The osteoarthritis of the knee joint is the most common disease of the musculoskeletal system, which is a complete destruction or deformation of the cartilage fabric.According to statistics, up to 22% of the whole population in the world.Basically, such a disease is found in advanced age or athletes.Each person who meets such an unpleasant disease has the question: how to treat osteoarthritis in the knee joint?
The causes of osteoarthritis
Before starting the direct treatment of osteoarthritis, it is necessary to find out why it appeared.The reasons are very diverse:
- Large loads.Active physical exercises must correspond to age.Therefore, a person is advised after 40 years of playing sports within moderate limits and charges.Unable to cope with the difficult task that the elderly set out, the joints cannot resist and are damaged.Sometimes microfissures may appear, which are not visible, and they can harm the damage;
- Trauma.This is what becomes a source of osteoarthritis among young people.Any fracture, dislocation or damage to the meniscus can cause the development of the disease.Indeed, in order to heal the injury, you need to repair the knee.The deterioration of this blood circulation leads to osteoarthritis;
- Obesity and excess weight.All the gravity of the body to go to the knee joint, the cartilage fabric is destroyed under such a load that it leads to the disease.If, in addition to obesity, there are also varicose veins, it is quite possible to develop a serious form of osteoarthritis;
- Metabolism violation.In such a situation, there is often a lack of calcium, which negatively affects the state of bones and cartilage as a whole;
- stressful situations.Any nerve nervous constraints, stress negatively affects the health of human joints.In order to avoid this, it is worth resting more often, not overwork and constantly alternating mental work with the physical.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee joint
Symptoms with knee osteoarthritis are quite diverse, but very characteristic:
- pain.In the early stages of the disease, it is quite weak and felt with a very physical effort.This condition can last a few years until the disease is aggravated.When osteoarthritis of the knee joint occurs, the pain becomes more pronounced.The knee can hurt even at rest after a long walk or an upsurge in heavy things;
- bite.It is characteristic of intense pain.Appears at 2-3 stages of osteoarthritis;
- deformation.In the first stages of the knee, slightly swollen, then it begins to change its shape;
- Limited mobility.It occurs in the late stages of the disease.All attempts to fold and straighten the knee cause acute pain.Movement is only possible on the legs half -staked;
- Baker cyst.This is the name of an elastic seal on the back of the knee.It occurs due to the accumulation of a large amount of joint fluid.It is easily treated without surgical intervention.
Degree of osteoarthritis
- 1 degree of osteoarthritis of the knee joint takes place almost asymptomatic.It can be characterized by fatigue in the legs and a short -term violation of the mobility that occurs after sleep.The pain can be insignificant.Pathology can only be detected using an X -ray.
- 2 degree of osteoarthritis of the knee joint, the pain becomes tangible.It occurs with prolonged loads on the joint and disappears after a long rest.A crunch is added during walking, the progression of the synovitis (baker's cysts), a change in the bones of the joints, the difficulties of knee bending.
- 3 degree of osteoarthritis of the knee joint is characterized by intense pain outside the loads.The second characteristic is the incapacity of a person to fold the leg with the knee alone.The pain is very disturbing during sleep, the affected area reacts actively to time.Deformation of the knee joint can cause disability.
Diagnosis of the disease
To start, the attending physician interviews the patient and examines him.After that, an examination in the form of an x -ray is necessarily prescribed.In addition, the doctor can be directed to MRI and computed tomography.Using such a complex of procedures, you can discover the exact causes of the disease and understand that it is gonartrose and not another disease.
Ways to cure osteoarthritis of the knee joint
When the diagnosis is made, you can carry out direct treatment.It includes several methods:
- Drug treatment.
- Massage therapy, physiotherapy.
- Surgery.
- Recovery.
Physical procedures, massage and diet are very important.A complete treatment should eliminate pain, establish the motor function of the joint, if possible to restore cartilage.
Treatment with drugs
The drugs aim to get rid of pain, as it prevents you from starting direct treatment itself.To do this, the doctor prescribes pain relievers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, ointments, gels.
When all of the above does not help, they prescribe treatment with hormonal drugs. This method can cause many side effects.This is why only short courses of their request are prescribed.
- Onguants can relieve pain and slightly reduce inflammation.
- Hyaluronic acid is a very effective remedy at the first stages of osteoarthritis.The drug is administered directly in the joint.This procedure should only be carried out by a highly qualified specialist.Indeed, in the case of the penetration of acid into the blood, there may be great complications.
- Medicines for joints can affect the very cause of osteoarthritis, especially at the initial stage. The drugs restore the production of joint fluid and damaged cartilage.
Physiotherapy
Such treatment is very effective in the first stages of osteoarthritis of the knee joint: relieving pain, helps restore the functional capacities of the joint, eliminates spasm with a muscle.An individual physical effort program is selected by the doctor on the basis of the results of the examination.
Surgery
Surgical treatment is different.It depends on the degree of intervention:
- Arthroscopy.This procedure is carried out using the introduction of an endoscope and auxiliary tools in perforations specially designed in the joint.Thus, the tissues that have become a source of pain are deleted.The savings operation and can be repeated several times.It is done even in the first stage of the disease;
- Osteotomy.It is an artificial fracture for bone tissue to develop properly.Such a procedure is carried out with the deformation of the knee joint;
- Endoprosthetics.Such an operation is carried out by the complete replacement of the knee joint injured by the implant.
Good nutrition
Very often, the cause of the development of osteoarthritis can be a simple dysfunction of metabolism.After all, it leads to a set of excess weight and obesity, which causes osteoarthritis.This is why a special diet should be observed during the treatment period.
The patient must consume foods rich in vitamins and macro, as well as to count the calories.You should often eat in small portions, which will accelerate metabolism.Breakfast must be full and generous to fill up with energy throughout the day.In daily diet, cereals, herbs, vegetables, fruits and vegetables should be present.
It is necessary to exclude fatty and pointed dishes, soda, semi-finished reception products.It is not desirable to use bananas, grapes, cabbage, tomatoes, bulgarian pepper, all kinds of confectionery and chocolate.Remember that in this period, more than ever, proteins are necessary.Therefore, the use of cottage cheese, kefir and cheese should be compulsory.
You have to dine at the latest two hours before bedtime.Throughout the day, it is advisable to drink up to two liters of water.Unless of course the patient does not suffer from a kidney disease.
Traditional medicine
A remedy for osteoarthritis of the knee joint can be prepared with your own hands.It can be all kinds of ointments, compresses, lotions.But you should only use them in combination with other drugs and only after consulting a doctor.
- Dandelion.Its flowers are washed and eaten up to 6 pieces per day.They also prepare a decoction.For this, the dried dandelion is poured with boiling water.After cooking, they drink 1/3 cup three times a day.Dandid's dye is also prepared.To prepare it, you need to take a black bottle, fill it with flowers and pour alcohol.After a month of insistence, you can use it as a rubbing in the painful joint.
- Aloe.A cleaned leaf can be adjusted to the knee throughout the night.This will help reduce pain and relieve swelling.From this plant, you can prepare a tool to rub.To do this, a dozen leaves are crushed on a meat grinder.After tightening the juice through the gauze and mixing it with half a glass of honey.Add 150 milliliters of wine and mix, put everything in a dark place.You should use a month.
- For an effective compress, you can take salt, mustard and sand.Mix all the ingredients, heat in a saucepan and put a bag.Apply to the painful area.This treatment method will help activate the recovery process, improve blood circulation and relieve pain.