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

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (also called gonarthrosis) is damage to the knee joint, as a result of which the articular cartilage is destroyed, the knee is deformed and the movements of the knee are limited.The article will help you learn about the symptoms and start 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 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:

• poor posture;
• overweight;
• various types of knee joint injuries;
• disorders of mineral metabolism and 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 ligament apparatus;
• menopause and menopause in women.

Osteoarthritis of the knee joints can be bilateral or unilateral.

Stages of arthrosis and their symptoms

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

Initial or first stage of arthrosis

At this stage, slight pain appears with increased loads on the knee.The initial stage can last from 1 year to several years.In order to prevent the development of the stage in a more severe form, a number of 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 degree of arthrosis

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

Severe symptoms include:

• knee pain due to hypothermia;
• presence of mild crisis;
• swelling or swelling of the knee joints;
• severe pain in the knee when climbing stairs or other forms of increased stress;
• pain and numbness in the calves;
• stiffness when bending and straightening the knee.

The last or 3rd stage of arthrosis

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 alleviate the patient's condition for some time.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 tests.

Laboratory tests include:

• general blood test.With the help of the research, 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, the indicators of almost all studies are outside the normal range.

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

Instrumental studies include:

• radiography.It is performed in two projections - back-front and side.Usually, to compare the diseased and healthy knees, the doctor takes an X-ray of both knees.
• arthroscopy.This procedure 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 wire 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 the operations, the shape of the menisci can be corrected endoscopically, polyps and chondrophytes can be removed.In addition to the diagnosis of 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 state of the body.
• Ultrasound (ultrasound examination).This method of examination has two important advantages over X-rays: it is harmless and helps to see the soft tissues of the joint due to the wide possibilities of visualization.
• CT (computed tomography).The examination is an advanced form of radiography, because 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 the others due to 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 picture of the soft tissues compared to CT.But MRI is used as rarely as CT because its use requires high material costs and cannot be used in patients whose bodies contain metal objects (knitting needles, crowns).CT and MRI are contraindicated in people weighing more than 120 kg.
• scintigraphy.Expensive 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 that reacts to the diseased organ and is localized around it.
• tomographyThe study is based on thermal radiation from the surface of the body.Usually, 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 (ie, non-hormonal) drugs.But you cannot take them longer than prescribed, because this group of drugs does not cure the disease, but relieves the symptoms while the disease progresses.

Ointments for arthrosis

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;
• ease of use makes it easy to combine with other treatment methods, such as physiotherapy;
• no negative effect on the liver.

Long-term experience in the treatment of arthrosis and studies of positive feedback among patients have allowed us to identify a number of effective ointments that have a warming vasodilatory effect.They contain red pepper extract, bee and snake venom.

Gymnastics for arthrosis

Gymnastics is one of the important methods of treating arthrosis of the knee joint, which should be used in the period of remission after the removal of pain symptoms.

It encourages:

• 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 effect,you should train daily or every other day, increasing the load to 30 minutes per workout.

1. Warm up.You should 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. Extend your legs while lying on your back.Lift your leg and bend it at the knee.The heel should be parallel to the floor.
5. Lie on your right side, lift your left leg, pull it toward 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.

Exercise should be avoided if:

• abdominal or hip hernia;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• infectious diseases;
• blood diseases;
• rehabilitation period after surgery.

Rubs and compresses

In the treatment of arthrosis, various rubs and compresses are widely used.Their significant advantages include the availability of 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 the product overnight.To remove a specific smell, cover the knee with thick gauze and rinse thoroughly with water in the morning.
• An egg.Mix vinegar with 1 egg yolk 1:1 and immediately rub some of the product into the knee.Apply 3 per week.After rubbing, wrap the knee with something warm.
• honey100 grams of honey and 3 grams of mumio are mixed and immediately rubbed into the knee.Wrap your knee.
• cabbage.Soak a piece of woolen cloth in the juice of the vegetable and apply it to the knee.
• oatmeal.Boil a simple paste of 1-2 tablespoons of husks in water.You cannot boil the flakes for more than 7 minutes!Place the viscous product on a clean cloth and apply to the knee.

