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

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (also called gonarthrosis) is an injury to the knee joint, as a result of which the articular cartilage is destroyed, the knee is deformed and knee movements are limited.The article will help you find out 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;
• being overweight;
• various types of injuries to the knee joints;
• disorders of metabolism and mineral metabolism;
• the presence of endocrine diseases;
• increased load on the knee joints;
• disturbance of calcium metabolism due to the intake of hormone-containing drugs;
• operations to remove the meniscus;
• presence of arthritis;
• weak ligamentous apparatus;
• menopause and menopause in women.

Osteoarthritis of the knee joints can be bilateral or unilateral.

Stages of osteoarthritis and its symptoms.

Depending on the symptoms and focus of the disease, experts divide the disease into 3 stages.

Initial or 1st stage of osteoarthritis.

At this stage, mild pain appears with increased loads on the knee.The initial stage can last from 1 year to several years.To prevent the stage from worsening, a series of measures must be taken to restore deformed cartilage, strengthen ligaments and restore knee movement.

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 of the knee joint is treated by an orthopedist, rheumatologist or surgeon.

Middle 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 in stage 2 that most patients seek medical help.At this stage, an accurate diagnosis can be made.Prompt treatment can stop the progression of the disease to stage 3.

Serious symptoms include:

• knee pain due to hypothermia;
• 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 the calves;
• Stiffness when bending and straightening the knee.

The last or third stage of osteoarthritis.

At this stage, the consequences of the disease are irreversible and it is impossible to stop the development of pathology.But the 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 instrumental and laboratory studies.

Laboratory tests include:

• general blood tests.With the help of the study, it is possible to identify the causative agent of the disease and evaluate the degree of inflammation.
• general urine testallows you to identify or exclude the autoimmune origin of the disease and evaluate whether the origin 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 during exacerbation of the disease, since during remission all indicators are within normal limits.

Instrumental studies include:

• radiography.It is performed in two projections: posteroanterior 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 driver inside it 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 menisci can be corrected by endoscopy and polyps and chondrophytes can be removed.In addition to diagnosing osteoarthritis, other diseases can be carried out and examined, since the knee joint is a large organ and makes it possible to obtain a complete picture of the state of the body.
• 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 thanks to its wide visualization capacity.
• CT (computed tomography).The examination is an improved form of x-ray, since in this procedure the doctor takes several photographs and thanks to them a three-dimensional image of the affected organ is created on a computer.This form is used less frequently than others because of the time it requires 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 image of soft tissues compared to CT.But MRI is used as rarely as CT, 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.Expensive method that requires a lot of radiation.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 is located around it.
• tomographyThe study is based on thermal radiation from the surface of the body.Normally, the affected organ manifests itself as lesions with elevated temperature.A 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 eliminating inflammation.Therefore, doctors prescribe various non-steroidal (i.e. non-hormonal) medications.But they cannot be taken for longer than prescribed, since this group of medications does not treat the disease, but rather relieves the symptoms while the disease progresses.

Ointments for osteoarthritis.

Treatment of osteoarthritis 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;
• Its ease of use makes it easy to combine with other treatment methods, such as physical therapy;
• 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 vasodilator effect.They contain red pepper extract, bee and snake venoms.

Gymnastics for osteoarthritis.

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

Promotes:

• Improve articular cartilage nutrition and overall health:
• pain reduction;
• strengthen the muscles and ligaments of the knee joint;
• increased joint mobility.

To see the positive effect,It is necessary to exercise daily or every other day, increasing the load to 30 minutes per workout.

1. Heating.You should walk on your toes or heels for 3 to 5 minutes.
2. Pedal an imaginary bicycle 20 to 30 times (10 to 15 times with each leg).
3. Lying face down, bend and straighten your knees 10 to 15 times.With each push-up, hold your leg in this position for 5 seconds.
4. Stretch your legs while lying on your back.Raise your leg and bend your knee.The heel should be parallel to the ground.
5. Lying on your right side, lift your left leg, pull it toward your stomach, and then stretch it back as far as you can.Turn to the other side and repeat the exercise.Repeat 5-6 times for each leg.

Exercises should be avoided if:

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

Rub and compress

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

• Garlic.Pour 1 head of vegetables with any vegetable oil (200 ml), cover and leave in a dark, cool place for 7 days.Then rinse the product overnight.To eliminate a specific odor, cover the knee with thick gauze and rinse it thoroughly with water in the morning.
• Egg.Mix vinegar with 1 yolk 1:1 and immediately rub a little of the product on the knee.Apply 3 per week.After rubbing, wrap your knee with 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 wool with the vegetable juice and apply it to your knee.
• Oatmeal.Cook normal porridge with 1-2 tablespoons of flakes in water.You can't 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) can, according to experts, be cured with various types of bandages.The most effective are those made with honey and herbs.

