Knee osteoarthritis: symptoms and treatment, exercises, medication

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (otherwise called gonarthrosis) is a lesion of the knee joint, as a result of which the articular cartilage is destroyed, the knee is deformed and the movement of the knee is limited. The article will help you learn about the symptoms and start the necessary treatment in time.

Osteoarthritis 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 disease development occurs in childhood and adolescence.
2. The secondary form can develop at any age.

Experts call the main causes of the disease:

• poor behavior;
• mbipesha;
• different types of knee injuries;
• disorders of metabolism and mineral metabolism;
• presence of endocrine diseases;
• increases stress in the knee joints;
• impaired calcium metabolism due to taking hormone-containing medications;
• meniscus removal operations;
• presence of arthritis;
• weak ligament apparatus;
• menopause and menopause in women.

Osteoarthritis of the knee joints can be bilateral or unilateral.

Stages of osteoarthritis and their symptoms

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

Initial or first stage of osteoarthritis

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

At this stage, timely treatment will completely cure 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.

Secondary or second 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 in stage 2 that most patients seek medical help. At this stage, an accurate diagnosis can be made. Timely treatment allows you to stop the passage of the disease in the 3rd degree.

Severe symptoms include:

• knee pain with hypothermia;
• the presence of a mild crisis;
• swelling or swelling in the knee area;
• severe knee pain when climbing stairs or other forms of stress increase;
• pain and tingling sensation in calves;
• Stiffness in bending and knee extension.

The 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 treatment will alleviate the patient's condition for a while. Under no circumstances should you ignore the symptoms or self-medicate, as this may lead to a change in gait, cane walking or disability.

The main symptoms of stage 3, in addition to the above, are referred to by doctors:

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

Diagnostic methods

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

Laboratory tests include:

• complete blood count.With the help of research, you can identify the cause of the disease and assess the degree of inflammation.
• general urine analysisallows you to identify or rule out the autoimmune origin of the disease and assess whether the source is kidney and urinary tract pathology.
• biochemical blood test, which is divided into many others, the indicators of almost all studies are outside the normal range.

Laboratory tests are performed during an exacerbation of the disease, as during forgiveness all indicators are within normal limits.

Instrumental studies include:

• X-rays.Performed in two projections - posterior-anterior and lateral. Usually, the doctor makes a picture of both knees to compare the affected and healthy knees.
• arthroscopy.This procedure should be understood not only as research 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 condition of the knee is displayed on the computer screen, the resulting tissue fragments are sent to the laboratory if a tumor is suspectedcartilaginous or malignant. endoscopically it is possible to correct the shape of the menisci, remove polyps and chondrophytes. In addition to diagnosing osteoarthritis, other diseases can be performed and investigated, as the knee joint is a large organ and allows you to get a complete picture of the condition of the body.
• Ultrasound(ultrasound).This examination method has 2 significant advantages over X-rays - it is harmless and helps to see the soft tissue of the wrist due to its extensive imaging capabilities.
• CT (computed tomography).The study is a form of radiography of an improved form, as during this procedure the doctor takes some pictures and thanks to them a three-dimensional image of the affected organ is created on the computer. This form is used less frequently than others due to time costs and a large amount of radiation.
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).Unlike the previous method, it is more harmless. Also, MRI allows you to get a better view of soft tissue compared to CT. But MRI is used as rarely as CT, as its use requires high material costs and can not be applied to patients whose body has any metal object (pins, crowns). CT and MRI are contraindicated in people weighing more than 120 kg.
• scintigraphy.A costly and radiation-related method. Therefore, it is used in cases where less costly methods are ineffective. In this study, a substance is introduced into the patient's body that reacts to the diseased organ and is localized 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. Tomography is a cumbersome instrument, and the procedure is expensive, so this study is only performed in large clinics.

Medications 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) medications. But you can not take them longer than the prescribed period, as this group of drugs does not cure the disease, but alleviates the symptoms and the disease progresses in the meantime.

Osteoarthritis ointments

Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee with symptoms of edema and pain is rarely done without oils.

