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

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (also called gonarthrosis) is a lesion of the knee joint, as a result of which the articular cartilage is destroyed, the knee is deformed and the movement of the knee is limited.The article will help you learn about the symptoms and start the necessary treatment on time.

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint

Experts divide gonarthrosis into primary and secondary forms:

1. The cause of the main form is congenital defects of the joints and the period of development of the disease occurs in childhood and adolescence.
2. Secondary forms 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 joint;
• calcium metabolism is affected due to taking drugs containing hormones;
• surgery to remove the meniscus;
• the presence of arthritis;
• weak ligamentous apparatus;
• menopause and menopause in women.

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint 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.

Early stage or 1 arthrosis

At this stage, mild pain appears with increased load on the knee.The initial stage can last from 1 year to several years.To prevent the stage from developing into a more severe form, several 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 symptoms in the form of mild pain and therefore do not consult a doctor.Arthritis of the knee joint is treated by orthopedists, rheumatologists or surgeons.

Average or 2nd stage of arthrosis

At this stage, the symptoms of the disease are more obvious 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;
• the presence of soft crunch;
• swelling or swelling of the knee joint;
• severe knee pain when climbing stairs or other forms of increased stress;
• pain and tingling in the calf;
• 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 a while.You should not ignore symptoms or self-medicate, as this can lead to changes in gait, walking with crutches, or disability.

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

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

Diagnostic methods

Specialists make 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 identify the causative agent of the disease and assess the level of inflammation.
• general urine testallows you to identify or exclude the origin of autoimmune diseases and assess whether the source of pathology is the kidneys and urinary tract.
• biochemical blood test, which is divided into many more, the indicators of almost all studies are outside the normal range.

Laboratory tests are carried out during 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 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 conductor 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 there is suspicion of a cartilaginous or malignant tumor.As for surgery, the shape of the menisci can be corrected endoscopically, polyps and chondrophytes can be removed.In addition to diagnosing arthrosis, other diseases can be carried out and examined, because 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 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 a better form of radiography, as 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 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 soft tissue than CT.But MRI is used as rarely as CT, because its use requires high material costs and cannot be used in patients whose body contains any metal objects (knitting needles, crowns).CT and MRI are contraindicated in people weighing more than 120 kg.
• scintigraphy.Expensive and radiation-intensive methods.Therefore, it is used in cases where cheaper methods are ineffective.In this study, substances are introduced into the patient's body that react to the diseased organ and are localized around it.
• tomographyThis study is based on heat radiation from the surface of the body.Usually, the affected organ manifests itself in the form of lesions with high temperature.Tomography is a large instrument, and the procedure is expensive, so this study is only carried out 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 should not take it longer than prescribed, because this group of drugs does not treat the disease, but reduces the symptoms, while the disease progresses.

Ointment for arthrosis

Treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint with 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 effects on the liver.

Many years of experience in the treatment of arthrosis and the study of positive reviews among patients have made it possible to identify several effective ointments that have a warming vasodilator effect.It contains extracts of red pepper, bee and snake venom.

Gymnastics for arthrosis

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

It encourages:

• improves articular cartilage nutrition and general health:
• pain reduction;
• strengthens the muscles and ligaments of the knee joint;
• increase joint mobility.

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

1. warm upYou 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. 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 your legs and bend at the knees.Heels should be parallel to the floor.
5. Lying 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 thigh hernia;
• cardiovascular disease;
• infectious diseases;
• blood diseases;
• recovery period after surgery.

Rub and compress

Various rubs and compresses are widely used in the treatment of arthrosis.Their important 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 the product overnight.To remove certain odors, cover the knee with a thick gauze bandage, and rinse with water in the morning.
• Eggs.Mix vinegar with 1 yolk 1:1 and immediately rub a small amount of the product into the knee.Apply 3 times a week.After scrubbing, wrap your knee in something warm.
• honeyMix 100 grams of honey and 3 grams of mumiyo and immediately apply to the knee.Wrap your knees.
• cabbage.Soak a piece of wool in the juice from the vegetable and apply it to the knee.
• Oatmeal.Cook plain porridge from 1-2 tablespoons of pieces in water.You can not boil the pieces for more than 7 minutes!Place the viscous product on a clean cloth and apply to the knee.

