The main cause of acute knee pain in patients over 50 years old is gonarthrosis (deformed arthrosis of the knee joint).The disease is characterized by rapid progression and can cause disability and disability, so 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 of musculoskeletal pathologies.
What is arthrosis of the knee joint
The knee joint is one of the most mobile joints of the human skeleton, prone to trauma and other mechanical damage.It connects the tibia and femur, as well as the larger sesamoid bone, which is located in the tendons of the quadriceps muscle (patella or kneecap).Joint surfaces are covered with cartilage tissue - a dense, elastic substance that surrounds chondrocytes (oval-shaped cells formed from chondroblasts) and forms 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 provides cartilage strength and elasticity, and glucosamine.Glucosamine is a substance produced by cartilage tissue.Glucosamine is a component of chondroitin and 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 exposure of the joint parts and severe pain, so the treatment of knee arthrosis of the 1st degree always includes the use of drugs together with glucosamine and chondroitin.
- What happens in the joints during arthrosis:
- The cartilage becomes soft and loose, and deep ulcers appear on its surface;
- The synovial membrane thickens;
- The composition of the synovial fluid changes, its secretion decreases;
- ligaments and joint capsule are stretched;
- The joint cavity is filled with exudate - an inflammatory fluid that is released from blood vessels during acute inflammation.
In the absence of timely and adequate treatment, arthrosis leads to complete deformation and destruction of the knee joint, and the patient may experience both unnatural mobility and complete immobility of the joint.In the case of diagnosed knee arthrosis, in order to stop the process of destruction of the articular and cartilage surface, 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 carried out with a quota within the framework of 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 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 tissues develop and form incorrectly;
- neurodystrophic diseases of the lumbar or cervical spine;
- inflammation of the knee joint (arthritis);
- joint injuries and microtraumas;
- surgical removal of the damaged meniscus or its part (meniscectomy);
- Diseases of the endocrine system and hormonal disorders, during 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, regularly experience increased physical stress on the knee joint.Overweight patients, people over 50 years old, residents of ecologically unfavorable areas, patients with various addictions to toxic substances (smokers, drug addicts, alcoholics) are also at increased risk of developing gonarthrosis.
Regular hypothermia can contribute to inflammation of the knee joint and subsequent deformation, so people prone to diseases of the musculoskeletal system are advised to observe the temperature regime and avoid prolonged exposure to low temperatures (working outdoors, in refrigerators and freezers, etc.).
Women over the age of 45 who are interested in the treatment of knee arthrosis should know that estrogen synthesis can decrease as a provoking factor for the development of pathology, which can occur after menopause and with certain 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 prognosis of the future life to be as favorable as possible, it is important not only to know how to treat knee arthrosis, but also to know the symptoms of the disease.This is necessary for timely contact with a specialist and early detection of possible deformations of the knee joint and other injuries.At the initial stage, the pathology has rather rare symptoms, therefore, knee arthrosis of the 1st degree can be detected only after hardware and instrumental diagnostics.
- The first symptoms of the disease include:
- morning stiffness in knee;
- Pain when walking more than 1-1.5 km;
- pain in the knees when sitting for a long time (more than 2 hours in a row);
- Painful sensations 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 progresses.In order 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 knee arthrosis of the 2nd and 3rd degree are given in the table below.
| diagnostic sign | Knee arthrosis 2 degrees | Knee arthrosis 3 degrees |
|---|---|---|
| Pain at night while resting | May appear when changing body position or getting out of bed. | It happens without any movement. |
| Ability to use public transport (except low-floor buses) | The patient experiences pain when climbing stairs, but with some limitations he can use public transport without assistance. | The patient cannot get on a bus or tram due to limited mobility of the knee joint. |
| lameness | slightly pronounced. | The lameness is severe and requires additional supports (crutches) for movement. |
| Stiffness of knee after waking up | Lasts less than 10-15 minutes. | Lasts about 20-30 minutes or more. |
| Pain when walking | Appears after passing 800-1000 m. | They begin at the beginning of the movement and intensify after traveling a distance of less than 500 m. |
| Ability to take care of oneself | usually stored. | 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 the following:
- treatment methods;
- physiotherapy;
- Massage.
Prescriptions of traditional medicine can be used only after consulting a doctor and should not replace the basic 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 1 degree
This is the mildest form of arthrosis, which in most cases is cured by means of small drug correction and additional measures: massage, exercise therapy, physiotherapy treatment.The most effective method of knee arthrosis treatment, 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.
- This helps to achieve the following effect:
- the degree of inflammation in the joint cavity decreases;
- pain intensity decreases;
- the tissue regeneration process 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 pulse magnetic therapy, acupuncture, electromyostimulation and electrophoresis.All these methods are quite effective in the treatment of arthrosis with a degree of deformation of no more than 20-25%, but the effectiveness of the treatment will be higher if they are combined with physiotherapy and massage.Orthopedists and surgeons note the positive effect of using water exercises aimed at developing leg muscle strength.Patients with knee arthrosis of degree 1-2 can be offered sanatorium-resort treatment (during stable remission), including mud therapy, warming up in the sauna and healing baths.Overweight patients are prescribed a special diet, since obesity is one of the main factors in the development of knee arthrosis.
Arthrosis 2 degrees
Treatment of arthrosis of the 2nd degree of the knee joint includes physiotherapy and massage (outside the acute period), special nutrition, physiotherapy and medication.It is very important to reduce the load on the affected joint: limit walking, avoid movements that require bending the knee.In case of 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;
- Hyaluronic acid intra-articular injections;
- Injections of glucocorticosteroid hormones.
The diet of patients with knee arthrosis should include 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 consumption of these foods should be limited in patients with diabetes.
Arthrosis 3 degrees
The treatment of arthrosis of the 3rd degree of the knee joint does not differ from the therapy used for arthrosis of the 2nd degree.If it is ineffective and there is a sharp restriction of movement, the patient is prescribed surgical treatment with a subsequent prosthesis 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 following methods is allowed only for arthrosis of the 1st degree and in the initial stage of arthrosis of the 2nd degree.
Infusion of nettle and lemon
This infusion should be taken orally 20-30 minutes before meals.A single dose is 50-80 ml.
- To prepare the infusion, you need:
- Mix 100 g of dry or fresh nettle leaves with three cleaned 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 close the lid;
- Leave for 4 hours.
Duration of treatment with this method is at least 60 days.In the first week, the infusion should be taken once a day, during 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 to remove inflammation and reduce pain.The first result is noticeable after a week of daily use, but to achieve a stable result, it should be used 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 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar 6%;
- Put the mixture in the refrigerator to harden.
This ointment should be applied to the knees 2-3 times a day (last before going to bed).
Bath with dandelions
A tincture of dandelion roots is used for such a bath.To prepare it, you need to mix 120 g of crushed dandelion roots with 150 ml of vodka and keep it in a dark place for 24 hours.Before taking a bath, the contents of the vessel should be poured into water and mixed.It is recommended to take such a bath 1-2 times a week.After the procedure, the pain in the knees decreases, joint mobility 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.