The main cause of acute knee pain in patients older than 50 years is gonarthrosis (deforming arthrosis of the knee joint).
The disease is characterized by rapid progression and can cause disability and inability to work, so timely detection of symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee and treatment of the disease, including at home, are the main tasks in examining patients at risk of pathology. musculoskeletal system.
What is osteoarthritis of the knee
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 (patella or patella). The surfaces of the joint are covered with cartilaginous 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.
The composition of cartilage contains collagen - fibrillar protein, which is the main element of connective fibers and provides strength and elasticity of cartilage - and glucosamine. Glucosamine is a substance produced by cartilage. Glucosamine 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 the appearance of intense pain, therefore the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint of the 1st degree always includes the use of chondroprotective drugs.
What happens in the joints in osteoarthritis:
- the cartilage becomes soft and loose, and deep ulcerations appear on its surface;
- the synovial membrane thickens;
- the composition of synovial fluid changes, its secretion decreases;
- there is stretching of ligaments and joint capsules;
- 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 of osteoarthritis leads to complete deformation and destruction of the knee joint, where the patient can show both unnatural mobility and complete immobility of the joint. In order to stop the process of destruction of the joint and cartilage surface in the case of diagnosed osteoarthritis of the knee, the doctor may suggest arthroplasty - a surgical operation to replace the damaged joint with an artificial prosthesis of appropriate size.
The cost of primary knee arthroplasty varies depending on the region and can range from $ 255 to $ 1, 465.
If there are indications, the operation can be performed according to the quota within the CHI program.
Classification and etiological factors
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint can be primary or secondary. Primary arthrosis is diagnosed in cases when it is impossible to precisely 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, ie it develops against the background of the primary disease.
The main causes of secondary osteoarthritis of the knee joints include:
- various dysplasias and other pathologies in which abnormal development and tissue 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 (meniscectomy);
- diseases of the endocrine system and hormonal disorders, in which the speed of metabolic reactions is slowed down, metabolism in bone tissue is disturbed.
Primary osteoarthritis of the knee joint often develops in people who lead a sedentary lifestyle, or, conversely, who regularly experience increased physical activity at 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 of developing gonarthrosis.
Regular hypothermia can contribute to inflammation and further deformity of the knee joint, so people prone to diseases of the musculoskeletal system are advised to respect the temperature regime and abandon activities associated with prolonged exposure to low temperatures (work outdoors, in refrigerators and freezers, etc. ) d. ).
Women over 45 who are interested in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee should know that the provoking factor in the development of pathology may be reduced estrogen synthesis, which can occur after menopause and in some gynecological diseases: endometrial hyperplasia, uterine fibroids, fibroadenoma, endometriosis. A negative factor is the various diets that limit the intake of foods rich in minerals, vitamins and other elements necessary for joint health.
Signs and symptoms
To make the prognosis of later life as favorable as possible, it is important not only to know how to treat osteoarthritis of the knee, but also what symptoms the disease manifests itself in. This is necessary for timely access to a specialist and early detection of possible deformities and other injuries of the knee joint. In the initial stage, the pathology has rather sparse symptoms, so it is possible to identify stage 1 knee osteoarthritis only after conducting hardware and instrumental diagnostics.
The first symptoms of the disease include:
- morning knee stiffness;
- pain when walking at a distance greater than 1-1, 5 km;
- knee pain during prolonged (more than 2 consecutive hours) sitting;
- pain in the knee joint after prolonged standing;
- knee pain that occurs at the end of the day or in the first half of a night's sleep.
If the patient does not receive the necessary therapy at this stage, the disease will progress. To choose the right medicine for osteoarthritis 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, cartilage and synovial membrane tissue density. Symptoms of grade 2 and 3 knee osteoarthritis are shown in the table below.
| diagnostic sign | Knee osteoarthritis 2 degrees | Knee osteoarthritis 3 degrees |
|---|---|---|
| Pain during resting at night | It can occur when changing body position or getting out of bed. | He appears without any movement. |
| Possibility to use public transport (excluding low-floor buses) | The patient feels pain when climbing stairs, but with certain restrictions he can use public transport without help. | The patient cannot get on the bus or tram alone due to limited mobility of the knee joint. |
| Lameness | Mild. | The lameness is very pronounced, additional supports (sticks) are needed for movement. |
| Stiffness in the knee after waking up | It takes less than 10-15 minutes. | It takes about 20-30 minutes or more. |
| Pain when walking | They occur after crossing 800-1000 m. | They start at the beginning of the movement, and intensify after crossing a distance of less than 500 m. |
| Possibility of self-service | It is usually kept. | The patient cannot perform a series of actions without outside help. |
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee at home
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee can be carried out with the help of:
- medical methods;
- physiotherapy exercises;
- massage.
