The main cause of acute knee pain in patients over 50 years old 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 for 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, prone to injuries and other mechanical damage.It connects the tibia and femur, as well as the larger sesamoid bone, located on the tendons of the quadriceps femoris (patella or kneecap) muscle.The joint surfaces are covered with cartilage tissue - a dense, 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 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 is part of synovial fluid - an elastic yellow 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 the exposure of joint parts and severe pain, therefore the treatment of knee arthrosis of the 1st degree always includes the use of drugs with glucosamine and chondroitin.
- What happens in joints with 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 sprained;
- the joint cavity is filled with exudates - inflammatory fluid released from the blood vessels during the period of acute inflammation.
In the absence of timely and adequate treatment, arthrosis leads to deformation and complete 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 articular surface and cartilage in cases of diagnosed knee arthrosis, the doctor may suggest endoprosthetics - a surgical operation to replace the damaged joint with an artificial prosthesis of suitable size.If indicated, the operation can be performed under a quota within 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 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 improper tissue development and formation occurs;
- 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 part of it (menisectomy);
- diseases of the endocrine system and hormonal disorders, in which the rate of metabolic reactions slows down and the metabolism in bone tissue is interrupted.
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 old, 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, so people with a tendency to diseases of the musculoskeletal system are advised to respect the temperature regime and avoid activities related to prolonged exposure to low temperatures (work outside, in refrigerators and freezers, etc.).
Women over 45 who are interested in how to treat knee arthrosis should know that a provoking factor in the development of pathology can be a reduction in estrogen synthesis, which can occur after menopause and with some gynecological diseases: endometrial hyperplasia, uterine fibroids, fibroadenoma, endometriosis.Different diets that limit the consumption of foods rich in minerals, vitamins and other elements necessary for joint health are a negative factor.
Signs and symptoms
In order for the prognosis for future life to be as favorable 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 injuries of the knee joint.In the initial stage, the pathology has quite rare symptoms, so knee arthrosis of the 1st degree can be detected only after hardware and instrumental diagnosis.
- The first symptoms of the disease include:
- morning stiffness in knee;
- pain while walking when covering a distance exceeding 1-1.5 km;
- knee pain when sitting for long periods of time (more than 2 hours in a row);
- painful sensations in the knee joint after standing for a long time;
- knee pain that appears 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.In order to choose the right medicine for arthrosis of the knee joint, it is necessary to undergo a series of diagnostic examinations (MRI, computer tomography, X-ray, etc.) and determine the degree of deformation, the level of synovial fluid in the joint cavity, the density of the cartilage tissue and the synovial membrane.Symptoms of knee arthrosis of the 2nd and 3rd degree are given in the table below.
| Diagnostic sign | Arthrosis of the knee 2 degrees | Knee arthrosis 3 degrees |
|---|---|---|
| Pain while resting at night | It can appear when you change your body position or get out of bed. | It happens without any movement. |
| The possibility of using public transport (except low-floor buses) | The patient experiences pain when climbing stairs, but with certain limitations he can use public transport without assistance. | The patient cannot get on the bus or tram by himself because of the limited movement of the knee joint. |
| halting | Expressed a little. | The limp is severe and additional supports (canes) are needed for movement. |
| Stiffness in knee after waking | It takes less than 10-15 minutes. | It lasts about 20-30 minutes or more. |
| Pain while walking | It happens after passing 800-1000 m. | They start at the beginning of the movement and intensify after covering a distance of less than 500 m. |
| Self-care ability | It is 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 prescriptions is possible only after consultation with 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 cartilage and articular surface deformation.
Grade 1 arthrosis
This is the easiest form of arthrosis, which in most cases can be cured with small medication 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, giving quite good results in the initial stage of arthrosis.
- It 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 deformation rate of no more than 20-25%, but the effectiveness of the 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 leg muscle strength.Patients with knee arthrosis of degree 1-2 can be offered sanatorium treatment (during a period of stable remission), including mud therapy, sauna heating and medicinal baths.Overweight patients are prescribed a special diet, as obesity is one of the main factors in the development of knee arthrosis.
Arthrosis 2 degrees
Treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint of the 2nd degree 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 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 for patients with knee arthrosis should contain a sufficient amount of foods rich in collagen.
- These are:
- products with gelling additives (jelly, jelly, jelly 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 grade 3 arthrosis of the knee joint does not differ from the therapy used for grade 2 arthrosis. If it is ineffective and there are severe movement restrictions, the patient is prescribed surgical treatment with further prosthetics of the damaged joint.
Traditional methods
Before learning how to treat knee joints at home using alternative medicine recipes, you should consult a doctor.The use of the methods given below 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 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 with a lid;
- leave it 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.
Ointment with honey for joints
This ointment helps relieve inflammation and reduce pain.The first result is visible after a week of daily use, but to achieve a stable result, it must be used for 30-45 days.
- To prepare the oil, you need:
- melt 2 tablespoons of butter;
- mix the oil with two spoons of honey and one spoon of 6% apple cider vinegar;
- Put the mass in the refrigerator to harden.
You should apply this ointment to your knees 2-3 times a day (the last time before going to bed).
Dandelion bath
For such a bath, a solution of dandelion roots 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 taking a bath, the contents of the container must 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 becomes less, and mobility in the joints 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.