Orthopedist Yuri Stavinsky: “If the cartilage becomes thinner, the bones practically rub against each other, causing terrible pain. Why joints crack and how to deal with it Bones rub against each other

A crunch in the hip joint may indicate serious problems. The crunching may be accompanied by pain, or it may simply be annoying; it may appear in a child, or may only occur in old age. What are the reasons for this phenomenon?

Crunchy hip joint

Every person has heard a crunching sound several times when walking or any other movement. The question of why a joint crunches is not of concern until such a phenomenon becomes permanent. About 45% of men and women complain of any movement accompanied by a crunching sound, more than 65% of young mothers hear their children’s joints cracking.

The hip joint is a rather complex structure in the skeleton, providing several types of movements:

flexion-extension;
abduction - adduction;
rotation in a circle of the thigh.

For its normal function, a well-developed ligamentous apparatus is required. It is problems with muscles and tendons that experts call the first cause of crunching, that is, with insufficient development, the tissue of muscles or ligaments becomes very tense and produces the sound of crunching in the hip joint for no reason. This kind of crunching is usually rare, while constant crunching sounds can indicate various problems.

Why do children's joints crack?

Crunching in the hip joint in children is considered normal if it is painless and not too frequent. Pediatric orthopedists explain this by the fact that the children's skeleton develops differently, for example, the femoral head can form much faster than the acetabulum, so due to lack of space the bones produce grinding.

If, along with the crunchy symptom, children experience clubfoot and a discrepancy in the size of the legs can be visually determined, this may indicate underdevelopment of the hip joint or its dislocation. Wide swaddling will help the baby cope with such problems; orthopedic devices will help at an older age.

It is also possible, due to an underdeveloped joint system, that crunching occurs due to a lack of intra-articular fluid, then pediatricians recommend giving children as much water as possible. But sometimes, on the contrary, excess fluid leads to an unpleasant sound, then inflammation of the synovial membrane or bursitis can be suspected. Such problems can begin in adulthood.

Sometimes such symptoms can be explained by the fact that the child has congenital increased flexibility of the joints (hypermobility), then the crunch will predominate not only in the hip joint, but also in the knees. As the child ages, he will notice discomfort in the lumbar region.

For reference! Crunching in a joint is medically called “crepitus.”

Why can joints crack in athletes?

Most often, the hip joint cracks in beginner gymnasts or other athletes. Due to sudden movements, for example, when training any gymnastic routine, especially without warming up, you can hear a crunch in the hip joint without pain. Usually it doesn’t cause any other problems, it just hurts the ears and makes it difficult to concentrate. There is no need to worry about this - the reason is that the air accumulated in the joint capsule began to escape, but when moving, an obstacle suddenly appeared.

If we are talking about the discomfort that accompanies the crunching, then a tear or complete rupture of the joint ligaments may have occurred, or the femoral head may not fit correctly into the socket. This most often happens when trying to do a split, and if the posterior muscle groups are tense during a longitudinal split or the lateral ligaments during a transverse split, then dislocation or disruption of the integrity of the tendons is almost inevitable. That is, you should do the splits only after special training.

For reference! Doctors use crepitus as a diagnosis - if the crunch when the hip is abducted is clear, and the femoral head is palpable when pressed, but does not move with the hip, then this means a fracture, but if the joint crunches dully and moves, it is a dislocation.

In addition, in rare cases, under heavy loads, fractures of the femoral neck or other part of the leg are possible. Then the crunch will be accompanied by severe pain, since during passive movement the bone fragments rub against each other.

Inflammation of the muscles or ligaments in the thigh, which also often happens in athletes, can also signal an illness due to crepitus, and the affected area should be slightly swollen and the skin red.

Other causes of crepitus

The crunching of the hip joint can be transient (for example, when there is a crunch in the joint and there are no more sounds) and permanent. People who lead a sedentary lifestyle are most susceptible to constant crunching; this symptom is most often observed in the elderly.

The causes of a crunch in the hip joint without pain can be hormonal imbalances:

transitional age;
pregnancy;
menopause;
diseases associated with hormonal conditions.

If we talk about pregnancy, then cracking and clicking in the thigh can be due to excessive load, in addition, due to some restructuring in the small pelvis at the time of childbirth, the hip joint can also be slightly reconstructed, cracking at the same time.

