What ointments are used for arthrosis of the knee joint

In complex therapy for the treatment of knee arthrosis, ointments are used.

Diseases of the musculoskeletal system are treated comprehensively, so external agents are also used in conjunction with systemic medications. The question of which ointments for arthrosis of the knee joint are considered the most effective and are used in modern medicine needs to be considered in more detail.

Direction of action of drugs

Preparations for external use are characterized by a targeted local effect on the problem. With arthrosis, the cartilage tissue in the knee joint undergoes dystrophic-degenerative processes, gradually becomes thinner and exposes the bone heads, which is clearly visible on X-ray photographs or during MRI.

An x-ray will show changes that have occurred in the joint.

The ointments, gels and creams used must perform specific tasks. First of all, they are focused on eliminating the symptoms and causes of the disease, as well as restoring damaged tissue.

Directions of action of ointments for arthrosis:

pain relief, creating a distracting effect;
relief of the inflammatory process;
warming up the knee;
stimulation of blood circulation, improvement of tissue nutrition;
restoration of cartilage lining;
improvement of ligament elasticity indicators;
restoration of motor ability of the joint;
providing an antiseptic effect.

Surgical treatment of gonarthrosis

Conservative treatment with its drugs and non-drug methods is effective only in the early stages of the disease. For advanced cases, the only option for salvation will be surgery. Direct indications for surgery are severe dysfunction of the joint, severe pain and loss of performance (full/partial).

Surgical treatment is essentially endoprosthetics, when a natural joint is replaced with a synthetic one. Endoprosthesis replacement is used for grade 3 and 4 gonarthrosis. It can be total or partial.

Another method of surgical treatment is arthroscopy. This is not only diagnostics, but also removal of disorders and defects inside the joint using the endoscopic method. The procedure is minimally invasive, that is, non-traumatic. It is used as a treatment for factors that provoke arthrosis - meniscus damage, ligament ruptures, etc.

Two more methods are corrective osteotomy and arthrodesis. In the first case, an artificial redistribution of the load on the joint is implied. In the second, surgical immobilization of the joint by connecting bone tissues together. This relieves pain, but the leg will only serve as a support.

The last two methods are rarely used. Only when endoprosthesis replacement is not possible.

Regardless of the type of operation (except arthroscopy), the patient undergoes rehabilitation for 3–4 months, and full recovery takes up to six months or more.

Endoprosthetics is the only method that, in advanced cases, relieves the patient of pain and disability caused by gonarthrosis. Modern knee replacement designs have been so improved that in most cases they serve patients for 20–25 years. But installing a prosthesis is an extreme method that should be used only after using all possible conservative methods, since preserving “your” joint is always better than installing an artificial one.

Fact!
At stage 4 of degenerative processes with bilateral damage, the pain syndrome is pronounced and “does not go away” either day or night, so “emergency” total bilateral endoprosthetics is performed.

Types of drugs

In modern medicine, a variety of ointments are used for arthrosis of the knee joint. They vary in composition and can be either monocomponent or include a complex of active ingredients. It is also worth distinguishing between different generations of drugs.

The first generation is usually less expensive, but now they are practically not used. More relevant are second- and third-generation products, etc. They have a more intense effect without a huge list of contraindications and side effects.

The main difference between medications is the direction of action and composition.

The following categories of ointments can be distinguished:

non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
corticoids;
warming up;
annoying;
restorative;
homeopathic.

Often several types of drugs are used, depending on the stage of the disease, which allows for long-term therapy without the risk of developing addiction. The most frequently used categories are worth considering in more detail.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticoids

The basis of therapy aimed at reducing the manifestations of exacerbation of arthrosis and eliminating the inflammatory process is the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Warming and irritating

Warming agents are also used to combat pain. The peculiarity of their action is that they create a heat effect, dilate blood vessels and accelerate blood circulation.

This helps improve nutrition of the articular ligament tissues and stimulates the penetration of medicinal substances. Also, the feeling of warmth relaxes the muscles, creating a distracting effect, which allows you to feel relief from pain.

The predominantly warming effect is created through the use of plant extracts. One option is menthol gel. It feels like a pleasant chill spreads across the knee, but at the same time microcirculation improves significantly.

In modern medical practice, irritating ointments are also used to treat knee arthrosis. They are based on poisons, essential oils and burning extracts.

The main task of such products is to increase the elasticity of the ligaments due to their irritation, relax the muscles and restore the mobility of the limbs. However, with prolonged use, the ligamentous apparatus can be excessively weakened.

The following substances are used in ointments with a warming and irritating effect:

capsaicin (hot pepper);
bee venom;
snake poison;
salicylic acid;
menthol;
clove oil;
eucalyptus essential oil;
camphor.

