Osteoarthritis of the knee (gonarthrosis) is a chronic disease caused by degenerative changes in the cartilage tissue. The disease seriously disrupts the usual rhythm of life, causes severe pain and limits mobility. Medical treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee joint helps to stop pain and degenerative processes in the early stages of the disease. At a later date, the problem will be solved with the help of an operation.
Arthritis treatment with conservative methods
The therapy of osteoarthritis of the knee is carried out comprehensively and includes the use of medication, physiotherapy, massage, exercise therapy. Medicines relieve pain, improve blood circulation, and promote tissue regeneration.
In the course of treatment they use:
- Pills;
- Creams;
- Gels;
- Injections.
Modern medicine is developing new ways to treat osteoarthritis of the knee. Effective methods are stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma therapy. Doctors point out the high efficiency of treatment and rapid tissue regeneration.
Pain relievers and anti-inflammatories
The choice of drugs for osteoarthritis depends on the degree of the disease, the characteristics of the organism and the associated pathologies. With the 1st degree of the disease, after prolonged exertion, a person feels a little uncomfortable, dystrophic processes are just beginning in the cartilage tissue. Treatment is done with topical ointments. For complaints and slight pain, the following is recommended:
- Do gymnastics;
- reduce the load on the joint;
- take vitamin complexes;
- follow a diet.
The main drug therapy is used for the 2nd degree of the disease. A person begins to feel pain, a crunch is heard when walking, the cartilage tissue becomes thinner, the range of motion is restricted. The aim of treatment is to relieve pain, stop destructive processes in the joint and restore the mobility of the legs.
For pain relief, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used, which have an analgesic effect and relieve inflammatory processes in the tissue.
On a note.Long-term use of these drugs negatively affects the gastrointestinal tract and liver.
Today, doctors are increasingly prescribing "new generation" NSAIDs that can be used over a long period of time and have minimal side effects.
If an infectious disease is added to osteoarthritis, the doctor can prescribe antibiotics. In order to choose the right drug, the causative agent of the infection is identified. To do this, take fluid from the joint cavity and place it in a nutrient medium. Based on the results of the analysis, the doctor will prescribe a drug.
Chondroprotectors
The main group of drugs used in the treatment of osteoarthritis are chondroprotectors. They are used over a long period and are well accepted by the body. Thanks to active ingredients, they stop destructive processes in cartilage tissue, improve the production of synovial fluid and promote tissue regeneration.
On a note.Medications are effective in the first two degrees of osteoarthritis of the knee. In the third, the cartilage tissue is destroyed and cannot recover on its own.
The most suitable drug is selected by a specialist.
On a note.Medicines are available in the form of tablets and injection solutions. The second form is the most effective. The therapeutic effect sets in within a few minutes, bypassing the absorption process via the gastrointestinal tract.
Complementary Therapy
Together with chondroprotectors, drugs are prescribed that will help improve metabolic processes and blood supply, as well as enriching the body with vitamins. The following drugs are used for complex therapy:
- Muscle relaxants - eliminate smooth muscle spasms, relieve pain;
- Venotonics and vasodilators improve blood flow and tissue trophy around the joint;
- Vitamin complexes saturate the body with the necessary substances, have a positive effect on metabolic processes and improve general well-being.
- Local remedies in the form of cream, ointment and gel improve blood circulation in the knee joint, have a warming and decongestant effect, and relieve pain.
- Compresses with medication are more effective than creams.
Intra-articular injections
Therapy of osteoarthritis of the knee is carried out according to a different method - injections into the joint. In medicine, this way of administering drugs is called a blockade. Depending on the drugs used, the injection will help effectively stop the pain syndrome, when other means do not help, quickly clearing inflammation and creating a protective layer that protects cartilage tissue from further destruction.
On a note.The order of treatment is determined by the doctor. Hyaluronic acid preparations are administered only after the inflammatory process has been eliminated, otherwise the course of the disease can be aggravated.
