Knee pain is a common problem. We’ll tell you how not to treat it, although many do so, and what the most modern methods of treatment exist.
The knee joint plays a key role in maintaining human mobility and activity. However, due to the natural aging process or as a result of injury and disease, the knee can become a source of pain and limited movement. In such cases, effective treatment becomes an important aspect of ensuring quality of life. One of the most common problems associated with the knee joint is arthrosis, a degenerative disease characterized by the destruction of the cartilage tissue of the joints.
With age, the risk of developing arthrosis increases, and according to statistics, more than half of people over 50 have experienced pain in the knee joint at least once in their lives. Pavel Sergeevich Semichenkov, an orthopedist, traumatologist, and expert in knee and hip replacement, spoke about modern methods of treating this dangerous disease.
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Causes of pain
Most often, joint pain has two main causes: painafter injury and pain resulting from degenerative changes (actually, arthrosis).
If there are mechanical damage to structures such as menisci or ligaments, it is necessary to find out whether surgical arthroscopic intervention is required. For example, an operation to restore the ligamentous apparatus, restoring the integrity of the menisci. Or perhaps there are indications for a complete replacement of the joint itself. To make an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to undergo a series of studies and consult with an experienced operating surgeon.
Treatment
1. Conservative methods of treating arthrosis of the joints
Modern methods of treating arthrosis are aimed at improving the functionality of the joint and reducing pain. Doctors can offer various methods of therapy, including drug therapy and injections of drugs into the joint, as well as surgical methods such as arthroscopy or knee replacement.
If we are dealing with the so-called degenerative process in the knee joint, which in the long term will lead to the destruction of joint tissue, usually in the initial stage of the disease, doctors prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that reduce pain and relieve swelling and inflammation. Often, people suffering from arthrosis independently prescribe such courses of treatment without prior consultation with a traumatologist or surgeon. The danger of this treatment method is that while we block the pain symptom, the problem itself does not disappear, which over time leads to serious consequences. Sooner or later, pills or powders stop helping, and the disease continues to progress.
In addition to anti-inflammatory drugs, some doctors today prescribe so-called chondroprotectors to their patients. This group of drugs are essentially cartilage metabolites that are introduced into the patient’s body either in the form of tablets or injections. Their main task is to prevent the inflammatory process and organically integrate into the cartilage tissue and support it, preventing it from being destroyed.
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2. Treatment with injections
Another method of conservative treatment of arthrosis of the joints is intra-articular injections. First of all, we are talking about hormonal drugs that are injected directly into the joint capsule or near the joint. The introduction of this drug allows you to relieve the inflammatory reaction, but at the same time has a negative effect on the condition of the cartilage. Therefore, such therapy can be used only in isolated cases. Currently, more and more doctors refuse to administer hormonal drugs intra-articularly.
The next type of conservative treatment is the injection of artificial synovial fluid, which is a polymer of hyaluronic acid, into the joint. Hyaluronic acid has viscosity and elastic properties and, when it enters a joint, acts as an artificial lubricant. The joint fluid normally contains hyaluronic acid, but if additional lubricant is introduced from the outside in the form of a preparation, it separates the rubbing surfaces of the joints, thereby facilitating gliding and reducing pain. In addition, this polymer has a beneficial effect on the condition of cartilage and reduces the load on the joint, and also has an anti-inflammatory effect.
In addition, drugs based on platelet-rich plasma are used to treat arthrosis. The patient's blood is taken, which is centrifuged, and then the fraction containing platelets is taken. After such preparation, the finished drug is injected into the joint and plasma, enriched with platelets and containing biologically active substances, starts regenerative processes in the damaged joint. In this way, recovery processes are launched, and inflammatory processes are also stopped.
In the last few decades, stem cells obtained by taking adipose tissue have also been used to treat arthrosis. Usually, the tissue is taken from the patient's anterior abdominal wall, and then a preparation is prepared from the stromal-vascular fraction of the adipose tissue, which is injected into the patient's body. In its effect on the joint and therapeutic effects, this method resembles platelet-rich plasma, and stimulates regenerative processes in the joint.
3. Endoprosthetics as the gold standard for the treatment of arthrosis in late stages
There are situations when conservative methods of treating arthrosis do not give a positive result and the disease progresses, limited mobility occurs, as well as the patient’s constant dependence on painkillers. This is a direct indicator of surgical treatment, which today consists of joint replacement surgery. By the way, such operations have been carried out quite successfully for about 50 years.
The standard of modern prosthetics is a robotic operation, which is carried out using a cybernetic system. Such equipment consists of a robotic arm with a special tool module, as well as a three-dimensional navigation station for precise positioning of the tool in the operation area. The use of a robot makes it possible to install an implant with an accuracy of a fraction of a millimeter, with minimal blood loss and trauma. As a result, the prosthesis takes root well, there are a minimum of complications in the postoperative period, and the patient’s rehabilitation proceeds extremely quickly and within a few months the mobility of the limb and quality of life are completely restored.