Regular knee pain during movement and limited mobility indicate a serious problem with the joint. With a high degree of probability, arthrosis will be diagnosed - the breakdown of the cartilaginous tissue of the joint. To avoid disability, it will be necessary to treat arthrosis of the knee joint.
What drugs are prescribed to treat joint osteoarthritis?
The choice of the appropriate treatment system and drugs depends on the degree of joint damage and the presence of concomitant diseases. If arthrosis is in the 1st or 2nd stage, drug treatment is possible. In the case of the 3rd stage of the disease, complicated by other disorders, the only treatment is surgery. Therefore, it is important to recognize the problem in time and start solving it using conservative methods.
Osteoarthritis can develop in childhood due to improper formation of ligaments or joint surfaces.
The disease can also appear after an injury or the formation of other pathologies of the body, including:
- fractures, muscle strains, bruises and dislocations of the knee;
- consequences of professional sport;
- meniscus surgery;
- arthritis;
- obesity;
- salt deposits in the joint;
- pathologies accompanied by muscle spasms.
If treatment for arthrosis of the knee joint is started immediately after identification of the first signs of the disease, a full recovery is possible. At a later stage, when the disease becomes chronic, it is possible to achieve long-term remission.
Classic treatments include:
- use of medicines;
- manual therapy, physical therapy, physiotherapy and massage;
- use of traditional medicine (ointments, rubbing).
Today, doctors offer new methods of treating arthrosis of the knee joint: the use of hormone-containing drugs, drugs to relieve spasms and restore the cartilaginous tissue of the joint. 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, in which the simultaneous use of traditional medicine, medications and massage is allowed. They complement each other, relieve pain and promote joint renewal.
Let's take a look at how each type of drug works in treating osteoarthritis.
general informations
In the process of restoring the joint, you should limit the load on the knee and adhere to the orthopedic regimen. During a flare-up, the patient's nutrition plays an important role.
All efforts in the treatment phase should be aimed at:
- pain relief;
- elimination of inflammation and swelling;
- improve the condition of the 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 reduce pain and eliminate inflammation. Prescription medications in the form of injections are more effective. Medicines 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 an adjunct to the main treatment.
The treating doctor usually prescribes non-steroidal drugs at the lowest effective doses, increasing them 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 synovial fluid. A special feature of this group of drugs is the long recovery period during drug administration. The course of treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint with chondroprotectors lasts six months or more. If no visible changes occur during this period, other recovery methods are selected.
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 tissues, as they participate in the formation of chondrocytes - articular cartilage cells.
Ointments for the treatment of the knee
For arthrosis, the use of local drugs, for example ointments, is also recommended. They cannot completely cope with the disease, so they are used together with other drugs. The use of ointments can speed healing.
The main effects of ointments for arthrosis:
- relieve inflammation;
- eliminate pain;
- relieve muscle spasms;
- improve blood circulation;
- Heat;
- improve the nutrition of joint tissues;
- protect against the development of infections.
Compresses for the knee with arthrosis
This type of manipulation is the most common in the treatment of gonarthrosis and arthrosis. This is due to the fairly rapid relief of the symptoms of the disease. Compresses are often used in alternative medicine, where herbal decoctions and tinctures are used for treatment. It should be understood that the compress alone will not cure the disease, so it is necessary to combine its use with taking traditional medications.
The use of compresses is associated with quickly obtaining positive effects:
- blood circulation improves;
- nutrients and components of the drug quickly reach the affected area of the joint;
- muscle tone increases;
- inflammation is relieved;
- the intensity of pain 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 very effective, but also quite expensive. The condition of the painful knee improves because the medicine reaches the affected area directly. The drug stops the development of the inflammatory process and provides nutrition to the articular cartilage. Intra-articular injections of chondroprotectors treat the joint and do more than just relieve symptoms.
If the medicine is injected directly into the area of \u200b\u200bthe joint capsule, it begins to act immediately. With intramuscular, intravenous injections and taking tablets, the onset of action is significantly prolonged. Furthermore, 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 addition 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 arthrosis, vitamins B, C, A and E are prescribed along 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 joint, normalize its mobility and prevent atrophic processes. Manual exercises, when combined with medications, help in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee and hip joints.
The duration of using manual therapy procedures depends on the severity of osteoarthritis. Usually the doctor prescribes 1 to 10 sessions. This method is effective in the early or middle stages of the disease. The extent of damage, treatment methods and 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 medications. Physiotherapy can speed up the recovery process, reduce the doses of medications taken and the likelihood of side effects.
There are several 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 the physiotherapist after the patient's diagnosis. There are numerous concomitant diseases 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. At a later stage of arthrosis, physical education for therapeutic purposes is used during the period of remission, when primary therapy has been performed to relieve pain and inflammation.
All exercises should be performed smoothly with a moderate load on the legs. A properly selected physical therapy complex improves blood circulation, increases metabolism and activates the absorption of drugs, strengthens muscles, ensuring effective treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint.
Physiotherapy exercises are included in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Surgery
Advanced osteoarthritis cannot be treated with drugs. The only solution is surgery. Only she can restore the mobility of 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 the development of arthrosis.
Today there are four types of surgery in the treatment of painful knees:
- joint preservation;
- joint replacement;
- joint resection;
- strengthening of the joints.
The type of operation 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 the use of a particular method of conservative treatment. It should be understood that surgical intervention is accompanied by a long period of rehabilitation using a therapeutic complex. Therefore, the need for surgical intervention must be strictly justified by a complete 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 present in the diet and which should be abandoned forever. Sea fish, fresh vegetables and fruits help improve joint function. Fish oil improves the condition of cartilage. Additionally, 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 osteoarthritis should 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 cartilaginous tissue of the joints.