Treatment of the knee joint is not a quick process, and pain relief is not always immediate. Mostly, they occur due to the destruction and deformation of cartilage tissue, but there may be other causes as well. Delaying treatment is not possible because joint disease progresses rapidly and can lead to serious consequences, even disability.
Causes of knee pain
The knee is the organ where the kneecap aligns with two bones. The cup located in front of the knee is connected by the quadriceps tendon, which is connected to the ligament. The bones are covered with cartilage, and between them is the lunar cartilage - the meniscus. Additionally, the knee has several pockets of synovial fluid that act as a lubricant for the knee.
This entire complex mechanism is designed for flexion, extension and shock absorption during movement. Any irregularities in his work would cause discomfort and distress. How to treat the knee should be determined by a traumatologist after diagnosis.
The causes of pain can vary, from fatigue and overwork to serious illness, and they are divided like this:
- Knee Injuries - All mechanical injuries can be attributed to these causes. Bruising, ligament rupture, blood flow into the joint cavity with intra-articular fractures, meniscus damage and rupture, patellar luxation. These causes are usually characterized by acute localized pain, severe swelling, bruising, and difficulty or inability to move the joint.
- Inflammatory and degenerative joint diseases are the most common causes of knee pain in older adults and older adults. Arthritis, joint disease, osteomalacia, bursitis, Schlatter's disease and other diseases. They are characterized by increased pain or simple discomfort during movement, clicks during knee flexion/extension, abnormal joint flexibility, and chronic knee instability.
- Various systemic infections and viral diseases can also cause inflammation and pain. These include osteoporosis, bone tuberculosis, syphilis, osteomyelitis and many others. This pain can be of different nature, depending on the inflammation that viruses and infections cause damage to the body.
- A disease in which pain radiates to the knee. Sciatica Injury, Hip Arthropathy, Fibromyalgia. This pain is a side effect, so they ache or shoot periodically in nature. Treating the knee in this condition will not bring relief.
Diagnosing and finding out the cause of the pain will determine how to treat the knee joint. If you have unexplained symptoms, it is best not to self-medicate.
knee treatment
Treatment of knee pain can be conservative or surgical. A surgical approach is to remove the cause of pain through surgery. Conservative therapy is a comprehensive technique aimed at eliminating symptoms and pathology. So how to treat knee pain?
Surgical methods
This approach can be used for serious injuries and inflammatory and degenerative diseases. Acute pain in the joint may indicate severe injury or complete wear of the cartilage. Therefore, several types of operations are used.
Arthroscopy
Such surgery may be performed to diagnose and treat severe joint injuries. Arthroscopes are inserted into the knee joint through micro-incisions, one with a camera and displaying "pictures" on a screen, and the other for operations inside the joint, mainly for treatment.
Such a procedure significantly reduces the postoperative and recovery period and leaves little or no scarring. Surgery is performed on the torn ligaments and meniscus with the help of arthroscopy. It is sometimes used to treat arthropathy, but its effectiveness in this situation remains questionable.
Osteotomy
The most aggressive method With this procedure, the knee joint is fully opened and the patella is removed with the help of an incision, allowing the manipulation to be performed directly in the cavity. This method is also known as opening. Typically, a brace is applied to the bone, which greatly helps reduce the load on the joint.
A major disadvantage of this procedure is the long recovery period. Patients will be able to walk after 1-2 months and lead an active lifestyle after a year. But such surgery usually promises long-term relief.
You should be aware that osteotomy is used when the connective tissue is severely damaged or deformed and requires partial removal of the diseased area.
endoprosthesis
It is performed when all other treatments have been exhausted and the joint continues to collapse and cease to perform its function completely. After the affected element has been completely removed by an osteotomy, the implant is placed in the knee. It can be transplanted from a donor or replaced with an artificial prosthesis. They are made of plastic, ceramic or metal alloys.
In this way, the disease completely disappears and the patient achieves permanent remission. Nonetheless, it is worth considering that the prosthesis may be rejected and other side effects are possible. Israel remains a leader in joint replacements.
for reference! In most cases, knee pain is treated in a more gentle way. And this therapy is very effective, and most importantly, it allows you to maintain an active lifestyle during recovery.
