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 lead to disability and disability, therefore timely identification of symptoms of arthrosis of the knee joint and treatment of the disease at home are the main tasks 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 dynamic joints of the human skeleton, which is 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 made of chondroblasts) and forms a protective cover around them, and also acts as a shock absorber.
Cartilage tissue contains collagen, a fibrillar protein that is the main element 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 yellow 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 affects parts of the joints and causes intense pain, therefore the treatment of grade 1 knee arthrosis always includes the use of drugs with glucosamine and chondroitin.
- What happens to the joints with arthrosis:
- The cartilage becomes soft and loose, and deep lesions appear on its surface;
- The synovial membrane thickens;
- The composition of the synovial fluid changes, its secretion decreases;
- Ligaments and joint capsules are sprained;
- The joint cavity is filled with exudate – inflammatory fluid released from blood vessels during periods of acute inflammation.
In the absence of timely and adequate treatment, arthrosis leads to complete deformity and destruction of the knee joint, while the patient may experience both unnatural mobility of the joint and complete immobility.To stop the process of destruction of the articular and cartilaginous surface in cases of diagnosed arthrosis of the knee, 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 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 cartilage degeneration was preceded by other diseases and pathologies, knee injuries, then arthrosis is considered secondary, that is, developing against the background of the primary disease.
- The main causes of secondary arthrosis of the knee joint include:
- Various dysplasias and other pathologies in which there is improper development and formation of tissues;
- Neurodystrophic diseases of the lumbar or cervical spine;
- Inflammation (arthritis) of the knee joint;
- joint injuries and microtraumas;
- Surgical removal of 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 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.The risk of developing gonarthrosis also increases in overweight patients, people over 50 years of age, residents of environmentally unfavorable areas, patients with addiction to various types of toxic substances (smokers, drug addicts, alcoholics).
Regular hypothermia can contribute to inflammation and further pathology 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 low temperatures (working outside, working in refrigerators and freezers, etc.).
Women over 45 who are interested in how to treat knee arthrosis should be aware that a provoking factor in the development of pathology can be a decrease in estrogen synthesis, which can occur after menopause and with some gynecological diseases: endometrial hyperplasia, uterine fibroids, fibroadenoma, endometriosis.A negative factor is also 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 forecast for future life to be as favorable as possible, it is important to know not only how to treat knee arthrosis, but also what symptoms the disease manifests itself.This is necessary in order to timely contact a specialist and quickly detect possible deformities and other damage to the knee joint.At the initial stage, pathology has quite a few symptoms, so grade 1 knee arthrosis can be detected only after hardware and instrumental diagnostics.
- The first symptoms of the disease include:
- Stiffness in the knees in the morning;
- Pain when walking when covering a distance of more than 1-1.5 km;
- Pain in knees when sitting for a long time (more than 2 hours continuously);
- Feeling pain in the knee joint after standing for a long time;
- Knee pain that occurs at the end of the day or in the early hours 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 examinations (MRI, computed tomography, radiography, etc.) and determine the degree of deformity, 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 | Knee arthrosis 2 degree | arthrosis of the knee 3 degree |
|---|---|---|
| pain while resting at night | May appear when changing body position or getting out of bed. | Happens without any movement. |
| Possibility of using public transportation (except low-floor buses) | The patient experiences pain when climbing stairs, but can use public transportation without assistance with some restrictions. | The patient cannot board a bus or tram alone due to limited mobility of the knee joint. |
| lameness | Little expressed. | The lameness is severe and requires additional support (cane) for walking. |
| Stiff knees after waking up | Lasts less than 10-15 minutes. | Lasts for about 20-30 minutes or more. |
| pain when walking | Occurs after passing 800-1000 meters. | They begin at the beginning of the movement and intensify after covering a distance of less than 500 m. |
| ability to take care of oneself | Usually saved. | The patient cannot perform many tasks without assistance. |
Treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint at home
- Arthrosis of the knee joint can be treated using:
- medicinal methods;
- physical therapy;
- Massage.
The use of traditional medicine recipes is possible only after consultation with your doctor and should not replace the main treatment prescribed by a specialist.The choice of drugs and methods for treatment depends not only on the age of the patient and his existing chronic diseases, but also on the stage of arthrosis and the degree of deformation of the cartilage and articular surface.
arthrosis first degree
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 of treating knee arthrosis, regardless of its stage, is laser therapy.This is the main method of physiotherapy, which gives quite good results at the initial stage of arthrosis.
- It helps to achieve the following effects:
- The degree of inflammation in the joint cavity is reduced;
- 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, doctors may suggest pulse magnetic therapy, acupuncture, electromyostimulation, and electrophoresis.All these methods are quite effective in the treatment of arthrosis with a degree of deformity of no more than 20-25%, but the effectiveness of treatment will be higher if they are combined with physical therapy and massage.Orthopedists and surgeons note the positive effect of the use of aquatic exercises aimed at developing muscle strength in the legs.Patients with grade 1-2 arthrosis of the knees can be offered sanatorium-resort treatment (during the period of stable remission), which includes mud therapy, warming in the sauna 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.
Arthrosis 2 degree
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 activities that require bending the knee.With rapidly progressing arthrosis, the use of special orthoses is indicated - orthopedic devices designed to fix 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 arthrosis should include foods containing collagen in sufficient quantities.
- These are:
- Products with gelling additives (jellies, jellies, jellied meats, 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 degree
Treatment of grade 3 arthrosis of the knee joint does not differ from that used for grade 2 arthrosis.If this is ineffective and there is a severe reduction in movement, the patient is prescribed surgical treatment with additional prostheses of the damaged joint.
traditional methods
Before you learn how to treat knee joints at home using alternative medicine recipes, you need to consult a doctor.The use of the methods below is permissible only in the initial stage of arthrosis of the first degree and arthrosis of the second degree.
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 grams of dried or fresh nettle leaves with three peeled cloves of garlic;
- Pass the mixture through a meat grinder;
- Add 4 tablespoons lemon juice;
- Mix everything, add 250 ml 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 in relieving inflammation and reducing pain.The first results are noticeable after a week of daily use, but it should be used for 30-45 days to achieve a stable result.
- To prepare the ointment, you need:
- Melt 2 tablespoons butter;
- Mix the oil with two tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar 6%;
- Keep the mixture in the refrigerator to harden.
You need to apply this ointment on your knees 2-3 times a day (the last time before sleeping).
Dandelion bath
For such baths, tincture of dandelion roots is used.To prepare it, you need to mix 120 grams of crushed dandelion roots with 150 ml of vodka and leave in a dark place for 24 hours.Before taking bath, the contents of the vessel should be put in water and stirred.It is recommended to take such a bath 1-2 times a week.After the procedure, pain in the knees subsides, and mobility in the joints is gradually restored.The effectiveness of the treatment will be higher if you add 150 grams of sea salt enriched with iodine and bromine to the water.