Apizartron

Warming ointments for the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint contain irritating substances, for example, bee venom. Contraindications to the use of these products are hypersensitivity and allergies to components, the presence of wounds and irritations on the skin, etc.

Chondroprotectors

If cartilage tissue has just begun to deteriorate, it can be restored by eliminating the causes of degeneration and stimulating nutrition with the help of chondoprotectors. In extreme cases, the use of such drugs helps slow down the progression of arthrosis.

Their use must be long-term for the effect to become noticeable, that is, at least six months. Also, some chondoprotectors are prescribed as preventatives against joint diseases.

The price of the drug depends on the popularity of the brand, country of origin and the composition itself. Some ointments contain anti-inflammatory and analgesic components, and therefore have exclusively medicinal purposes.

The composition of chondoprotectors of different generations may include the following substances:

cartilage and bone tissue of fish and animals;
chondroitin sulfate;
glucosamine;
hyaluronic acid;
omega acids;
vitamin E;
piascledine;
plant extracts and oils.

Chondroprotectors include ointments containing the active substance chondroitin.

The amount of medicine entering the joint through the skin is minimal, so chondoprotectors are additionally prescribed in the form of capsules, tablets, sachets or injection solutions.

Folk recipes

To relieve the symptoms of arthrosis, it is allowed to use ointments prepared according to folk recipes. The advantage of such home remedies is that all the ingredients used are natural. However, for the same reason, there is a high probability of developing allergies. In addition, folk remedies are effective only at the initial stage of the disease.

It is worth noting the following options for preparing natural medicine:

Ointment for arthrosis of the knee joint with propolis. Propolis, turpentine and linseed oil are combined in a ratio of 1:1:4. You can add a small amount of bee venom.
Based on beeswax and sunflower oil . Beeswax and unrefined sunflower oil are heated in a water bath. Then a decoction of dill seeds and milk are added. Wax will play the role of an emulsifier to combine oil and water components. Add red pepper powder for a warming effect.
Herbal ointment . In a mortar, sweet clover, St. John's wort and hops are ground into powder. You can take fresh herbs. Vaseline is added to the resulting mass and the mixture is allowed to brew.

Homemade ointments can also give a positive result for knee diseases.

Symptoms of gonarthrosis of the knee joint

The most important symptom of damage is pain. It does not appear immediately, so early diagnosis is delayed, because as long as it doesn’t hurt, no one worries. A person does not think, for example, when climbing stairs, about the complexity of the biomechanics of movements in the knee joint. But when the pain comes, he begins to realize that he overcomes a huge number of steps a day and this is hard work.

So, among the initial signs of gonarthrosis are morning stiffness and minor discomfort (not even pain), which quickly disappear with movement. After the joint warms up, they disappear. This is characterized by the so-called “starting pain”. It manifests itself not only at the beginning of walking, but also when changing position, for example, getting up from a chair. As soon as the patient “diverges”, it will disappear, but after the load it will appear again.

There may be slight swelling of the joint, but without visible external changes. From time to time, when walking, clicking, creaking, weakness, and tingling sensations occur in the legs. All this is short-term in nature. The pain symptom is not very disturbing and the person comes to his senses already at stage II.

Gonarthrosis of the knee joint of the 2nd degree manifests itself with a more intense pain syndrome, which is localized along the anterior-inner surface of the joint. Pain occurs even with minor exertion and intensifies during intense walking. You can't confuse it with fatigue. After a long rest, it goes away for a while, but then resumes again.

Painful sensations in this phase already occur much more often and are more intense. With gonarthrosis, the flexion function is impaired, resulting in a limp. To help such a patient, doctors often resort to surgery even at this stage.

Crunching and creaking when walking are already obvious, movements become more limited, and when you try to bend your leg, sharp pain occurs. The joint becomes swollen and changes its configuration.

The third stage is characterized by permanent pain, including at rest and at night. The pain is constant, lameness progresses, and muscle atrophy begins. The patient needs supportive devices. At this stage, varus curvature of the legs is provoked, when the limbs acquire an O-shape, as they say, “legs like a wheel.”

Every movement provokes friction between the articular surfaces, which causes pain and disturbs sleep. The leg cannot bend or straighten. The gait becomes duck-like and a cane or crutches are required.

At this stage, the osteophytes are already massive; they often break off into the cavity of the joint capsule, which makes the pain even more unbearable. At this time, knee replacement surgery becomes vital and urgent. Otherwise, you will face excruciating suffering and life in a wheelchair.

The fourth stage is the end point. All functional articular structures have already been lost - the hyaline cartilage has been erased, there is no joint space left, the epiphyses of the bones are deformed, and the osteophytes have become large. Pain is not relieved by analgesics. A persistent flexion-extension contracture sets in - maximum loss of support, coordination and ability to move. The person finds himself confined to a wheelchair; at best, he moves with the help of a walker.

