Treatment of the knee joint is not a quick process, and it is not always possible to get rid of the pain immediately. Often, it occurs due to destruction and deformation of cartilage tissue, but there may be other reasons. It is impossible to delay therapy, because joint disease develops rapidly and can lead to serious consequences, as well as disability.
Causes of knee pain
The knee is an organ where the kneecap is aligned with two bones. The cup, located in front of the knee, is connected by the quadriceps muscle tendon, which is continuous with the ligaments. The bones are covered with cartilage, and among them is the cartilage of the moon - menisci. Also, the knee has several synovial bags for fluid, which act as a lubricant for the knee.
This whole complex mechanism is designed for bending, extension and shock absorption during movement. Any violation in his work leads to discomfort and pain. How to treat the knee should be determined by the traumatologist after diagnosis.
The causes of pain can be very diverse, from fatigue and excessive tiredness to serious illness, and they are divided in this way:
- Knee injuries - all mechanical damage can be attributed to such a cause. Bruising, rupture of ligaments, outflow of blood into the joint cavity with intra-articular fractures, injuries and rupture of the menisci, dislocation of the patella. Such causes are usually characterized by acute local pain, severe swelling, bruising, and difficulty or inability to move the joint.
- Inflammatory and degenerative joint disease is the most common cause of knee pain in older and older people. Arthritis, arthrosis, chondropathy, bursitis, Schlatter's disease and other diseases. Characterized by increasing pain or simply discomfort when moving, clicks during knee flexion/extension, pathological joint flexibility and chronic knee instability.
- Various infectious diseases and systemic viruses also lead to inflammation and pain. These include osteoporosis, bone tuberculosis, syphilis, osteomyelitis and more. Such pain can be of a different nature, depending on the inflammation of the body damaged by the virus and infection.
- A disease in which the pain spreads to the knee. Sciatic nerve injury, arthrosis of the hip joint, fibromyalgia. Such pain is a side effect, therefore it is a periodic pain or a shooting character. Treatment of the knee joint in such cases will not bring relief.
Diagnosing and knowing the cause of the pain will determine how to treat the knee joint. When symptoms of unknown origin appear, it is better not to self -medicate.
knee treatment
Treatment for knee pain can be conservative or surgical. The surgical method is surgery to remove the cause of the pain. Conservative therapy is a set of techniques aimed at eliminating symptoms and pathology. So what is the treatment for knee pain?
Surgical methods
Such methods can be prescribed for severe injuries and inflammatory and degenerative diseases. Acute pain in the joints may indicate severe injury or complete wear of the cartilage. Therefore, several types of operations are used.
Arthroscopy
Such surgeries can be performed for the purpose of diagnosing and treating severe joint injuries. Arthroscopes are inserted into the knee through micro -incisions, one equipped with a camera and displaying "pictures" on a screen, the other intended for manipulation inside the joint, primarily for treatment.
Such surgery significantly reduces the postoperative period and recovery, moreover, it practically leaves no scars. With the help of an arthroscope, the torn ligament and meniscus are dissected. Sometimes it is used to treat arthrosis, but its effectiveness in this case is still questionable.
Osteotomy
The most radical methodWith such an operation, the knee joint is fully opened, the patella is removed with the help of an incision, which allows direct manipulation in the cavity. This method is also called open. Typically, braces are applied to the bones, which greatly helps reduce the load on the joints.
The major disadvantage of such operations is the long recovery period. Patients will be able to walk after 1-2 months, and lead an active lifestyle only after a year. But such surgery usually guarantees a long remission.
You should know that osteotomy is used in the event of severe damage or deformation of connective tissue, when partial removal of the diseased element is required.
Endoprosthetics
It is carried out when all other methods of treatment have run out, and the joint continues to collapse and completely stops performing its function. After complete removal of the element affected by the osteotomy, an implant is placed in the knee. It can be transferred from a donor, or it can be replaced with an artificial prosthesis. They are made of plastic, ceramic or metal alloys.
In this way, the disease disappears completely and the patient achieves permanent remission. However, it should be considered that the prosthesis can be rejected, and other side effects are also possible. Israel remains a leader in arthroplasty.
For reference! In most cases, knee pain is treated in a gentler way. And such therapy is very effective, and most importantly, it allows you to maintain an active lifestyle during the recovery period.
