Regular pain in the knee when moving and limited mobility indicate a serious joint problem. There is a high probability that osteoarthritis will be diagnosed - the breakdown of the cartilage tissue of the joint. To avoid disability, osteoarthritis of the knee joint must be treated.
What medications are prescribed to treat joint osteoarthritis?
The choice of treatment system and appropriate medications depends on the degree of joint damage and the presence of concomitant diseases. If the osteoarthritis is in the 1st or 2nd stage, drug treatment is possible. In the 3rd stage of the disease, complicated by other complaints, the only treatment is surgery. Therefore, it is important to recognize the problem in a timely manner and solve it using conservative methods.
Osteoarthritis can occur in childhood due to malformation of the ligaments or joint surfaces.
The disease can also occur 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 treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint is started immediately after the first signs of the disease are recognized, complete recovery is possible. In the later stages, when the disease becomes chronic, long-term remission can be achieved.
Classic treatments include:
- Taking medication;
- 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 the cartilage tissue of the joint. These are non-steroidal drugs that relieve inflammation, chondroprotectors, various types of ointments, compresses and intra-articular injections.
Complex treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint is also possible, in which the simultaneous use of conventional medicine, medications and massage is allowed. They complement each other, relieve pain and promote joint renewal.
Let's look at how each type of medication works in treating osteoarthritis.
General information
When restoring the joint, you should limit the load on the knee and adhere to the orthopedic regime. During an exacerbation, the patient's diet plays an important role.
All efforts in the treatment phase should be aimed at:
- pain relief;
- elimination of inflammation and swelling;
- improving the condition of articular cartilage;
- Activation of blood supply to the painful knee;
- Restoration of joint muscles.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
The treatment regimen for knee osteoarthritis usually includes therapy with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). They relieve pain and eliminate inflammation. The most effective way is to prescribe medication in the form of injections. Medications 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 usually serve as a supplement to the main treatment.
The treating doctor usually prescribes non-steroidal drugs in the lowest effective dosage and increases it if necessary.
Chondroprotectors
To improve the condition of a sore knee, in addition to NSAIDs, chondroprotectors are prescribed, which restore cartilage tissue and improve the composition of the synovial fluid. A special feature of this group of medications is the long recovery phase during medication administration. Treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint with chondroprotectors lasts six months or longer. If no visible changes occur during this period, other recovery methods are chosen.
It is recommended to use chondroprotectors and hyaluronic acid at the same time. Preparations based on hyaluronic acid are injected into the joint. They promote the restoration of connective tissue, as they are involved in the formation of chondrocytes - articular cartilage cells.
Ointments for knee treatment
In the case of osteoarthritis, the use of local medication, such as ointments, is also recommended. They cannot completely cope with the disease and therefore are used together with other medications. Using ointments can speed healing.
The main effects of ointments for arthrosis:
- relieve inflammation;
- eliminate pain;
- relieve muscle spasms;
- improve blood circulation;
- warm;
- improving nutrition of joint tissues;
- protect against the development of infection.
Compresses for the knee for osteoarthritis
This type of manipulation is most common in the treatment of gonarthrosis and osteoarthritis. This is due to the relatively quick relief of the symptoms of the disease. Compresses are most often used in alternative medicine, where decoctions and herbal tinctures are used for treatment. It should be understood that a compress alone does not cure the disease, so you need to combine its use with taking traditional medications.
The use of compresses is associated with the rapid achievement of positive effects:
- blood circulation improves;
- Nutrients and components of the drug quickly reach the affected joint area;
- muscle tone increases;
- Inflammation is relieved;
- pain intensity decreases;
- the functionality of the synovial fluid is restored.
Intraarticular 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 sore knee improves because the medicine goes directly to the affected area. The drug stops the development of the inflammatory process and supplies the articular cartilage with nutrients. Intra-articular injections of chondroprotectors treat the joint and not only relieve symptoms.
If the medicine is injected directly into the area of the joint capsule, it begins to work immediately. With intramuscular, intravenous injection and taking tablets, the onset of action is significantly prolonged. In addition, there are negative side effects on other organs.
There are two groups of drugs prescribed for injections into the joint. These include glucocorticoids and hyaluronic acid.
Vitamin complex
Vitamins are an important supplement to medications and other treatments. They promote the rapid renewal of cartilage tissue and also maintain the general condition of the body. In the treatment of osteoarthritis, vitamins B, C, A and E are prescribed in parallel with medications.
Manual therapy in the treatment of gonarthrosis
Comprehensive therapy for osteoarthritis should include manual therapy procedures. The specialist uses his hands on the patient's body to improve blood circulation in the affected joint, normalize its mobility and prevent atrophic processes. Manual exercises, in combination with medications, help treat arthrosis of the knee and hip joints.
The duration of application of manual therapy procedures depends on the severity of the osteoarthritis. Usually the doctor prescribes 1 to 10 sessions. This method is effective in the early or middle stages of the disease. The degree of damage, treatment methods and the duration of use of each method should be prescribed by an orthopedist after a thorough diagnosis.
Physiotherapy for gonarthrosis
This method of joint treatment is very effective in combination with medication. Physiotherapy can speed up the recovery process, reduce the dose of medications taken and reduce the likelihood of side effects.
There are different types of physiotherapy used for osteoarthritis:
- exposure to a magnetic field;
- electrophoresis;
- radiation exposure;
- Ultrasonic influence.
The type of physiotherapy, its duration and quantity are prescribed by a physiotherapist after the patient is diagnosed. There are a number of concomitant diseases for which physiotherapy is contraindicated.
physical therapy
Special exercises for osteoarthritis 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. At a later stage of arthrosis, physical education is used for therapeutic purposes during the remission period, when primary therapy was carried out to relieve pain and inflammation.
All exercises should be performed smoothly and with moderate stress on the legs. A correctly selected exercise therapy complex improves blood circulation, increases metabolism and activates the absorption of drugs, strengthens the muscles, which ensures effective treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint.
The treatment of rheumatoid osteoarthritis includes physiotherapeutic exercises.
surgery
Late-stage osteoarthritis cannot be treated with medication. The only solution is surgery. Only she can restore mobility to the knee. Factors for prescribing surgical treatment are the third stage of arthrosis, the lack of effect of conservative methods and severe knee injuries against the background of developing arthrosis.
Today, there are four types of surgical procedures to treat knee pain:
- gentle on the joints;
- joint replacement;
- joint resection;
- Joint strengthening.
The type of operation is selected by the doctor based on the extent of joint damage, concomitant diseases and the reaction of the patient's body to the use of a particular conservative method of treatment. It should be understood that surgical intervention is accompanied by a long rehabilitation period using a therapeutic complex. Therefore, the need for surgery must be justified by a comprehensive diagnosis.
diet
Proper nutrition during the development of osteoarthritis can reduce the rate of joint damage and increase the effectiveness of treatment of the disease. It is important to understand which foods should be regularly included in the diet and which should be avoided forever. Sea fish, fresh vegetables and fruits help improve joint function. Fish oil improves the condition of cartilage. In addition, phosphorus, iron and selenium are important for 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 against those that have already begun.
People suffering from osteoarthritis need to exclude foods containing trans fats from their diet. Additionally, you should avoid fatty meats, whole milk and corn oil. The fats contained in these products destroy the cartilage tissue of the joints.