Many people sooner or later reach a point in their life when knee pain starts to bother them.It becomes difficult to walk, there is a desire to limp on your leg, which bothers you, spares it.Over time, the pain intensifies and begins to follow the unfortunate person wherever he goes.Finally, it becomes so intrusive that the person goes to the doctor, or seeks information about his problems on his own.
Often in this case, the doctor, based on the symptoms, diagnoses "deforming arthrosis 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, most importantly, how to get rid of it?
what is that
This is the process during which cartilage tissue is destroyed.In this case, an accompanying inflammation called synovitis often occurs.After that, the knee becomes deformed, and movements become painful or impossible.
Who can get sick?
This disease is diagnosed based on numerous symptoms.In general, they are quite specific and characteristic of all types of diseases.
Before we find out what causes knee pain that bothers you periodically or constantly, let's see which categories of people are susceptible to this disease:
- people who are overweight.It is logical that obesity and excess weight when walking contribute to increased pressure on the legs.As a result, the cartilage, which is unable to cope with the load, is destroyed;
- athletes.The appearance of the disease is related to excessive stress experienced by athletes during training;
- varicose veins.In this case, the cause is a violation of the blood supply, a decrease in the supply of nutrients;
- people with leg injuries.
Belonging to one of these categories significantly increases the risk of developing knee arthrosis.Now let's look at its symptoms directly.
How to recognize the disease?
The development of the disease can take a very long time - for several years a person does not feel anything, he does not suspect that he is starting to develop the disease.Over time, the manifestations intensify and obvious discomfort appears.
There are several stages of its development:
- Arthrosis of the knee joint, 1st degree.It can be completely asymptomatic for a long time, or manifest as periodic mild pain and mild discomfort.The sensations intensify when a person gets out of bed in the morning and starts walking.Discomfort is felt even more clearly when a person descends or climbs stairs.This stage can last for several months or even years.If you see a doctor at this stage, it will be much easier for you to recover than if you wait until the next stage.
- Arthrosis of the knee joint 2 degrees.The patient begins to notice a characteristic creaking sound while walking, which is sometimes accompanied by severe pain.Movements become limited, restrained, as if with difficulty.During the examination at this stage, the doctor may detect the beginning of minor deformation and accumulation of fluid.This phase includes drug therapy and regular therapeutic exercises.
- Arthrosis of the knee joint 3 degrees.During that period, severe deformations are visible, and movements become very difficult.The patient has problems with bending and straightening the leg.The pain is constant and intensifies during changing weather conditions.A characteristic gait occurs on half-bent legs, a waddle, while the legs have a curved X- or O-shape.
Treatment methods depend on the degree of manifestation of symptoms, on the stage of its development and become more and more complex as it progresses.
Why does it appear?
There are many reasons for knee damage, and they directly depend on the form of the disease - primary or secondary.
The primary form occurs for congenital reasons;begins to appear at an early age.Due to pathologies in the development of the ligament apparatus, there is too much stress on it when walking.This leads to the development of the disease.Thanks to timely medical intervention and adherence to a certain diet, the primary form of knee damage will be eliminated.
The secondary form is the result of injuries and diseases.
Let's consider all the causes of the disease:
- rheumatic diseases (rheumatism, arthritis) can be the underlying cause.In prolonged arthritis, fluid accumulates, which causes 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 cartilage layer and, as a result, its premature damage;
- metabolic disorders that lead to the deposition of salt in the joint cavity, difficulties 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 arthrosis of the knee joints, one of the main roles is attributed to the elimination of the causes that led to the development of the disease.And only after we get rid of the cause, we can talk about the possibility of curing the disease itself, using different means, techniques, as well as proper nutrition.
How to treat it?
How to treat gonarthrosis can only be determined by an expert, focusing on the stage of disease development, the severity of cartilage damage and determining the exact cause that led to the disease.Methods, types, methods of therapy are varied and often effective only in combination.Therefore, you need to approach this issue responsibly and carefully follow all the doctor's recommendations.
It should be remembered that this is a chronic disease that can rarely be completely cured, therefore all treatment methods are aimed, first of all, at achieving remission and the disappearance of symptoms.However, in the first stage of development, when problems are just beginning, it is possible to achieve complete relief from damage to the knee joint by removing its causes (for example, excess weight or excessive stress) and performing simple physical therapy.
Therapy in most cases comes down to relieving a person of pain, restoring damaged cartilage, and returning the possibility of full movement.
