Every year more and more people face such a disease as osteoarthritis of the knee joint - the treatment is long and complicated, and it is almost impossible to get rid of this disease forever. The main task of the patient is to prevent the progression of the disease.
Classic medical treatments
Inflammatory processes occurring in the knee joint are terrible not only because of the appearance of pain. Of particular danger are the destructive processes occurring in the tissues, the results of which are such that the organ cannot always be restored. Therefore, the treatment of osteoarthritis involves complex therapy. It should start on time and take place under the close supervision of a doctor.
The action of prescribed medical care is aimed at eliminating pain, providing sufficient nutrition to the cartilage and accelerating the regeneration process. In addition, the therapy improves blood circulation in the affected joint, strengthens the adjacent muscles, and also increases the distance between the joint bones and increases the mobility of the knee.
Depending on the stage of development of the disease, doctors offer medical or surgical treatment. In order to consolidate the results of the main therapy, special physical education, massage, the use of a stick and proper nutrition are additionally prescribed.
Medical treatment
Drug therapy is prescribed in cases where irreversible changes in the joint have not occurred, and the tissues of the knee joint are able to recover and receive nutrition. This alone can be the key to a successful recovery.
The doctor is faced with the difficult task of choosing a competent comprehensive treatment, which should include:
- chondroprotectors;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- immunostimulants;
- antibiotics (for infectious complications);
- agents that improve blood microcirculation.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are necessarily included in the treatment complex for osteoarthritis. The purpose of these drugs is to relieve inflammation and severe pain that interferes with complex treatment. In the course of taking these medicines, not only does the mobility of the knee joint improve, but the possibility of performing massage procedures also opens up.
Due to their characteristics, non-steroids are not intended for long-term use. First, by relieving pain and alleviating the patient's condition, they can create the illusion of healing from the disease, while the destructive processes will actively progress. Secondly, this group of drugs has a wide range of serious side effects. Thirdly, taking them orally contributes to dehydration of the cartilage, which accelerates its destruction.
The course of treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory substances can be extended if selective drugs are used. The likelihood of side effects and complications in this case is much lower.
Chondroprotectors
In the treatment of osteoarthritis, it is necessary to provide the cartilage tissue with sufficient nutrition and to place special emphasis on restoring the damaged cartilage structure. For this, it is necessary to use chondroprotectors: glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. The action of these substances is not aimed at relieving symptoms, but at treating the disease.
Chondroprotectors are most effective in the initial stage of osteoarthritis. They are essential for the regeneration of cartilage and the production of joint fluid. However, the action of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate is quite slow, so the treatment takes place in cycles and in total it can take up to 1. 5 years. In the later stages of the disease, when the cartilage is sufficiently destroyed, the use of chondroprotectors is practically useless.
Surgical intervention
Surgery is the most effective way to treat osteoarthritis of the knee joint in the later stages of the disease. However, we resort to it very rarely, only in cases where drug therapy becomes powerless.
Modern medicine offers several types of surgery. In some of them, they try to achieve partial immobility of the knee, as a result of which the severe pain disappears. More modern methods involve the use of a laser or the installation of a special prosthesis, which should partially or completely replace the native joint. The latter options are quite expensive, so not everyone can afford them.
The method of surgery for osteoarthritis of the knee joint is chosen by the doctor based on the results of the examinations, age, general health of the patient and possible allergic reactions..
Auxiliary treatments
Most often, in addition to drug therapy, physiotherapy, physical therapy and massage are prescribed. However, it becomes possible to perform them only after the pain symptoms have been removed and the acute stage of the disease has been left behind.
Physical therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee joint is needed to strengthen the muscles of the lower leg and thigh, as well as to improve knee mobility. Initially, you should perform exercises with minimal load, preferably from a sitting position. As the patient's condition improves, it is desirable to complicate the task. There are many training complexes specially designed for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint. They can also be done at home.
At the same time, the complex should not contain dynamic exercises, such as running, brisk walking or jumping. These loads have a negative impact on the state of the joint and wear the cartilage tissues even more.
Manual therapy and physiotherapy
In osteoarthritis of the knee joint, physiotherapy is successfully used as an auxiliary treatment. Patients are traditionally prescribed a knee magnet, paraffin, ozokerite, phonophoresis with hydrocortisone, or electrical stimulation of the muscles of the lower extremities. The above procedures are designed to relieve swelling, improve blood circulation in adjacent tissues and strengthen the musculoskeletal system.
A special place in the fight against osteoarthritis is occupied by manual therapy. With its help, it is possible to increase the mobility of the knee, improve the nutrition of cartilage tissue. Due to the fact that reflex zones are affected during the massage, self-healing processes in the joint begin.
Diet
Osteoarthritis of the knee joints often affects overweight people. In these cases, it is very important to pay special attention to your diet. At the same time, it is not necessary to follow a strict diet.
The most important thing is to ensure proper balanced nutrition 5-6 times a day, to exclude random snacks. At the same time, it is desirable to minimize the use of salt, flour products, spicy and fatty foods.
Be sure to include in your menu:
- fresh vegetables;
- fruit;
- buckwheat and oat porridge;
- low-fat dairy products.
Small amounts of lean meats can be consumed. It is important to monitor the amount of fluids you drink: you must drink at least two liters of water a day. Drinking strong tea and coffee should be limited.
Despite the fact that osteoarthritis of the knee joint is a chronic disease that requires constant monitoring, today it is possible to slow down its development, thanks to which life will become as full as possible. Patience and well prescribed treatment are the two main components in the fight against this disease.