Many people sooner or later reach a point in their lives where knee pain begins to bother them.It becomes difficult to walk, there is a desire to limp on the leg, which bothers you, spares it.Over time, the pain intensifies and begins to accompany the unfortunate person wherever he goes.Eventually, it becomes so intrusive that the person goes to the doctor, or seeks information about their problems on their own.
Often in this case the doctor, based on the symptoms, makes a diagnosis of “deforming osteoarthritis of the knee joint”.Let's take a closer look at what it is, how it manifests itself, where it comes from and where it leads.And above all, how to get rid of it?
What is this?
This is a process during which cartilage tissue is destroyed.In this case, concomitant inflammation often occurs, called synovitis.Subsequently, the knee deforms and movements become painful or even impossible.
Who can get sick?
This disease is diagnosed based on a number of symptoms.In general, they are quite specific and characteristic of all types of diseases.
Before finding out the causes of knee pain that bothers you periodically or constantly, let's see which categories of people are susceptible to this disease:
- overweight people.It is logical that obesity and excess weight when walking contribute to increased pressure on the legs.As a result, the cartilage, unable to support the load, is destroyed;
- athletes.The onset of the disease is associated with the excessive stress that athletes experience during training;
- varicose veins.In this case, the cause is a violation of blood supply, a reduction in the intake of nutrients;
- people with leg injuries.
Belonging to one of these categories considerably increases the risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee.Now let's look directly at its symptoms.
How to recognize the disease?
The development of the disease can last a very long time - for several years a person does not feel anything, does not suspect that he is starting to develop a disease.Over time, the manifestations intensify and obvious discomfort appears.
There are several stages of its development:
- Osteoarthritis of the knee joint 1st degree.For a long time, it can be completely asymptomatic or manifest as periodic mild pain and discomfort.The sensations intensify when a person gets up in the morning and starts walking.The discomfort is felt even more clearly when a person goes down or up the stairs.This diploma can last several months or even several years.If you see a doctor at this point, it will be much easier to recover than if you wait until the next step.
- Osteoarthritis of the knee joint 2 degrees.The patient begins to notice a characteristic crunch when walking, which is sometimes accompanied by severe pain.Movements become limited, constrained, as if with difficulty.During an examination at this stage, the doctor may detect the beginnings of minor deformity and fluid accumulation.This stage involves drug treatment and regular therapeutic exercises.
- Osteoarthritis of the knee joint 3rd degree.During this period, strong deformations are visible and movements become very difficult.The patient has difficulty bending and straightening his leg.The pain is constant and intensifies with changing weather conditions.A characteristic gait appears on half-bent, waddling legs, while the legs have a curved X or O shape.
Treatment methods depend on the degree of manifestation of symptoms, the stage of their development and become more complex as they progress.
Why does it appear?
There are many reasons why knee injuries develop, and they directly depend on the form of the disease - primary or secondary.
The primary form occurs for congenital reasons;begins to appear at a young age.Due to pathologies linked to the development of the ligamentous system, it is subjected to too many constraints when walking.This leads to the development of the disease.Thanks to timely medical intervention and compliance with a certain diet, the main form of knee injury will be eliminated.
The secondary form is a consequence of injuries and illnesses.
Let's consider all the causes of the disease:
- rheumatic diseases (rheumatism, arthritis) can be the root cause.With prolonged arthritis, fluid accumulates, causing inflammatory processes and, as a result, the development of the disease;
- the presence of excess weight also contributes to problems due to an increase in the load on the cartilaginous layer and, as a result, its premature damage;
- metabolic disorders leading to the deposition of salts in the joint cavity, blood circulation difficulties;
- prolonged spasms of leg muscles or blood vessels;
- surgical interventions;
- too much stress on the legs during sporting activities;
- injuries: dislocations, fractures, bruises, accompanied by damage to the cartilaginous layer and ligaments.
In the treatment of deforming osteoarthritis of the knee joints, one of the main roles is assigned to the elimination of the causes that led to the development of the disease.And only after eliminating the causes, we can talk about the possibility of curing the disease itself, using different means, techniques, as well as a proper diet.
How to treat it?
How to treat gonarthrosis can only be determined by a specialist, focusing on the stage of development of the disease, the severity of cartilage damage and determining the exact cause that led to the disease.Therapeutic methods, types and methods are varied and often effective only in combination.Therefore, you should approach this issue responsibly and carefully follow all the doctor's recommendations.
It should be borne in mind that this is a chronic disease that can rarely be completely cured.Therefore, any treatment method is primarily aimed at achieving remission and disappearance of symptoms.However, from the very first stage of development, when problems are just beginning, it is possible to achieve complete relief from damage to the knee joint by eliminating their causes (for example, excess weight or excessive stress) and carrying out simple physical therapy.
In most cases, therapy involves relieving a person's pain, restoring damaged cartilage, and restoring the ability for full movement.
