Frequent knee pain when moving and limited movement indicate a serious problem with the joint. With a high degree of probability, arthrosis will be diagnosed - a breakdown of joint cartilage tissue. To prevent disability, it is necessary to treat arthrosis of the knee joint.
What medications are prescribed to treat joint arthrosis?
The choice of the appropriate treatment system and drugs depends on the level of joint damage and the presence of concomitant diseases. If arthrosis is at stage 1 or 2, then drug treatment is possible. In the case of the 3rd stage of the disease, complicated by other diseases, the only treatment is surgery. Therefore, it is important to recognize the problem in time and start solving it using conservative methods.
Arthrosis can develop in childhood due to improper formation of ligaments or articular surfaces.
This disease can also appear after injury or the formation of other pathologies of the body, including:
- broken bones, muscle strains, bruises and knee dislocations;
- the consequences of professional sports;
- meniscus surgery;
- arthritis;
- obesity;
- salt deposits in the joints;
- pathology accompanied by muscle spasms.
If treatment for arthrosis of the knee joint is started immediately after the initial signs of the disease are identified, then complete recovery is possible. At the next stage, when the disease becomes chronic, long-term remission can be achieved.
Classic treatments include:
- use of medications;
- manual therapy, exercise therapy, physiotherapy and massage;
- the use of traditional medicine (ointment, application).
Today, doctors offer a new method to treat 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 types of ointments, compresses, intra-articular injections.
Complex treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint is also possible, where the use of traditional medicine, medicines and massage at the same time is allowed. They complement each other's actions, relieve pain, and promote joint renewal.
Let's see how each type of drug works in the treatment of arthrosis.
general information
In the process of restoring the joint, you should limit the load on the knee and adhere to the orthopedic regimen. During an exacerbation, the patient's diet plays an important role.
All efforts at the treatment stage should be directed at:
- relieves pain;
- elimination of inflammation and swelling;
- improve the condition of joint cartilage;
- activation of blood supply to the painful knee;
- joint muscle recovery.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
The treatment regimen for knee arthrosis usually includes therapy with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). They reduce pain and relieve inflammation. Prescribing medication in the form of injections is most effective. The drug quickly acts on the affected area and does not affect the function of the gastrointestinal tract. Sometimes NSAIDs are used in ointment form. They are less effective and usually serve as an adjunct to the main treatment.
The attending physician usually prescribes non-steroidal drugs in the lowest effective dose, increasing it if necessary.
Chondroprotectors
In addition to NSAIDs, to improve the condition of the painful knee, chondroprotectors are prescribed, restoring cartilage tissue and improving the composition of the synovial fluid. A distinctive feature of this group of drugs is a long recovery period during drug administration. The course of treatment for arthrosis of the knee joint with chondroprotectors lasts six months or more. If no visible changes occur during this period, then another method of recovery is selected.
It is advisable to use chondroprotectors and hyaluronic acid simultaneously. Preparations based on hyaluronic acid are injected into the joint. They promote the recovery of connective tissue, because they participate in the formation of chondrocytes - articular cartilage cells.
Ointment for knee treatment
For arthrosis, the use of local medicines, for example, ointments, is also recommended. They cannot completely cope with the disease, so they are used together with other drugs. Using an ointment can speed healing.
The main effect of ointment for arthrosis:
- relieves inflammation;
- eliminate pain;
- relieves muscle spasms;
- improve blood circulation;
- warm;
- improve nutrition of joint tissue;
- protect against the development of infection.
Compresses for knees with arthrosis
This type of manipulation is the most common in the treatment of gonarthrosis and arthrosis. This is due to the relatively quick relief of the symptoms of the disease. Compresses are most often used in alternative medicine, where herbal decoctions and tinctures are used for treatment. It should be understood that the compress will not cure the disease by itself, so you need to combine its use with taking traditional medicine.
The use of compresses is associated with quickly obtaining positive effects:
- blood circulation improves;
- nutrients and drug components quickly reach the affected joint area;
- muscle tone increases;
- inflammation relieved;
- pain intensity decreases;
- synovial fluid functionality is restored.
Intra-articular injection
Intra-articular injections are one of the most advanced forms of treatment. This therapy is very effective, but also quite expensive. The condition of the painful knee improves because the medicine reaches the affected area directly. This medicine stops the development of the inflammatory process and provides nutrition to the articular cartilage. Intra-articular injections of chondroprotectors treat the joints, and not just relieve symptoms.
If the drug is injected directly into the joint capsule area, it immediately begins to act. With intramuscular, intravenous injections 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 injection into the joint. These include glucocorticoids and hyaluronic acid.
Vitamin complex
Vitamins are an important adjunct to other medications and treatments. They promote the rapid renewal of cartilage tissue, and also maintain the general condition of the body. When treating arthrosis, vitamins B, C, A and E are prescribed in parallel with medications.
Manual therapy in the treatment of gonarthrosis
Comprehensive therapy for arthrosis should include manual therapy procedures. The specialist uses his hands on the patient's body to improve blood circulation in the affected joints, normalize their mobility, and prevent atrophic processes. Manual exercises, when combined with drugs, help in the treatment of arthrosis of the knee and hip joints.
The duration of manual therapy procedures depends on the severity of arthrosis. Usually the doctor prescribes from 1 to 10 sessions. This method is effective in the early or middle stages of the disease. The degree of damage, treatment methods and duration of use of each method should be determined by an orthopedic specialist after a comprehensive diagnosis.
Physiotherapy for gonarthrosis
This method of treating joints is very effective in combination with medications. Physiotherapy can speed up the recovery process, reduce the dose of medication taken and possible side effects.
There are several types of physiotherapy used for arthrosis:
- exposure to magnetic fields;
- electrophoresis;
- radiation exposure;
- ultrasonic influence.
The type of physiotherapy, its duration and quantity are determined by the 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 been destroyed. Moderate physical activity can stop negative changes in the joints. In the final stages of arthrosis, physical education for therapeutic purposes is used during the period of remission, when the main therapy to relieve pain and inflammation has been carried out.
All exercises should be performed smoothly with a moderate load on the legs. Correctly selected exercise therapy complex improves blood circulation, improves metabolism and activates the absorption of drugs, strengthens muscles, which ensures effective treatment of knee joint arthrosis.
Physical therapy exercises are included in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Surgery
End-stage arthrosis cannot be treated with medication. The only solution is surgery. Only he can restore knee mobility. The factors for prescribing surgical treatment are the third stage of arthrosis, the lack of effect of conservative methods, and serious knee injuries against the background of the development of arthrosis.
Today, there are four types of surgical intervention in the treatment of painful knees:
- mutual conservation;
- joint replacement;
- joint resection;
- joint strengthening.
The type of operation is chosen by the doctor based on the level of damage to the joint, concomitant diseases, and the response of the patient's body to the use of certain conservative treatment methods. It should be understood that surgical intervention is accompanied by a long recovery period using complex therapy. Therefore, the need for surgery must be strictly justified by a comprehensive diagnosis.
Diet
Proper nutrition when developing arthrosis can reduce the rate of joint damage and increase the effectiveness of disease treatment. It is important to understand which foods should be in the diet regularly, and which should be left out forever. Sea fish, fresh vegetables and fruits help improve joint function. Fish oil improves cartilage. In addition, phosphorus, iron and selenium are important 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 need to exclude foods containing trans fats from their diet. In addition, you should avoid fatty meats, whole milk and corn oil. The fat contained in this product destroys joint cartilage tissue.