A cracked hip joint may be susceptible to the following pathologies:

Osteoarthritis. Due to the fact that the cartilage tissue is destroyed, the bones of the joint can no longer fit together smoothly when walking or bending the leg. But such a disease could not go unnoticed; the first sign would be pain, and only then the sounds.
Formation of salts in the joint. Due to metabolic disorders, salt deposition occurs, one of the reasons being gout. The crunch is also accompanied by pain.
Untreated joint injuries. Various injuries can cause the development of chronic inflammation and other pathologies. The joint usually cracks when lifting a heavy load.
Chondropathy of the femoral head. Due to poor circulation, tissue death occurs, which leads to deformation; the discrepancy between the femoral head and acetabulum causes unpleasant sounds.
Osteochondrosis and intervertebral hernias in the lumbar region can lead to pinched nerve fibers and muscles, which can signal crunching.

It is better not to make a diagnosis yourself, since you can waste time or even do harm with self-medication.

How to help the body?

A person can help his own joint by going to a medical facility and undergoing an examination. Further treatment will be selected depending on the pathology. If the crunch is accompanied by pain, measures will be taken to eliminate it.

If the problem is not a disease, most likely the doctor will advise you to resort to disease prevention and strengthening of ligaments and muscles. The rules will be:

Physical activity should not be long and alternate with rest.
You should give up passive pastime. Regular walks in the park or cycling will do.
Switch to proper nutrition. Minimize the amount of salty, fried and sweet foods; it is recommended to indulge in vegetables and fruits, dairy products.
It is necessary to carry out daily exercises, and it is best to use a hip orthosis.

An involuntary crunch in any joint is an alarming symptom. Since the hip joint is most susceptible to various problems, and treatment is always long, vigilance is required. Those people who are attentive to their own health and the health of their children always have fewer problems.

Probably only the laziest people in their lives have never cracked their knuckles. Those who use this method of relaxation have probably heard from their grandmothers predictions about the development of arthritis if you do not stop doing nonsense. What to do when joints crunch throughout the body, what are the causes of this condition, is pathology possible? Let's try to figure it out.

Each joint is held in place by a complex set of ligaments, tendons and muscles. The traditional explanation for why joints click is due to changes in synovial fluid pressure within the joint. This difference occurs when the joint capsule, a closed system filled with fluid, is deformed.

Bubbles form and quickly disintegrate with a characteristic sound. This is why we cannot crack our fingers twice in a row, and it takes about twenty minutes to restore balance in the liquid. As for other sounds, they can be produced by damaged connective tissue.

There are the following reasons that lead to crunching in joints throughout the body:

production of bone joints;
accumulation of salt deposits in joints caused by poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, alcohol abuse, drug addiction;
joint injury;
violations in the structure;
inflammatory processes in the adductor muscles;
genetic predisposition.

Elbow joint

We determine whether or not there are characteristic sounds when pressing on the elbow. If there is discomfort and the elbow gets stuck in a bent state, then this may indicate problems with the cartilage. A crunch accompanied by numbness in the little finger and ring finger indicates the manifestation of compressed ulnar nerve syndrome in the cubital canal.

Shoulder

Clicking sounds in the shoulder joint should be considered according to age. Before age 35, this may indicate joint instability. When moving, the rounded part of the bone comes out somewhat from the shoulder socket, which is accompanied by a loud crack.

In older people, if a crunch and pain appear when pressing on the joint, especially when the arms are above the head or behind the back, this indicates a syndrome of collision between the greater tubercle of the humerus and the process of the scapula - the acromion. In this case, inflammation of the tendons is also observed. In this case, any movement of the shoulder causes pain. Most likely, this is a manifestation of arthritis.

Ankle

The loudest sound a joint can make is an Achilles tendon rupture. But often there is no noise, and only a moment later a feeling of heat appears in the back of the heel. Snatching injuries can damage the tendon on the outside. The result will be a clicking sound every time you move your ankle. A sprain is characterized by a popping sound when the ankle joint is rotated.

Fingers

Experts refute the idea that when a person cracks his knuckles, this leads to arthritis. Research shows that crackers' joints are no more likely to develop arthritis than people who never do it.

