The main cause of acute knee pain in patients over 50 years of age is gonarthrosis (deforming osteoarthritis of the knee joint).
The disease is characterized by rapid progression and can cause disability and inability to work, therefore, timely detection of symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee joint and treatment of the disease, including at home, are the tasks main in the examination of patients at risk of pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.
What is knee osteoarthritis?
The knee joint is one of the most mobile joints in the human skeleton, prone to injury 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 (patella or patella). The joint surfaces are covered with cartilage tissue, a dense, elastic substance that surrounds chondrocytes (oval-shaped cells formed from chondroblasts) and creates a protective layer around them, and also acts as a shock absorber.
The composition of cartilage contains collagen, a fibrillar protein, which is the main element of connective fibers and provides strength and elasticity to cartilage, and glucosamine. Glucosamine is a substance produced by cartilage. Glucosamine is part of the 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 parts of the joint and the appearance of severe pain, therefore, the treatment of arthrosis of the knee of the first degree always includes the use of chondroprotective drugs.
What happens in joints with osteoarthritis:
- the cartilage becomes soft and loose, and deep ulcerations appear on its surface;
- the synovial membrane thickens;
- the composition of the synovial fluid changes, its secretion decreases;
- there is a sprain of the ligaments and the joint capsule;
- the joint cavity is filled with exudate, an inflammatory fluid released from blood vessels during a 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 show both unnatural mobility and complete immobility of the joint. To stop the process of destruction of the articular and cartilage surface in case of diagnosed knee osteoarthritis, the doctor may suggest an arthroplasty, a surgical operation to replace the damaged joint with an artificial prosthesis of the appropriate size.
The cost of primary knee arthroplasty varies by region and can range from $255 to $1, 465.
If there are indications, the operation can be done according to the fee within the CHI program.
Classification and etiological factors
Arthrosis of the knee joint can be primary and secondary. Primary arthrosis is diagnosed in cases where it is impossible to accurately determine the cause of the pathology. If the cartilage deformation 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 osteoarthritis of the knee joints include:
- various dysplasias and other pathologies in which abnormal tissue development and formation occurs;
- neurodystrophic diseases of the lumbar or cervical spine;
- inflammation of the knee joint (arthritis);
- injuries and microtraumas of the joint;
- surgical removal of a damaged meniscus or part of it (meniscectomy);
- diseases of the endocrine system and hormonal disorders, in which the rate of metabolic reactions slows down, metabolism in bone tissue is disturbed.
Primary arthrosis of the knee joint often develops in people who lead a sedentary lifestyle or, conversely, regularly experience increased physical activity in the knee joint. Overweight patients, people over 50 years of age, residents of environmentally unfavorable areas, patients with various types of addictions 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 recommended to observe the temperature regime and abandon activities associated with prolonged exposure to low temperatures. temperatures (working outdoors, in refrigerators and freezers). , etc. ). d. ).
Women over 45 years of age who are interested in how to treat osteoarthritis of the knee should know that a provoking factor in the development of pathology may be reduced estrogen synthesis, which can occur after menopause and with some gynecological diseases. : endometrial hyperplasia, uterine myoma, fibroadenoma, endometriosis. A negative factor is also the various diets that limit the intake of foods rich in minerals, vitamins and other elements necessary for joint health.
Signs and symptoms
In order for the prognosis in later life to be as favorable as possible, it is important not only to know how to treat osteoarthritis of the knee, but also what symptoms the disease manifests. This is necessary for timely access to a specialist and early detection of possible deformities and other injuries of the knee joint. At the initial stage, the pathology has rather sparse symptoms, therefore it is possible to identify arthrosis of the knee of the first degree only after performing hardware and instrumental diagnostics.
The first symptoms of the disease include:
- morning stiffness in the knee;
- pain when walking when walking a distance greater than 1-1, 5 km;
- pain in the knees when sitting for a long time (more than 2 hours in a row);
- pain in the knee joint after standing for a long time;
- pain in the knees that occurs at the end of the day or in the first half of the night's sleep.
If the patient does not receive the necessary treatment at this stage, the disease will progress. In order to choose the right drug for osteoarthritis of the knee joint, it is necessary to undergo a series of diagnostic tests (MRI, CT, X-ray, etc. ) and determine the degree of deformation, the level of synovial fluid in the joint cavity, the density of cartilage tissue and the synovial membrane. Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knees of 2 and 3 degrees are shown in the table below.
| diagnostic signal | Knee osteoarthritis 2 degrees | Knee osteoarthritis 3 degrees |
|---|---|---|
| Pain when resting at night. | It can appear when changing body position or getting out of bed. | It happens without any movement. |
| Ability to use public transportation (except low-floor buses) | The patient experiences pain when climbing stairs, but with certain restrictions can use public transport without assistance. | The patient cannot get on the bus or tram by himself due to the limited mobility of the knee joint. |
| Limp | Slightly expressed. | The lameness is very pronounced, additional supports (canes) are required for movement. |
| stiff knee after waking up | It lasts less than 10-15 minutes. | It lasts about 20-30 minutes or more. |
| pain when walking | It occurs after passing 800-1000 m. | They start at the beginning of the movement and intensify after traveling a distance of less than 500 m. |
| self service capability | Usually kept. | The patient is unable to perform a number of actions without outside help. |
Treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint at home
Treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint can be carried out with the help of:
- medical methods;
- physical therapy exercises;
- massage.
