lift your left leg, pull it toward your stomach, and 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:

• hernia in the abdomen or thighs;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• infectious diseases;
• blood disorders;
• rehabilitation period after operations.

Rubs and compresses

Various rubs and compresses are widely used to treat osteoarthritis.Their main advantages include the availability of ingredients and the absence of side effects.

• Garlic.Pour 1 vegetable head 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 remove a specific smell, cover the knee with a thick gauze bandage and rinse thoroughly with water in the morning.
• Egg.Mix vinegar with 1 plum 1:1 and immediately rub a little of the product into the knee.Use 3 a week.After rubbing, wrap your knee with something warm.
• Honey.Mix 100 grams of honey and 3 grams of mumiyo and immediately rub into the knee.Wrap your knee.
• Cabbage.Soak a piece of woolen material in juice from the vegetables and apply it to the knee.
• Oatmeal.Boil ordinary porridge from 1-2 tablespoons of flakes in water.You cannot cook the flakes for more than 7 minutes!Place the viscous product on a clean cloth and apply to the knee.

Cover

According to experts, osteoarthritis of the knee joint (symptoms and drug treatment are listed above) can be cured with different types of wraps.The most effective are honey and herbs.

According to research, honey wraps help:

• restore tissue and intra-articular cartilage destroyed by disease;
• eliminate pain and inflammation;
• burn excess cholesterol.

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

As for herbal wraps, the above features:

• bark of willow, oak, birch, aspen;
• roots of valerian, comfrey, burdock;
• leaves of hop, birch, nettle;
• herbs wild rosemary and St. John's wort;
• chamomile flowers, calendula.

Treatment of osteoarthritis in the knee joint with hirudotherapy

One of the most effective methods of treating osteoarthritis of the knee joint is considered to be hirudotherapy, that is, treatment with leeches.It can be used at the first symptoms and must be instructed 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 elderly people;
• patients suffering from impaired blood clotting, hypotension, severe exhaustion, leukemia, anemia, gastrointestinal erosion, peptic ulcer, digestive system problems, cancer, tuberculosis, anemia and hemophilia;
• women during pregnancy and lactation.

For the treatment to be effective, 1-2 procedures should be performed every 5-6 months.month.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, the treatment with leeches can be continued.

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

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

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

• restore and strengthen immunity;
• restoration of blood circulation and metabolic processes;
• eliminate swelling and adhesions.

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

Takes turpentine and pine baths

Balneotherapy, that is, taking various baths with a therapeutic effect, is not the least important in eliminating the symptoms of arthrosis.Experts note that there are many different types of medicinal baths, but turpentine and pine baths have shown particular effectiveness.They can be taken not only at balneological resorts, but also at home.

But despite their advantages, they should be abandoned:

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

For a turpentine bath, 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, fill the bathtub with warm water.When the mixture has cooled to 45 degrees, turpentine is added and 15-20 ml of the mixture is poured into the bath.

The presence of turpentine can make the temperature in the bathroom seem elevated.Therefore, you cannot increase the dose 1 time by more than 20 ml.Baths must be taken daily for 10-14 days, during which the dose of the turpentine mixture is gradually increased to 80 ml per day.procedure.After taking a bath, rinse the mixture with warm water and put on warm clothes or lie under a blanket.

For pine baths, you need pine needles or branches.Approximately 25-30 branches must be broken into small pieces so that they fit in the pot.Before preparing the decoction, rinse the branches and remove dirt, add water and boil for 5-10 minutes.Strain the finished broth and pour it into a bath of hot water.

You must take a bath for 10-15 minutes.Then you need to dry off and put on warm clothes.It is not recommended to engage in physical work and strain your knees.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 period of remission and stop the progression of the disease.

Use of chondroprotectors

Osteoarthritis 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 in this group are divided into 5 groups.Medicines intended for the treatment of osteoarthritis belong to group 4.

They are made on the basis of:

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

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

The drugs are available in the form of gels, ointments, tablets and injections.An injection with a solution is given in the knee.

Diet: which foods are allowed, nutritional rules and approximate diet

Being overweight negatively affects the development of osteoarthritis - the disease develops faster than in patients of normal weight.Therefore, people suffering from excess weight are recommended to lose extra kilos.But at the same time, it is strictly forbidden to starve or sit on mono-diets or diets with diets with dietary restrictions.

Authorized products include:

• Raised meat without hormones that can be boiled, baked, stewed or steamed.If you don't have access to farm meat, you can buy regular meat, but you should 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 stewed to your liking.
• all types of cereal (except instant cereal).
• products with pectin: currants, fructose jelly;
• fermented milk products;
• egg;
• whole grain bread and pasta.

It is important to exclude from the diet:

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

In the case of osteoarthritis, you must consume 1200 Kcal daily.You must 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 arthrosis is accompanied by swelling, a blue clay compress will come to the rescue.To do this, 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 in gauze or other fabric so that the compress does not slip off.Leave for 2-3 hours and rinse with warm water.The fabric can be washed and reused.
• Experts recommend giving up natural tea and coffee and replacing them with decoctions and infusions.For example, a decoction of lingonberries.For him 2 tsp.berries must be poured 1 liter.boiling water and leave for an hour, wrapped in a towel.You must drink 3-4 times a day.
• Massage ointment will help get rid of pain and inflammation at any stage of the disease.For that, mix 50 grams of vaseline with 10 grams of crushed hops, sweet clover and St. John's wort.You must infuse the product for 2-3 hours in a dark place.Rub in with light massage movements.You can wrap your knee.

How long is the rehabilitation period?

It is impossible to say unequivocally how long the rehabilitation of osteoarthritis will last, as the timing depends on various factors.For example, the patient's age and lifestyle, 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 nutrition.

In order for the remission period to continue as long as possible, the patient must regularly exercise and visit the doctor.Osteoarthritis of the knee joint, with the elimination of symptoms and the correct approach to treatment, will allow you not to leave your usual rhythm of life.