Every year more and more people are faced with knee effusion - the treatment is long and complicated and it is almost impossible to get rid of this disease forever. The main task of the patient is to stop the progression of the disease.
Classical medical treatment
The inflammatory process that occurs in the knee joint is terrible not only by the appearance of pain. Especially dangerous are the destructive processes that occur in the tissues, the result of which is the inability to always restore the organ. Therefore, the treatment of rheumatic diseases involves complex therapy. It should start on time and take place under a doctor's close supervision.
The indicated medical care action is aimed at eliminating pain, providing adequate nutrition to the cartilage and promoting cartilage regeneration. In addition, the therapy improves blood circulation in the affected joint, strengthens nearby muscles, and also increases the distance between the bones and joints and increases mobility in the knee.
Depending on the stage of disease development, doctors recommend medical or surgical treatment. To consolidate the results of the main therapy, additionally indicated physical education, massage, use of sticks and proper nutrition.
Medical treatment
Drug therapy is indicated in cases where irreversible changes have not occurred in the joint and the tissues of the knee joint can recover and receive nutrition. Only this can be the key to a successful recovery.
The doctor is faced with the difficult task of choosing a competent complete treatment, which includes:
- chondroprotectors;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- immunostimulants;
- antibiotics (for infectious complications);
- agents that improve blood microcirculation.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs must necessarily be included in the treatment complex of rheumatic diseases. The purpose of these drugs is to reduce inflammation and severe pain that interferes with complex treatment. During the use of these drugs, not only the mobility of the knee joint is improved, but also the possibility of performing massage procedures.
Because of their properties, non-steroidal drugs are not for long-term use. First, by alleviating pain and alleviating the patient's condition, they can create the illusion of cure, while destructive processes actively progress. Second, this class of drugs has a wide range of serious side effects. Third, taking them orally contributes to the dehydration of cartilage, which accelerates cartilage destruction.
The course of treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents can be prolonged if selective drugs are used. The likelihood of side effects and complications in this case is much less.
Chondroprotectors
In the treatment of osteoarthritis, it is necessary to provide adequate nutrition for cartilage tissue and pay special attention to restoring the damaged cartilage structure. For this, it is necessary to use chondroprotectors - glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. The action of these substances is not intended to relieve the symptoms, but to treat the disease.
Chondroprotectors are most effective in the early stages of joint disease. They are indispensable for cartilage regeneration and joint fluid production. However, the effects of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are rather slow, so treatment is intermittent and can take up to 1. 5 years in total. In the later stages of the disease, when the cartilage is already sufficiently destroyed, the use of chondroprotectors is practically useless.
Surgical intervention
Surgery is the most effective measure to treat knee effusion in the later stages of the disease. However, we use it extremely rarely - only in cases when drug therapy becomes impotent.
Modern medicine offers several types of surgical interventions. In some people, they try to immobilize part of the knee, so that the severe pain goes away. More modern methods involve the use of a laser or the installation of a special prosthesis, which can partially or completely replace the original joint. The following options are quite expensive so not everyone can afford them.
The method of surgical intervention to treat knee effusion is selected by the doctor based on the results of the examination, the patient's age, general health and possible allergic reactions..
Auxiliary treatments
Very often, in addition to drug therapy, physiotherapy, exercise and massage are prescribed. However, you can only do them after the symptoms of severe pain are eliminated and the acute phase of the disease is gone.
Exercise therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee is necessary to strengthen the muscles of the lower legs and thighs, as well as to improve knee mobility. Initially, you should perform exercises with minimal load, preferably from a sitting position. When the patient's condition improves, it is desirable to complicate the task. There are many exercise combinations specifically designed for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. They can also be made at home.
At the same time, the complex should not contain dynamic exercises, such as running, brisk walking or jumping. Such loads have a negative effect on the state of the joints and wear down cartilage tissues even more.
Manual therapy and physical therapy
In osteoarthritis of the knee, physiotherapy is very successfully applied as an adjuvant treatment. Traditionally, patients were prescribed knee acupuncture, paraffin, ozocerite, hydrocortisone electrophoresis, or electrical stimulation of the muscles of the lower extremities. The above procedures aim to reduce swelling, improve blood circulation in nearby tissues and strengthen the musculoskeletal system.
A special place in the fight against joint diseases is occupied by manual therapy. With its help, it is possible to increase the mobility of the knee, improve the nutrition of cartilage tissue. Due to the fact that during massage the areas of reflex formation are affected, the process of self-healing of the joint begins.
Diet
Osteoarthritis of the knee usually affects people who are overweight. In such cases, it is very important to pay special attention to your diet. At the same time, it is not necessary to go on a strict diet.
The most important thing is to ensure properly balanced nutrition 5-6 times a day, excluding random snacking. At the same time, it is necessary to minimize the use of salt, flour products, spicy and fatty foods.
Make sure to include in your menu:
- fresh vegetable;
- Fruit;
- buckwheat and oat porridge;
- low-fat dairy products.
Small amounts of lean meat can be consumed. It's important to monitor how much fluid you drink - you need to drink at least two liters of water a day. Avoid strong tea and coffee.
Despite the fact that effusion of the knee joint is a chronic disease that requires constant monitoring, today the disease can slow down its development, so that life will be as fulfilling as possible. Patience and proper treatment are two key ingredients in the fight against this disease.