Every second inhabitant of our planet experienced pain in the knees at least once in their life, regardless of age and occupation. Painful knee joints cause a lot of inconvenience in everyday life. The impossibility of normal movement, stiffness of movements, limping gait deprive the patient of the joy of free movement.
Proper and timely treatment will help rid the joints of pathology and restore damaged tissues at the cellular level. To achieve a speedy recovery result, it is necessary to correctly identify the disease, the result of which is pain in the knee joint.
Why does the knee hurt?
Appeal to a qualified orthopedist guarantees the diagnosis and establishment of the cause of this symptom.
Doctors say that the pain syndrome can appear due to the destruction of joint tissues during trauma, degenerative changes or inflammatory processes. The purpose of treatment for the knee joint directly depends on the cause and severity of the pathology.
Possible reasons:
- traumatic injuries of a different nature: bruises, dislocations, sprains, fractures;
- arthrosis of the knee joint - destructive changes in the articular tissues, causing deformation and loss of functionality;
- arthritis - inflammatory processes of an acute and chronic nature;
- destructive processes during age-related changes;
- bursitis - inflammation of the synovial bag;
- an increase in the load on the knees in the presence of excess weight and metabolic disorders in the body;
- pathologies of autoimmune origin;
- congenital changes in the structure of the joint;
- Osgood-Spatter disease - the appearance of painful swelling in the area of the patella, appears in adolescents who are actively involved in sports during the period of hormonal changes in the body, most often treatment of the knee joint is not required, the pathology resolves on its own;
- osteomyelitis - an infectious lesion of the joint by Staphylococcus aureus, causing severe general intoxication of the patient;
- dissecting osteochondritis - destruction of cartilage with subsequent displacement of the separated part into the articular cavity;
- neurological diseases associated with nerve infringement;
- tumor growths.
A medical specialist who treats joints can differentiate the pathology and select an individual treatment for the knee joint for the patient. Self-administration of analgesics briefly eliminates the pain syndrome, but does not have a therapeutic effect on the disease. In addition, advanced forms can lead to sad consequences: loss of joint mobility, the need for surgical intervention and complex rehabilitation measures.
How to treat a knee joint
With the appearance of systematic pain in the knee, it is necessary to see a doctor as soon as possible. Uncomplicated forms of diseases that can cause a similar symptom are treated successfully until the knee functions are fully restored.
In severe cases, for example, with a torn meniscus, even a slight delay leads to sad consequences, up to disability.
Treatment of the knee in traditional ways with the help of drugs is determined by the attending doctor: these can be drugs for oral administration, intramuscular and intraarticular injections, ointments and gels for topical application.
Medical treatment
Therapeutic measures for the treatment of the knee joint are a comprehensive solution:
- symptomatic elimination of pain syndrome;
- elimination of the cause of the pathology;
- restorative therapy.
The appointment of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is important for relieving pain and possible inflammatory reactions. They can be used both in the form of ointments for external use, and in injection form. The drug is directly determined by the doctor for a particular case, the use of NSAIDs without a prescription can be dangerous due to the large number of side effects.
In parallel with the use of anesthetics, the orthopedist selects drugs that will eliminate the cause of pain:
- in case of injuries, a splint or plaster bandage is applied, it is recommended to comply with the orthopedic regimen and reduce motor activity for recovery;
- with arthritis, bursitis - anti-inflammatory drugs;
- arthrosis, deforming changes - drugs that can restore destroyed tissues;
- weight loss, diet therapy;
- suppression of the pathogen in infectious lesions
- surgical treatment for neoplasms.
After the removal of the acute period of the pathology, it is necessary to take measures to restore the cells and functions of the knee joint.
Chondoprotectors are a pharmacological group of drugs that can restore destroyed joint tissues.
Physiotherapy and exercise therapy
Physiotherapy procedures play an important role in quickly getting rid of pain in the knees. Magnetotherapy, the use of ultrasound, hydrogen sulfide and radon baths, the appointment of infrared radiation reduces the need to prescribe numerous pharmacological preparations.
Therapeutic exercise is a set of exercises aimed at restoring full motor activity of the knee. Performing therapeutic exercises should be carried out in doses under the supervision of a doctor, and a physiotherapist is involved in compiling a treatment program, taking into account the characteristics of a particular case.
Treatment of the knee joint with folk remedies
For many centuries, folk healers have successfully treated joints, including the knee. Safe natural remedies are used as an addition to the main one, but in no case replace it. In addition, alternative recipes can be used only after the approval of the attending doctor.
Alcohol tincture of honey
Honey has been known for its healing properties since ancient times. Honey rubs have an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect with regular use. The only contraindication to the use of honey for the treatment of the knee is the possibility of allergic reactions.
To prepare the tincture, you need to place two teaspoons of honey and ten milliliters of medical alcohol in a container. Keep the resulting mixture in a water bath until completely dissolved. Apply the cooled solution to the knee area in the morning and evening, to enhance the reaction, you can create a compress effect with cling film.
Bow Applications
Fresh onions must be chopped to a mushy state and mixed with a small amount of granulated sugar. Form the resulting mixture in the form of cakes one and a half centimeters high and apply to the sore joint for twelve hours. Onions will anesthetize the knee and have an anti-inflammatory effect.
Rubbing from medical bile
Doctors recommend rubbing heated medical bile into a diseased joint to reduce pain. An inexpensive but effective remedy can be bought at a pharmacy without a doctor's prescription. In addition to the analgesic effect, bile improves blood circulation and stops the destruction of tissues in the joint.
Preventive actions
To prevent the occurrence of pain in the knee, you must follow the simple rules of prevention:
- promptly seek medical help if symptoms of pathological processes in the joint appear;
- monitor your own weight;
- Healthy food;
- to live an active lifestyle;
- exercise;
- use orthopedic bandages to prevent injuries;
- do not self-medicate.