Therapy combines the following methods:
- medications and medications, use of medicinal ointments;
- providing therapeutic massage and manual therapy;
- physiotherapeutic methods: therapeutic exercises, exercise therapy;
- surgical intervention if necessary;
- folk and non-traditional methods of treatment.
How and which drugs are used?
The first goal that drug therapy should aim for is pain relief.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used for effective pain relief.
These drugs 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 arthrosis of the knee joint (symptomatic slow-acting drugs) and fat.They have a number of side effects - mostly they have a negative effect on the mucous membrane.Only a doctor should prescribe the dosage and frequency of medication.Do not try to treat yourself - this will inevitably lead to negative processes.
There are also observations that in large doses, anti-inflammatory NSAIDs have a destructive effect on cartilage.
Only if non-steroidal drugs no longer work, the doctor can prescribe strong analgesics with central action.
Along with painkillers, gymnastics and massage, the following group of drugs is used - corticosteroids, whose purpose is to alleviate inflammatory processes.These are hormonal drugs, the effects of which are very strong, which is why it is not recommended to take it orally.In addition, their use causes many side effects.Recently, some corticosteroids are injected into the affected area.
The next group of drugs - symptomatic delayed action - stimulates the synthesis of healthy cartilage cells (chondrocytes) that 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 the destruction and stimulate the reproduction of cells.
Before taking such drugs, be sure to consult a specialist: the fact is that these drugs are effective only for the first and second degree of the disease.In the third stage, the cartilage is already completely destroyed and there is nothing to restore.
What non-drug methods are used?
In the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joints, the most effective combination is exercise and physiotherapy.Physical therapy exercises should be performed exclusively under the supervision of a specialist.Physical activity should be moderate, dosed and regular.
When performing exercises, it is useful to undergo physiotherapeutic procedures, such as ultrasound, high-frequency magnetic therapy, radon, hydrogen sulfide baths, laser treatment.All these procedures not only alleviate knee damage, but also strengthen the body in general.
It must be remembered that exercise therapy classes are possible only during the first stage 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, consult a physical therapy instructor who, after an examination, will create an individual exercise program for you and show you the entire complex that is performed until recovery.
The exercises must be performed strictly according to the schedule and exactly with the load that the instructor will determine for you.Missing classes will render the procedures ineffective, so follow all instructions regularly and responsibly.Only then can we hope for a truly positive result.
The exercises should be combined and completed with manual therapy - massage, which is done by a specialist, or by yourself, after you have learned it.Massage allows you to relax the muscles and improve blood flow to the cartilage layer.
What auxiliary methods are there?
Many doctors recommend the use of special knee prostheses.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.Thus, the patient in the second stage of the disease can move more easily, because walking is already a problem for such people.
Knee pads can be used for prevention by those experiencing physical stress, overweight people to reduce the traumatic impact of walking and athletes during training.
When choosing a knee protector, it is better to consult a doctor.Knee pads differ in their degree of fixation: firm, medium and light.In the most advanced stage of the disease, narrow ones are used, in the first stage - light ones.When using them, it is necessary to ensure that the leg does not go numb: numbness means that blood stagnates, which can lead to disastrous results.
The heating effect of the knee brace relieves pain, which allows you to reduce the dose of painkillers.There are camel and dog hair knee pads.Wool itself has a beneficial effect, thanks to which you can, if not cure the disease, then at least alleviate the condition and speed up the healing process.
Is it worth using folk remedies?
Folk remedies for the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joints can be used only after consultation with a doctor and only as an auxiliary method.By itself, using only traditional methods without using traditional medicine is ineffective and dangerous and can lead to negative consequences.
Among the folk remedies used in the treatment of knee arthrosis, various rubs, poultices, ointments from natural ingredients, rubs, herbal preparations and infusions are used to relieve pain and reduce the inflammatory process.There are many different recipes for the preparation of medicinal drugs that were used by our ancestors.Their healing properties have been proven by centuries of use and are beyond doubt.Burdock poultices, cranberry juice rubs, mummies and beeswax are just a few of the many folk 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 treated area.By increasing the blood flow to the painful area, the regeneration of the cartilage tissue and the cleaning of the affected cells are significantly accelerated, and the painful area is supplied with more nutrients.
Therefore, the use of folk remedies and hirudotherapy together with drugs, manual and physiotherapy and therapeutic exercises promotes full recovery.