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

• quickly reduces pain and inflammation;
• ease of use makes it easy to combine with other treatments such as physiotherapy;
• has no adverse effect on the liver.

Many years of experience in treating osteoarthritis and researching positive responses among patients has revealed a number of effective oils that have a warming vasodilator effect. They contain red pepper extract, bee venom and snake venom.

Gymnastics for osteoarthritis

Gymnastics is one of the most important methods of treating osteoarthritis of the knee joints, which should be used during remission after the symptoms of pain have been eliminated.

Contributes to:

• improve articular cartilage nutrition and overall health:
• pain relief;
• strengthening the muscles and ligaments of the knee joint;
• increases joint mobility.

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

1. Get warm. You should walk on your toes or heels for 3-5 minutes.
2. Ride an imaginary bike 20-30 times (10-15 times with each foot).
3. Lying on your stomach, bend and straighten your knees 10-15 times. With each turn, hold the leg in this position for 5 seconds.
4. Stretch your legs while lying on your back. Raise your leg and bend at the knee. The heel should be parallel to the floor.
5. Lying on your right side, lift your left leg, pull it to your stomach and then stretch it as far as possible. Roll to the other side and repeat the exercise. Repeat 5-6 times for each leg.

Exercise should be abandoned if:

• abdominal or groin hernia;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• infectious diseases;
• blood diseases;
• rehabilitation period after surgeries.

Rub and squeeze

Various rubs and bandages are widely used in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Their important advantages include the availability of ingredients and the absence of side effects.

• Hudhra.Pour 1 vegetable seed with some vegetable oil (200 ml), cover and leave in a dark, cool place for 7 days. Then wash the product overnight. To eliminate the specific odor, cover the knee with a thick gauze bandage and in the morning rinse thoroughly with water.
• Veza.Mix the vinegar with 1 egg yolk 1: 1 and immediately rub some of the products on the knee. Apply 3 per week. After rubbing, wrap the knee with something warm.
• Heart.Mix 100 grams of honey and 3 grams of zombie and immediately rub on the knee. Finish the knee.
• Cabbage.Suck a piece of juicy wool material from a vegetable and stick it to the knee.
• Bollgur.Boil a regular porridge of 1-2 tablespoons of flakes in water. Do not boil flakes for more than 7 minutes! Put the thick product on a clean cloth and place on the knee.

Ends

Knee osteoarthritis (symptoms and medication treatment are shown above), according to experts, can be cured by different types of wraps. The most effective are honey and herbal.

According to research, honey wrapping helps:

• restore tissue and cartilage within the diseased joint;
• eliminate pain and inflammation;
• burn excess cholesterol.

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

Regarding plant wrappers, the above properties have:

• leh shelgu, lisi, thupre, aspen;
• valerian roots, comfrey, burdock;
• leaves of hop, birch, nettle;
• wild rosemary and canteen herbs;
• chamomile flowers, calendula.

Treatment of knee osteoarthritis with hirudotherapy

One of the most effective methods of treating osteoarthritis of the knee is hirudotherapy, ie treatment with caterpillars. 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 be familiar with the contraindications.

Do not use caterpillars:

• children and the elderly;
• patients suffering from reduced blood clotting, hypotension, severe body fatigue, leukemia, anemia, gastrointestinal erosion, gastric ulcer, digestive problems, cancer, tuberculosis, anemia and hemophilia;
• women during pregnancy and lactation.

In order for the treatment to be effective, 1-2 procedures should be performed every 5-6 months.Treatment can be performed more or less often - it all depends on the stage of the disease. If, after 1-3 sessions, the patient feels improvement and has no allergic reactions, then treatment with caterpillars can be continued.

Otherwise, the patient is rested for 9 months, and if the allergy reappears or there is no improvement, hirudotherapy sessions are interrupted. During treatment, the specialist treats the knee with an odorless agent, and then checks the caterpillars to be used for fit.

For this, the caterpillars are placed in a container of water. If caterpillars climb walls, then they can be used. The specialist places 2-6 caterpillars on the patella.

