Every year more and more people face a disease such as osteoarthritis of the knee - 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.
Classical medical treatments
Inflammatory processes that occur in the knee joint are terrible not only from the appearance of pain. At particular risk are the destructive processes that occur in tissues, the results of which are such that the organ can not always be restored. Therefore, treatment of osteoarthritis involves complex therapy. It should start on time and be done under the strict supervision of a doctor.
The action of the prescribed medical care aims at eliminating the pain, providing sufficient nutrition to the cartilage and accelerating the process of its regeneration. In addition, the therapy improves blood circulation to the affected joint, strengthens the adjacent muscles and also increases the distance between the articular bones and increases mobility in the knee.
Depending on the stage of the disease, doctors offer medical or surgical treatment. To consolidate the results of the main therapy, additional special physical education, massage, cane use and proper nutrition are prescribed.
Medical treatment
Drug therapy is prescribed in cases where irreversible changes have not occurred in the joints, and the knee joint tissues are able to recover and receive nourishment. Only this can be the key to a successful recovery.
The physician faces the difficult task of choosing a fully competent 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 osteoarthritis treatment complex. The purpose of these drugs is to relieve inflammation and severe pain that interfere with complex treatment. While taking these medicines, not only does the mobility of the knee joint improve, but it also opens up 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 alleviating the patient's condition, they can create the illusion of healing from the disease, while the destructive processes will actively progress. Second, this group of drugs has a wide range of serious side effects. Third, taking them by mouth contributes to the dehydration of cartilage, which accelerates its destruction.
The course of treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be extended if selective drugs are used. The possibility of side effects and complications in this case is much smaller.
Chondroprotectors
In the treatment of osteoarthritis, it is necessary to provide adequate nutrition to the cartilage tissue and to pay special attention to restoring the damaged cartilage structure. For this, it is necessary to use chondroprotectors - glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. The action of these substances is not intended to relieve symptoms, but to treat the disease.
Chondroprotectors are most effective in the early stages of osteoarthritis. They are essential for cartilage regeneration and the production of joint fluid. However, the action of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate is quite slow, so treatment takes place in courses and in total can last 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 osteoarthritis of the knee in the later stages of the disease. However, we turn to her extremely rarely - only in cases where drug therapy becomes ineffective.
Modern medicine offers several types of surgical interventions. In some of them, they try to achieve partial immobility of the knee, due to which the strong pain disappears. The most modern methods involve the use of a laser or the installation of a special prosthesis, which must partially or completely replace the local joint. The latter options are quite expensive, so not everyone can afford them.
The method of surgical intervention for knee osteoarthritis is chosen by the doctor based on the results of examinations, age, general health of the patient and possible allergic reactions..
Ancillary treatments
Very often, in addition to drug therapy, physiotherapy, exercise therapy and massage are prescribed. However, it becomes possible to perform them only after the symptoms of severe pain are removed and the acute phase of the disease is left behind.
Exercise therapy for osteoarthritis 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 minimal load, preferably from a sitting position. As the patient's condition improves, it is desirable to complicate the task. There are many training complexes created specifically for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint. 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 consume even more cartilage tissue.
Manual therapy and physiotherapy
In osteoarthritis of the knee, physiotherapy is used very successfully as an adjunctive 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 to adjacent tissues, and strengthen the musculoskeletal system.
A special place in the fight against osteoarthritis occupies manual therapy. With its help, it is possible to increase knee mobility, improve cartilage tissue nutrition. Due to the fact that during the massage the reflexogenic areas are affected, the self-healing processes of the joint begin to begin.
diets
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 provide the right balanced diet 5-6 times a day, to exclude casual meals. 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 porridge and oats;
- dairy products with a low percentage of fat.
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 complete as possible. Patience and well-described treatment are the two main components in the fight against this disease.