Read also:

The most common noise is a squeaking sound when the thumb is flexed toward the palm. The sound accompanied by sharp pain is a sign of arthritis. Bones rub against each other when the cartilage wears down.

Hip joint

Clicking in the hip joint is one of the most common complaints, especially among young women. This phenomenon is rarely accompanied by pain and does not cause concern. But in case of pain, we can talk about natural wear and tear or the onset of arthritis, so medical supervision is necessary.

Knee-joint

During squats, especially deep ones, the knee joint experiences a load that is 7-8 times the body weight. And if the process is accompanied by additional stress, the connective tissue begins to protest, cracking and clicking appears.

If painful sensations occur, then there may be problems with the cartilage. If the crunch is inconsistent, there is reason to talk about age-related changes: when the cartilage wears out, the bones begin to rub against each other. Also, a crunch accompanied by pain may indicate the presence of inflammatory or degenerative changes characteristic of arthrosis.

snapping jaw

Some people experience jaw clicking. The cause may be subluxation, when the head is displaced from the joint capsule and returns to its place. If this is accompanied by pain, it may indicate the presence of dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint.

What to do?

The question of what to do if one day there is a crunching of the joints in the knees, clicking or creaking in any other joints, can arise before any person. The answer will be clear: if you have pain, you need to see a doctor.

The doctor will interview you, conduct the necessary studies, and prescribe therapy. In some cases, it will be sufficient to reduce the load on the joint and use physical therapy, while in others, injections with steroid drugs, surgical intervention, and even installation of a prosthesis may be necessary.

Osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis) This degenerative joint disease is the most common type of arthritis and occurs mainly in older people.

Osteoarthritis involves damage to the cartilage tissue covering the articular surfaces of bones. Normally, articular cartilage allows the articular surfaces of bones to slide relative to each other and acts as a shock absorber during movements. In osteoarthritis, the surface layer of articular cartilage breaks down and thins, causing the articular surfaces of the bones to rub against each other. As a result, pain occurs, swelling appears, and movement in the joint becomes limited.

Over time, the shape of the joint changes, and osteophytes, pathological bony protrusions, appear on the articular surfaces of the bones. Once in the joint cavity, pieces of bone or cartilage tissue cause increased pain and aggravate the damage.

Unlike other types of arthritis, for example, rheumatoid arthritis, with osteoarthritis only joints are involved in the pathological process; damage to other organs and systems (skin, lungs, eyes, blood vessels) is not observed.

The second most common arthritis among all arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis. Joint damage in this disease is the result of a malfunction of the immune system, which leads to pain, inflammation and, ultimately, joint deformation. Rheumatoid arthritis begins at a younger age than osteoarthritis and is accompanied by joint swelling, redness of the skin over the joints, fatigue and, in rare cases, fever.

Who develops osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. Given the fact that the world's population is aging, the number of cases of osteoarthritis will increase.

Although osteoarthritis is more common in older people, it can also develop in younger people as a result of trauma to the joint or a malformation of the joint or articular cartilage. The disease occurs in both women and men: men under 45 years of age are more likely to get sick, and women over 45 years of age. It should also be noted that osteoarthritis develops more often in people who are overweight or in people whose work involves stress on certain joints.

What joints are affected by osteoarthritis?

As a rule, osteoarthritis affects the distal interphalangeal joints of the hand, joints of the cervical and lumbar spine, knee and hip joints.

What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is characterized by pain and stiffness in the joints. Osteoarthritis progresses differently for everyone: in some people the disease progresses quickly, while in others joint damage develops gradually over several years. For some, the manifestations of osteoarthritis are minimal and do not affect daily activities, while others experience severe pain and limitation of physical activity.

Although osteoarthritis is a joint disease, it affects lifestyle and financial status for many people.

Factors that influence the lifestyle of a patient with osteoarthritis include:

depression
anxiety
feeling of helplessness
restriction of daily activities
restrictions in the professional sphere
difficulty performing daily activities.

Factors that influence the financial situation of a patient with osteoarthritis include:

cost of treatment
loss of wages due to disability.

Fortunately, most patients with osteoarthritis lead active lifestyles. Specially designed treatment strategies help them in this: rest and exercise, painkillers, educational programs, mutual assistance programs and the right attitude.

