How to Treat Knee Arthritis

Frequent knee pain when moving and limited movement can indicate a serious problem with the joint. Arthropathy - the destruction of cartilage tissue in the joints - will most likely be diagnosed. To avoid disability, it is necessary to treat arthrosis of the knee.

What medications are available to treat arthritis of the joints?

The choice of treatment system and appropriate medication depends on the extent of joint damage and the presence of concomitant diseases. If the joint is in stage one or two, medication may be available. In the third stage of the disease, when other diseases are present, the only treatment is surgery. Therefore, it is important to recognize the problem promptly and start using conservative methods to solve it.Arthropathy may develop in childhood due to improper formation of ligaments or joint surfaces.The disease may also appear after an injury or other changes in the body, including:

• broken bones, muscle strains, bruises and dislocated knees;
• consequences in professional sports;
• meniscal surgery;
• arthritis;
• obesity;
• salt deposits in joints;
• Pathology associated with muscle spasms.

Complete recovery is possible if treatment is started as soon as the first signs of knee disease are detected. In later stages, when the disease becomes chronic, long-term remission can be achieved.

Classic treatments include:

• use of drugs;
• Manual therapy, exercise therapy, physical therapy and massage;
• Use traditional medicines (ointments, liniments).

Today, doctors are offering new ways to treat arthritis of the knee: using medications containing hormones, drugs to relieve spasms and restore cartilage tissue in the joints. These are nonsteroidal drugs that relieve inflammation, chondroprotectants, various types of ointments, compresses, intra-articular injections.Comprehensive treatment of knee arthritis is also possible, in which the simultaneous use of traditional medicines, medicines and massage is allowed. They complement each other to relieve pain and promote joint renewal.Let's look at the role of each drug in treating joint disease.

General information

During joint recovery, the load on the knee joint should be limited and the orthopedic treatment regimen should be adhered to. During an exacerbation, patient nutrition plays an important role.

All efforts during the treatment phase should be aimed at:

• relief the pain;
• Reduce inflammation and swelling;
• Improve joint cartilage condition;
• Activates blood supply to sore knees;
• Joint and muscle recovery.

NSAIDs

Treatment options for knee joint disease often include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy. They reduce pain and eliminate inflammation. The medication is most effective when prescribed as an injection. The drug acts quickly on the affected area without affecting gastrointestinal function. Sometimes NSAIDs are used in ointment form. They are less effective and are often used as a supplement to primary treatment.The treating physician will usually prescribe the lowest effective dose of the nonsteroidal drug, increasing the dose if necessary.

chondroprotectant

In addition to NSAIDs, in order to improve knee soreness, it is necessary to use chondroprotectants to restore cartilage tissue and improve the composition of the synovial fluid. A characteristic of this group of drugs is the long recovery period. A course of treatment with chondroprotectants for knee arthritis lasts six months or longer. If no noticeable changes occur during this period, choose another recovery method.

It is recommended to use cartilage protectants and hyaluronic acid together. A hyaluronic acid-based formulation is injected into the joint. They promote the recovery of connective tissue as they are involved in the formation of chondrocytes (articular cartilage cells).

ointment for knee

For arthropathy, topical medications such as ointments are also recommended. They do not fully respond to the disease and are therefore used together with other medications. Use ointments to speed healing.Main functions of arthritis ointment:

• relieve inflammation;
• eliminate pain;
• Relieve muscle spasms;
• Improve blood circulation;
• Warm;
• Improve nutrition of joint tissues;
• Prevent the development of infection.

Compression of Arthropathic Knees

This type of procedure is most common in the treatment of knee arthrosis and arthropathy. This is due to the rather rapid relief of disease symptoms. Compresses are most commonly used in alternative medicine, where herbal decoctions and tinctures are used for treatment. It should be understood that the compress itself does not cure the disease, so you need to combine it with traditional medicine.Use compression to get positive results quickly:

• Improved blood circulation;
• The nutrients and ingredients of the drug reach the affected joint quickly;
• increased muscle tone;
• Inflammation is relieved;
• Reduced pain intensity;
• The function of the synovial fluid is restored.