According to research, honey wraps help:

• restore tissue and intra-articular cartilage destroyed by the 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 properties have:

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

Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint with hirudotherapy.

One of the most effective methods of treating osteoarthritis of the knee joint is considered hirudotherapy, that is, treatment with leeches.It can be used at the first symptoms and must be prescribed by the treating doctor and under the supervision of specialists.Before the first procedure, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the contraindications.

You should not deal with leeches:

• children and the elderly;
• patients suffering from decreased blood clotting, hypotension, severe exhaustion, leukemia, anemia, gastrointestinal erosion, stomach ulcers, 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.Treatment can be performed more or less frequently;It all depends on the stage of the disease.If after 1 to 3 sessions the patient feels improvement and does not experience allergic reactions, treatment with leeches can be continued.

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

To do this, leeches are placed in a container with water.If the leeches stick to the walls, then they can be used.The specialist places 2 to 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 an independent treatment method.For greater effectiveness, experts recommend combining it with physical therapy, physiotherapy and medication.

Take turpentine and pine baths.

Balneotherapy, that is, taking various baths with a therapeutic effect, is not the least important in eliminating the symptoms of osteoarthritis.Experts note that there are many different types of medicinal baths, but turpentine and pine baths have proven particularly effective.They can be taken not only in spas, but also at home.

But despite their benefits, they should be abandoned:

• patients with heart diseases;
• in the presence of cancer, tuberculosis, varicose veins, diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure,
• 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 cools, you should 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 appear high.Therefore, the dose cannot be increased 1 time by more than 20 ml.Baths should be taken daily for 10 to 14 days, gradually increasing the dosage of the turpentine mixture to 80 ml per procedure.After bathing, you should rinse the mixture with warm water and put on warm clothes or lie down under a blanket.

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

You should bathe for 10 to 15 minutes.Then you should dry off and put on warm clothes.It is not recommended to do physical work and put pressure on the knees.A course of treatment with pine baths can include 7 to 12 procedures, which can be done 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 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 from:

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

Specialists prescribe chondroprotectors along with pain relievers.But, unlike the latter, the former must be taken throughout life, since only in this case can the development of osteoarthritis be stopped and disability stopped.The effect of taking chondroprotectors is visible only after 2-8 days.

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

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

Excess weight negatively affects the development of osteoarthritis: the disease progresses faster than in patients with normal weight.Therefore, people suffering from excess weight are recommended to lose extra pounds.But at the same time, it is strictly prohibited to starve yourself or follow monodiets or diets with dietary restrictions.

Authorized products include:

• Hormone-free, free-range meat that can be boiled, baked, stewed or steamed.If you don't have access to farmed 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 or 2 times a week, and the rest of the time - vegetable or fish dishes.
• fruits and vegetables that can be baked or stewed to taste.
• all types of cereals (except instant cereals).
• products with pectin: currants, fructose gelatin;
• fermented dairy 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 osteoarthritis it is necessary to consume 1200 Kcal daily.You should eat fractionally, that is, every 2-3 hours in small portions.

Folk remedies

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

• If osteoarthritis 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 to 6 times and apply it to the joint.Wrap the knee with gauze or another cloth so that the compress does not come off.Leave it on for 2-3 hours and rinse with warm water.The fabric can be washed and reused.
• Experts recommend abandoning natural tea and coffee and replacing them with decoctions and infusions.For example, a decoction of lingonberries.For him 2 teaspoons.Berries should be poured with 1 liter.boiling water and let it rest for an hour, wrapped in a towel.You need to drink 3-4 times a day.
• Massage ointment will help eliminate pain and inflammation at any stage of the disease.To do this, it is necessary to mix 50 grams of Vaseline with 10 grams of crushed hops, melilot and St. John's wort.It is necessary to infuse the product for 2-3 hours in a dark place.Rub with light massaging movements.You can wrap your knee.

How long does the rehabilitation period last?

It is impossible to say unequivocally how long osteoarthritis rehabilitation will last, since the timing depends on several 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 pain syndromes;
• learn physical exercises and adjust nutrition.

In order for the remission period to last as long as possible, the patient should exercise regularly and visit the doctor.Osteoarthritis of the knee joint, with the elimination of symptoms and the appropriate approach to treatment, will allow you not to deviate from the usual rhythm of life.