Joint structure

A joint is the junction of two or more bones. With some exceptions (for example, with the exception of the joints of the skull and pelvis), the joints provide movement and act as shock absorbers when walking. Each joint consists of several parts:

articular cartilage: covers the articular surfaces of bones
joint capsule: a dense sac that surrounds the articular surfaces of bones and other parts of the joint
synovial membrane: lines the inside of the joint capsule and produces joint fluid
synovial fluid: moisturizes articular cartilage, ensuring its normal functioning.

Healthy person's joint

Normally, the articular surfaces of the bones are covered with smooth articular cartilage. The articular surfaces of bones and articular cartilage are enclosed in an articular capsule, lined from the inside with a synovial membrane that produces synovial fluid. The joint capsule and synovial fluid protect articular cartilage, muscles and ligaments.

Joint of a patient with severe osteoarthritis

With osteoarthritis, articular cartilage thins, osteophytes appear on the articular surfaces of bones, and the amount of synovial fluid decreases. All this leads to pain and stiffness in the joints.

Bones and joints are surrounded by ligaments, tendons and muscles, which provide joint mobility. Ligaments connect bones to each other, tendons serve to attach muscles to bones, and muscles contract under the influence of nerve impulses, resulting in movement.

Articular cartilage

Articular cartilage is 65-80% water. Cartilage is also built from collagen, proteoglycans and chondrocytes:

collagen: is a structural element of skin, tendons, bones, etc.
proteoglycans: built from proteins and carbohydrates, together with collagen they form a cellular structure, due to which articular cartilage acts as a shock absorber
chondrocytes: the main cells of cartilage tissue that form its intercellular substance. In some cases, chondrocytes secrete enzymes that break down collagen and other proteins.

Features of the course of osteoarthritis

Typically, osteoarthritis develops gradually. At first, joint pain occurs only after physical work or exercise, then it becomes constant. Stiffness in the joints also appears: more often in the morning or when staying in one position for a long time.

Osteoarthritis can develop in any joint, however, the joints most often affected are the joints of the hand, cervical and lumbar spine, knee and hip joints. Symptoms of the disease depend on the location of the pathological process.

Osteoarthritis of the hand joints is hereditary. If your mother or grandmother has osteoarthritis of the hand joints, the risk of developing the disease increases. Osteoarthritis of this localization is more common in women than in men, and in most cases develops in postmenopausal age.

Osteoarthritis of the hand joints is accompanied by the appearance of nodules on the finger joints. The fingers increase in size and change shape, pain or stiffness appears in the joints, and sometimes numbness of the fingers appears.

Osteoarthritis of the knee joints is accompanied by pain, swelling and stiffness and can even lead to disability.

As for damage to the hip joints, it is characterized by stiffness and pain that radiates to the groin area, buttocks, knees, and spreads to the inner thighs. Osteoarthritis makes it difficult to move the hip joints, including those required to get dressed and put on shoes.

Osteoarthritis of the spinal joints causes stiffness and pain in the neck or lower back. Some patients experience compression of the nerve roots, which is accompanied by a feeling of weakness or numbness in the arms and legs.

Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease. Previously, it was believed that this disease was associated with the aging process of the body. Indeed, with age, susceptibility to osteoarthritis increases, but, unfortunately, age is not the leading factor. Now osteoarthritis affects even relatively young people.

Osteoarthritis is called “the disease of worn-out joints,” and each of us faces this disease to one degree or another. But it is not all that bad. Most often, the disease manifests itself as mild pain or tenderness in one or more joints. Only in exceptional cases are severe manifestations of osteoarthritis observed, which threaten immobility.

What happens with osteoarthritis

Our joints are covered with cartilage, which softens loads and cushions the joints. Over time, the cartilage plate becomes thinner and can even completely dissolve. When moving, the joints begin to rub against each other. Pain and stiffness occur.
Our body strives to restore the lack of cartilage tissue and builds up bone. As a result, bone spurs appear, which over time lead to thickening and deformation of the joint. In severe cases, the destruction of cartilage threatens complete immobility of the joint.

