The main cause of acute knee pain in patients over 50 years of age is gonarthrosis (deformed knee joint arthrosis).This disease is characterized by rapid development and can cause disability and disability, therefore the timely identification of symptoms of arthrosis of the knee joint and treatment of the disease, including at home, is the main task when examining patients at risk for pathology of the musculoskeletal system.
What is arthrosis of the knee joint
The knee joint is one of the most mobile joints of the human skeleton, prone to injury and other mechanical damage.It connects the tibia and femur, as well as the largest sesamoid bone, which is located in the tendon of the quadriceps femoris muscle (patella or kneecap).The surface of the joint is covered with cartilage tissue - a dense, elastic substance that surrounds chondrocytes (oval-shaped cells formed from chondroblasts) and creates a protective shell around them, and also acts as a shock absorber.
Cartilage tissue contains collagen, a fibrillar protein that is the main component of connective fibers and gives cartilage strength and elasticity, and glucosamine.Glucosamine is a substance produced by cartilage tissue.Glucosamine is a component of chondroitin and is part of synovial fluid - a yellowish elastic mass that fills the joint cavity and acts as a lubricant.If the synthesis of glucosamine and proteoglycans is disturbed, the amount of synovial fluid decreases, which leads to the exposure of joint parts and intense pain, therefore the treatment of grade 1 knee arthrosis always includes the use of drugs with glucosamine and chondroitin.
- What happens to joints with arthrosis:
- cartilage becomes soft and loose, and deep ulcers appear on its surface;
- thickened synovial membrane;
- the composition of the synovial fluid changes, its secretion decreases;
- sprains of ligaments and joint capsules occur;
- the joint cavity is filled with exudate - inflammatory fluid that is released from the blood vessels during the period of acute inflammation.
In the absence of timely and adequate treatment, arthrosis leads to complete deformation and destruction of the knee joint, while the patient may experience both unnatural mobility and complete immobility of the joint.To stop the process of destruction of the articular surface and cartilage in the case of diagnosed knee arthrosis, the doctor may suggest endoprosthetics - a surgical operation to replace the damaged joint with an artificial prosthesis of the appropriate size.If indicated, the operation can be performed under the quota in the compulsory medical insurance program.
Classification and etiological factors
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint can be primary or secondary.Primary arthrosis is diagnosed in cases where it is impossible to determine the exact cause of the pathology.If cartilage deformation is preceded by other diseases and pathologies, knee injuries, arthrosis is considered secondary, that is, develops against the background of the main disease.
- The main causes of secondary arthrosis of the knee joint include:
- various dysplasias and other pathologies in which improper development and formation of tissues occurs;
- neurodystrophic disease of the lumbar or cervical spine;
- inflammation of the knee joint (arthritis);
- joint injuries and microtraumas;
- surgery to remove the damaged meniscus or part of it (meniscectomy);
- diseases of the endocrine system and hormonal disorders, in which the rate of metabolic reactions slows down and the metabolism in bone tissue is disturbed.
Primary arthrosis of the knee joint often develops in people who lead a sedentary lifestyle or, on the contrary, who often experience increased physical stress on the knee joint.Overweight patients, people over 50 years old, residents of unfavorable environmental areas, patients with various types of addiction to toxic substances (smokers, drug addicts, alcohol) are also at high risk for the development of gonarthrosis.
Frequent hypothermia can contribute to inflammation and further deformation of the knee joint, so people with a tendency to diseases of the musculoskeletal system are advised to observe the temperature regime and avoid activities related to prolonged exposure to low temperatures (working outside, in refrigerators and freezers, etc.).
Women over the age of 45 who are interested in how to treat knee arthrosis should know that the provoking factor in the development of the pathology may be reduced estrogen synthesis, which can occur after menopause and with certain gynecological diseases: endometrial hyperplasia, uterine fibroids, fibroadenoma, endometriosis.A negative factor is also a variety of diets that limit the consumption of foods rich in minerals, vitamins and other elements necessary for joint health.
Signs and symptoms
In order for the prognosis for future life to be as good as possible, it is important not only to know how to treat knee arthrosis, but also what symptoms the disease shows.This is necessary for timely contact with specialists and early detection of possible deformations and other damage to the knee joint.In the early stages, pathology has relatively rare symptoms, so grade 1 knee arthrosis can be detected only after hardware and instrumental diagnostics.
- The first symptoms of the disease include:
- morning stiffness in knees;
- pain when walking when traveling a distance of more than 1-1.5 km;
- pain in the knee when sitting for a long time (more than 2 hours in a row);
- painful sensation in the knee joint after standing for a long time;
- knee pain that occurs at the end of the day or in the first half of the night.
