The knee joint is one of the most complex in structure, the more so the maximum load is imposed upon movement. It is for this reason that the knees are very vulnerable to a variety of injuries and illnesses. And one of the most famous pathologies is synovitis, which can cause serious complications with improper treatment.
Causes and symptoms of synovitis
Most often, inflammation of the synovial membrane occurs when an infection is introduced inside the joint.
But also to this disease can lead:
- injuries;
- defeat of the meniscus, cartilage;
- the initial stage of arthritis;
- metabolic problems;
- hypersensitivity to allergens.
There are two forms of the disease:
- Primary. Which occurs with inflammation of the joints.
- Secondary. Develops with diseases of other organs.
The main symptoms of the disease include:
- Swelling of the knee.
- Pain.
- Hyperemia or redness of the skin.
- Difficulty moving.
These symptoms together form a syndrome that is often characteristic of other diseases, injuries, such as sprains or arthritis. Therefore, before prescribing treatment, the doctor must conduct a thorough diagnosis, which will allow to exclude other diseases.
The doctor, in addition to palpation and visual inspection, conducts and prescribes the following examination methods to clarify the diagnosis:
- Puncture. In this case, take a small amount of fluid from the joint and send it for analysis. In the case of the detection of bacteria, it can be said that synovitis has an infectious cause, but upon detection of blood cells that contain rheumatoid factor, one can speak of a disease having rheumatoid origin.
- X-ray With it, you can see the darkening in the area of the joint. But more effective for detecting fluid accumulation or thickening of the shell MRI and ultrasound.
What treatment is prescribed
The most important thing in the treatment of synovitis of the knee joint is complete rest, for which a tight bandage is applied to the injured limb. In the subsequent treatment consists of two stages: the use of medicines and high-quality physiotherapy.
But massages or exercise therapy for this disease should not be used.
Drug treatment
With the help of medications you can:
- Eliminate the pain.
- Reduce swelling and inflammation.
- To prevent the transition of inflammation to other structures of the joint.
In more detail about what tools are used for synovitis of the knee, we consider in the table:
| Group | How does | Medicines |
|---|---|---|
| NSAID | It is characterized by anti-inflammatory properties, reduces the amount of fluid | Diclofenac or Ketoprofen |
| Lyophilisates | Helps to reduce the amount of exudate, stop the destruction of cells | Contrite |
| Antibiotics (they are prescribed for complications) | Kill bacteria | Metrogil |
| Means to improve microcirculation | Destruction of toxins, dilation of blood vessels, cell saturation | Trental |
Physiotherapy
Such procedures in the presence of synovitis will help eliminate pain, relieve inflammation, normalize blood circulation, accelerate the restoration of tissue structure.
There are several physiotherapeutic methods that can have an effect:
- Anesthetic methods include: magnetic therapy, electrophoresis, laser therapy.
- Anti-inflammatory: phonopheresis and electrophoresis.
Surgical intervention
If there is no result in the case of drug treatment, arthroscopy is prescribed - a small surgical procedure that requires minimal intervention. During its conduct, physicians clarify the condition of the tissues for a more accurate diagnosis.
In addition, during the "operation" decreases swelling.
But if there is chronic synovitis, the symptoms do not go away, most likely, a synovectomy will be prescribed, which involves the partial or complete removal of the damaged tissue. After the operation, the administration of analgesics and antibiotics is prescribed, from the first day physiotherapy is prescribed. During the following week, the joints should be stationary.
Forecasts
If you ensure proper treatment and follow all the recommendations of the attending physician, synovitis can be cured quickly enough.
We carry out treatment with folk remedies at home
It is important to understand that it is impossible to fully cope with synovitis of the knee joint using only “grandmother’s methods”, they can only be used as additional means to accelerate the treatment. There are several effective methods to help get rid of the symptoms faster.
Salty ice
To prepare it, add 4 tablespoons of salt to a liter of water, pour the solution into the forms, put it in the freezer until it hardens. Then take a few pieces of ice and attach to the sore spot. The melt water that appears will not be wiped, and the knee itself must be wrapped with a piece of wool fabric for at least three hours. Repeat the procedure every day until the condition improves.
Comfrey
This perennial plant has anti-inflammatory or antimicrobial properties, heals well. With the help of decoctions and tinctures, you can reduce pain, reduce inflammation.
To prepare an effective ointment, mix 200 g of chopped herbs with the same amount of lard, leave for a week in a cold place. After that, you need to lubricate the damaged area twice a day.
You can also make an infusion for ingestion: take 150 g of crushed roots, fill them with 0.5 liters of vodka, insist two weeks. Take a teaspoon before meals.
Bay leaf
Bay leaf - a strong antiseptic, has an antimicrobial effect, can reduce pain. You can take it either externally, making trays, or internally, making decoctions. To make an oil based on it, you need to take two tablespoons of crushed leaf, pour 200 ml of oil, insist for a week in a dark place. You can take this tool only for rubbing the damaged place.
If you want to make a decoction, you need to take 10 g of leaves, boil them in 300 ml of water for 5-7 minutes. The container itself must be removed from the stove, wrapped in a blanket and set aside for 3-4 hours. After this, strain the decoction and take it before bedtime. But you have to prepare such a useful tool every day, because the next day all the beneficial properties of bay leaf will disappear.
Black walnut
In the presence of worms in the body, the patient's condition will only worsen. In this case, you can use the black walnut tincture, which will help to quickly remove the parasite, in addition, it acts as a quality firming agent that enhances immunity. You need to take half a teaspoon three times a day before meals, the duration of treatment is about three weeks.
Proper prevention
Any disease is much easier to prevent than to cure. The basic rules of prevention are to go to a doctor at the first symptoms. But there are also some recommendations that will help reduce the risk of injury:
- If you are injured, you need to consult a doctor who will prescribe the correct treatment.
- In the case of infectious or chronic diseases, immediately start treatment to avoid unpleasant consequences.
- Try to wear appropriate-sized shoes, and during physical exertion, use special means to fix the joints.
As you can see, to prevent the disease is not very difficult - you need not to forget about the observance of the rules described above, you should also immediately consult a doctor when the first signs of synovitis appear. This will avoid complications, as well as costly and rather painful treatment.