Intra-articular injection

Intra-articular injections are one of the most advanced forms of treatment. This treatment is very effective, but also quite expensive. Knee soreness improves as the medication reaches the affected area directly. The drug prevents the development of inflammatory processes and provides nutrients to joint cartilage. Intra-articular injections of chondroprotectants treat the joint, not just relieve symptoms.If the drug is injected directly into the joint capsule area, it starts working immediately. Intramuscular injection, intravenous injection and tablet administration have significantly longer onset of action. In addition, there are negative effects on other organs.

There are two groups of medications used for joint injections. These include glucocorticoids and hyaluronic acid.

multi-vitamins

Vitamins are an important supplement to medications and other treatments. They promote the rapid turnover of cartilage tissue and also maintain the general condition of the body. When treating joint disease, vitamins B, C, A and E are taken together with medications.

Application of manual therapy in the treatment of knee joint disease

Comprehensive treatment of joints should include manual therapy procedures. The specialist touches the patient's body with his hands to improve blood circulation in the affected joints, normalize their movement and prevent the atrophy process. Manual exercises combined with medications can help treat arthrosis of the knee and hip joints.The duration of use of manual therapy procedures depends on the severity of the arthropathy. Typically a doctor will prescribe 1 to 10 treatment sessions. This method is effective in the early or middle stages of the disease. The extent of the injury, treatment method, and duration of use of each method should be prescribed after a thorough diagnosis by an orthopedic surgeon.

Physical therapy for knee joint disease

This method of treating joints is very effective when combined with medication. Physical therapy can speed up the recovery process and reduce medication dosage and the possibility of side effects.There are several types of physical therapy for joint disease:

• exposure to magnetic fields;
• electrophoresis;
• radiation exposure;
• Effects of Ultrasonic Waves.

The type, duration, and amount of physical therapy are prescribed by the physical therapist after diagnosing the patient. There are many comorbidities that are contraindicated by physical therapy.

physiotherapy

Special exercises for arthrosis are performed in the early stages of the disease, when the cartilage tissue has not yet been destroyed. Moderate physical activity can prevent negative changes in joints. In the later stages of arthropathy, physical education with therapeutic purposes is carried out during the remission phase, when the main treatments for the relief of pain and inflammation are already carried out.

All exercises should be performed smoothly with moderate load on the legs. Correctly chosen exercise therapy can improve blood circulation, increase metabolism, activate drug absorption, and strengthen muscles, thereby ensuring effective treatment of knee arthritis.

Physical therapy exercises are included in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Surgery

Advanced joints cannot be treated with medication. The only solution is surgery. Only she could regain mobility in her knee. Factors for surgical treatment are the progression of the arthrosis to the third stage, the lack of effectiveness of conservative methods and the seriousness of the damage to the knee joint in the context of the development of arthropathy.Today, there are four types of surgical intervention to treat knee soreness:

• Protect joints;
• joint replacement surgery;
• Arthectomy;
• Joint reinforcement.

Doctors choose the type of surgery based on the degree of joint damage, accompanying medical conditions, and the patient's body's response to specific conservative treatments. It should be understood that surgical intervention is accompanied by long-term recovery using comprehensive treatments. Therefore, the need for surgery must be rigorously proven through a comprehensive diagnosis.

diet

Proper nutrition during joint development can reduce the incidence of joint damage and increase the effectiveness of disease treatment. It is important to understand which foods should be included in the diet regularly and which foods should be given up for good. Sea fish, fresh vegetables and fruits can help improve joint function. Fish oil improves cartilage condition. 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 combats those that have already begun.People with joint disease need to eliminate foods containing trans fats from their diet. Additionally, you should avoid fatty meats, whole milk, and corn oil. The fats contained in these products can damage the cartilage tissue of your joints.