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, 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 begin 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 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 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 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

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 developing into a more severe form, a number of measures should be taken aimed at restoring deformed cartilage, strengthening 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 it is at stage 2 that 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:

• aching knees 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 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 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 stick, 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 studies.

Laboratory tests include:

• general blood test.Using the study, you can identify the causative agent 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 during 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 - 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 a suspicion of a cartilaginous or malignant tumor. As for operations, 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, since the knee joint is a large organ and allows you to get a complete picture of the condition 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 an improved 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 a computer.This form is used less frequently than 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 tissues compared to CT.But MRI is used as rarely as CT, since its use requires high material costs and cannot be used on patients whose bodies contain any 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 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 localized 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 elevated temperature.A 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 (that is, non-hormonal) drugs.But you cannot take them longer than prescribed, since this group of medications does not treat the disease, but alleviates 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;
• there is 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 warming vasodilator effect.They contain red pepper extract, bee and snake venoms.

Gymnastics for arthrosis

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

It promotes:

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

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

1. Warm up.You need to walk on tiptoes 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.Raise your leg and bend at the knee.The heel should be parallel to the floor.
5. Lying on your right side, lift your left leg, pull it towards your stomach, and then stretch it back as far as possible.Turn over 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.

Rubs and compresses

Various rubbings and compresses are widely used in the treatment of arthrosis.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 off the product overnight.To eliminate a specific odor, cover the knee with a thick gauze bandage, and rinse thoroughly with water in the morning.
• Egg.Mix vinegar with 1 yolk 1:1 and immediately rub a little of the product into 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 into the knee.Wrap your knee.
• Cabbage.Soak a piece of woolen material with juice from the vegetable and apply it to the knee.
• Oatmeal.Cook regular porridge from 1-2 tbsp of flakes 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 medication treatment are listed above) can, according to experts, be cured with various types of wraps.The most effective are honey and herbal ones.

According to research, honey wraps help:

• restore tissue and intra-articular cartilage destroyed by 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 hop, 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 to be hirudotherapy, that 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 specialists.Before the first procedure, you should familiarize yourself with the contraindications.

You should not treat with leeches:

• children and elderly people;
• patients who suffer from decreased 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.

In order for the treatment to be effective, 1-2 procedures should be performed 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 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 treatment, the specialist treats the knee with an odorless product, and then checks the leeches that will be used for suitability.

To do this, leeches are placed in a vessel with water.If the leeches stick to the walls, then they can be used.The specialist places 2-6 leeches on the kneecap.

When suctioned, 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 a separate treatment method.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 at balneological resorts, but also at home.

But despite their benefits, 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 may make the temperature in the bathroom seem elevated.Therefore, you cannot increase the dose by 1 time 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 need to 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 25-30 branches need to be broken into small pieces so that they fit in the pan.Before preparing the decoction, rinse the branches and remove any dirt, add water and cook for 5-10 minutes.Strain the finished broth and pour it into a bath of hot water.

You need to take a bath for 10-15 minutes.Then you should dry yourself and put on warm clothes.It is not recommended to engage in physical labor and put stress on your knees.A course of treatment with pine baths may 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 that is aimed at restoring cartilage tissue and its nutrition.All drugs in this group are divided into 5 groups.Medicines that are 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 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.

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

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

Excess weight negatively affects the development of arthrosis - 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 forbidden to starve or sit on mono-diets or diets with diets with dietary restrictions.

Authorized products include:

• Farmed meat without hormones, which can be boiled, baked, stewed or steamed.If you don’t have access to farm meat, you can buy regular meat, but you should get rid of the skin and fat, since 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 1-2 times a week, and the rest of the time there are vegetable or fish dishes.
• fruits and vegetables that can be baked or stewed to suit 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 drinks and beer;
• various types of fast food and snacks;
• sausage and other types of prepared meat products.

For arthrosis, you need to consume 1200 Kcal daily.You need to 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 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 joint.Wrap the knee in gauze or other cloth so that the compress does not slip off.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 lingonberries.For him 2 tsp.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 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.You need 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 unambiguously how long the rehabilitation of arthrosis will last, since the timing 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 adjusts 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 proper approach to treatment, will allow you not to leave your usual rhythm of life.