When you inhale, leukocytes release a number of beneficial enzymes into the human body that will help:

• restore and strengthen the immune system;
• restoration of blood circulation and metabolic processes;
• eliminate swelling and adhesions.

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

Taking baths with turpentine and pine

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

But despite their benefits, they should be rejected:

• patients with heart disease;
• in the presence of oncological diseases, tuberculosis, varicose veins, diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, atherosclerosis, 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. While the mixture is cooling, you should 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 bath.

Due to the presence of turpentine, the temperature in the bath may appear elevated.Therefore, you should not increase the dose by more than 20 ml. Baths should be taken daily for 10-14 days, gradually increasing the dose of turpentine mixture to 80 ml in one procedure. Once you have taken a bath, wash the mixture with warm water and wear warm clothes or lie down under a blanket.

For pine baths, you need needles or pine branches. About 25-30 branches should be cut into small pieces to fit into the pot. Rinse the branches before preparing the broth, float and dirt, pour water and cook for 5-10 minutes. Drain the finished liquid and pour into a hot water bath.

Take a bath for 10-15 minutes. Then wipe and put on warm clothes. It is not recommended to do physical work and load the knees. The course of treatment of pine bath can include 7-12 procedures, which can be taken daily or daily. After six months, the course can be repeated. This procedure will prolong the remission period and stop the development of the disease.

Use of chondroprotectors

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (symptoms and treatment with folk remedies are listed below) can not be cured without chondroprotectors - a group of drugs that aim to recover 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 based on:

• glucosamine;
• chondroitin sulfate;
• avocado and soy extracts;
• hyaluronate and hyaluronic acid;
• synthesis of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.

Chondroprotectors are prescribed by specialists in connection with pain medications.But, unlike the latter, the former should be taken for life, as only in this case is it possible to slow the development of osteoarthritis and stop disability. The effect of taking chondroprotectors is noticeable only after 2-8 days.

Preparations are available in the form of gels, oils, tablets and injections. An injection with a solution is done in the knee.

Diet: what foods are allowed, diet rules and approximate diet

Excess weight negatively affects the development of osteoarthritis - the disease progresses faster than in patients with normal weight. Therefore, people who are overweight 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 cooked, roasted, boiled or steamed. If there is no access to farm meat, then you can buy the usual one, but you should get rid of skins and fat, as it accumulates all the harmful substances that feed or are 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 with vegetables or fish.
• fruits and vegetables that can be cooked or cooked to your taste.
• all types of cereals (excluding instant cereals).
• pectin products: raisins, fructose jelly;
• fermented milk products;
• eggs;
• wholemeal bread and pasta.

It is important to exclude from the diet:

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

With osteoarthritis, 1200 Kcal should be consumed daily.You should eat in portions, ie every 2-3 hours in small portions.

Folk remedies

Knee osteoarthritis, symptoms and treatment can be easily done with traditional medicine:

• If osteoarthritis is accompanied by edema, then a blue clay compress will help. For it, you need to dilute the mud with water to the state of cream and place it on a thick cloth folded 4-6 times and join it in knots. Wrap the knee with gauze or other cloth so that the compress does not slip. Hold 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 lingonberry. For it, 2 tsp. berries should pour 1 liter. boiling water and leave for an hour, wrapped in a towel. You should drink 3-4 times a day.
• Massage ointment will help remove pain and inflammation at any stage of the disease. For it, you need to mix it with 50 grams of oil jelly, 10 grams of chopped stalks, sweet clover and St. John’s wort. You need to insist on the product for 2-3 hours in a dark place. Rub with light massage movements. You can wrap your knee.

How long is the rehabilitation period

it is impossible to say without a doubt how long osteoarthritis rehabilitation will take, as time depends on various factors. For example, the age and lifestyle of the patient, the degree and severity of the disease.

Generally, the recovery period lasts 1-2 months, during which the patient with the help of specialists:

• relieves inflammatory and pain syndromes;
• learns to exercise and regulates food.

In order for the remission period to last as long as possible, the patient should exercise regularly and visit a doctor. Osteoarthritis of the knee joint with elimination of symptoms and proper approach to treatment will allow you to not deviate from the usual rhythm of life.