Stem cell and plasma therapy
Modern methods of treating osteoarthritis of the knee are based on low invasiveness and a reduction in recovery time. One of these procedures is stem cell therapy, which after injection can transform itself into cells of the cartilage tissue and contribute to its regeneration. Material for the procedure is obtained from embryos and adipose tissue, bone marrow of an adult.
The procedure helps:
- Eliminate pain;
- Relieve swelling;
- restore motor functions;
- improve common nutrition;
- accelerate metabolic processes.
The removed stem cells are grown under laboratory conditions and injected into the patient's joint. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia.
On a note.Therapy is only carried out when cartilage tissue is still present and synovial fluid is being produced. In Grade 3 disease, treatment does not give positive results.
A new method of treating osteoarthritis is the administration of platelet-rich plasma. The process is simple:
- Taking blood from the patient;
- blood is placed in a test tube and centrifuge, where it is divided into erythrocytes, plasma with platelets;
- only platelet worries are produced;
- the drug is injected into the knee.
With an increased number of blood platelets, an increased regeneration of the cartilage tissue begins. For treatment, 2 to 5 procedures must be carried out, with a break of 7 days between them.
Other treatments
In the fight against osteoarthritis of the knee, people use various traditional and non-traditional methods, including hirudotherapy (leech therapy). The saliva of worms contains many enzymes that are beneficial to humans. It enables you to:
- reduce blood viscosity, which improves blood circulation;
- relieve pain syndrome;
- Improve metabolic processes.
On a note.Doctors compare the effects of leech saliva with chondroprotectors. It speeds up the process of cartilage repair. In the early stages, the patient is completely cured.
Hirudotherapy is prescribed with caution to the elderly and children. The procedures are contraindicated for pregnant women, patients with poor blood clotting and heart failure.
For osteoarthritis of the knee, applications with ozokerite (black wax), a waxy mass made of paraffin and resins, are no less effective. It is used in inflammatory and degenerative processes in cartilaginous structures. It has a thermal, pain-relieving and regenerating effect on the diseased joint.
Ozokerite is used as compresses and applications. The course of treatment should consist of at least 15 daily sessions.
Electrophoresis with drugs is no less effective. During the session, the drug penetrates deeply into the diseased areas, bypassing the stomach and liver. As a result, the use of medication will be reduced, and the effect of the procedure will be more pronounced.
At home, you can use a special device. When used locally, the device is exposed to UV radiation and heat. This improves blood circulation, tissue trophism, and activates biochemical reactions in the skin. Positive feedback from patients confirms the effectiveness of the procedures.
Surgical methods
Surgical interventions are usually performed in grade 3 and 4 of the disease, when the bony heads are practically bare and conservative therapy cannot bring positive results.
Different types of operations are performed for osteoarthritis of the knee:
- Arthrodesis - Remove the remaining cartilage along with the joint. It is rarely used because it cannot maintain limb mobility.
- Arthroscopic debridement - the detachment of the joint from the cartilage tissue with an arthroscope. The procedure is for pain relief and is a temporary solution to the problem.
- Endoprosthetics is the most common and most effective method of surgical intervention for osteoarthritis of the knee. It allows you to maintain the range of motion of the joint. Modern prostheses are made according to the individual characteristics of the patient. This allows the implant to take root in the body quickly without causing discomfort to the patient.
Joint replacement operations are performed under general anesthesia. The surgeon:
- Make a longitudinal incision in the middle part of the knee, pushing the tissues apart.
- It processes the damaged fragments of the bone surface (grinding), installs a prosthesis (artificial cartilage), tests.
- Fixed by cementation or tight fit.
- Sews up the wound, puts on a bandage and a splint.
The whole operation takes 2-3 hours. The recovery period lasts about 4 months. The patient first learns to walk, gradually stressing and strengthening the muscles. Exercise therapy, massage, swimming are recommended. The healing effect lasts up to 20 years, then a new replacement of the prosthesis is necessary as it wears out over time.
Osteoarthritis of the knee is a chronic disease that can be treated successfully at an early stage. Even small symptoms can not be ignored - you need to immediately start complex therapy, in consultation with your doctor. In severe cases, only joint replacement can help prevent disability. Preventive measures include diet, vitamins, exercise, and moderate knee strain.