Knee arthritis (gonarthrosis) is a chronic disease caused by degenerative changes in cartilage tissue. The disease severely disrupts the normal rhythm of life, causing severe pain and limited mobility. Medical treatment of knee osteoarthritis helps to relieve pain and stop the degenerative process in the early stages of the disease. At a later date, the problem will be solved with the help of a math operation.
Treatment of joint diseases by conservative methods
The treatment of gonadal fibroids is comprehensive and includes medication, physical therapy, massage, and therapeutic exercise. The drug relieves pain, improves blood circulation and promotes tissue regeneration.
During treatment, they use:
- medicine;
- creams;
- lubricating gel;
- injections.
Modern medicine is developing new ways to treat gonarthrosis. Stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma therapy are effective methods. Doctors point to a high therapeutic effect and rapid tissue regeneration.
Pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs
The choice of drug for joint treatment depends on the extent of the disease, the characteristics of the organ and the associated pathology. In degree 1 of the disease, a person feels slight discomfort after prolonged exertion, the dystrophy process has only just begun in the cartilage tissue. Treatment is carried out using a topical ointment. For mild discomfort and pain, you should:
- gymnastics equipment;
- reduce stress on joints;
- take multivitamins;
- follow a diet.
Primary drug therapy is used for grade 2 disease. A person begins to feel pain, hears a crunching sound when walking, cartilage tissue becomes thinner, range of motion is limited. The goal of treatment is to relieve pain, stop the processes that destroy the joint, and restore mobility in the leg.
To relieve pain, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used, which have an analgesic effect and reduce the inflammatory process 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 long-term and with few side effects.
If an infectious disease is associated with joint disease, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. 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 prescribes the drug.
Chondroprotectors
The main group of drugs in the treatment of rheumatic diseases are chondroprotectors. They are applied over a long period of time and are accepted by the body. Thanks to the active substances, they prevent destructive processes in the cartilage tissue, improve the production of synovial fluid and promote tissue regeneration.
On a note.The drug is effective in the first two degrees of gonarthrosis. In the third part, the cartilage tissue is destroyed and cannot repair itself.
The most suitable drug will be selected by a specialist.
On a note.The drug is available in the form of tablets and solution for injection. The second form is the most effective. The therapeutic effect begins within minutes, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract.
Complementary therapy
Along with chondroprotectors, drugs are prescribed to help improve metabolism, blood supply and replenish vitamins to the body. For complex therapy, the following drugs are used:
- Muscle relaxants - eliminate smooth muscle spasms, relieve pain;
- Tonic and vasodilator improve blood flow and nutritional properties of tissues around joints;
- Vitamin complexes saturate the body with the necessary substances, have a positive effect on metabolism and improve overall health.
- Topical remedies in the form of creams, ointments and gels improve blood circulation in the knee joint, have a warming and decongestant effect, and relieve pain.
- Compresses with pills are more effective than creams.
Intra-articular injection
Therapy for gonarthrosis is carried out by another method - injections into the joints. In medicine, this method of drug administration is called blockade. Depending on the drug used, the injection effectively suppresses the pain syndrome when other means have not helped, rapidly eliminates inflammation, and creates a protective layer that protects the cartilage tissue from destruction. to add.
On a note.The sequence of treatment is determined by the doctor. Hyaluronic acid preparations are used only after the inflammatory process has been eliminated, otherwise the course of the disease may worsen.
Stem cell and plasma therapy
Modern approaches to dealing with gonarthrosis are based on low invasiveness and reduced recovery time. Such procedures include stem cell therapy, which, after injection, has the ability to transform into cells of the cartilage tissue, contributing to its regeneration. Materials for the procedure are obtained from embryos and adipose tissue, bone marrow of adults.
Procedure helps:
- eliminate pain;
- reduce swelling;
- restoration of motor functions;
- improve joint nutrition;
- speed up metabolism.
The stem cells obtained will be grown under laboratory conditions and injected into the patient's joint. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia.
On a note.Therapy is performed only when there is still cartilage tissue and synovial fluid is being produced. At stage 3 of the disease, the treatment will not bring satisfactory results.
A new approach to the treatment of arthritis is the use of platelet-rich plasma. The procedure is very simple:
- take a blood sample from the patient;
- blood is put into a test tube and centrifuged, where it is divided into red blood cells, plasma and platelets;
- only worry about platelets being produced;
- The drug is injected into the knee.
With an increased platelet count, enhanced cartilage tissue regeneration begins. For treatment, it is necessary to carry out 2 to 5 courses, including a 7-day break.
Other treatments
In the fight against gonarthrosis, various traditional and non-traditional methods are used, one of which is hirudotherapy. Worm's saliva contains many beneficial enzymes for humans. It allows you to:
- reduce blood viscosity, thereby improving blood circulation;
- pain relief syndrome;
- improve metabolism.
On a note.Doctors compare the effects of leech saliva with chondroprotectors. It accelerates cartilage repair. In the early stages, the patient is completely cured.
Hirudotherapy is prescribed with caution to the elderly and children. The procedure is contraindicated for pregnant women, patients with poor coagulation and heart failure.
For arthritis of the knee, applications with ozokerite (black wax), a waxy mass composed of paraffin and resin, are equally effective. It is used for inflammatory and degenerative processes in cartilage structures. It has the effect of clearing heat, reducing pain, regenerating diseased joints.
Ozokerite is used as compression and application. The course of treatment should include at least 15 daily sessions.
Drug electrophoresis is equally effective. During the session, the drug penetrates deeply into the diseased areas, bypassing the stomach and liver. This reduces the need for medication and makes the effect of the procedure more obvious.
At home, you can use a special device. The device, when used locally, is exposed to UV radiation, heat. As a result, blood circulation, tissue nutrition are improved, biochemical reactions in the skin are activated. Positive feedback from patients confirms the effectiveness of the procedure.
Mode of Operation
Surgical intervention is often applied in grades 3 and 4 of the disease, when the ends of the bones are almost bare and conservative therapy cannot give satisfactory results.
With gonarthrosis, several types of operations are performed:
- Arthrodesis - removal of the remaining cartilage along with the joint. It is rarely used, as it does not allow to maintain limb mobility.
- Arthroscopic joint - release of joint from cartilage tissue using arthroscopy. This procedure is used to relieve pain and is a temporary solution to the problem.
- Laparoscopy is the most common and effective surgical intervention for gonadal fibroids. It allows you to maintain joint mobility. Modern prosthetics are tailored to the individual characteristics of the patient. This helps the implant to quickly take root in the body without causing discomfort to the patient.
Joint replacement surgery is performed under general anesthesia. Operated doctor:
- Make a longitudinal incision in the central part of the knee, pushing the tissue out.
- It treats the debris of the bone surface (grinding), installs the prosthesis (artificial cartilage), tests.
- Fix with cement or tight fit.
- Sutures, bandages and splints.
The whole operation takes 2-3 hours. Recovery time is about 4 months. The patient first learns to walk, gradually lifting and strengthening the muscles. Therapeutic exercise, massage, swimming are recommended. The healing effect lasts up to 20 years, when it is necessary to replace the new prosthesis, because over time will wear down.
Gonarthrosis is a chronic disease that can be successfully treated in its early stages. Even minor symptoms cannot be ignored - you need to immediately start complex therapy in consultation with a doctor. In severe cases, only joint replacement can help prevent disability. Preventive measures include diet, vitamins, exercise, and moderate knee stress.