Therapy combines the following methods:
- medicines and medicines, use of medicinal ointments;
- provision of therapeutic massages and manual therapy;
- physiotherapeutic methods: therapeutic exercises, exercise therapy;
- surgical intervention if necessary;
- popular and non-traditional treatment methods.
How and what medications are used?
The first objective that drug treatment should pursue is pain relief.For effective pain relief, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used.
These medications do not cure the disease or prevent its development: they are only intended to relieve pain.Their use should be combined with the use of drugs to restore the function of cartilage damaged by osteoarthritis of the knee joint (symptomatic drugs of slow action) and ointments.They have a number of side effects, primarily a negative effect on the mucous membranes.Only a doctor should prescribe the doses and frequency of taking medications.Do not try to self-medicate - this will inevitably lead to negative processes.
It is also observed that in high doses, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have a destructive effect on cartilage.
Only if non-steroidal drugs no longer have any effect can the doctor prescribe strong analgesics with a central effect.
In addition to pain relievers, gymnastics and massage, the following group of drugs is used: corticosteroids, the purpose of which is to relieve inflammatory processes.These are hormonal drugs whose effects are very strong, which is why it is not recommended to take them orally.In addition, their use causes many side effects.Recently, some corticosteroids are given by injection into the affected area.
The next group of drugs - with delayed symptomatic action - stimulates the synthesis of healthy cartilage cells (chondrocytes), which replace the destroyed ones.The active substances that make up these drugs are in many ways similar to those that make up cartilage tissue, and when they get inside, they stop destruction and stimulate cell reproduction.
Before taking such drugs, be sure to consult a specialist: the fact is that these drugs are effective only for the first and second degrees of the disease.At the third degree, the cartilage is already completely destroyed and there is nothing to restore.
What non-drug methods are used?
In the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joints, the combination of exercise therapy sessions and physiotherapy sessions is most effective.Physiotherapy exercises should be carried out exclusively under the supervision of a specialist.Physical activity should be moderate, measured and regular.
When performing exercises, it is useful to undergo physiotherapeutic procedures, such as ultrasound, high-frequency magnetic therapy, radon, hydrogen sulfide baths and laser treatment.All these procedures not only relieve knee injuries, but also generally strengthen the body.
It must be remembered that exercise therapy courses are possible only in the first degree of the disease or during its remission, that is, only when visible manifestations (inflammation, pain) are absent or almost absent.If your condition does not allow it, it is better to refuse exercise.
Before starting therapeutic exercises, seek advice from a physiotherapy teacher who, after examination, will create an individual exercise program for you and show you the entire complex performed until healing.
Exercises should be performed strictly according to the schedule and exactly with the load that the instructor will determine for you.Missing classes will render procedures ineffective, so follow all instructions regularly and responsibly.Only then can we hope for a truly positive outcome.
Exercises should be combined and supplemented with manual therapy - massage performed by a specialist or by yourself, having learned how to do it.Massage helps relax muscles and improve blood supply to the cartilaginous layer.
What are the support methods?
Many doctors recommend the use of special knee braces.They increase the effectiveness of therapy and relieve pain.An elastic bandage is used for the same purpose.
Knee braces fix the ligaments and partially resist the deformation process.This makes it easier for a patient in the second stage of the disease to move around, as walking is already a problem for these people.
Knee pads can be used for prevention purposes by those who experience physical stress, by overweight people to reduce the traumatic impact of walking and by athletes during training.
When choosing knee pads, it is best to consult a doctor.Knee pads vary according to the degree of fixation: tight, medium and light.At the most advanced stage of the disease, tight products are used, at the first stage, light products.When using them, it is necessary to ensure that the leg does not go numb: numbness means that blood stagnation occurs, which can lead to disastrous results.
The heating effect of the knee brace relieves pain, allowing the dose of painkillers to be reduced.There are knee pads made from camel and dog hair.Wool itself has a beneficial effect, thanks to which you can, if not cure the disease, then at least alleviate the disease and speed up the treatment process.
Is it worth using folk remedies?
Folk remedies for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joints can be used only after consultation with a doctor and only as an auxiliary method.In itself, the use of traditional methods without resorting to traditional medicine is ineffective and dangerous and can lead to negative consequences.
Among the folk remedies used in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee, various rubs, compresses, ointments based on natural ingredients, rubs, herbal preparations and infusions are used to relieve pain and relieve the inflammatory process.There are many different recipes for preparing healing remedies that our ancestors used.Their healing properties have been proven over centuries of use and are beyond doubt.Burdock compresses, rubbing cranberry juice, mummy and beeswax are just some of the many folk remedies.
Recently, treatment with leeches (hirudotherapy) has become increasingly popular.Hirudotherapy sessions relieve inflammation and act as a powerful pain reliever.
As you know, leeches increase blood circulation in the treated area.Increasing the blood supply to the painful area significantly accelerates the regeneration of cartilage tissue and the cleansing of affected cells, and provides more nutrients to the painful area.
Thus, the use of folk remedies and hirudotherapy as well as medications, manual, physiotherapy and therapeutic exercises promote complete recovery.