Manifestations of osteoarthritis

The main indicator of osteoarthritis is pain. At first it may not be strong, but at times painful. It occurs in the affected joints. The development of osteoarthritis is a slow process. Its manifestations can be minor or short-term, so, as a rule, they do not pay much attention to it.

The peak of pain most often occurs at the end of the day, when the joints are forced to remain in the same position for a long time. Bones rub against each other. And stiffness increases if a person remains motionless for a long time.

In severe cases of osteoarthritis, weakness of the muscles surrounding the affected joints develops, which impairs coordination of movements. A constant aching pain appears, which reduces the motor activity of the joint. However, osteoarthritis rarely leads to complete immobility.

Advice!
If you have osteoarthritis, to relieve pain, try not to stay in one position for a long time, make movements every half hour.

Where does osteoarthritis develop?

Osteoarthritis most often affects the hands, spine, hip and knee joints. It all starts with the joints becoming swollen and red, and surprisingly, as the disease progresses, these symptoms disappear. Bone growths appear on the finger joints and stiffness appears.

Osteoarthritis often affects the spine. When cartilage is destroyed, the bone processes irritate the nerves that go from the spinal cord to different parts of the body. Osteoarthritis especially often appears in the cervical and lumbar spine. In addition, when the intervertebral discs wear out, compression of the nerves occurs, and this can cause severe pain - radiating pain (unpleasant sensations not in the spine, but in the arm or leg) caused by irritation of the nerve leading to the limb.

The hip and knee joints are also susceptible to osteoarthritis because they bear significant load to support the body and wear out over time. Most often, osteoarthritis of the hip joint manifests itself as pain in the groin or in the inner surface of the thigh to the knee.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis
crunching in the joint when moving;
pain that occurs when starting to move and during exercise;
stiffness after immobility;
sudden, sharp pain in the joint when moving;
increased joint pain when the weather changes;
joint stiffness and deformity.

These symptoms cannot be ignored. The disease does not go away on its own; the condition will only get worse. The consequences of a frivolous attitude towards oneself can lead to disability and complete immobility.

"ARTRO-ACTIVE" in the treatment of osteoarthritis

In the therapeutic treatment of osteoarthritis, various drugs are used, such as NSAIDs, analgesics, and antispasmodics. All these remedies are effective, but if used for a long time they can cause harm to the body.

First of all, the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system suffer. Therefore, it is very important to minimize side effects and increase the effectiveness of treatment. The ARTRO-ACTIVE line helps with this - a modern solution to joint problems. The red line of drugs "ARTRO-ACTIVE" (balm and capsules) relieves inflammation and pain in the joints, allows you to reduce the dose of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs. As soon as the inflammation is removed, treatment continues with the blue line “ARTRO-ACTIVE” (tablets and cream). It rebuilds cartilage tissue, nourishes and strengthens the joint, and reduces the risk of exacerbations. All ARTRO-ACTIVE drugs have a natural composition and do not cause side effects even with long-term use. The high effectiveness of ARTRO-ACTIVE drugs has been clinically proven in Russian research institutes.

Elderly people most often complain of knee pain, since age-related changes in cartilage tissue lead to the gradual destruction of joints. One of the most common diseases of this type is osteoarthritis. It appears for various reasons and can even affect young people. If the correct diagnosis is not made in time and treatment is not started, degenerative processes can lead to disability.

Features of osteoarthritis of the knee joint

With this disease, cartilage tissue is primarily affected. And this leads to gradual destruction of the joint. The human knee is designed in such a way that the ends of the bones that meet in it are covered with an elastic layer of special tissue. This cartilage acts as a shock absorber and helps reduce pressure on the bone during movement. The joint itself is enclosed in a synovial capsule, which secretes a special fluid that ensures smooth gliding.

Osteoarthritis in the knee joint begins with thinning of the cartilage. The amount of synovial fluid decreases, the bones begin to rub against each other. And since the knee experiences very heavy loads, degenerative processes affect all parts of the joint.

A feature of the disease is its slow course, gradual increase in symptoms. Often mild pain bothers the patient for several years until he consults a doctor. But it happens that in the later stages treatment is already useless; you can only support the basic functions of the joint and relieve pain.

