Knee osteoarthritis: symptoms and treatment, exercises, drugs

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (also called gonarthrosis) is a lesion of the knee joint that destroys the articular cartilage, deforms the knee and restricts movement of the knee. The article will help you learn about the symptoms and start the necessary treatment on time.

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 developmental phase of the disease occurs in childhood and adolescence.
2. The secondary form can develop at any age.

Experts name the main causes of the disease:

• bad posture;
• be overweight;
• different types of knee injuries;
• disorders of mineral metabolism and 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 ligamentous apparatus;
• Menopause and menopause in women.

Arthritis 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 three stages.

Initial stage or 1st stage of osteoarthritis

At this stage, slight pain occurs with increased stress on the knee.The initial phase can last from 1 year to several years.To keep the stage from becoming more severe, various measures should be taken to restore the deformed cartilage, strengthen the ligaments, and restore movement in the knee.

At this stage, timely treatment completely eliminates the pathology. However, most patients ignore the symptom in the form of mild pain and therefore do not see a doctor. Knee osteoarthritis is treated by an orthopedic surgeon, rheumatologist or surgeon.

Middle or 2nd stage of osteoarthritis

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

The most serious symptoms include:

• painful knees with hypothermia;
• the presence of a soft crunch;
• swelling or swelling in the knee area;
• severe knee pain when climbing stairs or other forms of increased stress;
• pain and tingling in the calves;
• Stiffness in the 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 the pathology. But treatment will relieve the patient's condition for a while. In no case should you ignore the symptoms or self-medicate as this can result in a change of gait, walking with a stick, or a disability.

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

• 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 anamnesis from the patient's words and the results of laboratory and instrument studies.

Laboratory tests include:

• complete blood count.With the help of research, you can identify the causative agent of the disease and assess the degree of inflammation.
• general urinalysisallows you to identify or rule out the autoimmune origin of the disease and to assess whether the cause of kidney and urinary tract disease lies.
• biochemical blood testwhich is divided into many others, the indicators for almost all studies are out of 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-ray.It is performed in two projections - posterior-anterior and lateral. Usually the doctor will take a picture of both knees to compare the affected and healthy knees.
• Arthroscopy.This procedure should not only be understood 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 and a full picture of the internal state of the knee is displayed on the computer screen. The resulting tissue fragments are sent to the laboratory if a cartilaginous or malignant tumor is suspected. endoscopically it is possible to correct the shape of the menisci, remove polyps and chondrophytes. In addition to diagnosing osteoarthritis, other diseases can be done and examined because the knee joint is a large organ and you can get a complete picture of the condition of the body.
• Ultrasound(ultrasound).This examination method has two important advantages over X-rays: It is harmless and, thanks to its wide range of imaging options, helps to identify the soft tissue of the joint.
• CT (computed tomography).The study is a form of radiography of an improved form, since during this process the doctor takes several images and thanks to them a three-dimensional image of the affected organ is created on the computer. This form is used less often than others due to the cost of time and a lot of radiation.
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).In contrast to the previous method, it is more harmless. Compared to CT, MRI gives you a better picture of soft tissues. However, MRI is used as rarely as CT because its use requires high material costs and cannot be applied to patients whose bodies contain metal objects (pins, crowns). CT and MRI are contraindicated in people weighing more than 120 kg.
• Scintigraphy.An expensive and radiation-related method. Hence, it is used in cases where cheaper methods are ineffective. In this study, a substance is injected 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. As a rule, the affected organ manifests itself in the form of foci with increased temperature. The tomograph is a cumbersome instrument and the procedure is expensive, so this study is only carried out in large clinics.

Medicines to treat and relieve symptoms

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

Ointments against osteoarthritis

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

In contrast to other forms of drug delivery, this group has clear advantages:

• quickly reduces pain and inflammation;
• The simple operation facilitates the combination with other treatments such as physiotherapy.
• There are no negative effects on the liver.