The use of traditional medicine recipes is possible only after consultation with the attending physician 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 his chronic diseases, but also on the stage of arthrosis and the degree of deformation of the cartilage and articular surface.
Osteoarthritis 1 degree
This is the mildest form of arthrosis, which in most cases can be cured with minor medication correction and additional measures - massage, exercise therapy, physiotherapy. The most effective treatment for knee osteoarthritis, regardless of its stage, is laser therapy. This is the main method of physiotherapy, which gives very good results at the initial stage of arthrosis.
Help to achieve the following effect:
- the degree of inflammation in the joint cavity decreases;
- pain intensity decreases;
- the process of tissue regeneration is stimulated;
- the need for the use of glucocorticosteroids and other drugs with serious side effects disappears.
As an alternative to laser therapy, your doctor may offer pulse magnetotherapy, acupuncture, electromyostimulation, and electrophoresis.
All these methods are quite effective in the treatment of arthrosis.with a degree of deformation of not more than 20-25%, but the effectiveness of the treatment will be greater if it is combined with physiotherapy exercises and massages.
Orthopedists and surgeons note the positive effect of the use of water exercises aimed at developing muscle strength in the legs.
Patients with osteoarthritis of the knees of 1-2 degrees can be offered sanatorium treatment (for a period of stable remission), which includes mud therapy, heating in a sauna, therapeutic baths. Overweight patients are prescribed a special diet, since obesity is one of the main factors in the development of osteoarthritis of the knees.
Osteoarthritis 2 degrees
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint of the second degree includes physical therapy and massage (outside the acute period), special nutrition, physical therapy exercises and medication. It is very important to reduce the load on the damaged joint: limit walking, avoid movements that require knee bending. With rapidly progressive 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 medications:
- chondroprotectors;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid;
- glucocorticosteroid hormone injections.
The diet of patients with knee osteoarthritis should contain a sufficient amount of collagen-rich foods.
This:
- products with gelling additives (jelly, jelly, jelly, gelatin);
- products with the addition of pectin;
- fish fat
Almost all fruits and berries contain essential amino acids and minerals to keep joints healthy and mobile, but these foods should be consumedlimited in diabetic patients.
Osteoarthritis 3 degrees
The treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint of the third degree does not differ from the therapy used for arthrosis of the second degree.
With its ineffectiveness and severe limitation of movement, the patient is prescribed surgical treatment with further prosthetics of the damaged joint.
popular methods
Before learning how to treat knee joints at home with alternative medicine recipes, you should consult a doctor. The use of the methods listed below is allowed only for arthrosis of the first degree and at the initial stage of arthrosis of the second degree.
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 must:
- Mix 100 g of dry 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;
- insist for 4 hours.
The duration of treatment in this way is at least 60 days. In the first week, the infusion should be drunk 1 time a day, in the next 7-10 days - 2 times a day. 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 noticeable after a week of daily use, but to achieve a stable result, you need to apply it for 30-45 days.
To prepare the ointment, you must:
- melt 2 tablespoons of butter;
- mix the oil with two tablespoons of honey and one tablespoon of 6% apple cider vinegar;
- Place the mixture in the refrigerator to set.
Apply such an ointment to the knees 2-3 times a day (the last time - before bedtime).
bathroom with dandelions
For such a bath, dandelion root tincture is used. To prepare it, you need to mix 120 g of crushed dandelion roots with 150 ml of vodka and insist in a dark place for a day. Before bathing, the contents of the container must be poured into water and shaken. It is recommended to take such a bath 1-2 times a week. After the procedure, the pain in the knees decreases, and mobility in the joints is gradually restored. The effectiveness of the treatment will be greater if you add 150 g of sea salt enriched with iodine and bromine to the water.
Reviews
- "Only hyaluronic acid injections helped me with arthrosis. A very good drug with a minimum of side effects and high efficiency. Now I have almost no pain in my knees, although before I could not even walk down the stairs without help. "
- "It seems to me that arthrosis of the knees is such a disease that nothing can cure it. You can relieve the pain a little, but then it will come back. During exacerbations, I am treated with ficus and Jerusalem artichoke. It does not help worse than pills, only It does not harm the heart or the liver.
- "I also had a diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the knee joint of the second degree. The reason was, most likely, excess weight (at that time I weighed more than 130 kg). For treatment, a salt-free diet, chondroprotectors were prescribed. , anti-inflammatory ointments and hormonal injections - I did everything according to the instructions - arthrosis completely disappeared.
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint is a serious pathology of the musculoskeletal system, prone to rapid progression. The treatment regimen should be selected by the attending physician after a full diagnosis and identification of the degree of degenerative, dystrophic processes and deformation of the cartilage and articular surface. The prognosis of treatment depends on compliance with medical prescriptions and timely seeking medical help.