Causes of the disease

Most often, osteoarthritis develops with age. Almost 80% of elderly people over 60 years of age suffer from this disease. Poor blood circulation and tissue nutrition lead to thinning of the cartilage, and constant physical activity leads to wear and tear of the joint. Moreover, at this age it is almost impossible to restore its functions. But degenerative processes can also develop for other reasons.

Injuries to joints and muscles lead to disruption of tissue nutrition.
Excess weight puts more stress on the joint, causing it to wear out faster.
Metabolic disorders and hormonal imbalances lead to deterioration in tissue nutrition.
Knee disease is often called occupational due to increased physical activity. Athletes and people engaged in heavy physical labor suffer from it.
Hereditary predisposition or congenital pathologies of the musculoskeletal system cause the development of osteoarthritis at a young age.
Rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases often lead to joint destruction.
Standing in one position for a long time or walking in high heels causes a very large load on the knee joints.
Bad habits or taking certain medications interfere with blood supply and nutrition of cartilage tissue.

Due to the thinning of the cartilage tissue, the destruction of the bones that make up the joint begins

How does osteoarthritis manifest?

The destruction of cartilage tissue leads to the fact that with every movement the bones of the knee joint rub against each other. This causes severe pain. At first, they appear only during physical activity, then they become permanent and clearly noticeable upon palpation. Blood circulation and tissue nutrition are gradually disrupted, less lubrication is produced, and fluid fills the joint cavity instead. Pain is also associated with damage to muscles and ligaments due to joint deformation, with the development of an inflammatory process or with complications: bursitis, tendonitis, synovitis.

In addition, there are other symptoms of osteoarthritis:

the inflammatory process leads to swelling and redness of soft tissues;
the joint is deformed, the size of the kneecap increases;
over time, movements in the knee are severely limited;
when walking, a characteristic crunch is heard due to the friction of bones against each other;
due to pain, it is difficult for the patient to move, especially going up and down stairs;
there is weakness in the knees, gait disturbances and decreased stability when walking;
stiffness in the joint is especially noticeable after a period of rest, for example, in the morning, as well as after physical activity.

The main symptom of the disease at any stage is knee pain

Stages of the disease

Osteoarthritis develops gradually. It can only be stopped at the initial stage. But the problem is that often this period of the disease passes almost unnoticed. The process may take years. And it happens that patients turn to a doctor when they begin to be bothered by constant pain, crunching in their knees, and limited movements. But this means that the destruction of the joint has begun, often irreversible. Therefore, it is very important to pay attention to all symptoms. There are three degrees of development of osteoarthritis.

The first stage is characterized by mild pain after prolonged physical activity. The patient feels a feeling of discomfort and rapidly increasing fatigue in the legs. There are no visible external changes during this period yet, muscles and ligaments work normally. Only the composition of the synovial fluid is disrupted and the cartilage gradually begins to deteriorate. Usually at this time the disease is detected during a preventive examination.
At the second stage The knee cartilage and menisci have become so thin that the bone tissue begins to suffer. Bone growths appear - osteophytes, the joint becomes deformed, changes even affect the muscles and ligaments. These signs can be seen on an x-ray. The pain becomes chronic and more severe. They are observed constantly, intensifying in the morning or after physical activity. The inflammatory process develops and swelling occurs. It is difficult for the patient to move; a crunching sound is heard in the knee.
The third degree of osteoarthritis is characterized by complete destruction of cartilage tissue and severe deformation of the joint. Normal movements become impossible. Pain constantly accompanies the patient. The joint is severely deformed, the shape of the legs is distorted. Development of the disease to this stage leads to disability. In most cases, the patient cannot move independently without surgery.

Knee massage is one of the effective methods for treating osteoarthritis.

How to treat osteoarthritis

It is very important to consult a doctor when the first symptoms of the disease are detected. Treatment can be effective only in the initial stages, but if degenerative processes have affected bone tissue, it can only be restored through surgery. All methods of treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee joint should be aimed at reducing the load on it, improving blood circulation and nutrition of cartilage tissue.

