Osteoarthritis of the knee is a degenerative condition of the cartilage of the knee joint, as a result of which it is destroyed. Osteoarthritis is the most common disease, according to the statistics of doctors, about 80% of people suffer from this pathology to some degree or another. It is the third most common disease after cancer and heart disease. All of this shows that the treatment of knee osteoarthritis has not yet been able to completely eliminate this disease.
The principles of treatment
There are a number of principles in the treatment of knee effusion, which are the basis for treating the disease:
- Knee joints damaged by osteoarthritis must be relieved immediately if excessive physical activity occurs during the treatment period. Treating knee osteoarthritis is not so easy, but it will help you prevent complications. If possible, generally limit joint movement and follow the established regimen prescribed by your doctor.
- Along with the treatment, do not take too much care of yourself lest muscle tissue atrophy. It is best to engage in physical therapy at an affordable price. Which joint doctor treats, the doctor will give the direction of therapeutic exercise.
- Physical therapy is a great and effective way to improve your baseline treatment. Physiotherapy always includes electrotherapy, magnetic field, laser and shock wave therapy.
- Treatment in a nursing home will also be useful to patients - suffering from joint diseases, it is necessary to visit specialized resorts at least once a year.
- The necessary treatment is to fill the joints with oxygen. For this, the so-called oxygen therapy is performed.
- Medicines for treatment are mainly anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs, unblocking tumors.
- An integral component of proper proper treatment will be to change eating habits, eliminate foods that cause excess salt in the body, and saturate the body with calcium, minerals and vitamins.
Medicine
Conservative therapy in relation to the treatment of knee gonarthrosis:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- chondroprotectors.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are fundamental in the treatment of joint disease. This group of drugs helps you quickly stop inflammation, remove eye bags, so the pain will quickly disappear. The drug has a fever-reducing and pain-relieving effect. That is why they are recommended to treat joint conditions, including osteoarthritis of the knee.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of DOA of the knee joint (osteoarthritis deformity) are divided into several groups. According to their composition, they can be divided into acidic and non-acidic.
When using NSAIDs, you need to remember the risk of side effects, so absolutely do not exceed the dose.
Due to their high effectiveness, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have been actively used in the treatment of various inflammatory diseases. However, doctors note that they have a negative effect. Research shows their negative effects on the kidneys, heart, blood, and digestive tract. That's why doctors are trying to limit the use of NSAIDs, including in the treatment of joint disease.
It is very important that during the treatment of the disease, the maximum possible dose should be reached to help limit the symptoms of extreme pain, but without negative effects. Almost all suffered from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs:
- organs of the gastrointestinal tract;
- blood cells;
- kidney;
- love.
From the stomach side can occur complications such as ulcers, indigestion, internal bleeding, even gastric perforation. As for the liver, there is damage to hepatocytes - the main cells of the liver. Cardiac disorders are manifested by arterial hypertension and edema. In the kidney, the glomerular filtration rate decreases and interstitial nephritis may develop. Side effects on the blood are manifested in the reduction of platelet aggregation and an increased risk of bleeding.
Is it possible to completely abandon NSAIDs that negatively affect the body? It turns out not, because it is this group that helps limit the first and second stages of joint disease. Therefore, the negative aspects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs force manufacturers to look for new generation of these drugs.
Research results have isolated 2 generations of cyclooxygenase enzymes 1 and 2. Recently, cyclooxygenase 3 enzymes have been discovered, including oxicam. These drugs have much less negative effects, therefore they are actively used in the treatment of deformed joints.
The latest generation drugs are also capable of effectively treating joint disease without harming the body. The only drawback of the new drugs is their rather high price. Therefore, with prolonged use by the attending physician, older drugs are prescribed with probiotics that support the digestive tract.
Oxycams
The representative of a new generation of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is the oxicam group.
The most effective and safe oxicam group for arthritis patients today.
Chondroprotectors
Chondroprotectors are a group of drugs used to protect cartilage tissue. The mechanism of action is due to the content of the active ingredients that make up these drugs. First of all, it is:
- glucosamine;
- Chondroitin sulfate.
The action of chondroitin sulfate is based on the stimulation of the formation of cartilage components. Also this substance:
- prevents destructive processes in cartilage tissue;
- improve intra-articular fluid production;
- has anti-inflammatory effect.
Glucosamine is essential for the synthesis of cartilage tissue. It protects cartilage from free radicals and other factors that damage the integrity of cartilage tissue. In addition, glucosamine can reduce puffiness and has anti-inflammatory effects.