Conservative treatment
These methods are a group of techniques aimed at joint regeneration, healing and rehabilitation. It includes medication, physiotherapy exercises and gymnastics, physiotherapy. In some cases it may include folk methods. At the first manifestation of knee pain, it is worth choosing a knee orthosis or brace, which will slow tissue destruction and reduce symptoms of the disease before primary treatment begins.
medical treatement
What is the first thing to do with knee pain? Of course, use painkillers and pain relievers. This funding can be in different pharmacological forms. Ointments and tablets are recommended for dull aches and pains. For acute and shot, injections that provide immediate pain relief are best.
Once a diagnosis is made, nonsteroidal drugs can be prescribed. The knee is often swollen due to injury, severe joint disease, and other degenerative conditions. That's what these drugs are for. They improve blood circulation, reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
The final stage of drug therapy will be the intake of chondroprotective agents. They are absolutely suitable for any damage and change of cartilage tissue. This is the basis of conservative treatment.
fact! Chondroprotective agents, such as bricks, restore cartilage. They have properties that regenerate and restore elasticity.
But it's worth preparing for the fact that treatment with chondroprotective agents can be very long. Courses range from three months to one year. Pharmacological forms can be tablets, ointments and injections. By the way, these substances can also be found in food, so for knee pain, doctors recommend eating jelly, broth, avocado, and jelly.
In some cases, intramuscular injections of hyaluronic acid may be prescribed. It is this substance that is part of the synovial fluid that fills the joint cavity. It will aid in the regeneration of connective tissue and recovery will be faster.
Exercise Therapy and Gymnastics
This is the most important stage after surgery and after medical treatment. Physical therapy should also be administered to prevent pain. It should be performed under the supervision of a rehabilitation specialist in a special center or nursing home to properly implement a set of exercises. It usually takes 2-3 months.
With its help, the knee joint gradually becomes active by increasing the range of motion. Swimming will be the most important element. It not only makes the joints move smoothly, but also improves blood circulation and metabolism, and has a positive effect on tissue repair.
physiotherapy
Such procedures are designed for safe recovery and treatment. These methods achieve the best results with the least load. These include the following methods:
- ultrasound therapy;
- electrophoresis;
- infrared therapy;
- Various warm-ups.
If your knee hurts, what else can you do to heal your leg? A good physical therapy routine is also massage, which increases blood circulation and speeds up the recovery process. A good massage relieves pain and has a general strengthening effect.
Topical preparations are available without a doctor's prescription, and can be used for knee injuries. But most likely, this will only remove the symptoms, while the cause remains and sooner or later will cause discomfort again.
folk remedies
How to treat knee pain with folk methods, probably every patient who has encountered this disease knows:
- The first method is to heat the joint. This can be done at home using special vodka and honey zips.
- You can go for a bath or a sauna, which has great effects on the entire body.
- A very modern way to warm up is a warm-up orthosis on a battery. It's convenient, comfortable, and doesn't require much effort. One session can relieve pain within 20-30 minutes.
- Mud and algae wraps are also great for joints. They are able to restore the elasticity of cartilage in a short period of time, improve blood circulation and thus contribute to better tissue nutrition.
It is important to remember that alternative methods will not be effective for the final stages of serious injury and illness. Therefore, any treatment at home should be discussed with your doctor.
Patient feedback on treatments
Uncertainty about the cause cannot answer the question of how to treat the knee joint, because in this case, as long as the symptomatic treatment can make the early disease become chronic. There is always a need for an integrated approach, and patient feedback confirms this.
- Lady, 55: "My knee has been hurting for a long time. I don't understand why, and then I went to the doctor anyway, and it turned out that I had joint disease. They prescribed chondroprotective agents so I could forget the pain. In exercise therapywith the help of.
- Man, 35: "He suffered a serious knee injury - ruptured meniscus. The attending doctor prescribed arthroscopy and after a short recovery he resumed major sports. "
- Male, 48: "Unfortunately, the joints completely ruined my joints and I didn't notice the pain for a long time. I had prostheses and ceramic joints. I'm back to an active life and even started running in the morning. "
- Male, 20 years old: "I have a pinched sciatic nerve and a dull pain in my knee. I don't understand why, I put a non-steroidal ointment on my joint. Then I went to the doctor and found that the pain was secondary and my knee was healthy. "