Many people, sooner or later, reach a point in life where knee pain begins to bother them.It becomes difficult to walk, there is an urge to limp in the leg, which bothers you, saves you.Over time, the pain intensifies and begins to accompany the unfortunate man 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, where it comes from and where it leads.And, most importantly, how to get rid of it?
What is it?
This is a process during which cartilage tissue is destroyed.In this case, concomitant inflammation, called synovitis, often occurs.Subsequently, the knee becomes deformed and movements become painful or impossible.
Who can get sick?
This disease is diagnosed based on a series of symptoms.In general, they are quite specific and characteristic of all types of diseases.
Before finding out what causes knee pain that bothers you periodically or constantly, let's see what categories of people are susceptible to this disease:
- people who are overweight.It stands to reason that obesity and excess weight when walking contribute to greater pressure on the legs.As a result, the cartilage, unable to withstand the load, is destroyed;
- athletes.The appearance 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 supply of nutrients;
- people with leg injuries.
Belonging to one of these categories significantly increases the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis.Now let's look at its symptoms directly.
How to recognize the disease?
The development of the disease can last a long time: for several years a person does not feel anything, he does not suspect that he is beginning to develop the disease.Over time, the manifestations intensify and obvious discomfort appears.
There are several stages of its development:
- Osteoarthritis of the knee joint of the 1st degree.For a long time it can be completely asymptomatic or manifest as periodic mild pain and mild 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 stairs.This title can last several months or even years.If you see a doctor at this stage, it will be much easier to recover than if you wait until the next stage.
- 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, constricted, as if with difficulty.During an examination at this stage, the doctor may detect the beginning of minor deformation and fluid buildup.This stage involves drug therapy and regular therapeutic exercises.
- Osteoarthritis of the knee joint of the 3rd degree.During this period, severe deformation is observed and movements become very difficult.The patient has problems bending and straightening his leg.The pain is constant and intensifies during changing weather conditions.A characteristic gait appears with the legs half bent, like a duck, 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 it progresses.
Why does it appear?
There are many reasons why knee damage develops and they directly depend on the form of the disease: primary or secondary.
The primary form occurs for congenital reasons;It begins to appear at an early age.Due to pathologies in the development of the ligamentous apparatus, too much tension is applied to it when walking.This leads to the development of the disease.Thanks to timely medical intervention and compliance with a certain diet, the primary form of damage to the knee will be eliminated.
The secondary form is a consequence of injuries and diseases.
Let's consider all the causes of the disease:
- Rheumatic diseases (rheumatism, arthritis) may be the main cause.With prolonged arthritis, fluid accumulates, causing inflammatory processes and, as a consequence, the development of the disease;
- the presence of excess weight also contributes to problems due to an increased load on the cartilage layer and, as a result, its premature damage;
- metabolic disorders leading to the deposition of salts in the joint cavity, difficulty in blood circulation;
- prolonged spasms of muscles or blood vessels in the legs;
- surgical interventions;
- too much stress on the legs during sports activities;
- Injuries: dislocations, fractures, bruises, which were accompanied by damage to the cartilage layer and ligaments.
In the treatment of deforming osteoarthritis of the knee joints, one of the main functions is assigned to the elimination of the causes that led to the development of the disease.And only after getting rid of the causes, we can talk about the possibility of curing the disease itself, using different means, techniques and 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 damage to the cartilage and determining the exact cause that provoked the disease.The methods, types and methods of therapy are varied and often effective only in combination.Therefore, it is necessary to approach this problem responsibly and carefully follow all the doctor's recommendations.
It must be taken into account that this is a chronic disease that can rarely be completely cured, so any treatment method aims, first of all, to achieve remission and disappearance of symptoms.However, at the first stage of development, when problems are just beginning, it is possible to achieve complete relief from damage to the knee joint by eliminating its causes (for example, excess weight or excessive stress) and carrying out simple physiotherapy.
In most cases, therapy boils down to relieving a person's pain, restoring damaged cartilage, and restoring the ability to fully move.