Wraps

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (symptoms and drug treatment are listed above) according to experts can be cured with different types of wraps.Honey and herbs are most effective.

According to research, honey wraps help:

• restoration of tissue and intra-articular cartilage destroyed by disease;
• eliminate pain and inflammation;
• burns excess cholesterol.

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

As for herbal wraps, the above properties have:

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

Treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint with hirudotherapy

One of the most effective methods of treating arthrosis of the knee joint is considered hirudotherapy, that is, treatment with leeches.It can be used at the first symptoms and should be prescribed 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 who suffer from reduced blood clotting, 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 procedures should be done every 5-6 months.Treatment can be done more often or less often - it all depends on the stage of the disease.If after 1-3 sessions the patient feels improvement and there are no allergic reactions, then the treatment with leeches can be continued.

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

For this purpose, the leeches are placed in a container of water.If the leeches stick to the walls, they can be used.The specialist places 2-6 leeches on the knee cap.

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

• restoration and strengthening of immunity;
• restoration of blood circulation and metabolic processes;
• removing 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 turpentine and pine baths

Last but not least, to eliminate the symptoms of arthrosis is balneotherapy, that is, taking various baths with a therapeutic effect.Experts note that there are many different types of healing 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 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 suffered a heart attack or stroke;
• in the 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 bathtub with hot water.When the mixture has cooled to 45 degrees, add turpentine and pour 15-20 ml of the mixture into the bath.

The presence of turpentine can make the temperature in the bath seem elevated.Therefore, you cannot increase the dose once by more than 20 ml.Baths should be taken daily for 10-14 days, gradually increasing the dose of the turpentine mixture to 80 ml per procedure.After taking a bath, you should rinse 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 so that they will fit in the pan.Before preparing the decoction, rinse the branches and remove all impurities, add water and boil for 5-10 minutes.Strain the finished broth and pour it into a bath of hot water.

You should 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 labor and strain your knees.A course of treatment with pine baths can include 7-12 procedures, which can be done 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.

The 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 that are aimed at restoring cartilage tissue and its nutrition.All drugs of this group are divided into 5 groups.Medicines intended for the treatment of arthrosis 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 pain relievers.But unlike the latter, the former must be taken throughout life, since only in this case can the development of arthrosis 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.An injection of a solution is given in the knee.

Diet: what foods are allowed, feeding rules and an approximate diet

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

Allowed products include:

• Hormone-free farm-raised meat that can be boiled, roasted, stewed or steamed.If you don't have access to farm meat, you can buy regular meat, but you need to get rid of the skin and fat, because all the harmful substances that are fed or injected into animals or birds accumulate there.It is better to limit the consumption of such meat to 1-2 times a week, and the rest of the time to eat vegetable or fish dishes.
• fruits and vegetables that you can roast or stew to your liking.
• all types of cereals (except instant cereals).
• products with pectin: currants, fructose jelly;
• fermented milk products;
• eggs;
• whole grain bread and pasta.

It is important to exclude from the diet:

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

With arthrosis, you should take 1200 Kcal daily.You need to eat in portions, that is, every 2-3 hours in small portions.

People's funds

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

• If arthrosis is accompanied by swelling, then the 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 another cloth to prevent the compress from slipping off.Leave for 2-3 hours and rinse with warm water.The fabric is washable and reusable.
• Experts recommend giving up natural tea and coffee and replacing them with decoctions and infusions.For example, a decoction of cranberries.For him, 2 tsp.fruit should be poured 1 liter.boiling water and leave for an hour, wrapped in a towel.You should drink 3-4 times a day.
• Massage ointment will help to get rid of pain and inflammation at any stage of the disease.For it, you need to mix 50 grams of petroleum jelly with 10 grams of crushed hops, sweet clover and St. John's wort.It is necessary to infuse the product for 2-3 hours in a dark place.Rub in with light massage movements.You can wrap your knee.

How long does the rehabilitation period last?

It is impossible to say unequivocally how long the rehabilitation of arthrosis will last, since 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 corrects nutrition.

In order for the remission period to last as long as possible, the patient should regularly do sports and visit a doctor.Arthrosis of the knee joint, with the elimination of symptoms and the right approach to treatment, will allow you not to leave your usual rhythm of life.