The main cause of acute knee pain in patients over 50 years of age is gonarthrosis (deforming arthrosis of the knee joint).The disease is characterized by rapid progression and can cause disability and disability, therefore timely identification of symptoms of arthrosis of the knee joint and treatment of the disease, including at home, are the main tasks when examining patients at risk of pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.
What is arthrosis of the knee joint
The knee joint is one of the most mobile joints in the human skeleton, prone to injuries and other mechanical damage.It connects the tibia and femur, as well as the larger sesamoid bone, located in the tendons of the quadriceps femoris muscle (patella or patella).The surfaces of the joint are covered with cartilaginous tissue, a dense and elastic substance that surrounds chondrocytes (oval-shaped cells formed by 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 building block of connective fibers and provides the strength and elasticity of cartilage, 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 disrupted, the amount of synovial fluid decreases, which leads to exposure of parts of the joint and severe pain, therefore treatment of grade 1 knee arthrosis always involves the use of drugs with glucosamine and chondroitin.
- What happens in joints with arthrosis:
- the cartilage becomes soft and loose, and deep ulcerations appear on its surface;
- the synovial membrane thickens;
- the composition of synovial fluid changes, its secretion decreases;
- distortion of the ligaments and joint capsule occurs;
- the joint cavity is filled with exudate - inflammatory fluid released by 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 joint and cartilaginous surface in case of diagnosed knee arthrosis, the doctor may suggest endoprosthesis - a surgical operation to replace the damaged joint with an artificial prosthesis of a suitable size.If indicated, the surgery can be performed under 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 accurately determine the cause of the pathology.If the deformation of the cartilage was preceded by other diseases and pathologies, knee injuries, arthrosis is considered secondary, that is, it develops against the background of a primary disease.
- The main causes of secondary arthrosis of the knee joints include:
- various dysplasias and other pathologies in which improper development and formation of tissues occurs;
- neurodystrophic diseases of the lumbar or cervical spine;
- inflammation of the knee joint (arthritis);
- injuries and microtraumas of the joint;
- surgical removal of the damaged meniscus or part of it (meniscectomy);
- diseases of the endocrine system and hormonal disorders, in which the speed of metabolic reactions slows down and metabolism in bone tissue is disrupted.
Primary arthrosis of the knee joint often develops in people who lead a sedentary lifestyle or, conversely, who regularly experience increased physical stress on the knee joint.Overweight patients, people over 50 years of age, residents of environmentally unfavorable areas, patients with various types of addiction to toxic substances (smokers, drug addicts, alcoholics) are also at increased risk of developing gonarthrosis.
Regular hypothermia can contribute to inflammation and further deformation of the knee joint, therefore, people with a tendency to diseases of the musculoskeletal system are advised to observe the temperature regime and avoid activities associated with prolonged exposure to low temperatures (work outdoors, in refrigerators and freezers, etc.).
Women over 45 years of age who are interested in how to treat knee arthrosis should know that a provoking factor in the development of the pathology can be reduced estrogen synthesis, which can occur after menopause and with some gynecological diseases: endometrial hyperplasia, uterine fibroids, fibroadenoma, endometriosis.A negative factor are also the various 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 favorable as possible, it is important to know not only how to treat knee osteoarthritis, but also what symptoms the disease manifests.This is necessary for timely contact with a specialist and timely detection of possible deformations and other damage to the knee joint.In the initial stage, the pathology has rather scant 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 the knee;
- pain when walking when covering a distance of more than 1-1.5 km;
- knee pain when sitting for long periods of time (more than 2 hours at a time);
- painful sensations in the knee joint after prolonged standing;
- 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 drug for arthrosis of the knee joint, it is necessary to undergo a series of diagnostic tests (MRI, computed tomography, x-ray, 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 osteoarthritis are shown in the table below.
| Diagnostic sign | Knee arthritis 2 degrees | Knee arthritis 3 degrees |
|---|---|---|
| Pain during night rest | It can appear when you change body position or get out of bed. | It occurs without any movement. |
| Possibility to use public transport (excluding low-floor buses) | The patient feels pain when climbing stairs, but with some restrictions can use public transport without assistance. | The patient cannot get on the bus or tram on his own due to limited mobility of the knee joint. |
| Lameness | Lightly expressed. | The lameness is severe and additional supports (canes) are required for movement. |
| Knee stiffness after waking up | It lasts less than 10-15 minutes. | It lasts about 20-30 minutes or more. |
| Pain when walking | It occurs after exceeding 800-1000 m. | They begin at the beginning of the movement and intensify after traveling a distance of less than 500 m. |
| Self-care skills | Usually saved. | The patient cannot perform a number of actions without assistance. |
Treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint at home
- Treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint can be carried out using:
- medicinal methods;
- physical therapy;
- massage.