The therapy combines the following methods:
- medicines and medicines, use of medicinal ointments;
- therapeutic massage and manual therapy services;
- physiotherapeutic methods: therapeutic exercises, physiotherapy;
- surgical intervention if necessary;
- popular and non-traditional treatment methods.
How and what medications are used?
The first objective that pharmacotherapy should pursue is pain relief.For effective pain relief, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used.
These medications do not cure the disease or prevent its development;They are only intended to relieve pain.Its use should be combined with the use of drugs to restore the function of cartilage damaged by osteoarthritis of the knee joint (slow-acting symptomatic drugs) and ointments.They have several side effects, primarily a negative effect on the mucous membranes.Only a doctor should prescribe the dosages and frequency of taking medications.Do not try to indulge yourself, this will inevitably lead to negative processes.
There are also observations that in large doses non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have a destructive effect on cartilage.
Only if non-steroidal drugs no longer have an effect, the doctor can prescribe powerful analgesics with a central effect.
Along with 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, so their oral administration is not recommended.In addition, its use causes many side effects.Recently, some corticosteroids are given by injection into the affected area.
The next group of drugs, with symptomatic delayed 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 enter, they stop the destruction and stimulate cell reproduction.
Before taking such drugs, be sure to consult a specialist: the fact is that these drugs are effective only in the first and second degrees of the disease.In the third degree, the cartilage has already been completely destroyed and there is nothing to restore there.
What non-pharmacological methods are used?
In the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joints, the most effective combination of physiotherapy and physiotherapy is the most effective.Physiotherapy exercises should be performed exclusively under the supervision of a specialist.Physical activity should be moderate, dosed and regular.
While performing exercises, it is helpful to undergo physiotherapeutic procedures, such as ultrasound, high-frequency magnetic therapy, radon, hydrogen sulfide baths, and laser treatment.All of these procedures not only relieve damage to the knee, but also strengthen the body as a whole.
It should be remembered that physiotherapy classes are possible only during 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 the exercise.
Before starting therapeutic exercises, consult with a physiotherapy instructor who, after an examination, will create an individual exercise program for you and show you the entire complex that is carried out until recovery.
Exercises must be performed strictly according to the schedule and exactly with the load that the instructor will determine for you.Missing classes will make the procedures ineffective, so follow all instructions regularly and responsibly.Only then can we expect a truly positive result.
The exercises should be combined and completed with manual therapy - massage, which is performed by a specialist or by yourself, having learned how to do it.Massage allows you to relax the muscles and improve blood supply to the cartilage layer.
What help methods exist?
Many doctors recommend the use of special knee pads.They increase the effectiveness of therapy and relieve pain.An elastic bandage is used for the same purpose.
Knee pads fix the ligaments and partially resist the deformation process.This facilitates the movement of a patient in the second stage of the disease, because walking is already a problem for such people.
Knee pads can be used as prevention by those experiencing physical stress, 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.In the most advanced stage of the disease, tight ones are used, during the first stage, light ones.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 warming effect of the knee brace relieves pain, allowing the dose of painkillers to be reduced.There are knee pads made of camel and dog hair.The wool itself has a beneficial effect, thanks to which it is possible, if not to cure the disease, then at least to alleviate the condition and speed up the treatment process.
Is it worth using home remedies?
Folk remedies for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joints can be used only after consulting a doctor and only as an auxiliary method.In itself, the use only of traditional methods without the use of traditional medicine is ineffective and dangerous and can lead to negative consequences.
Among the folk remedies used in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, various rubs, compresses, ointments made from natural ingredients, rubs, herbal preparations and infusions are used to relieve pain and relieve the inflammatory process.There are many different recipes to prepare healing remedies that our ancestors used.Its healing properties have been proven over centuries of use and are beyond doubt.Burdock compresses, cranberry juice, mummy and beeswax are just a few of the many home remedies.
Recently, leech treatment (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 area to be treated.Increasing the blood supply to the painful area significantly accelerates the regeneration of cartilage tissue and the clearance of affected cells, and supplies more nutrients to the painful area.
Thus, the use of home remedies and hirudotherapy along with medication, manual therapy and physiotherapy and therapeutic exercises promotes complete recovery.