Regular knee pain during movement and limited movement indicate a serious joint problem. They are most likely to diagnose arthrosis - the breakdown of the cartilage tissue of the joint. In order to avoid disability, arthrosis of the knee joint must be treated.
What medicines are prescribed for the treatment of joint arthrosis?
The selection of the treatment system and the appropriate drugs depends on the degree of joint damage and the presence of concomitant diseases. If the arthrosis is in stage 1 or 2, drug treatment is possible. In stage 3 of the disease, which is complicated by other diseases, the only treatment is surgery. That is why it is important to recognize the problem in time and start solving it with conservative methods.
Arthrosis can develop in childhood due to improper formation of ligaments or joint surfaces.
The disease can also appear after an injury or the development of other pathologies of the body, including:
- fractures, muscle strains, bruises and dislocations of the knee;
- consequences of professional sports;
- meniscus surgery;
- arthritis;
- obesity;
- salt deposits in the joint;
- pathologies accompanied by muscle spasms.
If the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint is started immediately after the first signs of the disease are identified, a complete recovery is possible. At a later stage, when the disease becomes chronic, long-term remission can be achieved.
The classic treatments are:
- use of medications;
- manual therapy, exercise therapy, physiotherapy and massage;
- use of traditional medicine (ointments, rubs).
Today, doctors offer new methods of treating arthrosis of the knee joint: the use of drugs containing hormones, drugs to relieve spasms and restore joint cartilage tissue. These are non-steroidal drugs that relieve inflammation, chondroprotectors, various ointments, compresses, intra-articular injections.
Complex treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint is also possible, in which the simultaneous use of traditional medicine, medicines and massage is allowed. They complement each other's activities, relieve pain and promote joint regeneration.
Let's see how each type of medicine works in the treatment of arthrosis.
general information
During the restoration of the joint, you must limit the load on the knee and follow the orthopedic regimen. During an exacerbation, the patient's diet plays an important role.
During the treatment phase, all efforts should be aimed at:
- pain relief;
- elimination of inflammation and swelling;
- improving the condition of joint cartilage;
- activation of the blood supply to the painful knee;
- restoration of joint muscles.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
The treatment regimen for osteoarthritis of the knee usually includes treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). They reduce pain and eliminate inflammation. Prescribing drugs in the form of injections is the most effective. The drugs act quickly on the affected area and do not affect the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Sometimes NSAIDs are used in the form of ointments. They are less effective and are usually used as an adjunct to the main treatment.
The attending physician usually prescribes non-steroidal drugs in the lowest effective dose, increasing them if necessary.
Chondroprotectors
In addition to NSAIDs, chondroprotectors are prescribed to improve the condition of painful knees, which restore cartilage tissue and improve the composition of synovial fluid. The peculiarity of this group of drugs is the long recovery period during drug administration. The process of treating arthrosis of the knee joint with chondroprotectors takes six months or more. If there is no visible change during this period, other recovery methods are selected.
It is advisable to use chondroprotectors and hyaluronic acid at the same time. Hyaluronic acid-based preparations are injected into the joint. They promote the restoration of connective tissues, as they participate in the formation of chondrocytes - articular chondrocytes.
Ointments for the treatment of knees
In case of arthrosis, the use of local medicines, such as ointments, is also recommended. They cannot completely cope with the disease, so they are used together with other drugs. Using ointments can speed up healing.
The main effects of anti-arthrosis ointments:
- relieves inflammation;
- eliminates pain;
- relieves muscle spasms;
- improves blood circulation;
- warm;
- improves the nutrition of joint tissues;
- protects against infection.
Knee poultice in case of arthrosis
This type of manipulation is the most common in the treatment of gonarthrosis and arthrosis. This is due to the rather rapid relief of the symptoms of the disease. The compress is most often used in alternative medicine, where herbal decoctions and tinctures are used for treatment. It should be understood that poultice alone does not cure the disease, so its use should be combined with taking traditional medicines.
The use of poultices is associated with rapid positive effects:
- blood circulation improves;
- the nutrients and components of the medicine quickly reach the affected area of the joint;
- muscle tone increases;
- inflammation subsides;
- pain intensity decreases;
- the functionality of the synovial fluid is restored.
