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 progress and can cause disability and disability, therefore, timely identification of the symptoms of arthrosis of the knee joint and treatment of the disease, including home treatment, are the main tasks when examining patients at risk of pathology 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 injuries.It connects the tibia and femur, along with the largest sesamoid bone, located in the tendons of the quadriceps femoris muscle (patella or kneecap).The surfaces of the joint 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, which also acts as a shock absorber.
Cartilage tissue contains collagen and glucosamine, a fibrillar protein that is the main component of connective fibers and provides cartilage strength and elasticity.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 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 the joints with arthrosis:
- cartilage becomes soft and loose, 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 space is filled with exudate - the inflammatory fluid that comes out of the 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 cases of diagnosed knee arthrosis, to stop the process of destruction of the articular and cartilage surface, the doctor can offer endoprosthetics - a surgical operation to replace the damaged joint with an artificial prosthesis of the appropriate size.If there is an indication, the operation can be carried out on the basis of a quota within the framework of the compulsory health insurance program.
Classification and etiological factors
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint can be primary or secondary.Primary arthrosis is diagnosed when the exact cause of the pathology cannot be determined.If cartilage deformation is preceded by other diseases and pathologies, knee injuries, arthrosis is considered secondary, that is, it develops against the background of the main disease.
- The main causes of secondary arthrosis of the knee joints include:
- various dysplasias and other pathologies in which improper development and formation of tissues occur;
- 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 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 environmentally unfavorable areas, patients with addiction to various types of toxic substances (smokers, drug addicts, alcoholics) are also at risk of developing gonarthrosis.
Constant hypothermia can contribute to inflammation and further deformation of the knee joint, therefore, people prone to diseases of the musculoskeletal system are advised to observe the temperature regime and avoid activities associated with prolonged exposure to low temperatures (working outside, in refrigerators and freezers, etc.).
Women over the age of 45 who are interested in how to treat knee arthrosis should know that the inciting factor in the development of the pathology can be a decrease in estrogen synthesis, which can occur after menopause and with certain gynecological diseases: endometrial hyperplasia, uterine fibroids, fibroadenoma, endometriosis.A negative factor is 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 for the 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 shows.This is necessary to contact a specialist in time and detect possible deformations and other injuries of the knee joint early.At the initial stage, the pathology has very rare symptoms, so 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 during walking when covering a distance of 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 proper treatment at this stage, the disease progresses.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 2 and 3 degrees of knee arthrosis are listed in the table below.
| Diagnostic sign | Knee arthrosis 2 degrees | Knee arthrosis 3 degrees |
|---|---|---|
| Pain when resting at night | It can be seen when changing body position or getting out of bed. | It happens without any action. |
| Access to public transport (except low-floor buses) | The patient feels pain when climbing stairs, but can use public transport unaided with certain limitations. | Due to the limited mobility of the knee joint, the patient cannot get on the bus or tram alone. |
| Lameness | Put mildly. | The lameness is severe and requires additional crutches (canes) for movement. |
| Stiffness in knee after waking | It takes less than 10-15 minutes. | It lasts about 20-30 minutes or more. |
| Pain when walking | It happens after passing 800-1000 m. | They start at the beginning of the movement and intensify after traveling less than 500 m. |
| Self-care skills | Usually stored. | The patient cannot perform a number of movements 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:
- medicinal methods;
- physical therapy;
- massage.
The use of traditional medical 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 methods for treatment 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 surface.
Arthrosis 1st degree
This is the mildest form of arthrosis, which in most cases can be treated with small drug correction and additional measures: massage, exercise therapy, physiotherapeutic treatment.The most effective method of treating knee arthrosis, regardless of the stage, is laser therapy.This is the main method of physiotherapy, which gives quite good results in the initial stage of arthrosis.
- It helps to achieve the following effect:
- the degree of inflammation in the joint space decreases;
- pain intensity decreases;
- 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 can offer 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 muscle strength in the legs.Patients with knee arthrosis of the 1st-2nd degree can be offered sanatorium-spa treatment (during stable remission), including mud therapy, warming up in the sauna and therapeutic baths.Overweight patients are prescribed a special diet, because 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, physical therapy and drug therapy.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 correct 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.
Patients with knee arthrosis should have a sufficient amount of collagen-rich foods in their diet.
- These are:
- products with jelly 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
Treatment of grade 3 arthrosis of the knee joint does not differ from the therapy used for grade 2 arthrosis.If it is not effective and there is a serious restriction 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 following methods is allowed only in the initial stage of grade 1 arthrosis and grade 2 arthrosis.
Nettle and lemon infusion
This infusion should be taken orally 20-30 minutes before meals.A single dose is 50-80 ml.
- To prepare the infusion, you will need:
- Mix 100 g of dried 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 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 - twice 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 relieve inflammation and reduce pain.The first result is noticeable after a week of daily use, but it should be used for 30-45 days to get a stable result.
- To prepare the ointment, you will need:
- Melt 2 tablespoons of butter;
- mix the oil with two tablespoons of honey and one spoon of apple cider vinegar 6%;
- Put the mixture in the refrigerator to harden.
You need to rub this ointment on your knees 2-3 times a day (the last time 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 root with 150 ml of vodka and keep it in a dark place for 24 hours.Before taking a bath, the contents of the container should be poured into water and mixed.It is recommended to take such a bath 1-2 times a week.After the procedure, pain in the knees decreases, mobility in the joints is gradually restored.If you add 150 g of sea salt enriched with iodine and bromine to the water, the effectiveness of the treatment will be higher.