Arthropathy is a disease of the musculoskeletal system, in which the articular surface of cartilage undergoes degenerative changes, and the cartilage gradually becomes thinner and destroyed. The main symptoms of the disease are pain and restricted movement. And due to the pathological hyperplasia of cartilage and bone tissue, joints gradually deform, which aggravates functional limitation.
The knee joint is one of the most common areas of arthropathy (knee arthropathy is also called knee arthropathy). Its symptoms are manifested in varying degrees in almost 30% of the adult population. Since the discomfort of this disease during walking develops quite quickly, patients usually consult a doctor in the early stages of pathology. This fact facilitates the treatment of knee joint arthropathy and makes it more effective. For treatment, doctors use medical and surgical methods for exposure. It is also important to follow your diet, massage and exercise therapy.
Let's talk about the treatment in more detail.
medical treatement
The medical treatment of knee joint disease has the following goals:
- Reduce pain;
- Improve the nutrition of articular cartilage;
- Normalization of blood and lymphatic microcirculation process;
- Restore the previous range of motion.
Medications can be used at any stage of the disease, but they are only effective for minor knee injuries.
Chondroprotective agent
Cartilage protection drugs are the only group of drugs that directly act on the cause of the disease. The most effective products are those containing glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.
If you start using chondroprotective agents to treat knee joint arthropathy at an early stage, the treatment may have a significant effect: it can not only slow the destruction of cartilage tissue, but also partially restore it. It should be noted that this group of drugs must be taken in the course for a long time (at least one year). If it is taken only occasionally, the treatment will be useless.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have a symptomatic effect on knee joint disease: they can reduce the severity of inflammation and pain. Because of this effect, active treatment methods can be used, including physical therapy exercises and massage-which are important for severe knee injuries. Because these drugs can damage the stomach wall, it is not recommended to use them regularly and for a long time.
To reduce side effects, you can use other dosage forms: suppositories or injections. In this case, direct contact between the drug and the gastric mucosa can be avoided, and the effectiveness of the drug is still high.
Gels or creams containing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are relatively ineffective. It was found that only 3% of the active substance penetrated the surface tissue and reached the intra-articular structure.
Corticosteroids
In cases where the symptoms of the disease need to be temporarily relieved as soon as possible, corticosteroids are recommended. Generally, the injectable form of the drug is used for intra-articular administration.
Other drug group
An important group of drugs used to treat knee joint disease (local) are vasodilators, which improve the microcirculation in the affected area and promote lymphatic drainage.
In most cases, compresses are used for these purposes and are slightly more effective than ointments. It is worth noting that:
- Dimexide has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects and can improve blood flow characteristics and tissue nutrition. Unlike many similar drugs, it is deeply organized.
- Medicinal bile has a warming and absorption effect, and is the most effective for the accompanying changes in the inflammation of the joint membrane.
- Bischofite is a natural mineral that warms and improves microcirculation in the affected area.
In addition, for the treatment of early knee joint arthropathy, intra-articular administration of hyaluronic acid has recently started. It is the main component of synovial fluid, therefore, due to its use, the abrasion of the cartilage articular surface is significantly reduced. When treating knee joint disease, it is very important to ensure that this substance does not enter the bloodstream. In this case, when the drug enters the arteries of the internal organs and causes blood flow to be impaired, the risk of embolic complications increases. The cost of surgery is quite high.
stretch
With arthropathy, the size of the joint space gradually decreases, and therefore, the friction between the joint surfaces increases. As a result, pain is increased, and mobility is significantly restricted. In order to increase the distance between the cartilage, in some cases, the use of equipment traction (traction) is instructed. Due to these procedures, the load on the joints and the severity of disease symptoms are reduced. Usually this method is used for courses of 5-7 programs.
Manual therapy and massage
To treat knee joint disease, manual therapy and special massage can be used. Their role is to relieve pain, relieve muscle spasms, and restore range of motion. However, these treatments are only effective in the early stages of pathology, because with the obvious deformation of bone and cartilage tissue, manipulation becomes difficult.
Leech therapy
Medicinal leeches can be used to treat knee joint disease: due to this procedure, blood properties, local blood flow and tissue nutrition are improved. It can also activate the regeneration process of cartilage tissue and increase the amount of intra-articular fluid.
physiotherapy
Physical therapy procedures are often used as additional treatments. In most cases, electrophoresis is used: with its help, the external drug penetrates the skin surface more deeply than conventional applications.
You can also use ultrasound, magnetic devices, laser radiation. Due to their action, microcirculation and tissue nutrition are improved, and the process of destruction and deformation is slowed down.
operation treatment
In the case of ineffective conservative methods, surgical intervention for the treatment of knee joint disease. Usually, in this case, the patient's knee joint has significant deformation and is almost completely immobile. During the operation, excess tissue that restricts mobility can be removed.
In advanced cases, titanium structures are used for complete or partial prostheses. The surgical trauma is large, and the postoperative recovery period can reach several months. However, even in seemingly hopeless situations, a well-performing prosthesis will help restore joint function.
Family therapy
You can treat knee joint disease at home, but you must first coordinate all your actions with your doctor to avoid hurting yourself.
diet
Adherence to diet plays an important role in the treatment of knee joint disease, because the substances needed for cartilage and bone cell renewal are provided through food.
In the case of excessive weight, the correct choice of diet will reduce it, thereby reducing the load on the musculoskeletal system.
physiotherapy
Gymnastics and physical therapy exercises are an integral part of the treatment of knee joint disease. Through practice, the muscles of the thighs and calves are strengthened, the mobility of the limbs is increased, and the condition of ligaments is improved. By improving the blood supply to the affected area, the delivery of nutrients and oxygen can be increased. Regular personal exercise therapy is very important. Sometimes, it is recommended to work with a coach-so you can control the correctness of the exercise and make changes if necessary.
physiotherapy
Physical therapy can also be used to treat knee joint disease at home. For this, use ultra-high frequency portable devices, small magnets, and paraffin compression bags. During surgery, it is necessary to achieve maximum muscle relaxation, and during physical therapy, it is best to reduce the load on the affected limb. For this, you can use crutches: by leaning on the crutches, a person can reduce the load on the knee by 40%. In order for the cane to be effective, it is important to choose the right size for it.
Folklore
There are many popular recipes that can bring tangible benefits to the treatment of knee joint disease. Here are some of them:
- Chopped hot horseradish should be tied to the knee at night;
- If it hurts, you can drink onion soup 3 times a day (two onions are boiled in one liter of boiling water);
- It is recommended to soak it with malt and senna herb several times a week;
- When the inflammation is severe, you can wipe the knee joint with lemon wedges or wrap it in oatmeal.
in conclusion
There is no definite answer to the question of how to cure knee joint disease. Most experts believe that this disease is incurable. With the help of modern methods, it can only slow down (stop) the process of joint destruction and only partially restore lost functions. Therefore, we must pay special attention to prevention and proceed from an early age.