Osteoarthritis of the knee is the joint most common disease of the musculoskeletal system, which represents the destruction or the deformation of the cartilage. According to the statistics of him suffer up to 22% of the world population. Mostly this disease is common in the elderly or in athletes. Each person, who must face unpleasant of the disease, the question arises: how to treat osteoarthritis of the knee?
The reasons for the onset of osteoarthritis
Before starting directly the treatment of osteoarthritis, it is necessary to understand the cause of it was. The reasons are very diverse:
- large workloads. Active physical activities should be age-appropriate. This is why the man after 40 years, it is desirable to do the exercise in temperate zones and less expenses. Not faced with the daunting task they face, older people, the joints don't survive and suffer damage. Can sometimes cracks, which clearly is not visible, and the harm they can cause to the joint huge;
- trauma. And this becomes the source of osteoarthritis in young people. A fracture, dislocation or damage to the menisci can lead to the development of the disease. In fact, to heal a wound, you must lock the knee. The deterioration of this traffic and leads to osteoarthritis;
- obesity and excess weight. The entire weight of the body lying on the knee joint, the cartilage, the tissue breaks down under the load, which leads to the disease. If, in addition to obesity there are varicose veins, it is perhaps the development of a severe form of osteoarthritis;
- the metabolic disorder. In such a situation, there is often a lack of calcium, which adversely affects the state of the bones and the cartilage as a whole;
- situations of stress. All the nervous tension, the stress affects the health of the joints of the man. In order to avoid this is more rest, not to overwork and constantly alternate the mental work physical.
The symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee
The symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee are quite varied, but are very characteristic:
- of the pain. On the early stages of the disease, it is quite low and felt during strong physical activity. Last, this status can and a couple of years, until the disease is not aggravated. When it comes to osteoarthritis of the knee joint 2 degree, the pain becomes more pronounced. The knee can be sick, even at rest, after a long walk or lift heavy objects;
- a popping sound. It is characteristic of strong pain. Appears on 2-3 stages of osteoarthritis;
- the deformation. In the early stages of the knee is slightly swollen, and then it begins to change shape;
- a reduced mobility. It occurs in the last stages of the disease. All attempts to bend and unbend the knee causes a sharp pain. The movement is only possible on folding the legs;
- a cyst Baker. Also called the elastic seal on the back of the knee. It occurs because of the accumulation of a large number of synovial fluid. Easily treated without surgical intervention.
The degree of osteoarthritis
- 1 the degree of osteoarthritis of the knee joint, flowing almost asymptomatic. Can be characterized by the fatigue in the legs and in the short term, a motility disorder, appearing after sleep. The pain may be low. Identify the pathology can only with the help of x-rays.
- 2 the degree of osteoarthritis of the knee joint pain is great. Occurs when long loads on the joint and disappears after a long day of relaxation. It adds a crunch when walking, the progression of synovitis (cyst Baker), the change in the bones of the joints, difficulty in bending the knee.
- 3 the degree of osteoarthritis of the knee joint, severe pain on the outside of the charges. The second characteristic is the inability of a man to bend the leg at the knee yourself. The pain is very disturbed during sleep, the affected area is actively responding to climate change. The deformation of the articulation of the knee can cause disability.
The diagnosis of the disease
To start the doctor examines the patient and looks at it. After this, make sure that is assigned to the investigation in the form of an x-ray. Advanced, the doctor may send the MRI and ct scans. With the help of a set of procedures, you can determine the exact causes of the onset of the disease and understand that it is the knee, and not some other disease.
The ways of healing of osteoarthritis of the knee
When the diagnosis is made, you can begin to direct the treatment. It includes several methods:
- The medication treatment.
- Massage therapy, physical therapy.
- The quick intervention.
- Recovery.
Very important are the physical, massage and diet. A complete treatment should eliminate the pain, to establish a motive function of the articulation, on the possibility of rebuilding the cartilage.
Treatment with medications
The drugs have more to get rid of the pain, because it prevents it from start directly the treatment. To do this, the doctor prescribes analgesics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, ointments, gels.
When all of the above do not help, prescribed a treatment of oocytes. This method can cause a lot of side effects. It is, therefore, prescribed only in the short course of their use.
- Ointments are able to get rid of the pain and some to reduce inflammation.
- Hyaluronic acid is a very effective remedy in the early stages of osteoarthritis. The drug is injected directly to the inside of the joint. This procedure should pass only a highly qualified specialist. Indeed, in the case of the penetration of the acid in the blood can be major complications.
- Symptomatic medication delayed are in a position to influence the root causes of the onset of osteoarthritis, especially in the initial phase. The drugs restore the production of fluid in the joints and damaged cartilage.
Physical therapy
This treatment is very effective in the early stages of osteoarthritis of the knee: pain relief, helps to restore the functional capacity of the joint, eliminates the muscle spasm. A personalized program of physical activities chooses the doctor on the basis of the results of the investigation.
The quick response
Surgical treatment is sometimes different. It depends on the measure of intervention:
- arthroscopy. This procedure is performed with the help of the introduction of the endoscope and the tools specially made a puncture into the joint. Thus, are removed from the tissue, which has become a source of pain. The operation is gentle and can be repeated several times. A place, even on the first phase of the disease;
- osteotomy. Represents a fracture of artificial bones fused correctly. Perform this procedure when the deformation of the knee joint;
- the arthroplasty. This operation is carried out by a complete replacement of the victim of the knee joint, the implant.
Good nutrition
Very often, the cause of development of osteoarthritis can become a simple defect in the metabolism. In effect, this leads to weight gain and obesity, which is the cause of osteoarthritis. That is why during treatment, you need to follow a special diet.
The patient must eat foods rich in vitamins and macro, as well as counting calories. Need to eat often and in small portions to speed up the metabolism. The breakfast should be complete and balanced, to store the energy for the whole day. The daily diet must be present cereals, herbs, vegetables, fruits, and vegetables.
Exclude from receiving needed fat and salt, of soda, of semi-finished products. Advisable to eat bananas, grapes, cabbage, tomatoes, pepper, Bulgarian, all kinds of confectionery products and chocolate. Do not forget that at this period than ever in need of the protein. Therefore, the consumption of cheese, yogurt, and cheese should be mandatory.
The dinner, you must no later than two hours before bedtime. In the course of the day, it is advisable to drink up to two litres of water. If, of course, the patient did not suffer from kidney disease.
The popular medicine
The drug of osteoarthritis of the knee joint can be prepared with their own hands. This can be all kinds of ointments, of lotions, of grinding, compresses. But to use it, you must only in complex with other drugs and only after consultation with the doctor.
- The dandelion. Its flowers are washed and eat up to 6 pieces per day. Still a decoction. To do this, dandelion dried and pour the boiling water. After it has cooled, drink 1/3 cup three times per day. We prepare the tincture of dandelions. For its preparation, it is necessary to take the dark bottle, fill the flowers and pour the alcohol. After a month of maceration can be used as the friction in the diseased joint.
- Aloe. Peeled his card to fit in the tribe throughout the night. This will help you to reduce the pain and remove the pockets. From this plant, you can prepare a remedy for the trituration. To do this, in a meat grinder crushed a dozen sheets. After pressing the juice through cheesecloth and mix it with half a cup of honey. Add 150 ml of wine and mix all, place in a dark place. It is necessary to use months.
- Effective for compress, you can take the salt, mustard and sand. Mix all the ingredients, heat it on the stove and put it in a bag. Apply to the patient the site. This method of treatment helps you to activate the process of recovery, improve blood circulation and relieve the pain.