Restricted movement

In the course of the arthrosis, the associated restrictions in the movement of the knee joint become increasingly severe. Initially, the restricted mobility is due to the phased swelling of the knee joint, which can be caused by the inflammatory reaction. Affected persons are then unable to bend or stretch the joint completely, the joint feels stiff as if the tendons and muscles were too short. In later stages of osteoarthritis, it is possible that free cartilage fragments from the joint abrasion lead to blockages in the joint, causing pain and restricted movement. As a result of the increasing pain and the above-mentioned causes, the mobility of the knee joint in the presence of arthrosis therefore decreases more and more, so that patients are severely restricted in their everyday life.

Loss of strength

The loss of strength associated with knee arthrosis can be attributed to various causes. For one thing, many patients wrongly spare the affected knee and move less or put incorrect strain on the legs, resulting in muscle loss in the thigh and calf. Another cause is the so-called periarthrosis, whereby not only the joint is affected but also the surrounding tendons, ligaments and muscles. If the symptoms of arthrosis persist for a longer period of time, the leg extensor (muscle in the thigh) in particular becomes increasingly thin. As a result, the joint cartilage is also less supplied with nutrients and the symptoms worsen even further.

Painkillers

Painkillers are an important factor in the treatment of knee arthrosis. They serve to relieve the pain and help the patient to remain active, since movement is just as important for the success of the therapy. The least effective painkiller for mild arhrosis pain is paracetamol.

If paracetamol does not have a sufficient effect, NSAIDs are used. Active ingredients in this category have both analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects by preventing the production of endogenous substances (prostaglandins), which are responsible for pain and inflammatory reactions. However, NSAIDs are not equally suitable for every patient, as prostaglandins also perform other tasks that are important for the organism, and taking NSAIDs often leads to side effects in the gastrointestinal tract.

Coxibe are therefore considered to be an alternative, which have a more specific effect and thus cause fewer side effects. Since the various painkillers often intervene at different points in the process of pain development, it is often advisable to combine the active ingredients with each other in order to achieve a stronger analgesic effect. In principle, however, the dose of painkillers should always be as low as possible, but as high as necessary. Permanent medication should be avoided at best in order to avoid consequential damage caused by the side effects.