Osteoarthritis of the knee: symptoms and treatment, exercises, drugs

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (also called gonarthrosis) is an injury to the knee joint, as a result of which the articular cartilage is destroyed, the knee is deformed, and knee movement is restricted. The article will help you learn about the symptoms and start the necessary treatment in a timely manner.

Arthrosis of the knee joint

Specialists 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 define the main causes of the disease:

• bad posture;
• being overweight;
• various types of knee injuries;
• disorders of metabolism and mineral metabolism;
• the presence of endocrine diseases;
• increased stress on the knee joints;
• impaired calcium metabolism due to taking hormone-containing drugs;
• meniscus removal operations;
• presence of arthritis;
• weak ligament apparatus;
• menopause and menopause in women.

Arthrosis of the knee joints can be bilateral or unilateral.

Phases of osteoarthritis and their symptoms

Depending on the symptoms and the approach to the disease, specialists divide the disease into 3 stages.

Early or 1st stage of osteoarthritis

In this phase, mild pain appears with increased stress on the knee.The initial phase can last from 1 year to several years.To prevent the stage from becoming more severe, a number of steps must be taken to restore the deformed cartilage, strengthen the ligaments and restore motion in the knee.

At this stage, timely treatment will completely eliminate the pathology. But most patients ignore the symptom in the form of mild pain and therefore do not go to the doctor. Knee osteoarthritis is treated by an orthopedist, rheumatologist, or surgeon.

Middle or 2nd stage of osteoarthritis

At this stage the symptoms of the disease appear more pronounced and therefore it is impossible to ignore them. Doctors note that it is stage 2 that most patients seek medical assistance. At this stage, an accurate diagnosis can be made. Timely treatment allows you to stop the transition of the disease to the 3rd degree.

Severe symptoms include:

• aching knees with hypothermia;
• the presence of a soft crunch;
• swelling or swelling in the knee area;
• severe pain in the knee when climbing stairs or other forms of increased stress;
• pain and tingling in the calves;
• Stiffness in flexion and extension of the knee.

Last or third stage of osteoarthritis

At this stage, the consequences of the disease are irreversible, it is impossible to stop the development of pathology. But the treatment will relieve the patient's condition for a while. In no case should you ignore the symptoms or self-medicate, as this can lead to a change in gait, walking with a cane or disability.

The main symptoms of stage 3, in addition to those above, are indicated by doctors:

• pathology of the endocrine system (problems with the thyroid gland, diabetes);
• hereditary and age factors.

Diagnostic methods

The specialist makes a diagnosis based on the history of the patient's words and the results of laboratory and instrumental studies.

Lab tests include:

• complete blood count.With the help of research, it is possible to identify the causative agent of the disease and assess the degree of inflammation.
• general urinalysisallows you to identify or exclude the autoimmune origin of the disease and assess whether the origin of renal and urinary tract disease.
• biochemical blood test, which divides into many others, the indicators of almost all studies are outside the normal range.

Laboratory tests are carried out during an exacerbation of the disease, since during remission all indicators are within normal limits.

Instrumental studies include:

• X-rays.It is performed in two projections: posterior-anterior and lateral. Usually, the doctor takes a picture of both knees to compare the affected and healthy knees.
• arthroscopy.This procedure should be understood not only as a search, 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 a complete picture of the internal state of the knee is displayed on the computer screen, the resulting tissue fragments are sent to the laboratory if there isis the suspicion of a cartilage or malignant tumor. endoscopically it is possible to correct the shape of the menisci, remove polyps and chondrophytes. In addition to diagnosing osteoarthritis, it is possible to perform and study other diseases, since the knee joint is a large organ and allows you to get a complete picture of the state of the body.
• Ultrasound(ultrasound).This examination method has 2 important advantages over X-rays: it is harmless and helps to see the soft tissues of the joint due to its extensive imaging capabilities.
• CT (computed tomography).The study is a form of radiography of an improved form, since during this procedure the doctor takes several images and thanks to them a three-dimensional image of the affected organ is created on the computer. This module is used less often than others due to time costs and a large amount of radiation.
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).Unlike the previous method, it is more harmless. In addition, MRI allows you to get a better image of the soft tissues than CT. But MRI is rarely used like CT, since its use requires high material costs and cannot be applied to patients in whose body there are metal objects (pins, crowns). CT and MRI are contraindicated in people weighing more than 120 kg.
• scintigraphy.An expensive and radiation-related method. Therefore, it is used in cases where less expensive methods are ineffective. In this study, a substance is injected into the patient's body which reacts to the diseased organ and localizes around it.
Tomography
• .The study is based on thermal radiation from the body surface. Usually, the affected organ manifests itself in the form of foci with an increased temperature. The tomograph is a cumbersome tool and the procedure is expensive, so this study is performed only in large clinics.