Conservative treatment
Such a method is a set of techniques aimed at regeneration, healing and rehabilitation of joints. It includes drug treatment, physiotherapy exercise and gymnastics, physiotherapy. In some cases, it may include folk methods. At the first manifestation of pain in the knee, it is worth choosing a knee orthosis or brace that will slow down the destruction of tissue before the start of primary treatment and reduce the symptoms of the disease.
Drug treatment
What is the first thing to do with knee pain? Of course, use painkillers and analgesics. Such funds can be in different pharmacological forms. Ointments, tablets are recommended for dull and aching aches. For acute and shooting, it is better to use injections that will relieve the pain immediately.
Once a diagnosis is made, non -steroidal medications can be prescribed. With injuries, severe arthrosis and other degenerative diseases, the knee often swells. That is the purpose of these drugs. They improve blood circulation, reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
The final stage of drug treatment will be the intake of chondroprotectors. They are prescribed for any damage and changes in cartilage tissue. This is the basis of conservative treatment.
Fact! Chondroprotectors, like bricks, restore cartilage. They have the property to regenerate and restore elasticity.
But it is worth being prepared for the fact that treatment with chondroprotectors will be very long. This course takes from three months to a year. Pharmacological forms can be in tablets, ointments and injections. By the way, the substance can also be found in food, so for pain in the knee, doctors recommend eating jelly, meat soup, avocado and jelly.
In some cases, intramuscular injections of hyaluronic acid may be prescribed. It is this material that is part of the synovial fluid that fills the joint cavity. It will help the regeneration of connective tissue, and recovery will happen faster.
Exercise therapy and gymnastics
This is the most important stage after surgical treatment and after medication. Physical therapy should also be done to prevent pain. It should take place under the supervision of a rehabilitation specialist in a special center or sanatorium for the proper implementation of a set of exercises. It usually takes 2-3 months.
With its help, the knee joint gradually returns to an active life by increasing the range of motion. Swimming will be the most important element. It will not only allow the joints to move smoothly, but also improve blood circulation and metabolism, which has a positive effect on tissue repair.
Physiotherapy
Such procedures are intended for safe recovery and treatment. This method achieves the best results with the least load. These include the following methods:
- ultrasound therapy;
- electrophoresis;
- therapy with infrared rays;
- various body warm -ups.
How else can you heal your feet if your knees are so sore? A good physiotherapy procedure is also a massage, which improves blood circulation and speeds up the recovery process. Massage well relieves pain, and also has a general strengthening effect.
Topical preparations can be used without a doctor's prescription, such treatment is acceptable when the knee is sore. But most likely, this will only relieve the symptoms, and the cause will remain, and sooner or later, it will cause discomfort.
Folk treatment methods
How to treat knee pain with folk methods, perhaps, every patient who has ever suffered from this disease knows:
- The first way is to warm the joints. This can be done with the help of special compresses of vodka and honey at home.
- You can visit a bath or sauna, which has a good effect on the whole body as a whole.
- A very modern heating method is a heating orthosis on a battery. It’s easy, comfortable and doesn’t require much effort. One session can relieve pain in just 20-30 minutes.
- Mud and algae bandages also have a good effect on the joints. They are able to restore elasticity to cartilage in a short period of time, improve blood circulation, which contributes to better tissue nutrition.
It is important to remember that with severe injuries and in the final stages of the disease, alternative methods will be ineffective. Therefore, any treatment at home should be discussed with your doctor.
Patient feedback on treatment methods
It is impossible to answer the question of how to treat the knee joint without determining the cause, because as soon as symptomatic treatment in this case can turn the disease at an early stage into chronic. An integrated approach is always needed, and patient feedback confirms this.
- Woman, 55: "My knee has been sore for a long time. I could not understand why, then I still went to the doctor, and it turned out I had arthrosis. They prescribed chondroprotectors, which allowed me to forget the pain. With the help of exercise therapy. "
- Man, 35: "He received a severe knee injury - a ruptured meniscus. The treating doctor prescribed arthroscopy, after a brief recovery he returned to big sports. "
- Man, 48: "Unfortunately, arthrosis completely destroyed my joints. I didn't care about the excruciating pain for a long time. I had endoprosthetics and ceramic joints. I went back to an active life again and started running in the morning. "
- Guy, 20: "I had a pinched sciatic nerve, it gave me a dull pain in my knee. I couldn't understand why and rubbed the joint with a non -steroidal ointment. Then I went to the doctor and found that this pain was secondary, andMy knees are healthy. "