The use of traditional medicine prescriptions is possible only after consultation with a doctor and should not replace the main treatment prescribed by a specialist.
The choice of drugs and methods of treatment depends not only on the age of the patient and his chronic diseases, but also on the stage of arthrosis and the degree of deformation of the cartilage and joint surface.
Osteoarthritis 1 degree
This is the mildest form of arthrosis, which in most cases can be cured with minor medication correction and additional measures: massage, exercise, physiotherapy. The most effective treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee, regardless of its stage, is laser therapy. This is the main method of physiotherapy, which gives quite good results in the initial phase of arthrosis.
Helps achieve the following effect:
- the degree of inflammation in the joint cavity decreases;
- the intensity of pain decreases;
- the process of tissue regeneration is stimulated;
- the need for glucocorticosteroids and other drugs with serious side effects disappears.
As an alternative to laser therapy, the doctor may offer pulsed magnetotherapy, acupuncture, electromyostimulation and electrophoresis.
All of these methods are quite effective in treating osteoarthritis.with a degree of deformation not exceeding 20-25%, but the effectiveness of the treatment will be higher if it is combined with physiotherapy exercises and massage.
Orthopedists and surgeons are noticing 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 sanatorium treatment (in the period of stable remission), including mud therapy, heating in the sauna, therapeutic baths. Overweight patients are prescribed a special diet, because obesity is one of the main factors in the development of knee osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis 2 degrees
Treatment of grade 2 knee osteoarthritis includes physiotherapy and massage (outside the acute period), special diet, physiotherapy exercises and medications. It is very important to reduce the load on the damaged joint: limit walking, avoid movements that require bending the knee. With rapidly progressive arthrosis, the use of special orthoses is indicated - orthopedic devices designed to fix the diseased joint and limit its mobility.
The medication regimen may include the following medications:
- chondroprotectors;
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid;
- injections of glucocorticosteroid hormones.
The diet of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee should contain a sufficient amount of food rich in collagen.
This:
- products with gelling additives (jelly, jelly, jelly, aspic);
- pectin-containing products;
- fish oil.
Almost all fruits and berries contain essential amino acids and minerals to keep joints healthy and mobile, but these foods should be consumedlimited in diabetics.
Osteoarthritis 3 degrees
Treatment of grade 3 knee osteoarthritis is no different from treatment for grade 2 osteoarthritis.
Due to its inefficiency and strong restriction of movement, the patient is prescribed surgical treatment with further prosthetics of the damaged joint.
Folk methods
Before you learn how to treat knee joints at home with recipes of alternative medicine, you should consult a doctor. The use of the methods below is permitted only for grade 1 osteoarthritis and in the initial stage of grade 2 osteoarthritis.
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;
- the mixture is passed through a meat grinder;
- add 4 tablespoons of lemon juice;
- mix everything, add 250 ml of boiling water and cover;
- insist 4 hours.
The duration of treatment in this way 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, you need to apply it for 30-45 days.
To prepare the ointment, you must:
- 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 set.
Apply such ointment on the knees 2-3 times a day (the last time - before bedtime).
Bath with dandelions
Dandelion root tincture is used for such a bath. To prepare it, it is necessary to mix 120 g of crushed dandelion root with 150 ml of vodka and insist in a dark place for one day. Before bathing, the contents of the container must be poured into water and stirred. Such bathing is recommended 1-2 times a week. After the procedure, the pain in the knees decreases, and the mobility in the joints gradually returns. The efficiency of the treatment will be higher if you add 150 g of sea salt enriched with iodine and bromine to the water.
Reviews
- "Only hyaluronic acid injections helped me with osteoarthritis. A very good medicine with minimal side effects and high efficiency. Now I almost don't feel any pain in my knees, although before I couldn't go down the stairs without help. "
- It seems to me that osteoarthritis of the knee is such a disease that nothing can cure it. You can alleviate the pain a little, but then it will come back. During exacerbations, I am treated with ficus and artichoke. It doesn't help anything worse than pillsheart and liver.
- "I was also diagnosed with grade 2 osteoarthritis of the knee. The reason was probably overweight (I weighed more than 130 kg at the time). A salt-free diet, chondroprotectors, anti-inflammatory ointments and hormone injections were prescribed for treatment. did in accordance with the instructions - arthrosis completely disappeared.
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint is a severe pathology of the musculoskeletal system, prone to rapid progression. The treatment regimen should be chosen by the physician after a comprehensive diagnosis and determination of the degree of degenerative, dystrophic processes and deformation of the cartilage and joint surface. The prognosis of treatment depends on compliance with medical regulations and timely seeking medical help.