First of all, it is important to change your lifestyle. It is necessary not to overuse sports, you may have to change activities to prevent overstrain of the knee.
But dosed physical activity in the absence of pain is necessary. Therefore, it is necessary to perform physical therapy exercises aimed at forming a muscle corset around the joint. For knee diseases, they are usually done while sitting or lying down.
Diet therapy is also an effective treatment method. It is very important to reduce weight and prevent it from gaining in the future.
For treatment, the doctor prescribes drug therapy. Most often these are painkillers and chondroprotectors.
To reduce the load on the joint, wearing special knee pads is recommended.
Physiotherapeutic treatment is effective: magnetic pulse therapy, electrophoresis, massage, acupuncture.
Folk remedies are often used. But they can only be used after consulting a doctor.
In severe cases, surgery is indicated.

For severe pain, intra-articular injections of steroid hormones are used.

Drug treatment

For osteoarthritis of the knee joint, several groups of drugs are used. They are prescribed by a doctor strictly individually after examination. The choice of drug depends on the stage of the disease, the nature of the degenerative processes and the reasons that caused the destruction of cartilage tissue. Most often, treatment is complex, including several drugs from different groups.

Painkillers needed to alleviate the patient's condition. Analgesics are used - Paracetamol, Codeine or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. This group of medications, in addition to pain, helps reduce inflammation, but has a negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, they cannot be taken for a long time. The most common NSAIDs are Diclofenac, Indomethacin, Ketoprofen and the new generation drug Celecoxib.
In case of severe pain, they do it in a medical facility intra-articular injections of glucocorticosteroids. The most commonly used are Prednisolone and Hydrocortisone. Recently, injections of hyaluronic acid have also begun, which replenishes the amount of synovial fluid.
In the early stages of the disease, b iologically active supplements with chondroitin and glucosamine. These are the main components of cartilage tissue that will help prevent its destruction. The most effective drugs are Collagen Ultra, Arthra or Teraflex.

Lifestyle with osteoarthritis

It is very important for a patient who has been diagnosed with this to understand that he needs to completely reconsider his lifestyle. Many experience serious psychological problems due to the need to limit movements and reduce stress. What needs to be changed in lifestyle with osteoarthritis:

if you are overweight, you need to lose weight and prevent it from gaining in the future;
to improve the supply of nutrients to the joint, include vegetables, lean meat, fish, and shrimp in the diet;
avoid intense sports, especially running and jumping;
Limit climbing stairs, sitting on low chairs, and lifting heavy objects;
but physical activity is encouraged, especially slow walking, cycling and swimming;
special exercises selected by a specialist are useful; they will help strengthen muscles and improve blood circulation;
to reduce the load on the joint, you need to use a cane, knee pads, and orthopedic shoes.

As an auxiliary treatment, you can use traditional methods, for example, compresses

Traditional methods of treatment

Various decoctions, herbal tinctures, compresses and baths are used as auxiliary therapy. They can be used only after consultation with a doctor, and in no case should they replace traditional treatment. For osteoarthritis of the knee joint, decoctions and tinctures of the following herbs are effective:

lingonberry leaves;
strawberry leaves;
purslane herbs;
dandelion and onion peel.

Also effective are ginger root, a collection of calendula, nettle, buckthorn bark, juniper berries, elderberry and horsetail.

Various ointments, solutions for compresses, applications and baths are also used. For external use for osteoarthritis, the following recipes help:

rub the joint with a mixture of mustard, coarse salt and melted paraffin;
make compresses from honey, mustard and vegetable oil;
an infusion of crushed horseradish root relieves knee pain;
A compress of honey and apple cider vinegar helps;
instead of pharmaceutical ointments, you can use an infusion of fresh celandine in vegetable oil;
It’s also good to take baths with sea salt and turpentine.

When is surgery needed?

In the last degree of osteoarthritis, when irreversible changes have occurred in the cartilage tissue and the bones have begun to deteriorate, surgery is the only way to restore freedom of movement. It is on the knee that endoprosthetics is most often performed: replacing a worn-out joint with an implant. Treatment with surgery is prescribed in the following cases:

when severe pain torments the patient constantly, not subsiding even at night;
if he cannot move independently for more than 10 minutes;
when severe deformation of the joint is visible;
if drug therapy does not bring tangible results.

Osteoarthritis of the knee occurs in two thirds of people over 60 years of age. But it is possible to mitigate its manifestations, stop the destruction of the joint and make it possible for the patient to move independently. You just need to consult a doctor in time and follow all his recommendations.