Important!
The consequence of gonarthrosis is often an increase in body weight and an increased risk of heart disease due to decreased physical activity.

The degree of self-care decreases sharply: not only walking is difficult, but also turning in bed, getting up, and sitting down. The patient constantly remembers, fears and expects pain. Usually, one of the joints suffers from irreversible changes to a greater extent than the second.

How to choose the right drug

In order to get rid of arthrosis and not harm your health, it is important to choose the right medications for therapy. Your attending physician should compile a list and prescribe dosages after carrying out diagnostic measures.

For a comprehensive impact on the problem, tablets and injections are prescribed together with ointments, the patient’s lifestyle and diet are adjusted, therapeutic exercises and various procedures are recommended.

As for the direct selection of ointments, either complex preparations or several products from different groups are used for treatment. During the period of exacerbation of the disease, it is necessary to maximize the impact on the problem, therefore anti-inflammatory gels with a warming effect, as well as chondoprotectors, are prescribed. After stopping the pathological process, you can limit yourself to natural-based chondoprotectors and dietary supplements that stimulate cartilage restoration, for example, Toad Stone.

Be sure to read the instructions for each medicine to make sure you have no contraindications, and also to clarify possible side effects.

Diagnostics

An appointment with a doctor begins with listening to the patient’s complaints, which are of a specific nature. Next, a physical examination is carried out, which helps to detect the presence of joint deformation, smoothness of its contours, fluctuation, pain on palpation, and curvature of the limb.

To the preliminary diagnosis, the doctor adds instrumental examination methods, and sometimes laboratory ones. The first step or the simplest method is to x-ray the joint. It will show the degree of narrowing of the joint space, changes in the contours of the adjacent bones, and osteophytes.

X-ray signs of hoarthrosis by degree:

Gonarthrosis of the knee joint 1st degree - the joint space is narrowed slightly; in some cases, unexpressed subchondral osteosclerosis is observed.
Gonarthrosis of the knee joint 2nd degree - narrowing of the joint space exceeds the physiological norm by 2 times. Subchondral sclerosis is more pronounced; small bone growths are detected along the edges of the joint space/in the area of the intercondylar eminence.
Gonarthrosis of the 3rd degree - the joint space is practically absent, there are zones of osteoporosis, the articular surfaces are deformed, subchondral sclerosis is replaced by necrosis, extensive osteophytes are characteristic.

The early stage is characterized by scarcity of tissue changes, so x-rays may be ineffective.

An ultrasound of the joint is performed, but it often does not provide a clear image and does not allow changes to be assessed. For such cases, a CT scan (if bone pathology is suspected) or MRI (if soft tissue damage is suspected) is prescribed. Change detection is 85-90% accurate. This study helps to detect even small osteophytes and cartilaginous growths.

Laboratory diagnosis of gonarthrosis serves only as an addition. With gonarthrosis, the composition of the synovial fluid changes: the level of calcium and phosphorus increases, which confirms the diagnosis.

Terms of use

There are certain rules for using ointments for arthrosis. In order for them to have the maximum effect, they must be followed, but it is worth checking with your doctor for personal recommendations.

Basic rules for using ointments for joints:

The product must be applied to clean, dry skin over the entire surface of the joint and surrounding area.
If you have wounds or areas of skin inflammation, you should avoid using local medications, especially if they contain irritating components.
The ointment should be applied on average 2 times a day, optimally in the morning and evening. If the product has a specific smell, use it after work and just before bed.
The duration of treatment depends on the stage of arthrosis, the type of medications used and the body’s reaction. To prevent addiction, it is worth taking breaks if long-term treatment is necessary or changing the ointment to a product with another active ingredient with similar properties.

You can get more information about the types and properties of ointments used for the treatment and prevention of arthrosis of the knee joints by watching the video in this article.

What is gonarthrosis?

Gonarthrosis (syn. arthrosis deformans, osteoarthrosis, osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis of the knee joint) is a polyetiological degenerative-dystrophic disease accompanied by joint deformation, destruction of hyaline cartilage, the appearance and growth of osteophytes, and loss of limb mobility. It leads in number among all arthrosis in the musculoskeletal system. The knee is a very important place of articulation of bones, because the possibility of free movement depends on it.

Fact!
Pathology of one department can deform another. For example, gonarthrosis worsens the condition of the spine.

The cause of primary damage to large joints is explained by the heavy daily load placed on them. Women suffer from arthrosis 10 times more often (due to hormonal characteristics). In 75% of cases, the part that articulates the femur and tibia is affected. The patellofemoral side is affected less frequently, but more often leads to disability. In practice, bilateral gonarthrosis occurs predominantly.