The use of traditional medicine recipes is possible only after consulting your doctor and should not replace the main 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 deformation of the cartilage and joint surface.
1st degree osteoarthritis
This is the mildest form of arthrosis, which in most cases can be cured with mild pharmacological correction and additional measures: massage, physical therapy, physiotherapy treatment.The most effective method to treat knee osteoarthritis, regardless of its stage, is laser therapy.This is the main method of physiotherapy, which gives quite good results in the initial stage of arthrosis.
- Helps achieve the following effect:
- the degree of inflammation in the joint cavity decreases;
- the intensity of pain decreases;
- the process of tissue regeneration is stimulated;
- the need to use glucocorticosteroids and other drugs with serious side effects disappears.
As an alternative to laser therapy, the doctor may suggest pulsed magnetotherapy, acupuncture, electromyostimulation and electrophoresis.All these methods are quite effective in treating arthrosis with a degree of deformation of no more than 20-25%, but the effectiveness of treatment will be greater when combined with physical therapy and massage.Orthopedists and surgeons note the positive effect of using aquatic exercises aimed at developing leg muscle strength.Patients with grade 1-2 knee arthrosis can be offered sanatorium-resort treatment (during a period of stable remission), including mud therapy, sauna heating and medicinal baths.Overweight patients are prescribed a special diet, since obesity is one of the main factors in the development of arthrosis of the knees.
Arthritis 2 degrees
Treatment of grade 2 knee joint arthrosis includes physiotherapy and massage (outside the acute period), special nutrition, exercise therapy and medications.It is very important to reduce the load on the damaged joint: limit walking, avoid movements that require knee flexion.With rapidly progressing arthrosis, the use of special orthoses is indicated - orthopedic devices designed to repair the diseased joint and limit its mobility.
- The drug treatment regimen may include the following drugs:
- chondroprotectors with glucosamine and chondroitin;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid;
- injections of glucocorticosteroid hormones.
The diet of patients with knee osteoarthritis should contain a sufficient amount of collagen-rich foods.
- These are:
- products with gelling additives (gelatin, gelatin, jellied meat, gelatin);
- 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 consumption of these foods should be limited in patients with diabetes.
3 degree osteoarthritis
Treatment of grade 3 knee joint arthrosis 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 prescribed surgical treatment with additional prostheses of the damaged joint.
Traditional methods
Before learning how to treat knee joints at home using alternative medicine recipes, you need to consult a doctor.The use of the methods given below is allowed only for 1st degree arthrosis and in the initial stage of 2nd degree arthrosis.
Nettle and lemon infusion
This infusion should be taken orally 20-30 minutes before meals.A single dose is 50-80 ml.
- To prepare the infusion you will need:
- Mix 100 g of dried or fresh nettle leaves with three peeled heads of 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 result is evident after a week of daily use, but to obtain a stable result it is necessary to use it for 30-45 days.
- To prepare the ointment you will need:
- melt 2 tablespoons of butter;
- mix the oil with two tablespoons of honey and a tablespoon of 6% apple cider vinegar;
- Place the mixture in the refrigerator to firm up.
You need to apply this ointment on your knees 2-3 times a day (the last time before going to bed).
Bath with dandelions
For such a bath, a tincture of dandelion roots is used.To prepare it you need to mix 120 g of chopped dandelion roots with 150 ml of vodka and leave in a dark place for 24 hours.Before taking a bath, the contents of the container should be poured into the water and mixed.It is recommended to take such a bath 1-2 times a week.After the procedure, knee pain decreases and joint mobility is gradually restored.The effectiveness of the treatment will be greater if 150 g of sea salt enriched with iodine and bromine are added to the water.