If the patient does not receive the necessary treatment at this stage, the disease will progress.To choose the right medicine for arthrosis of the knee joint, it is necessary to undergo a series of diagnostic examinations (MRI, computed tomography, radiography, etc.) and determine the degree of deformation, the level of synovial fluid in the joint cavity, the density of cartilage tissue and synovial membrane.Symptoms of grade 2 and 3 knee arthrosis are given in the table below.
| Diagnostic signs | 2 degree knee arthrosis | Knee arthrosis 3 degrees |
|---|---|---|
| Pain while resting at night | May appear when changing body position or getting out of bed. | Happens without any movement. |
| Possibility of using public transport (except low-floor buses) | The patient has pain when climbing stairs, but with certain restrictions he can use public transport without assistance. | The patient cannot ride the bus or tram by himself due to the limited movement of the knee joint. |
| Defects | Expressed a little. | The lameness is severe and additional support (crutches) is required for movement. |
| Stiffness in the knees after waking up | Hold less than 10-15 minutes. | Lasts about 20-30 minutes or longer. |
| Pain when walking | Happens after passing 800-1000 m. | They start at the beginning of the movement and intensify after covering a distance of less than 500 m. |
| The ability to take care of oneself | Usually kept. | The patient cannot perform some actions without help. |
Treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint at home
- Treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint can be done using:
- medical methods;
- physical therapy;
- massage
The use of traditional medicine recipes can only be done after consultation with your doctor and cannot replace the primary treatment prescribed by a specialist.The choice of drugs and treatment methods depends not only on the patient's age and existing chronic diseases, but also on the stage of arthrosis and the degree of cartilage and articular surface deformation.
Arthrosis degree 1
This is the mildest form of arthrosis, which in most cases can be cured with minor drug correction and additional measures: massage, exercise therapy, physiotherapeutic treatment.The most effective method for treating knee arthrosis, regardless of its stage, is laser therapy.This is the main method of physiotherapy, giving relatively good results in the early stages of arthrosis.
- It helps achieve the following effects:
- the level of inflammation in the joint cavity decreases;
- pain intensity decreases;
- tissue regeneration process is stimulated;
- the need to use glucocorticosteroids and other drugs with serious side effects disappears.
As an alternative to laser therapy, doctors may suggest pulse magnetic therapy, acupuncture, electromyostimulation and electrophoresis.All these methods are quite effective in the treatment of arthrosis with a deformation level of no more than 20-25%, but the effectiveness of the treatment will be higher if it is combined with physical therapy and massage.Orthopedists and surgeons note the positive effects of using aquatic exercises aimed at developing muscle strength in the legs.Patients with grade 1-2 knee arthrosis can be offered sanatorium-resort treatment (during a period of stable remission), including mud therapy, warming up in a sauna, and medicated baths.Patients who are overweight are prescribed a special diet, because obesity is one of the main factors in the development of knee arthrosis.
Arthrosis 2 degrees
Treatment of grade 2 arthrosis of the knee joint includes physiotherapy and massage (outside the acute period), special nutrition, physical therapy and medication.It is very important to reduce the load on the damaged joint: limit walking, avoid movements that require bending the knee.With rapidly developing arthrosis, the use of special orthoses is indicated - orthopedic devices designed to repair diseased joints and limit their mobility.
- A drug treatment regimen may include the following drugs:
- chondroprotectors with glucosamine and chondroitin;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid;
- injection of glucocorticosteroid hormones.
The diet for patients with knee arthrosis should contain a sufficient amount of collagen-rich foods.
- These are:
- products with gel additives (jelly, jelly, jellied meat, aspic);
- products with added pectin;
- fish oil
Almost all fruits and berries contain essential amino acids and minerals that help maintain joint health and mobility, but the intake of these foods should be limited in diabetic patients.
Arthrosis 3 degrees
The treatment of grade 3 arthrosis of the knee joint does not differ from the therapy used for grade 2 arthrosis. If it is ineffective and there is severe limitation of movement, the patient is given surgical treatment with further prosthetics of the damaged joint.
Traditional method
Before you learn how to treat knee joints at home using alternative medicine recipes, you need to consult a doctor.The use of the method given below is only allowed for stage 1 arthrosis and in the early stages of stage 2 arthrosis.
Infusion of nettle and lemon
This infusion should be taken orally 20-30 minutes before meals.One dose is 50-80 ml.
- To prepare the infusion, you need:
- Mix 100 g of dried or fresh nettle leaves with three heads of peeled garlic;
- pass the mixture through a meat grinder;
- add 4 tablespoons of lemon juice;
- mix everything, add 250 ml of boiling water and cover with a lid;
- leave for 4 hours.
The duration of treatment with this method is at least 60 days.In the first week, the infusion should be taken once a day, in the next 7-10 days - 2 times a day.Starting from the third week of treatment, the number of doses should be increased to 3 times a day.
Honey ointment for joints
This ointment helps relieve inflammation and reduce pain.The first results can be seen after a week of daily use, but to achieve stable results it must be used for 30-45 days.
- To prepare the ointment, you need:
- melt 2 tablespoons butter;
- mix the oil with two spoons of honey and one spoon of 6% apple cider vinegar;
- Place the mixture in the refrigerator to harden.
You need to use this ointment on your knees 2-3 times a day (the last time before going to bed).
Bathe with dandelions
For such a bath, dandelion root tincture is used.To prepare it, you need to mix 120 g of crushed dandelion root with 150 ml of vodka and leave it in a dark place for 24 hours.Before bathing, the contents of the container should be poured into water and stirred.It is recommended to take such a bath 1-2 times a week.After the procedure, the pain in the knee becomes less, and mobility in the joint is gradually restored.The effectiveness of the treatment will be higher if you add 150 g of sea salt enriched with iodine and bromine to the water.