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 disability, therefore timely identification of symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee joint and treatment of the disease, including at home, are the main tasks when examining patients at risk of pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.
What is osteoarthritis of the knee joint?
The knee joint is one of the most mobile joints in the human skeleton, prone to injuries 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 muscle (patella or patella).The joint surfaces are covered with cartilaginous tissue, a dense, elastic substance that surrounds chondrocytes (oval-shaped cells formed from chondroblasts) and creates a protective layer around them, in addition to acting 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 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 causes exposure of parts of the joint and severe pain, therefore the treatment of first degree knee osteoarthritis always includes the use of drugs with glucosamine and chondroitin.
- 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;
- a sprain of the ligaments and joint capsule occurs;
- the joint cavity is filled with exudate, inflammatory fluid released from blood vessels during the period of acute inflammation.
In the absence of timely and adequate treatment, osteoarthritis leads to complete deformation and 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 and cartilaginous surface in cases of diagnosed knee osteoarthritis, the doctor may suggest endoprostheses, a surgical operation to replace the damaged joint with an artificial prosthesis of appropriate size.If indicated, the operation can be performed for a fee within the compulsory health insurance program.
Classification and etiological factors.
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint can be primary or secondary.Primary osteoarthritis 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, osteoarthritis 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 inadequate development and formation of tissues occurs;
- neurodystrophic diseases of the lumbar or cervical spine;
- inflammation of the knee joint (arthritis);
- joint injuries and microtrauma;
- 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 disturbed.
Primary osteoarthritis of the knee joint often develops in people who lead a sedentary lifestyle or, conversely, 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) also have an increased risk of developing gonarthrosis.
Regular hypothermia can contribute to inflammation and further deformation of the knee joint, therefore people prone to diseases of the musculoskeletal system are recommended 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 old who are interested in how to treat knee osteoarthritis should know that a provoking factor in the development of the pathology may be a reduction in the synthesis of estrogens, which can occur after menopause and with certain gynecological diseases: endometrial hyperplasia, uterine fibroids, fibroadenoma, endometriosis.A negative factor is also the various diets that limit the consumption of foods rich in minerals, vitamins and other elements necessary for joint health.
Signs and symptoms
So that the prognosis for future life is as favorable as possible, it is important not only to know how to treat knee osteoarthritis, but also what symptoms the disease manifests.This is necessary for timely contact with a specialist and early detection of possible deformities and other damage to the knee joint.At the initial stage, the pathology has rather few symptoms, so first-degree knee osteoarthritis can only be detected after instrumental and hardware diagnosis.
- The first symptoms of the disease include:
- morning knee stiffness;
- pain when walking when traveling a distance greater than 1-1.5 km;
- pain in the knees when sitting for long periods of time (more than 2 hours at a time);
- 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 will progress.To choose the right drug for osteoarthritis of the knee joint, it is necessary to undergo a series of diagnostic examinations (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 synovial membrane.The symptoms of grade 2 and 3 knee osteoarthritis are detailed in the following table.
| Diagnostic sign | Knee osteoarthritis 2 degrees. | Knee osteoarthritis 3 degrees. |
|---|---|---|
| Pain when resting at night. | It may appear when changing body position or getting out of bed. | It happens without any movement. |
| Possibility of using public transport (except low-floor buses) | The patient feels pain when climbing stairs, but with certain restrictions he can use public transportation without assistance. | The patient cannot board the bus or tram alone due to limited mobility of the knee joint. |
| limp | Slightly expressed. | The lameness is severe and additional supports (canes) are required to move. |
| Knee stiffness after waking up | Lasts less than 10-15 minutes. | It lasts between 20 and 30 minutes or more. |
| Pain when walking | It occurs after passing 800-1000 m. | They begin at the beginning of the movement and intensify after traveling a distance of less than 500 m. |
| self-care capacity | Generally saved. | The patient cannot perform a series of actions without help. |
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint at home.
- Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint can be carried out by:
- medicinal methods;
- physiotherapy;
- 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 treatment methods depends not only on the age of the patient and his existing chronic diseases, but also on the stage of osteoarthritis and the degree of deformation of the cartilage and articular surface.
1st degree osteoarthritis
This is the mildest form of osteoarthritis, which in most cases can be cured with a small pharmacological correction and additional measures: massage, physiotherapy and physiotherapy treatment.The most effective method to treat knee osteoarthritis, regardless of its stage, is laser therapy.This is the main method of physiotherapy and gives quite good results in the initial stage of osteoarthritis.
- Helps achieve the following effect:
- reduces the degree of inflammation in the joint cavity;
- the intensity of the pain 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, your doctor may suggest pulse magnetic therapy, acupuncture, electromyostimulation, and electrophoresis.All of these methods are quite effective in the treatment of osteoarthritis with a degree of deformation of no more than 20-25%, but the effectiveness of the treatment will be greater if they are combined with physiotherapy and massage.Orthopedists and surgeons note the positive effect of using water exercises aimed at developing the strength of the leg muscles.Patients with grade 1-2 knee osteoarthritis can be offered sanatorium treatment (during a period of stable remission), which includes mud therapy, warming up in a sauna and medicinal baths.Overweight patients are prescribed a special diet, since obesity is one of the main factors in the development of knee osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis 2 degrees
Treatment of grade 2 osteoarthritis 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 damaged joint: limit walking, avoid movements that require bending the knee.With rapidly progressing osteoarthritis, 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 medications:
- chondroprotectors with glucosamine and chondroitin;
- 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 foods rich in collagen.
- These are:
- products with gelling additives (gelatin, gelatin, gelatin, gelatin);
- 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 consumption of these foods should be limited in patients with diabetes.
Osteoarthritis 3 degrees
Treatment of grade 3 osteoarthritis of the knee joint does not differ from the treatment used for grade 2 osteoarthritis. If it is ineffective and there is severe limitation of movement, the patient is prescribed surgical treatment with additional prostheses 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 indicated below is allowed only for osteoarthritis of the first degree and at the initial stage of osteoarthritis of the second degree.
Nettle and lemon infusion
This infusion should be taken orally 20-30 minutes before meals.A single dose is 50 to 80 ml.
- To prepare the infusion you need:
- Mix 100 g of fresh or dried nettle leaves with three peeled heads of garlic;
- pass the mixture through a meat grinder;
- add 4 tablespoons lemon juice;
- mix everything, add 250 ml of boiling water and cover;
- 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, for 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 it must be used for 30-45 days.
- To prepare the ointment, you need:
- melt 2 tablespoons butter;
- mix the oil with two tablespoons of honey and one tablespoon 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 (the last time before going to bed).
Bath with dandelions
For such a bath, a tincture 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 bathing, pour the contents of the container into water and shake.It is recommended to take this bath 1 or 2 times a week.After the procedure, the pain in the knees decreases and joint mobility is gradually restored.The effectiveness of the treatment will be greater if 150 g of sea salt enriched with iodine and bromine is added to the water.