Every year, more and more people face a disease like osteoarthritis of the knee joint - the treatment is long and complicated, and it is almost impossible to get rid of this disease for good. The main task of the patient is to prevent the progression of the disease.
Classic medical treatments
The inflammatory processes that occur in the knee joint are terrible not only because of the appearance of pain. Of particular danger are the destructive processes that take place 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 must start on time and take place under the strict supervision of a physician.
The action of prescribed medical care is aimed at eliminating pain, providing cartilage with sufficient nutrition and accelerating the process of its regeneration. 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 mobility in the knee.
Depending on the stage of development of the disease, doctors offer medical or surgical treatment. To consolidate the results of the main therapy, special physical education, massage, use of a cane and proper nutrition are additionally prescribed.
Medical treatment
Drug therapy is prescribed in cases where no irreversible changes have occurred in the joint and the tissues of the knee joint are able to recover and receive nutrition. That alone can be the key to a successful recovery.
The doctor is faced with the difficult task of choosing a complete and competent treatment, which must 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 arthrosis treatment complex. The purpose of these medications is to relieve inflammation and severe pain that interferes with complex treatment. By taking these drugs, not only the mobility of the knee joint improves, but the possibility of performing massage procedures also opens up.
Due to their characteristics, non-steroids are not intended for long-term use. Firstly, by alleviating the pain and alleviating the patient's condition, they can create the illusion of curing the disease, while the destructive processes actively progress. Second, this group of drugs has a wide range of serious side effects. Third, taking them orally contributes to cartilage dehydration, which accelerates its destruction.
The course of treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory substances can be extended if selective drugs are used. The probability of side effects and complications in this case is much less.
chondroprotectors
In the treatment of arthrosis, it is necessary to provide the cartilaginous tissue with sufficient nutrition and place special emphasis on restoring the structure of the damaged cartilage. For this, it is necessary to use chondroprotectors - glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. The action of these substances is not intended to relieve symptoms, but to treat the disease.
Chondroprotectors are most effective in the early stage of osteoarthritis. They are indispensable for cartilage regeneration and joint fluid production. However, the action of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate is quite slow, so treatment takes place in courses, 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 impotent.
Modern medicine offers several types of surgical intervention. In some of them, they try to achieve partial immobility of the knee, due to which the severe pain disappears. More modern methods involve the use of a laser or the installation of a special prosthesis, which must partially or completely replace the native joint. The latter options are quite expensive, so not everyone can afford them.
The method of surgical intervention for osteoarthritis of the knee joint is chosen by the doctor based on the test results, age, general health of the patient and possible allergic reactions..
Auxiliary treatments
Often, in addition to drug therapy, physical therapy, exercise therapy, and massage are often prescribed. However, it becomes possible to perform them only after the symptoms of severe pain are removed and the acute stage of the disease is left behind.
Exercise therapy for knee joint osteoarthritis is needed to strengthen the leg and thigh muscles as well as improve knee mobility. Initially, exercises with minimal load should be performed, preferably in 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 made at home.
At the same time, the complex should not contain dynamic exercises such as running, fast walking or jumping. Such loads have a negative impact on the state of the joint and further wear out the cartilage tissues.
Manual therapy and physical therapy
In osteoarthritis of the knee joint, physical therapy is used very successfully as an auxiliary treatment. Traditionally, patients are given a knee magnet, paraffin, ozokerite, hydrocortisone phonophoresis, or electrical stimulation of the muscles of the lower extremities. The above procedures are designed to relieve swelling, improve blood circulation to surrounding 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 during massage the reflex zones are affected, the joint self-healing processes begin to begin.
Diet
Osteoarthritis of the knee joints often affects people who are overweight. In such 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 adequate and 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's important to monitor the amount of fluid you drink - you need to drink at least two liters of water a day. Drinking strong tea and coffee should be limited.
Despite the fact that arthrosis of the knee joint is a chronic disease that requires constant monitoring, today it is possible to delay its development, thanks to which life will become as complete as possible. Patience and well-prescribed treatment are the two main components in the fight against this disease.