Intra-articular injections
Intra-articular injection is one of the most advanced forms of treatment. This therapy is highly effective, but also quite expensive. The condition of the painful knee improves due to the fact that the medicine reaches the affected area directly. The drug stops the development of the inflammatory process and nourishes the articular cartilage. Intra-articular injections of chondroprotectors treat the joint and not only alleviate the symptoms.
If the drug is injected directly into the area of the joint capsule, it starts working immediately. With intramuscular, intravenous injections and taking tablets, the onset of the effect is significantly prolonged. In addition, there are negative side effects on other organs.
There are two groups of drugs that are prescribed for injection into the joint. These include glucocorticoids and hyaluronic acid.
Vitamin complex
Vitamins are important supplements to medicines and other treatments. They promote the rapid renewal of cartilage tissue and maintain the general condition of the body. During the treatment of arthrosis, vitamins B, C, A and E are prescribed in parallel with medicines.
Manual therapy in the treatment of gonarthrosis
Comprehensive therapy of arthrosis should include manual therapy procedures. The specialist uses his hands on the patient's body to improve blood circulation of the affected joint, normalize mobility and prevent atrophic processes. Manual exercises in combination with drugs help in the treatment of arthrosis of the knee and hip joints.
The duration of manual therapy depends on the severity of the arthrosis. Usually, the doctor prescribes 1-10 sessions. This method is effective in the initial or middle stages of the disease. The degree of damage, the treatment methods and the duration of the use of each method are prescribed by an orthopedic doctor after a thorough diagnosis.
Physiotherapy for gonarthrosis
This method of treating the joint is very effective in combination with drugs. Physiotherapy can speed up the healing process, reduce the dose of medication taken and the likelihood of side effects.
There are several types of physiotherapy for the treatment of arthrosis:
- exposure to magnetic fields;
- electrophoresis;
- radiation exposure;
- ultrasound effect.
The type, duration and amount of physiotherapy is prescribed by a physiotherapist after diagnosing the patient. There are several co-morbidities for which physiotherapy is contraindicated.
Physiotherapy
Special exercises for arthrosis are used in the early stages of the disease, when the cartilage tissue has not yet been destroyed. Moderate physical activity can stop negative changes in the joints. In the later stages of arthrosis, physical education for therapeutic purposes is used during the period of remission, when the primary therapy to relieve pain and inflammation was carried out.
All exercises should be performed smoothly, with a moderate load on the legs. A properly selected exercise therapy complex improves blood circulation, increases metabolism and activates the absorption of drugs, strengthens muscles, which ensures effective treatment of knee arthrosis.
Physical therapy exercises are included in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Surgery
Late-stage arthrosis cannot be treated with medication. The only solution is surgery. Only he can restore the mobility of the knee. The factors for the prescription of surgical treatment are the third stage of arthrosis, the ineffectiveness of conservative methods and serious knee injuries in the background of the development of arthrosis.
Today, there are four types of surgery to treat painful knees:
- joint protector;
- joint replacement;
- joint resection;
- joint strengthener.
The type of surgery is selected by the doctor based on the degree of damage to the joint, concomitant diseases and the response of the patient's body to a specific method of conservative treatment. It should be understood that surgical intervention is accompanied by a long rehabilitation period using complex therapy. Therefore, the need for surgery must be strictly verified with a comprehensive diagnosis.
Diet
Adequate nutrition during the development of arthrosis can reduce the rate of joint damage and increase the effectiveness of the treatment of the disease. It is important to understand which foods should be included in the diet regularly and which should be left out forever. Sea fish, fresh vegetables and fruits improve joint function. Fish oil improves the condition of the cartilage. In addition, phosphorus, iron and selenium play an important role in the formation of many tissues, including cartilage. Apple and pomegranate juice have good anti-inflammatory properties. Their presence in the diet not only prevents the development of inflammatory processes, but also fights those that have already started.
People suffering from arthrosis should exclude foods containing trans fats from their diet. In addition, fatty meats, whole milk and corn oil should be avoided. The fats in these products destroy the cartilage tissue in the joints.