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

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (also called gonarthrosis) is a lesion of the knee joint, resulting in the destruction of joint cartilage, deformation of the knee and limited knee movements.The article will help you learn more about the symptoms and start the necessary treatment in time.

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 list the main causes of the disease:

• bad posture;
• overweight;
• various types of knee joint injuries;
• disorders of mineral metabolism and metabolism;
• presence of endocrine diseases;
• increased load on knee joints;
• disturbed 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 approach to the disease, experts divide the disease into 3 stages.

Initial or 1st stage of arthrosis

In this phase, mild pain occurs with increased load on the knee.The initial phase can last from 1 year to several years.To prevent the stage from developing into a more severe form, it is necessary to take a series of measures 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.Arthrosis of the knee joint is treated by an orthopedist, rheumatologist or surgeon.

Average or 2nd stage of arthrosis

At this stage, the symptoms of the disease appear more clearly and therefore cannot be ignored.Doctors note that in 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;
• the presence of a soft crunch;
• swelling or swelling in the knee joints;
• severe knee pain when climbing stairs or other forms of increased stress;
• pain and tingling in 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 history and the results of laboratory and instrumental studies.

Laboratory tests include:

• general blood test.With the help of the study, 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 carried out in the period of exacerbation of the disease, because during remission all indicators are within normal limits.

Instrumental studies include:

• radiography.It is performed in two projections - postero-anterior and lateral.Usually, to compare 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 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 there is suspicion of a cartilaginous or malignant tumor.As for operations, the shape of the meniscus can be corrected endoscopically, and polyps and chondrophytes can be removed.In addition to diagnosing arthrosis, other diseases can also be examined, because 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, because in this procedure the doctor takes several pictures and thanks to them a three-dimensional image of the affected organ is created on the computer.This form is used less often than the 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 picture of soft tissues than CT.But MRI is used as rarely as CT, because its use requires high material costs and it 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.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 localizes around it.
• tomographyThe study is based on thermal radiation from the surface of the body.Typically, the affected organ manifests itself in the form of lesions with an elevated temperature.The tomograph is a bulky instrument, and the procedure is expensive, so this study is carried out only in large clinics.

Medications to treat and relieve symptoms

Experts note that treatment cannot begin without relieving pain and removing 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 ointment.

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.

Many years of experience in the treatment of arthrosis and studies of positive reviews among patients have made it possible to identify a number of effective ointments that have a vasodilating warming 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.

Promoted by:

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

To see a positive effect,you must exercise 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 the 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. 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. Lying on your right side, lift your left leg, pull it toward your stomach, and then extend it 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 thigh hernia;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• infectious diseases;
• blood diseases;
• rehabilitation period after operations.

Rubbing and poultices

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 any vegetable oil (200 ml) over 1 head of vegetables, cover with a lid and leave in a dark and cool place for 7 days.Then rinse the product overnight.To remove the specific smell, cover the knee with a thick gauze bandage, and in the morning rinse well with water.
• An egg.Mix vinegar with 1 egg yolk 1:1 and immediately rub a little of the product into the knee.Apply 3 times a week.After rubbing, wrap the knee with something warm.
• Honey.Mix 100 grams of honey and 3 grams of mummy and immediately rub it into the knee.Wrap the knee.
• Cabbage.Soak a piece of woolen material in vegetable juice and apply it to the knee.
• Oatmeal.Cook a simple porridge of 1-2 tablespoons of flakes in water.You cannot cook flakes for longer 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) can be cured, according to experts, with various types of dressings.The most effective are honey and herbal.

According to research, honey compresses help:

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

It is worth noting that honey is most effective in combination with cinnamon.

As far as herbal coverings are concerned, the above-mentioned properties have:

• bark of willow, oak, birch, aspen;
• roots of valerian, comfrey, burdock;
• leaves of hops, birch, nettle;
• herbs of 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 hirudotherapy, i.e. treatment with leeches.It can be used at the first symptoms and must be prescribed by a doctor and under the supervision of specialists.Before the first procedure, you should familiarize yourself with the contraindications.

Do not treat with leeches:

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

In order for the treatment to be effective, it is necessary to perform 1-2 procedures 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 leech treatment can be continued.

Otherwise, the patient is given a break of 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 agent and then checks the suitability of the leeches to be used.

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 knee cap.

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

• restoration and strengthening of immunity;
• restoration of blood circulation and metabolic processes;
• eliminate 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

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 in 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, you will need to mix 10 grams of baby soap, 0.75 ml of salicylic acid and pour over the mixture with 500 ml of boiling water.While the mixture is cooling, it is necessary to fill the bathtub with warm water.When the mixture cools down 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 seem elevated.Therefore, you cannot increase the dose in 1 time by more than 20 ml.Baths should be taken daily for 10-14 days, gradually increasing the dose of turpentine mixture to 80 ml per procedure.After bathing, it is necessary 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 so that they fit in the container.Before preparing the decoction, wash the branches and remove the dirt, add water and boil for 5-10 minutes.Strain the finished broth and pour it into a hot water bath.

You need to bathe for 10-15 minutes.Then dry off and put on warm clothes.Physical work and stress on the knees are 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 period of remission and stop the progression of the disease.

Use of chondroprotectors

Arthrosis 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 from 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 together with painkillers.But, unlike the latter, the first must be taken throughout life, because only in this case can the development of arthrosis be slowed down and disability stopped.The effect of taking chondroprotector is visible only after 2-8 days.

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

Diet: which foods are allowed, dietary rules and approximate nutrition

Excess weight negatively affects the development of arthrosis - the disease progresses faster than in patients with a normal weight.Therefore, people suffering from excess weight are recommended to lose excess weight.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:

• Hormone-free farm-raised meat that can be boiled, baked, stewed or steamed.If you don't have access to meat from a farm, you can buy regular meat, but you have to get rid of the skin and fat, because this is where all the harmful substances that are fed or injected into animals or poultry accumulate.It is better to limit the consumption of such meat to 1-2 times a week, and the rest of the time it is vegetable or fish dishes.
• fruits and vegetables that you can bake or stew according to your taste.
• all types of cereals (except instant cereals).
• products with pectin: currants, fructose jelly;
• fermented milk products;
• eggs;
• wholemeal 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 finished meat products.

For arthrosis, it is necessary to consume 1200 Kcal per day.You must eat fractionally, that is, every 2-3 hours in small portions.

Folk remedies

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

• If arthrosis is accompanied by swelling, then a blue clay dressing will help.To do this, you need to dilute the clay with water to a creamy consistency and put it on a thick cloth folded 4-6 times and apply it to the wrist.Wrap the knee in gauze or other cloth to prevent the dressing from slipping.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 cranberries.For him, 2 teaspoons.berry should be poured with 1 liter.boiling water and leave for an hour wrapped in a towel.It is necessary to drink 3-4 times a day.
• Massage ointment will help to get rid of pain and inflammation at any stage of the disease.For this, it is necessary to 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 roll the knee.

How long is the rehabilitation period?

It is impossible to say unequivocally how long the rehabilitation of arthrosis will take, because 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:

• eliminates inflammatory and painful syndromes;
• he learns physical exercises and adjusts his diet.

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