Medicines to treat and relieve symptoms

Experts note that it is impossible to start treatment without relieving pain and eliminating inflammation.Therefore, doctors prescribe various non-steroidal (i. e. non-hormonal) drugs. But you can not take them longer than the prescribed period, as this group of medicines does not cure the disease, but relieves the symptoms and the disease progresses in the meantime.

Ointments for osteoarthritis

Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint with symptoms of edema and pain is rarely performed without ointments.

Unlike other forms of drug delivery, this group has clear advantages:

• rapidly reduces pain and inflammation;
• ease of use makes it easy to combine with other treatments such as physiotherapy;
• there are no negative effects on the liver.

Many years of experience in the treatment of osteoarthritis and the search for positive feedback among patients have revealed a number of effective ointments that have a warming vasodilating effect. They contain red pepper extract, bee and snake venom.

Gymnastics for osteoarthritis

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

Contributes to:

• improves joint cartilage nutrition and overall health:
• pain relief;
• strengthen the muscles and ligaments of the knee joint;
• increased joint mobility.

To see a positive effect,should be exercised daily or every other day, increasing the load up to 30 minutes per workout.

1. Warm up. You need to walk on your toes or on your heels for 3-5 minutes.
2. Ride an imaginary bicycle 20-30 times (10-15 times with each foot).
3. Lying on your stomach, bend and straighten your knees 10-15 times. At each turn, hold your leg in this position for 5 seconds.
4. Stretch your legs while lying on your back. Raise your leg and bend your 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. Roll to the other side and repeat the exercise. Repeat 5-6 times for each leg.

The exercise should be abandoned if:

• hernia of the abdomen or hips;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• infectious diseases;
• blood diseases;
• rehabilitation period after operations.

Rub and compress

Various rubs and compresses are widely used in the treatment of osteoarthritis. 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 and leave in a cool dark place for 7 days. Then wash the product overnight. To eliminate the specific odor, close the knee with a thick gauze bandage and in the morning rinse thoroughly with water.
• Egg.Mix vinegar with 1 yolk 1: 1 and immediately rub part of the product on the knee. Apply 3 per week. After the rub, wrap your knee with something warm.
• Honey.Mix 100 grams of honey and 3 grams of mum and massage the knee immediately. Wrap the knee.
• Cabbage.Dip a piece of wool fabric with the juice of a vegetable and attach it to the knee.
• Oatmeal.Boil a normal porridge of 1-2 tablespoons of flakes in water. Do not boil the flakes for more than 7 minutes! Put the viscous product on a clean cloth and place it on your knee.

Wraps

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (symptoms and drug treatment are indicated above) can, according to experts, be treated with various types of bandages. The most effective are honey and herbs.

According to research, honey wraps help:

• to restore intra-articular tissues and cartilage destroyed by the disease;
• eliminates pain and inflammation;
• burns excess cholesterol.

It is worth noting that honey is most effective when combined with cinnamon.

As for herbal compresses, the above properties have:

• bark of willow, oak, birch, aspen;
• valerian roots, comfrey, burdock;
• hops, birch, nettle leaves;
• aromatic herbs with wild rosemary and St. John's wort;
• chamomile flowers, calendula.

Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee with hirudotherapy

One of the most effective methods of treating osteoarthritis of the knee joint is hirudotherapy, that is, treatment with leeches. It can be used at the first symptoms and should be directed by the attending physician and under the supervision of specialists. Before the first procedure, you should familiarize yourself with the contraindications.

Do not use leeches:

• children and the elderly;
• patients suffering from decreased blood clotting, hypotension, severe body exhaustion, leukemia, anemia, gastrointestinal erosion, gastric ulcers, digestive system problems, cancer, tuberculosis, anemia and hemophilia;
• pregnant and breastfeeding women.

For the treatment to be effective, 1-2 procedures should be performed every 5-6 months.Treatment can be done more or less often - it all depends on the stage of the disease. If, after 1-3 sessions, the patient feels improvements and does not have allergic reactions, it is possible to continue the treatment with leeches.

Otherwise, the patient is given a 9 month break and if the allergy reappears or there is no improvement, the hirudotherapy sessions are stopped. During the treatment, the specialist treats the knee with an odorless agent, then checks the suitability of the leeches that will be used.

