Regular pain in the knee when moving and limited mobility indicate a serious problem with the joint. With a high degree of probability, arthrosis is diagnosed - the breakdown of cartilage tissue of the joint. In order to avoid disability, it will be necessary to treat arthrosis of the knee joint.
What drugs are prescribed for the treatment of arthrosis of the joints?
The choice of treatment system and appropriate drugs depends on the degree of joint damage and the presence of accompanying diseases. If the arthrosis is in the 1st or 2nd stage, then drug treatment is possible. In the case of the 3rd stage of the disease, complicated by other ailments, the only treatment is surgery. Therefore, it is important to recognize the problem in time and start solving it with conservative methods.
Arthrosis 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 knee dislocations;
- consequences of professional sports;
- meniscus surgery;
- arthritis;
- obesity;
- salt deposits in the joint;
- pathologies that are accompanied by muscle spasms.
If the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint is started immediately after the first signs of the disease are detected, then a complete recovery is possible. At a later stage, when the disease becomes chronic, long-term remission can be achieved.
Classic treatments include:
- medication use;
- manual therapy, exercise 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 drugs containing hormones, drugs to relieve spasms and restore cartilage tissue of the joint. These are non-steroidal drugs that alleviate inflammation, chondroprotectors, various types of ointments, compresses, intra-articular injections.
A complex treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint is also possible, in which the use of traditional medicine, medicines and massage is allowed at the same time. They mutually complement each other's actions, relieve pain and encourage the restoration of joints.
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 in the treatment phase should be focused on:
- pain relief;
- removal of inflammation and swelling;
- improvement of joint cartilage condition;
- activation of blood supply to the painful knee;
- restoration of joint muscles.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
The treatment regimen for osteoarthritis of the knee usually includes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy. They reduce pain and remove inflammation. The most effective is the prescription of drugs in the form of injections. Medicines quickly act on the affected area and do not affect the work 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 doctor usually prescribes NSAIDs in the lowest effective doses, increasing them if necessary.
Chondroprotectors
In addition to NSAIDs, to improve the condition of a painful knee, chondroprotectors are prescribed that restore cartilage tissue and improve 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 appear 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 renewal of connective tissue, because they participate in the formation of chondrocytes - cells of articular cartilage.
Ointments for the treatment of knees
For arthrosis, the use of local drugs, for example, ointments, is also recommended. They cannot fully cope with the disease, so they are used together with other drugs. Using an ointment can speed up healing.
The main effects of ointment for arthrosis:
- relieve inflammation;
- eliminate pain;
- relieve muscle spasms;
- improve blood circulation;
- warm;
- improve nutrition of joint tissues;
- protects against the development of infection.
Knee compresses for arthrosis
This type of manipulation is the most common in the treatment of gonarthrosis and arthrosis. This is due to the rather rapid relief of the symptoms of the disease. Wraps are most often used in alternative medicine, where decoctions and tinctures of medicinal plants are used for treatment. It should be remembered that the poultice will not cure the disease by itself, so it is necessary to combine its use with taking traditional medicines.
The use of wraps is associated with the rapid achievement of positive effects:
- blood circulation improves;
- nutrients and drug components quickly reach the affected joint area;
- muscle tone increases;
- inflammation is alleviated;
- pain intensity 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 due to the fact that the medicine reaches the affected area directly. The drug stops the development of the inflammatory process and ensures nutrition of the articular cartilage. Intra-articular injections of chondroprotector heal the joint and not only relieve symptoms.
If the drug is injected directly into the area of the joint capsule, it starts working immediately. 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 that are prescribed for joint injections. These include glucocorticoids and hyaluronic acid.
Vitamin complex
Vitamins are an important adjunct to medications and other treatments. They promote rapid regeneration 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 in parallel with drugs.
Manual therapy in the treatment of gonarthrosis
Comprehensive arthrosis therapy 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, 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 initial or middle stages of the disease. The degree of damage, treatment methods and duration of application of each method should be prescribed by an orthopedist after a detailed diagnosis.
Physiotherapy for gonarthrosis
This method of joint treatment is very effective in combination with medication. Physiotherapy can speed up the recovery process, reduce medication doses and the likelihood of side effects.
There are several types of physiotherapy used for osteoarthritis:
- exposure to a magnetic field;
- electrophoresis;
- exposure to radiation;
- ultrasonic impact.
The type of physiotherapy, its duration and quantity is prescribed by the physiotherapist after the diagnosis of the patient. There are a number of 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. In the later stage of arthrosis, physical culture is used for therapeutic purposes in the period of remission, when primary therapy is carried out to relieve pain and inflammation.
All exercises should be done smoothly with a moderate load on the legs. A properly selected complex of exercise therapy improves blood circulation, increases metabolism and activates the absorption of drugs, strengthens muscles, which ensures effective treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint.
Physical exercises are included in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Operation
Arthrosis in the late stage cannot be treated with drugs. The only solution is surgery. Only she can restore knee mobility. 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 interventions in the treatment of painful knees:
- preservation of joints;
- joint replacement;
- joint resection;
- strengthening the joints.
The type of surgery is chosen by the doctor based on the degree of joint damage, accompanying diseases and the response of the patient's body to the use of a certain method of conservative treatment. It should be understood that surgical intervention is accompanied by a long period of rehabilitation with the use of complex therapy. Therefore, the need for surgery must be strictly justified by a comprehensive diagnosis.
Diet
Proper nutrition during the development of arthrosis can reduce the rate of joint damage and increase the effectiveness of the 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. 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 against those that have already started.
People suffering from osteoarthritis must exclude foods containing trans fats from their diet. In addition, fatty meat, whole milk and corn oil should be avoided. The fats contained in these products destroy the cartilage tissue of the joints.