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, including at home, is the main task when examining patients at risk of developing pathologies 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, susceptible to injury and other mechanical damage.It connects the tibia and femur, as well as the largest sesamoid bone, which is located on the tendon of the quadriceps femoris muscle (patella or kneecap).The surfaces of the joints are 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 which is the main element of connective fibers and provides cartilage strength and elasticity, as well as glucosamine.Glucosamine is a substance produced by cartilage tissue.Glucosamine is a component of chondroitin and 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 exposure of parts of the joint and severe pain, therefore treatment of grade 1 knee arthrosis always includes the use of drugs with glucosamine and chondroitin.
- What happens to joints with arthrosis:
- the cartilage becomes soft and loose, and deep ulcerations 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 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, while the patient may experience unnatural mobility and complete immobility of the joint.To stop the process of destruction of articular surfaces and cartilage in diagnosed knee arthrosis, the doctor may suggest endoprosthetics - a surgical operation to replace the damaged joint with an artificial prosthesis of a suitable size.If indicated, the operation can be performed based on a quota in the mandatory health 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 the primary 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 diseases of the lumbar or cervical spine;
- knee arthritis (arthritis);
- injuries and microtrauma of the joints;
- surgical removal of the damaged meniscus or part of it (meniscectomy);
- diseases of the endocrine system and hormonal disorders, where the rate of metabolic reactions slows down and metabolism in bone tissue is disturbed.
Primary arthrosis of the knee joint often develops in people who lead a sedentary lifestyle or, conversely, who often experience increased physical stress on the knee joint.Overweight patients, people over 50 years old, residents of areas where the environment is unfavorable, patients with various types of addiction to toxic substances (smokers, drug addicts, alcoholics) are also at high risk of developing gonarthrosis.
Regular hypothermia can cause inflammation and further deformation of the knee joint, so people with a predisposition to diseases of the musculoskeletal system are advised to observe the temperature regime and avoid activities associated with prolonged exposure to low temperatures (working outdoors, in refrigerators and freezers, etc.).
Women over 45 years of age who are interested in how to treat knee arthrosis should be aware that a triggering factor for the development of pathology may be reduced estrogen synthesis, which can occur after menopause and with certain gynecological diseases: endometrial hyperplasia, uterine fibroids, fibroadenoma, endometriosis.Negative factors are also various dietary patterns 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 life in the future to be as good as possible, it is important not only to know how to treat knee arthrosis, but also what symptoms the disease manifests.This is necessary for timely contact with a specialist and early detection of possible deformations and other damage to the knee joint.In the initial stages, pathology has rather rare symptoms, so grade 1 knee arthrosis can only be detected after hardware and instrumental diagnostics.
- The first symptoms of this disease include:
- morning stiffness in the knees;
- pain when walking when covering a distance exceeding 1-1.5 km;
- pain in the knee when sitting for a long time (more than 2 hours in a row);
- 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 carry out a series of diagnostic examinations (MRI, computer tomography, radiography, etc.) and determine the degree of deformation, the level of synovial fluid in the joint cavity, the density of the cartilage tissue and synovial membrane.Symptoms of grade 2 and 3 knee arthrosis are given in the table below.
| Diagnostic sign | Knee arthrosis 2 degrees | Knee arthrosis 3 degrees |
|---|---|---|
| Pain when resting at night | May appear when changing body position or getting out of bed. | Occurs without any movement. |
| Possibility of using public transport (except low-floor buses) | The patient experiences pain when climbing stairs, but with certain limitations can use public transportation without assistance. | The patient cannot ride the bus or tram on his own due to limited mobility of the knee joint. |
| Inequality | Little expressed. | The lameness is severe and additional support (a cane) is required for movement. |
| Stiffness in the knees after waking up | Lasts less than 10-15 minutes. | Lasts about 20-30 minutes or longer. |
| Pain when walking | Occurs after passing 800-1000 m. | They start at the beginning of the movement and increase after covering a distance of less than 500 m. |
| Self-care abilities | Usually saved. | The patient is unable to 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 done using:
- treatment methods;
- physical therapy;
- massage.
The use of traditional medicine recipes is possible only after consulting a 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 articular surfaces.
Grade 1 arthrosis
This is the lightest form of arthrosis, which in most cases can be cured with a slight drug correction and additional measures: massage, exercise therapy, physiotherapeutic treatment.The most effective method for treating knee arthrosis, regardless of stage, is laser therapy.This is the main method of physiotherapy, giving quite good results in the early stages of arthrosis.
- This helps achieve the following effects:
- the level of inflammation in the joint cavity decreases;
- pain intensity decreases;
- tissue regeneration processes are stimulated;
- the need to use glucocorticosteroids and other drugs with serious side effects disappears.
As an alternative to laser therapy, a 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 treatment will be higher if combined with physical therapy and massage.Orthopedists and surgeons note the positive effect of using water exercises aimed at developing muscle strength in the legs.Patients with knee arthrosis of grade 1-2 can be offered sanatorium-resort treatment (during periods of stable remission), including mud therapy, warming up 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 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 progressing arthrosis, the use of special orthoses is indicated - orthopedic devices designed to fix diseased joints and limit their mobility.
- The drug treatment regimen may include the following drugs:
- chondroprotectors with glucosamine and chondroitin;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections;
- injections of glucocorticosteroid hormones.
The diet for patients with knee arthrosis should contain sufficient amounts of collagen-rich foods.
- This is:
- products with gelling 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 people with diabetes.
Arthrosis 3 degrees
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 will be given surgical treatment with further prosthetics of the damaged joint.
Traditional method
Before learning how to treat knee joints at home using alternative medicine recipes, you need to consult a doctor.The use of the methods below is allowed only for grade 1 arthrosis and in the initial stages of grade 2 arthrosis.
Infusion of nettle and lemon
This infusion should be drunk 20-30 minutes before meals.A single dose is 50-80 ml.
- To prepare the infusion you will need:
- 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 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 drunk 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 are visible after a week of daily use, but to achieve stable results it must be used for 30-45 days.
- To prepare the ointment you will need:
- melt 2 tablespoons butter;
- mix the oil with two tablespoons of honey and one spoonful of 6% apple cider vinegar;
- Place the mixture in the refrigerator to harden.
You need to apply this ointment to your knees 2-3 times a day (last time before bed).
Bath with dandelion
For such baths, dandelion root tincture is used.To prepare it, you need to mix 120 g of crushed dandelion roots with 150 ml of vodka and leave 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 baths 1-2 times a week.After the procedure, the pain in the knee decreases, and mobility in the joint gradually recovers.The effectiveness of the treatment will be higher if you add 150 g of sea salt enriched with iodine and bromine to the water.