Many years of experience in the treatment of osteoarthritis and research into positive feedback from patients have resulted in a number of effective ointments that have a warming vasodilator effect. They contain paprika extract, bee and snake venom.

Gymnastics against osteoarthritis

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

It contributes to:

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

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

1. Warm up. You need to walk on tiptoe or heels for 3-5 minutes.
2. Pedal an imaginary bike 20 to 30 times (10 to 15 times with each foot).
3. Lie on your stomach, bend and straighten your knees 10-15 times. Hold the leg in this position for 5 seconds with each bend.
4. Extend your legs while lying on your back. Lift your leg and bend at the knee. The heel should be parallel to the ground.
5. Lie on your right side, lift your left leg, pull it up to your stomach, and then stretch it back as far as you can. Roll over to the other side and repeat the exercise. Repeat 5-6 times for each leg.

The exercise should be stopped if:

• hernia of the abdomen or hips;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• infectious diseases;
• blood diseases;
• Rehabilitation phase after operations.

Rubs and compresses

Various rubs and compresses are often used in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Its main advantages are the availability of ingredients and the absence of side effects.

• Garlic.Pour 1 piece of vegetables with vegetable oil (200 ml), cover and leave in a dark and cool place for 7 days. Then wash the product overnight. To get rid of the specific smell, cover the knee with a thick gauze bandage and rinse it thoroughly with water in the morning.
• egg.Mix vinegar with 1 egg yolk 1: 1 and immediately rub a little on the knee. Apply 3 times a week. After rubbing, wrap the knee with something warm.
• honey.Mix 100 grams of honey and 3 grams of mummy and immediately rub into the knee. Wrap the knee.
• cabbage.Soak a piece of wool with vegetable juice and attach it to your knee.
• Oatmeal.Boil a normal porridge with 1-2 tablespoons of flakes in water. Do not cook the flakes for more than 7 minutes! Put the viscous product on a clean cloth and apply it to your knee.

Wraps

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (symptoms and treatment with medication are given above), according to experts, can be cured by different types of wraps. The most effective are honey and herbs.

According to research, honey packaging helps:

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

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

The following properties apply to herbal wraps:

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

Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee with hirudotherapy

One of the most effective methods of treating osteoarthritis of the knee is hirudotherapy, ie treatment with leeches. It can be used at the first symptoms and must be used 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 with decreased blood clotting, hypotension, severe exhaustion, leukemia, anemia, gastrointestinal erosion, gastric ulcer, digestive system problems, cancer, tuberculosis, anemia and hemophilia;
• women during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

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 improvement and does not have an allergic reaction, treatment with leeches can be continued.

Otherwise, the patient is given a break of 9 months. If the allergy recurs or does not improve, the hirudotherapy sessions will be stopped. During treatment, the specialist will treat the knee with an odorless agent, and then will check the leeches that will be used for suitability.

To do this, leeches are placed in a vessel with water. If leeches stick to the walls, they can be used. The specialist puts 2-6 leeches on the patella.

When sucking, leeches release a number of useful enzymes into the human body that help:

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

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

Take turpentine and pine baths

Balneotherapy, ie taking various baths with therapeutic effects, is not the last place to get rid of the symptoms of osteoarthritis.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.

Despite their advantages, they should be discarded:

• patients with heart disease;
• for oncological diseases, tuberculosis, varicose veins, diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, atherosclerosis, arterial hypertension,
• if the patient has had a heart attack or stroke;
• for skin diseases;
• for pregnant women.

For a turpentine bath, you need to mix 10 g of baby soap and 0. 75 ml of salicylic acid and pour the mixture with 500 ml of boiling water. While the mixture is cooling, you need to fill the tub with hot water. When the mixture has cooled to 45 degrees, add turpentine and pour 15-20 ml of the mixture into the bath.

