Osteoarthritis of the knee (gonarthrosis) is a chronic disease caused by degenerative changes in cartilage tissue. The disease seriously disrupts the normal rhythm of life, causes severe pain and restricts mobility. Drug treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee helps to stop the pain and stop the degenerative processes in the early stages of the disease. At a later stage, the problem is solved with the help of surgery.
Treatment of osteoarthritis with conservative methods
The treatment of gonarthrosis is performed in a comprehensive manner and includes medication, physiotherapy, massage, exercise. Medications relieve pain, improve blood circulation and promote tissue regeneration.
In the course of treatment they use:
- pills;
- creams;
- gels;
- injections.
Modern medicine is developing new ways to treat gonarthrosis. Stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma therapy are effective methods. Doctors point to the high efficiency of the treatment and the rapid regeneration of the tissues.
Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs
The choice of drugs for osteoarthritis depends on the degree of the disease, the characteristics of the organism and the associated pathologies. In the 1st degree of the disease a person experiences a little discomfort after prolonged exercise, the dystrophic processes are just beginning in the cartilage tissue. The treatment is performed with topical ointments. In case of discomfort and mild pain it is recommended:
- I do gymnastics;
- reducing the tension on the joint;
- take vitamin complexes;
- follow a diet.
The main drug therapy is used for grade 2 disease. The person begins to feel pain, a squeak is heard when walking, the cartilage tissue becomes thinner, the range of motion is limited. The goal of treatment is to relieve pain, stop destructive processes in the joint and restore leg mobility.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used to relieve pain, which give an analgesic effect and relieve inflammatory processes in the tissues.
On a note.Long-term use of these drugs adversely affects the gastrointestinal tract and liver.
Today, doctors are increasingly prescribing "new generation" NSAIDs that can be used for a long time and have minimal side effects.
If osteoarthritis is accompanied by an infectious disease, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics. In order to choose the right medicine, the cause of the infection is identified. To do this, take fluid from the joint cavity and place it in a nutrient medium. Based on the results of the analysis, the doctor prescribes a drug.
Chondroprotectors
The main group of drugs in the treatment of osteoarthritis are chondroprotectors. They are used for a long time and are well absorbed by the body. Thanks to the active substances, they stop the destructive processes in the cartilage tissue, improve the production of synovial fluid and promote tissue regeneration.
On a note.The drugs are effective in the first two degrees of gonarthrosis. In the third, the cartilage tissue is destroyed and cannot repair itself.
The most appropriate drug will be selected by a specialist.
On a note.The drugs are available in the form of tablets and injectable solutions. The second form is the most effective. The therapeutic effect begins within a few minutes, bypassing the process of absorption through the gastrointestinal tract.
Additional therapy
Along with chondroprotectors, drugs are prescribed that help improve metabolic processes, blood supply and enrich the body with vitamins. The following drugs are used for complex therapy:
- Muscle relaxants - eliminate spasms of smooth muscles, reduce pain;
- Venotonics and vasodilators improve blood flow and tissue trophism around the joint;
- Vitamin complexes saturate the body with the necessary substances, have a positive effect on metabolic processes and improve overall well-being.
- Topical remedies in the form of cream, ointment and gel improve blood circulation in the knee joint, have a warming and decongestant effect, eliminate pain.
- Medicated compresses are more effective than creams.
Intra-articular injections
The therapy for gonarthrosis is performed by another method - injections into the joint. In medicine, this method of administering drugs is called blockade. Depending on the drugs used, the injection helps to effectively stop the pain syndrome when other means do not help, quickly removes the inflammation and creates a protective layer that protects the cartilage tissue from further destruction.
On a note.The sequence of treatment is determined by the doctor. Hyaluronic acid preparations are used only after the removal of the inflammatory process, otherwise the course of the disease may worsen.
Stem cell and plasma therapy
Modern methods of dealing with gonarthrosis are based on low invasiveness and reduction of the recovery period. Such procedures include therapy with stem cells, which after injection are able to transform into cells of cartilage tissue, contributing to its regeneration. Material for the procedure is obtained from embryos and adipose tissue, bone marrow of an adult.