Wrap up

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (symptoms and drug treatment listed above) can, according to experts, be cured with various types of bandages.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.

Keep in mind that honey is most effective when combined with cinnamon.

For herbal dressings, the above properties have:

• bark of willow, oak, birch, aspen;
• valerian root, comfrey, burdock;
• leaves of hop, birch, nettle;
• wild rosemary herb and St. wort.
• chamomile flowers, calendula.

Treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint with hirudotherapy

One of the most effective methods for treating arthrosis of the knee joint is considered to be hirudotherapy, which is treatment with leeches.It can be used at the first symptoms and must be directed by the attending physician and under the supervision of a specialist.Before the first procedure, you should familiarize yourself with the contraindications.

You can not treat with leeches:

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

In order for the treatment to be effective, 1-2 procedures should be done 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 an improvement and does not experience an allergic reaction, 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 session is stopped.During the treatment, the specialist treats the knee with an odorless product, and then checks the leeches to be used for suitability.

To do this, the leech is placed in a container with water.If the leech sticks to the wall, then it can be used.Specialists put 2-6 leeches on the kneecap.

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

• restores and strengthens immunity;
• restoration of blood circulation and metabolic processes;
• removes 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.

Turpentine and pine bath

Balneotherapy, that is, taking various baths with a therapeutic effect, is not the most 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 certain effectiveness.They can be taken not only at balneological resorts, but also at home.

But despite their benefits, they should be abandoned:

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

For a turpentine bath, you 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 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 cause the temperature in the bathroom to appear high.Therefore, you can not increase the dose by 1 time more than 20 ml.The bath should be taken every day for 10-14 days, gradually increasing the dose of turpentine mixture to 80 ml per procedure.After showering, you need to rinse the mixture with warm water and put on warm clothes or lie under a blanket.

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

You need to shower for 10-15 minutes.Then you need to dry yourself and put on warm clothes.It is not recommended to engage in physical labor and put pressure on your knees.A course of treatment with a pine bath may include 7-12 procedures, which can be taken daily or every other day.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

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

They are made based on:

• 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, because only in this case can the progression 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 with the solution is given into the knee.

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

Excess body weight has a negative effect on the development of arthrosis - the disease develops faster than patients with a normal weight.Therefore, people who are overweight are recommended to lose extra weight.But at the same time, it is strictly forbidden to starve or sit on a mono-diet or a diet with a diet with dietary restrictions.

Allowed products include:

• Hormone-free farmed meat, which can be boiled, baked, boiled or steamed.If you do not have access to farm meat, you can buy regular meat, but you should get rid of the skin and fat, because all the harmful substances that are fed or injected into the animal or chicken accumulate there.It is better to limit the consumption of such meat to 1-2 times a week, and the rest there are vegetable or fish dishes.
• fruits and vegetables that can be baked or boiled according to your taste.
• all types of grains (except instant grains).
• products with pectin: currant, fructose jelly;
• fermented milk products;
• eggs;
• 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 meat products prepared.

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

People's recovery

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

• If arthrosis 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 joints.Wrap the knee with gauze or other cloth so that the compress does not come off.Leave for 2-3 hours and rinse with warm water.The fabric can be washed and reused.
• Experts recommend stopping natural tea and coffee and replacing them with decoctions and infusions.For example, boiling lingonberries.For him 2 teaspoons.berries need to be poured 1 liter.boiling water and leave for an hour, wrapped in a towel.You need to drink 3-4 times a day.
• Massage ointment will help relieve pain and inflammation at any stage of the disease.For that you need to mix 50 grams of petroleum jelly with 10 grams of crushed hops, sweet clover and St. wort.You need to incubate the product for 2-3 hours in a dark place.Rub with light massaging motions.You can wrap your knees.

How long does the recovery period last?

It is impossible to say clearly how long the recovery of arthrosis will last, because the time depends on various factors.For example, the age and lifestyle of the patient, the level and severity of the disease.

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

• eliminates inflammation and pain syndrome;
• learn physical exercise and adjust nutrition.

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