For this, leeches are placed in a jar with water. If leeches stick to the walls, they can be used. The specialist puts 2-6 leeches on the kneecap.

When they suck, leeches release a series of useful enzymes in the human body that will help:

• restores and strengthens the immune system;
• restoration of blood circulation and metabolic processes;
• eliminates swelling and adhesions.

Hirudotherapy cannot be used as a separate treatment. For greater efficiency, experts recommend combining it with physiotherapy, physiotherapy exercises and taking medications.

Taking baths with turpentine and pine

Balneotherapy, i. e. taking various baths with therapeutic effect, is not the last place in the elimination of the symptoms of arthrosis.Experts note that there are many different types of therapeutic baths, but turpentine and pine baths have shown particular effectiveness. They can be taken not only in balneological resorts, but also at home.

But despite their benefits, they should be discarded:

• patients with heart disease;
• in the presence of oncological diseases, 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;
• for 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. As the mixture cools, you need to fill the tub with hot water. When the mixture has cooled to 45 degrees, add the turpentine and pour 15-20 ml of the mixture into the bathtub.

Due to the presence of turpentine, the temperature in the bath may seem high.Therefore, do not increase the dose by 1 time by more than 20 ml. Baths should be taken every day for 10-14 days, gradually increasing the dose of turpentine mixture to 80 ml in one procedure. After taking a bath, wash off the mixture with warm water and put on warm clothes or lie down under a blanket.

For pine baths, you need pine needles or branches. About 25-30 branches need to be broken into small pieces to fit the vase. Rinse the branches before preparing the broth, float and soil, pour in water and cook for 5-10 minutes. Strain the finished broth and pour it into a hot water bath.

Take a bath for 10-15 minutes.Then dry and wear warm clothes. It is not recommended to engage in physical work and load the knees. The pine bath treatment course can include 7-12 procedures, which can be taken every other day or daily. After six months, the course can be repeated. This procedure will extend the period of remission and stop the development 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 are aimed at restoring cartilage tissue and its nutrition. All drugs in this group are divided into 5 groups. Medicines intended for the treatment of osteoarthritis 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 anesthetic drugs.But, unlike the latter, the former must be taken for life, since only in this case it is possible to slow down the development of arthrosis and stop disability. The effect of taking chondroprotectors is visible only after 2-8 days.

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

Diet: which foods are allowed, dietary rules and an approximate diet

Excess weight negatively affects the development of arthrosis: the disease progresses faster than in patients with normal weight. Therefore, overweight people are advised to lose those extra pounds. But at the same time, it is categorically impossible to starve and sit on mono diets or diets with dietary restrictions.

Allowed products include:

• Hormone-free farm meat that can be boiled, baked, stewed or steamed. If there is no access to the farm meat, you can buy the usual one, but you need to get rid of the skins and fat, as all harmful substances accumulate there which are fed or injected into animals or poultry. It is better to limit the consumption of such meat to 1-2 times a week, and the rest of the time there are dishes based on vegetables or fish.
• fruits and vegetables that can be baked or stewed to your liking.
• all types of cereals (excluding instant cereals).
• products with pectin: currant, gelatin on fructose;
• fermented milk products;
• eggs;
• wholemeal bread and pasta.

Important to exclude from the diet:

• baked goods, sweets and white bread;
• alcoholic beverages and beer;
• various types of fast food and snacks;
• sausage and other types of finished meat products.

With osteoarthritis, 1200 Kcal per day should be consumed.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 be easily done with traditional medicine:

• If osteoarthritis is accompanied by edema, a blue clay compress will come to the rescue. For this, it is necessary to dilute the clay with water to the state of cream and put it on a dense fabric folded 4-6 times and fix it to the joint. Wrap the knee with gauze or other cloth so that the compress does not slip. Keep 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 cranberries. For him, 2 tsp. berries need to pour 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 her, you need to mix with 50 grams of petroleum jelly, 10 grams of chopped hops, sweet clover and St. John's wort. It is necessary to insist the product for 2-3 hours in a dark place. Rub with light massage movements. You can wrap the knee.

How long is the rehabilitation period

It is impossible to say unambiguously how long the rehabilitation of osteoarthritis will last, as the timing depends on various factors. For example, the patient's age and lifestyle, 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 painful syndromes;
• learn to exercise and regulate nutrition.

In order for the period of remission to last as long as possible, the patient must exercise regularly and consult a doctor. Arthrosis of the knee joint with the elimination of symptoms and the correct approach to treatment will allow you not to get out of the usual rhythm of life.