Knee osteoarthritis is the most common disease of the musculoskeletal system, which is the complete destruction or deformation of the cartilage. According to statistics, it affects up to 22% of the world's population. Mostly this disease occurs in the elderly or athletes. Every person who encountered this unpleasant disease, the question arises: how to treat your knee osteoarthritis?
Causes of osteoarthritis
Before you start an immediate treatment for arthritis, you need to find out why it was generated. The reasons are very diverse:
- the heavy loads. Active physical activities should be age-appropriate. So after 40 years, it is recommended to practice moderate ranges, as well as the load. Not able to cope with a serious challenge that will be placed before the older people, the joints can suffer damage. Sometimes it may appear microcracks, which is clearly not visible, the damage they can cause enormous joint;
- the injuries. This is the source of osteoarthritis in the young. Any fracture, dislocation, or damage to the meniscus can cause the disease. Finally, in order to heal the injury to repair the knee. The deterioration of blood circulation leads to osteoarthritis;
- obesity and overweight. The whole weight of the knee joint, the cartilage which is destroyed under this load, which leads to the disease. If in addition to obesity, there is also the varicose veins, you may develop a severe form of arthritis;
- violation of the metabolism. In such a situation is often the lack of calcium, which adversely affects the condition of the bone and cartilage tissue in general;
- stressful situation. Any emotional tension, stress have a negative impact on the health of the human joints. To avoid this, it's more likely to relax, not to overwork, and continue to alternate mental work with physical.
Symptoms of knee osteoarthritis
The symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee is quite diverse, but very special:
- pain. In the early stages of the disease is fairly weak, and felt that the strong physical exertion. Take this condition, maybe a year or two, as long as the disease does not deteriorate. When it comes to the knee-joint, 2 degrees, the pain is getting more pronounced. My knees hurt more after a long walk, or lift heavy things;
- crunch. It is characterized by severe pain. Looks like 2-3 stages of osteoarthritis;
- deformation. In the early stages of the knee is slightly swollen, and starts to change shape;
- the limited mobility. This occurs in the later stages of the disease. Any attempt to bend and straighten the knee causes a sharp pain. Movement is possible only in the curved legs;
- the Baker's cyst. The so-called elastic gasket in the knee. This occurs because of the accumulation of a large number of common liquid. Easy to handle without surgery.
The degree of osteoarthritis
- 1 the degree of arthrosis of the knee joint occurs virtually asymptomatic. May be characterized by fatigue, the legs and the short-term disturbance of motility that occurs after sleep. The pain can be smaller. Sensor abnormalities possible only with the help of x-rays.
- 2 the degree of osteoarthritis of the knee pain becomes tangible. Occurs when prolonged stress on the joint disappears after a long rest. It adds a crunch when you walk, the progression of synovitis (Baker's cyst), the change in the joints, difficulty bending the knee.
- Grade 3 osteoarthritis of knee joint pain, out loads. The second feature is the inability of people to bend the knee on your own. The pain is very disturbed during sleep, the affected area is actively responding to the changing weather. Deformation of the knee can lead to disability.
Diagnosis of the disease
First, the physician to question the patient and examine. After you enter the survey with regard to the x-ray. In addition, the doctor may order an MRI, CT scan. Such procedures, you can find out the exact cause of the disease to understand that it's the osteoarthritis and not some other disease.
Ways to cure knee osteoarthritis
When I was diagnosed, you can begin to direct treatment. It includes various methods:
- The medicine.
- Therapy means, massage, physiotherapy.
- The surgery.
- Recovery.
It is very important that the physical therapy, massage, diet. Comprehensive treatment to eliminate the pain, determine the motor function of the joint, it is possible to restore the cartilage.
Treatment using drugs
The drug is a greater emphasis on getting rid of the pain, since the disorder itself, to begin immediate treatment. To do this, the doctor prescribes analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, ointments, gels.
If the above is not conducive to treatment. This can cause a lot of side effects. Therefore appoint only short courses in the application.
- Ointment, to relieve pain, to relieve inflammation.
- The hyaluronic acid is very effective in early osteoarthritis. The drug is administered directly to the joint. This procedure should only be performed by a highly trained professional. Indeed, in the case of penetration of the acid in the blood further complications.
- Symptomatic medications retardation can affect the very much, because of osteoarthritis, especially in the initial stages. The drugs, which restore the production of the fluid in the joints or the damaged cartilage.
Physical therapy
This treatment is very effective in the early stages of osteoarthritis of the knee: relieving pain, helps restore the functional ability of the joint, eliminates the spasm of muscle. Individual training program selection Dr. on the basis of the results of the survey.
The surgery
Surgical treatment is different. It depends on the extent of the intervention:
- arthroscopy. This procedure is performed by introducing the endoscope and tools in a specially holes in the joint. So that removed tissue, which is the source of the pain. The operation is gentle and can be repeated several times. Done the first stage of the disease;
- osteotomy. Artificial rupture of the bone tissue to heal completely. Perform the same procedure, the deformation of the knee joint;
- the endoprosthesis. This operation is carried out by complete replacement of the affected knee joint implant.
The proper nutrition
Very often the reason is that the development of osteoarthritis may be a simple error, the metabolism. Because it leads to weight gain and obesity, that will be because of osteoarthritis. Therefore, during the treatment, you need to follow a special diet.
The patient must eat foods rich in vitamins, micro-elements, as well as the calories. Eat often and in small doses to speed up your metabolism. Breakfast full hearty to stock the energy for the whole day. Your daily diet must be present cereals, the vegetables, vegetables, fruits, vegetables.
Should be excluded from receiving the necessary fatty, spicy foods, sodas, processed foods. It is not recommended to use bananas, grapes, cabbage, tomatoes, peppers, all kinds of sweets, chocolate. Don't forget that during this period more than ever, you need the protein. Therefore, the use of cheese, yogurt, cheese should be mandatory.
The dinner must be no later than two hours before bedtime. During the day it is recommended to drink up to two liters of water. Unless, of course, if the patient is not suffering from kidney disease.
The traditional medicine
Cure for osteoarthritis of the knee joint can be cooked with his own hands. Could be all sorts of ointments, compresses, rubbing, lotion. But you must use them only in combination with other drugs and only after consultation with your doctor.
- Dandelion. The flowers, to wash, to eat up to 6 pieces a day. Again, I'm cooking soup. This dried dandelion to fill in boiled water. If it's cold, drink 1/3 Cup three times a day. Made tincture of dandelion. The preparation necessary to be a dark bottle, fill the blossoms and then fill with alcohol. After a month of steeping can be used as the rubbing of the patient's joint.
- Aloe. To clean the sheet fits to the knee every night. This will help reduce the pain and remove the swelling. The plant it is possible to equip the tool with the sanding. This grinder ground a dozen leaves. After you squeeze the juice of cheesecloth, then mix with half Cup of honey. Add 150 ml of wine and mix everything in a dark place. You will need to use a month.
- Effectively to compress the salt, mustard, sand. Mix all ingredients, heat in a pan, then fold the case. Apply to the affected area. This treatment method helps to activate the recovery process, improves blood circulation, to relieve pain.