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 of 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 largest sesamoid bone, which is located in the tendons of the quadriceps femoris muscle (patella or knee).The surfaces of the joint 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 element 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 - a yellowish elastic mass that fills the joint cavity and acts as a lubricant.If the synthesis of glucosamine and proteoglycan is disturbed, the amount of synovial fluid decreases, which leads to the exposure of parts of the joint and intense 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 in arthrosis:
- 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 excretion decreases;
- ligaments and joint capsule are sprained;
- the joint cavity is filled with exudate – inflammatory fluids that are released from blood vessels during the period of acute inflammation.
In the absence of timely and adequate treatment, arthrosis leads to complete deformation and destruction of the knee joint, whereby the patient can feel both unnatural mobility and complete immobility of the joint.In order to stop the process of destruction of the articular and cartilage surface in cases of diagnosed knee arthrosis, 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 performed according to the quota within 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 precisely 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 irregular development and tissue formation 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 (meniscectomy);
- diseases of the endocrine system and hormonal disorders, in which the speed of metabolic reactions slows down and disrupts the metabolism in bone tissue.
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, residents of environmentally unfavorable areas, patients with various types of addiction to toxic substances (smokers, drug addicts, alcoholics) are also at increased risk for 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 adhere to 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 the treatment of knee arthrosis should know that the provoking factor in the development of pathology can be reduced estrogen synthesis, which can occur after menopause and in certain gynecological diseases: endometrial hyperplasia, uterine fibroids, fibroadenoma, endometriosis.Various diets that limit the consumption of foods rich in minerals, vitamins and other elements necessary for joint health are also 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 which 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 stage, the pathology has rather 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 of the knees;
- pain when 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 the necessary therapy at this stage, the disease will progress.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 2 and 3 degrees 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 occur when changing body position or getting out of bed. | It occurs without any movement. |
| The possibility of using public transport (except low-floor buses) | The patient feels pain when climbing stairs, but with certain restrictions he can use public transport without assistance. | The patient cannot get on the bus or tram by himself due to limited mobility of the knee joint. |
| Lameness | Mildly expressed. | Lameness is very pronounced and additional supports (sticks) are needed for movement. |
| Stiffness in knee after waking | It takes less than 10-15 minutes. | It takes about 20-30 minutes or longer. |
| Pain when walking | It occurs after crossing 800-1000 m. | They start at the beginning of movement, and intensify after crossing a distance of less than 500 m. |
| Self-care ability | It is usually stored. | The patient cannot perform a series 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:
- medical methods;
- physical therapy;
- massage.
The use of traditional medicine recipes is possible only after consultation with your doctor and must 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 joint surface deformation.
Arthrosis of the 1st degree
This is the mildest form of arthrosis, which in most cases can be cured with minor medication correction and additional measures: massage, exercise, physiotherapeutic treatment.The most effective method of treating knee arthrosis, 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.
- It helps 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 can suggest pulse magnetic therapy, acupuncture, electromyostimulation and electrophoresis.All these methods are quite effective in the treatment of arthrosis with a degree of deformation not exceeding 20-25%, but the effectiveness of the treatment will be greater if they are 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 1-2 degree knee arthrosis can be offered a sanatorium-resort (in a period of stable remission), including mud therapy, warming up in a sauna and medicinal baths.Overweight patients are prescribed a special diet, because obesity is one of the main factors in the development of knee arthrosis.
Arthrosis of the 2nd degree
Treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint of the 2nd degree includes physiotherapy and massage (outside the acute period), special diet, physical therapy and drugs.It is very important to reduce the load on the damaged joint: limit walking, avoid movements that require knee bending.With arthrosis that progresses rapidly, the use of special orthoses is indicated - orthopedic devices designed to fix the diseased joint and limit its mobility.
- A medication regimen may include the following medications:
- chondroprotectors with glucosamine and chondroitin;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid;
- injections of glucocorticosteroid hormones.
The diet of patients with knee arthrosis should contain a sufficient amount of foods rich in collagen.
- these are:
- products with gelling additives (jellies, jelly, meat jelly, 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 knee joint of the 3rd degree does not differ from the treatment of arthrosis of the 2nd degree.If it is ineffective and there is a pronounced restriction of movement, the patient is prescribed surgical treatment with further prosthetics of the damaged joint.
Traditional methods
Before you learn how to treat knee joints at home using alternative medicine recipes, you should consult a doctor.The use of the methods listed below is allowed only for arthrosis of the 1st degree and in the initial phase of arthrosis of the 2nd degree.
Infusion of nettle and lemon
This infusion should be taken orally 20-30 minutes before meals.One dose is 50-80 ml.
- To prepare the infusion, you need:
- Mix 100 g of dried or fresh nettle leaves with three peeled 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 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 - 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 result is noticeable after a week of daily use, but to achieve a stable result it is necessary to use it for 30-45 days.
- To prepare the fat, you need:
- melt 2 tablespoons of butter;
- mix the oil with two spoons of honey and one spoon of apple cider vinegar 6%;
- Place the mixture in the refrigerator to set.
This ointment should be applied to the knees 2-3 times a day (the last time before going to bed).
Bath with dandelions
Dandelion root tincture 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 leave it in a dark place for 24 hours.Before bathing, the contents of the container should be poured into water and stirred.Such bathing is recommended 1-2 times a week.After the procedure, the pain in the knees becomes less, and the 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.