The procedure helps:
- pain relief;
- swelling relief;
- restoration of motor functions;
- improving joint nutrition;
- accelerate metabolic processes.
The stem cells taken are grown in a laboratory and injected into the patient's joint. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia.
On a note.Therapy is performed only when there is still cartilage and synovial fluid is produced. In grade 3 disease, treatment will not lead to positive results.
A new method of treating osteoarthritis is the administration of platelet-rich plasma. The procedure is simple:
- taking a blood sample from the patient;
- the blood is placed in a tube and centrifuge, where it is divided into erythrocytes, plasma with platelets;
- only platelet worries are produced;
- the drug is injected into the knee.
With an increased number of platelets begins enhanced regeneration of cartilage tissue. For treatment it is necessary to perform from 2 to 5 procedures, between which there is a break of 7 days.
Other treatments
In the fight against gonarthrosis, people use various traditional and non-traditional methods, one of which is hirudotherapy (leech therapy). Worm saliva contains many enzymes that are beneficial to humans. It allows you to:
- reducing blood viscosity, thus improving blood circulation;
- relief of pain syndrome;
- improving metabolic processes.
On a note.Doctors compare the effect of leech saliva with chondroprotectors. Accelerates the process of cartilage recovery. In the early stages, the patient is completely cured.
Hirudotherapy is prescribed with caution to the elderly and children. The procedures are contraindicated for pregnant women, patients with poor blood clotting and heart failure.
In osteoarthritis of the knee are no less effective applications with ozokerite (black wax), a wax mass consisting of paraffin and resins. It is used in inflammatory and degenerative processes in cartilage structures. It has a thermal, analgesic, regenerating effect on the diseased joint.
Ozokerite is used as compresses and applications. The course of treatment should consist of at least 15 sessions per day.
Drug electrophoresis is no less effective. During the session, the drug penetrates deep into the affected areas, bypassing the stomach and liver. This reduces the intake of medication and the effect of the procedure is more pronounced.
At home you can use a special device. The device, when used topically, is exposed to UV radiation, heat. As a result, blood circulation and tissue trophism are improved, and biochemical reactions in the skin are activated. Positive feedback from patients confirms the effectiveness of the procedures.
Operational methods
Surgery is usually used in stages 3 and 4 of the disease, when the bone heads are virtually bare and conservative therapy cannot give positive results.
In gonarthrosis, several types of operations are performed:
- Arthrodesis - removal of the remaining cartilage along with the joint. It is rarely used because it does not allow to maintain the mobility of the limb.
- Arthroscopic debridement - the release of the joint from the cartilage tissue with the help of an arthroscope. The procedure is used to relieve pain and is a temporary solution to the problem.
- Endoprosthesis is the most common and effective method of surgery for gonarthrosis. Allows you to maintain joint mobility. Modern prostheses are made in accordance with the individual characteristics of the patient. This allows the implant to take root quickly in the body without causing discomfort to the patient.
The joint replacement operation is performed under general anesthesia. Surgeon:
- Makes a longitudinal incision in the central part of the knee, pushes the tissue.
- He treats the damaged fragments of the bone surface (grinding), installs a prosthesis (artificial cartilage), tests.
- It is fixed by cementing or tight fitting.
- He sutured the wound, applied a bandage and a splint.
The whole operation takes 2-3 hours. The recovery period lasts about 4 months. The patient first learns to walk, gradually straining and strengthening the muscles. Exercise, massage, swimming are recommended. The healing effect lasts up to 20 years, after which a new replacement of the prosthesis is needed, as it wears out over time.
Gonarthrosis is a chronic disease that can be successfully treated at an early stage. Even small symptoms can not be ignored - you should immediately begin complex therapy in consultation with your doctor. In severe cases, only joint replacement can help avoid disability. Preventive measures include diet, vitamins, exercise and moderate knee stress.