And indeed, this disease causes the calcification of ligaments and soft tissues of the knee, associated with the deposition of calcium salts. However, it does not have any independent meaning, but rather secondary character.
The first place here is a degenerative pathological process, affecting hyaline cartilage, lining the bone areas involved in the formation of the joint.
Reasons for the formation of knee osteoarthritis
The main cause of the development of the disease is the violation of microcirculation in bone tissues.
Over time, the cartilage becomes thinner, crackles, becomes turbid, and then completely disappears. Bone tissue is exposed and begins to thicken with the formation of so-called spines, which leads to deformation of the knee joint.
That is why there is another name for this disease - deforming osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint most often overtakes people of middle or advanced age. In young years, the so-called posttraumatic osteoarthritis, which occurs against the background of the transferred injuries( bruises, fractures), is most often developed.
The causes of the disease also include:
- hereditary predisposition;
- excessive physical activity;
- excess weight;
- hormonal failures;
- metabolic disorders.
Osteoarthritis can be primary or secondary.
Primary, mainly, develops in older women.
Secondary osteoarthritis most often occurs as a result of inflammatory diseases and past injuries of the knee joint.
Symptoms of knee osteoarthritis
The main signs of the disease are best seen with increasing degrees of the disease:
- osteoarthrosis of 1 degree is characterized by minor pain and inflammatory processes in the knee joint. At this stage of the disease, treatment with sparing methods is still possible;
- osteoarthritis of the 2nd degree is characterized by disorders of the joint tissues, extreme weakening of the muscular function, stiffness of the motor activity of the person;
- osteoarthritis of the 3rd degree is the most severe stage of the disease. Pain in the knee joint increases and becomes unbearable. In this case, treatment is required consistently and sufficiently long.
Treatment of deforming osteoarthritis of the knee joint
First of all, the patient is offered medication necessary for: 
- slowing the process of the disease;
- improvement of intra-articular metabolic processes;
- elimination of joint dysfunction.
Drug treatment requires a long and consistent reception of chondroprotectors that prevent changes in cartilaginous tissue, stimulating its growth, eliminating functional disorders of the joint.
Chondroprotectors are drugs that improve the structure of cartilage.
Chondroprotect can be in powders, capsules or tablets:
- teraflex;
- DONA;
- piaskladed;
- artra and others.
Chondroprotectors are used in the treatment with injections:
- intraarticular injections-lubricants( fermatron, osthenil and others);
- intramuscular injections( mucosate, DONA and others).
Sometimes it is possible to administer adrenocorticosteroid injections to the affected knee.
In addition, patients can be prescribed:
- physiotherapy;
- exercise therapy( LFK);
- massage with warmer or ice;
- restorative procedures.
Exacerbation of the disease requires the use of anti-inflammatory non-steroid drugs, significantly reducing the level of pain. To select such drugs should only the attending physician, taking into account all the individual characteristics of the disease.
High efficiency in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis is achieved through the use of local anesthetic nonsteroidal analgesics:
- gels;
- ointment;
- creams.
In the event that medication failed to achieve a positive result, surgical intervention is required.
The operation can be performed according to various methods.
It is even possible to replace the affected joint with an artificial prosthesis.
Sometimes in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint, it is possible to use traditional medicine - infusions and herbal medicinal herbs. They can be taken or used externally, for compresses and rubbing.
The following folk remedies( herbs) are highly effective:
- St. John's wort;
- mint;
- sequence;
- clover;
- calendula.
In addition, the following plant components are possible:
- juniper needles;
- flax seeds;
- root of the ayr;
- of the pine kidney.
For a compress the ideal choice is a mixture of vegetable oil, dry mustard and honey.
Before using any folk recipes, you should definitely consult with an experienced homeopath physician.
Also, it should be noted that you can not completely get rid of knee osteoarthritis, using only medicinal herbs, you will not succeed.
This is most likely a supportive and analgesic.
Nutrition for osteoarthritis of the knee joint
Take from us some useful tips:
- avoid the so-called "invisible" fats, hiding in confectionery, chocolate, bakery, sausages and a variety of snacks;
- buy and eat, if possible, lean and not fried meat;
- meat dishes try to replace with fish;
- Drink low-fat dairy products;
- eat enough cereals, cereals, black bread;
- expand your diet with fresh fruits, berries and vegetables;
- reduce the consumption of sugar.
Exercises for the development of the knee joint with osteochondrosis
Exemplary set of exercises:
- sitting on the table top, with varying amplitude, to chat with your feet;
- sitting on the table top raise one leg at a right angle for three seconds. Then change your leg;leaning the buttocks on the countertop and not bending the back, do the leans forward;
- "Lazy bicycle".Do, slowly pressing the knees to the stomach with your hands, and lowering them to the floor, while changing your legs;
- "Active bicycle".Lie back on the floor, and twist your feet in the air, as if you are riding a real bike;
- lying with his back on the floor, bend his leg in the knee, grasp the hip with his hand and press it to the stomach. Then, holding the foot at right angles, straighten the knee;
- lie on your stomach and take turns to bend your legs without taking the pelvis off the floor;
- do the same, but with a delayed bent leg for 5-10 seconds.
The effective combination of such a diet with a complex of therapeutic exercises for osteoarthritis of the knee helps to significantly reduce body weight, which leads to a decrease in the total burden on the knee joint as a whole.
We offer you to watch a video of therapeutic exercises for osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
Video: Exercises for knee osteoarthritis
Take care.
Stay healthy!
Osteoarthrosis of the knee joint( gonarthrosis) in everyday life is called "salt deposition".