Due to the presence of turpentine, the temperature in the bathroom may appear elevated.Therefore, you should not increase the dose by more than 20 ml. The baths should be taken daily for 10-14 days, gradually increasing the dose of turpentine mixture to 80 ml in one process. After bathing, wash the mixture off with warm water and wrap yourself warm or lie under a blanket.

For pine baths, you need pine needles or twigs. About 25-30 twigs need to be broken into small pieces to fit in the pot. Before making the broth, rinse the twigs, float and dirty, pour water and boil for 5-10 minutes. Strain the finished broth and pour it into a hot water bath.

Take a bath for 10-15 minutes.Then wipe dry and put on warm clothes. It is not recommended to do physical labor and put weight on your knees. The pine bath treatment course can include 7-12 procedures that can be performed every other day or daily. The course can be repeated after six months. This procedure extends the duration of remission and stops the disease from developing.

Use of chondroprotectors

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (symptoms and treatment with folk remedies are listed below) cannot be cured without chondroprotectors - a group of drugs aimed at restoring cartilage tissue and its nutrition. All drugs in this group are divided into 5 groups. Medicines for the treatment of osteoarthritis belong to group 4.

They are created 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 in conjunction with pain relievers.But in contrast to the latter, the former must be taken for life, as only in this case the development of osteoarthritis can be slowed down and the disability stopped. The effect of taking chondroprotectors is only visible after 2-8 days.

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

Diet: Which foods are allowed, nutritional rules and an approximate diet

Overweight has a negative effect on the development of osteoarthritis - the disease progresses faster than in patients of normal weight. Hence, people who are overweight are advised to lose those extra pounds. At the same time, however, it is categorically impossible to starve to death and sit on mono diets or diets with dietary restrictions.

Permitted products are:

• hormone-free farm meat that can be boiled, baked, stewed or steamed. If there is no access to farm meat, you can buy the usual one, but you should get rid of the skin and fat, as this is where all the harmful substances that are fed or injected to animals or poultry will accumulate. It is better to limit the consumption of such meat to 1-2 times a week, and for the rest of the time there will be vegetable or fish dishes.
• Fruits and vegetables that can be baked or steamed to your liking.
• all types of grain (except instant grain).
• Products with pectin: currants, jelly on fructose;
• fermented milk products;
• eggs;
• Whole grain 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 ready-made meat products.

With osteoarthritis, 1200 Kcal should be consumed daily.You need to eat fractionated, that is, in small portions every 2-3 hours.

Folk Remedies

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint, symptoms and treatment can easily be done with traditional medicine:

• If osteoarthritis is accompanied by edema, a blue clay compress will help. To do this, you need to dilute the clay with water to the state of the cream and lay it on a dense fabric, folded 4-6 times, and attach it to the joint. Wrap the knee with gauze or some other cloth to keep the compress from slipping. Store for 2-3 hours and rinse with warm water. The fabric can be washed and reused.
• Experts recommend avoiding natural tea and coffee and replacing them with decoctions and infusions. For example, a cranberry decoction. For him 2 tsp. Berries need to pour 1 liter. boiling water and let rest for an hour, wrapped in a towel. You need to drink 3-4 times a day.
• massage ointment helps get rid of pain and inflammation at any stage of the disease. To do this, you need to mix with 50 grams of petroleum jelly, 10 grams of chopped hops, sweet clover and St. John's wort. You need to insist the product in a dark place for 2-3 hours. Rub in with light massage movements. You can wrap your knee.

How long does the rehabilitation phase last?

It is impossible to say clearly how long the rehabilitation of osteoarthritis will take, 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 phase lasts 1-2 months, during which the patient, with the help of specialists:

• eliminates inflammation and pain syndromes;
• learns to exercise and adjusts your diet.

In order for the period of remission to last as long as possible, the patient should exercise regularly and consult a doctor. Due to the osteoarthritis of the knee joint with the elimination of the symptoms and the right treatment, you cannot get out of the usual rhythm of life.