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 procedures
Inflammatory processes in the knee joint are terrible not only from the appearance of pain. Particularly dangerous are the destructive processes taking place in the tissues, the results of which are such that the organ can not always be restored. Therefore, the treatment of osteoarthritis involves complex therapy. It must be started on time and carried out under strict medical supervision.
The action of the prescribed medical care is aimed at eliminating the pain, providing sufficient nutrition to the cartilage and accelerating the process of its regeneration. In addition, the therapy improves blood circulation in the affected joint, strengthens adjacent muscles, and also increases the distance between the articulating bones and increases mobility in 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, use of a cane and proper nutrition are additionally prescribed.
Medical treatment
Drug therapy is prescribed in cases where there are no irreversible changes in the joint 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 must be included in the complex for the treatment of osteoarthritis. The purpose of these drugs is to relieve inflammation and severe pain that interferes with complex treatment. In the course of taking these drugs not only improves the mobility of the knee joint, but also opens the possibility of performing massage procedures.
Due to their characteristics, non-steroids are not intended for long-term use. First, by relieving the pain and relieving the patient's condition, they can create the illusion of healing from the disease, while the destructive processes will progress actively. Secondly, this group of drugs has a wide range of serious side effects. Thirdly, taking them orally contributes to the dehydration of cartilage, which accelerates its destruction.
The course of treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may 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 ensure adequate nutrition of cartilage tissue and to place special emphasis on restoring the structure of damaged cartilage. For this it is necessary to use chondroprotectors - glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. The action of these substances is not aimed at relieving the symptoms, but at treating the disease.
Chondroprotectors are most effective in the early stages 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 can take up to 1, 5 years. In the later stages of the disease, when the cartilage is sufficiently damaged, the use of chondroprotectors is practically useless.
Surgical intervention
Surgery is the most effective way to treat osteoarthritis of the knee in the later stages of the disease. However, we resort to it extremely 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, due to which the severe pain disappears. More modern methods include 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 in osteoarthritis of the knee is chosen by the doctor based on the results of examinations, age, general health of the patient and possible allergic reactions..
Ancillary treatments
Physiotherapy, exercise and massage are often prescribed in addition to drug therapy. However, their implementation is possible only after the elimination of severe symptoms of pain and abandonment of the acute stage of the disease.
Therapeutic therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee is needed to strengthen the muscles of the lower leg and thigh, as well as to improve the mobility of the knee. Initially, you should perform exercises with minimal load, preferably from a sitting position. By improving the patient's condition, it is desirable to complicate the task. There are many specially developed training complexes for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. They can also be made at home.
At the same time, the complex should not contain dynamic exercises, such as running, brisk walking or jumping. Such loads have a negative impact on the condition of the joint and further wear the cartilage tissues.
Manual therapy and physiotherapy
In osteoarthritis of the knee, physiotherapy is used very successfully as an adjunct treatment. Patients are traditionally prescribed a knee magnet, paraffin, ozokerite, hydrocortisone phonophoresis or electrical stimulation of the lower extremity muscles. The above procedures are designed to relieve swelling, improve blood circulation in neighboring 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, to improve the nutrition of cartilage tissue. Due to the fact that the reflexogenic zones are affected during the massage, the processes of self-healing of the joint begin.
Diet
Osteoarthritis of the knee joints often affects overweight people. 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 a properly balanced diet 5-6 times a day, to exclude occasional snacks. At the same time it is desirable to minimize the use of salt, flour products, spicy and fatty foods.
Don't forget to include in your menu:
- fresh vegetables;
- fruits;
- buckwheat porridge and oatmeal;
- low fat dairy products.
Small amounts of lean meat can be consumed. It is important to monitor the amount of fluids you drink - you should 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.