Every year more and more people are faced with such a disease as arthrosis 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 treatments
Inflammatory processes occurring in the knee joint are terrible not only by the appearance of pain. Of particular danger are the destructive processes occurring in the tissues, the results of which are such that the organ cannot always be restored. Therefore, the treatment of arthrosis involves complex therapy. It should begin on time and take place under the strict supervision of a physician.
The action of the prescribed medical care is aimed at eliminating pain, providing sufficient nutrition to the cartilage and accelerating the process of its regeneration. In addition, therapy improves blood circulation in the affected joint, strengthens adjacent muscles, and also increases the distance between 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, the use of a cane and proper nutrition are additionally prescribed.
Medical treatment
Drug therapy is prescribed in cases where irreversible changes have not occurred in the joint, and the tissues of the knee joint are able to recover and receive nutrition. Only this can be the key to a successful recovery.
The doctor is faced with the difficult task of choosing a competent complete 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 are necessarily included in the treatment complex for arthrosis. The purpose of these drugs is to relieve inflammation and severe pain that interferes with complex treatment. In the course of taking these medicines, not only the mobility of the knee joint improves, but also the possibility of performing massage procedures opens up.
Due to their characteristics, non-steroids are not intended for long-term use. Firstly, by relieving pain and relieving the patient's condition, they can create the illusion of healing from the disease, while the destructive processes will actively progress. 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 substances can be extended if selective drugs are used. The likelihood of side effects and complications in this case is much less.
Chondroprotectors
In the treatment of arthrosis, it is necessary to provide cartilage tissue with sufficient nutrition and 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 symptoms, but at treating the disease.
Chondroprotectors are most effective at the initial stage of arthrosis. They are indispensable for the regeneration of cartilage tissue and the production of joint fluid. However, the action of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate is rather slow, so the 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 arthrosis of the knee joint in the later stages of the disease. However, we resort to it extremely rarely - only in those cases when drug therapy becomes powerless.
Modern medicine offers several types of surgical intervention. In some of them, they try to achieve partial immobility of the knee, due to which severe pain disappears. More modern methods involve the use of a laser or the installation of a special prosthesis, which should 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 arthrosis of the knee joint is chosen by the doctor based on the results of the examinations, age, general health of the patient and possible allergic reactions..
Auxiliary treatments
Very often, in addition to drug therapy, physiotherapy, exercise therapy, and massage are prescribed. However, it becomes possible to perform them only after severe pain symptoms are removed, and the acute stage of the disease is left behind.
Exercise therapy for arthrosis of the knee joint is required to strengthen the muscles of the lower leg and thigh, as well as to improve knee mobility. Initially, you should perform exercises with a minimum load, preferably from a sitting position. As the patient's condition improves, it is desirable to complicate the task. There are many specially designed training complexes for the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint. They can also be done 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 state of the joint and wear out the cartilaginous tissues even more.
Manual therapy and physiotherapy
In osteoarthritis of the knee joint, physiotherapy is very successfully used as an auxiliary treatment. Patients are traditionally prescribed a knee magnet, paraffin, ozocerite, phonophoresis using hydrocortisone, or electrical stimulation of the muscles of the lower extremities. The above procedures are designed to relieve swelling, improve blood circulation in adjacent tissues and strengthen the musculoskeletal system.
A special place in the fight against arthrosis 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 the massage the reflexogenic zones are affected, the processes of self-healing of the joint begin to start.
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 go on a strict diet.
The most important thing is to ensure proper 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 oatmeal porridge;
- dairy products with a low percentage of fat.
Small amounts of lean meats can be consumed. It is important to monitor the amount of fluid you drink - you need to drink at least two liters of water per 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 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.