Chondroprotectors have the ability to restore cartilage tissue, but they must be taken for a rather long time - at least six months. Another major disadvantage of chondroprotectors is that they protect cartilage from more destructive effects, but cannot slow down the already begun pathological process.
Therefore, this group of drugs is introduced into the treatment only in the early stages of the disease with the active prescription of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Today there are three generations of chondroprotectors, the most famous of which are:
- preparations of animal cartilage;
- second generation are single-agent drugs containing pure hyaluronic acid, or chondroitin or glucosamine;
- The third generation is a combination of drugs including glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.
Today it is possible to use chondroprotectors together with anti-inflammatory drugs.
Work
In some cases, osteoarthritis of the knee is completely cured with surgery. Usually, surgery is performed when the patient develops grade 3 gonads. But if the patient in the second stage of the disease has very pronounced pain syndrome, pain medication is also difficult to cure, and the condition of the joint is difficult to cure. In more severe cases, surgery is indicated at this stage of the disease.
There are several surgical interventions that work best for gonadal patients. Each technique has its own characteristics and results.
A joint graft is a procedure in which joint tissue is completely removed and the femur and tibia are fused together with the kneecap. This treatment for gonarthrosis is the most radical and is not routinely used today, as it leads to limitation of the patient's mobility.
Another operation to remove knee arthritis is arthroscopic surgery. Treatment consists of removing dead particles. The disadvantages of surgery are significant - it takes a long time to recover, and the effect of the procedure lasts only 1 to 2 years. Such a surgery can be performed at the second stage of the development of the disease.
Periarticular osteotomy – this surgery is done if necessary to restore joint mobility. During the operation, the surgeon will saw off the parts of the bone that impede free movement and position them at the desired angle.
As a result, the center of gravity in the bone shifts and the load on the cartilage tissue disappears. Currently, this type of joint surgery is practically not used because it is quite complicated and requires a long recovery process. The positive effect of the treatment is also temporary.
The most successful intervention is endoscopy. Osteoarthritis surgery using arthroscopic has no analogues - it gives a lasting effect and the patient forgets about knee problems for many years.
Knee arthroplasty is the most advanced technique. Modern treatments can remove from the patient the cartilage tissue affected by the pathological process, as well as bone fragments. Instead, a more reliable and functional prosthetic is placed. The advantages of surgery are as follows:
- it is possible to fully restore the patient's motor functions;
- rehabilitation with such an operation is minimal;
- Prosthetics last about three decades.
The only problem with prosthetic joint surgery is the high cost of materials, as high-quality restorations are quite expensive. Postoperative treatment is completed in the intensive care unit - the patient is drained for several days, from which wound secretions are released.
To relieve pain, the knee is covered with special coolants. Able to move during the endoscopy on the third day, on the tenth day the patient continued treatment at the rehabilitation center. After treatment, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed for pain relief, hormonal agents, and a bandage for a while.
Comment
To evaluate different therapies, you can read reviews of patients who have been treated in different ways and who have recovered from osteoarthritis of the knee:
- Woman, 45 years old: "Knee effusion was discovered 2 years ago by me. I had pain when stepping on my foot, there was an unusual crackling sound, I went to the doctor. The beginning of the second degree. two of my diseases were diagnosed and treated with non-steroidal drugs and chondroprotectors. With the help of analgesics I achieved stable pain relief - I took a group of pain relievers. continue to take chondroprotectors, the health condition has not deteriorated".
- Male, 62 years old: "I have osteoarthritis in my knee - obviously as a result of playing sports that I participated in professionally when I was young, affected. Even leaving my job as a coach didn't work. helped reduce the load, so I continued to actively participate, and as a result I was diagnosed with arthritis, which I practically did not treat. I just took painkillers, hoping that it would pass. As a result, stage 3 of the disease developed, and I had to undergo surgery. Out of all the techniques, the doctor suggested prosthetics, which was done for me last year. The operation was successful andI recovered pretty quickly. "
- Woman, 55: "This year I was diagnosed with stage 1 degenerative joint disease. Luckily, I went to the doctor on time because I felt heavy in my legs. I thought it was swelling, because I have been overweight since I was a child, but as it turned out, it was arthritis. Now I am taking anti-inflammatory drugs, but the doctor promised that I will be able to recover with the help of chondroprotectors. it won't come with the surgery. "
Osteoarthritis of the knee is characterized by an insidious process, when in the early stages the pathology is asymptomatic. However, that is when the treatment is most effective. Therefore, doctors emphasize on timely diagnosis of pathology and prevention of disorders in cartilage tissue.