The main cause of acute knee pain in patients over 50 is gonarthrosis (deforming arthrosis of the knee joint).The disease is characterized by rapid progression, can cause disability and disability, therefore timely identification of symptoms of arthrosis of the knee joint and treatment of the disease, including home treatment, is the main task 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, located in the tendons of the quadriceps femoris muscle (patella or kneecap).The surfaces of the joint are covered by cartilage tissue - a dense, elastic substance that surrounds the chondrocytes (oval-shaped cells formed from 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 flexibility, as well as 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 interrupted, the amount of synovial fluid decreases, which leads to the exposure of some parts of the joint and severe pain, therefore the treatment of knee arthrosis of the 1st degree always includes the use of drugs containing glucosamine and chondroitin.
- What happens in the joints in arthrosis:
- cartilage becomes soft and loose, deep ulcers appear on its surface;
- the joint membrane thickens;
- the composition of the synovial fluid changes, its secretion decreases;
- sprains of the ligaments and joint capsule occur;
- the joint cavity is filled with exudate - inflammatory fluid released from blood vessels during acute inflammation.
In the absence of timely and appropriate treatment, arthrosis leads to complete deformation and destruction of the knee joint, while the patient may experience unnatural mobility and complete immobility of the joint.In order to stop the process of destruction of the joint and cartilaginous surface, in the case of diagnosed arthrosis of the knee joint, the doctor may recommend endoprostheses - a surgical intervention that replaces the damaged joint with an artificial prosthesis of the appropriate size.If the surgery is indicated, it can be performed within the framework of the mandatory health insurance program within the framework of a quota.
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 the primary disease.
- The main causes of secondary arthrosis of the knee joints are:
- various dysplasias and other pathologies in which improper development and formation of tissues occurs;
- neurodystrophic diseases of the lumbar or cervical spine;
- inflammation of the knee joint (arthritis);
- injuries and microtraumas of the joint;
- 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 arthrosis of the knee joint often develops in people who lead a sedentary lifestyle, or vice versa, who regularly experience increased physical load on the knee joint.Overweight patients, people over the age of 50, residents of environmentally unfavorable areas, and people addicted to various 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, therefore, people prone to musculoskeletal diseases are advised to observe the temperature regime and avoid activities involving prolonged exposure to low temperatures (working outdoors, in refrigerators and freezers, etc.).
Women over 45 who are interested in the treatment of knee arthrosis should know that a provoking factor in the development of the pathology can be a decrease in estrogen synthesis, which can occur after menopause and in the case of 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 of future life to be as favorable as possible, it is necessary to know not only how to treat knee arthrosis, but also what symptoms the disease shows.This is necessary for timely contact with a specialist, as well as for the early recognition of possible deformations and other damages of the knee joint.At 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 are:
- morning stiffness in knees;
- pain when walking, if you cover a distance of more than 1-1.5 km;
- knee pain 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 treatment at this stage, the disease progresses.To choose the right medicine for arthrosis of the knee joint, a series of diagnostic tests (MRI, computed tomography, radiography, etc.) must be performed and the degree of deformation, the level of synovial fluid in the joint cavity, the density of the cartilage tissue and the joint membrane must be determined.The symptoms of grade 2 and 3 knee arthrosis are listed in the table below.
| Diagnostic sign | Arthrosis of the knee is 2 degrees | Knee arthrosis is 3 degrees |
|---|---|---|
| Pain while resting at night | It can occur when changing body position or getting out of bed. | It happens without movement. |
| Public transport options (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 a bus or tram on his own due to limited movement of the knee joint. |
| Lameness | To put it mildly. | The lameness is severe, additional supports (sticks) are required for movement. |
| Stiffness in knees after waking up | It takes less than 10-15 minutes. | It takes about 20-30 minutes or more. |
| Pain when walking | It occurs after passing 800-1000 m. | They start at the beginning of the movement and increase after covering a distance of less than 500 m. |
| Self-care ability | Usually saved. | The patient cannot perform many operations without assistance. |
Treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint at home
- Treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint can be carried out with the following:
- medical methods;
- physiotherapy;
- massage.
The use of traditional medicine recipes is possible only after consultation with a doctor and cannot 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 1st degree
This is the mildest form of arthrosis, which in most cases can be cured with minor drug correction and additional measures: massage, gymnastics therapy, physiotherapy treatment.The most effective way to treat knee arthrosis, regardless of its stage, is laser therapy.This is the main method of physiotherapy, which gives quite good results in the initial stages of arthrosis.
- It helps to achieve the following effect:
- the degree of inflammation in the joint cavity decreases;
- pain intensity decreases;
- they stimulate the process of tissue regeneration;
- the need to use glucocorticosteroids and other drugs with serious side effects is eliminated.
As an alternative to laser therapy, the doctor may recommend pulse magnetic therapy, acupuncture, electromyostimulation and electrophoresis.All these methods are quite effective in the treatment of arthrosis, the deformation of which does not exceed 20-25%, but the effectiveness of the treatment will be higher if they are combined with physical therapy and massage.Orthopedists and surgeons note the positive effect of water exercises aimed at developing leg muscle strength.The 1-2.for patients suffering from knee arthrosis of the 3rd grade, sanatorium-resort treatment (during stable remission) can be recommended, including mud therapy, warming up in the sauna and spas.Overweight patients are prescribed a special diet, since obesity is one of the main factors in the development of knee arthrosis.
Arthrosis 2 degrees
Treatment of grade 2 arthrosis of the knee joint includes physiotherapy and massage (except for the acute period), special nutrition, physical therapy and medication.It is very important to reduce the load on the injured joint: limit walking, avoid movements that require bending the knee.In the case of rapidly progressive arthrosis, the use of special orthoses is recommended - orthopedic devices designed to fix the diseased joint and limit its mobility.
- The medication regimen may include the following medications:
- chondroprotectors with glucosamine and chondroitin;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections;
- injections of glucocorticosteroid hormones.
The diet of patients with knee arthrosis should include a sufficient amount of collagen-rich foods.
- These are:
- products containing gelling 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 people 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 ineffective and severe movement restrictions occur, the patient is prescribed surgical treatment with additional prosthetics of the damaged joint.
Traditional methods
Before learning how to treat knee joints at home with recipes from alternative medicine, consult your doctor.The use of the methods described below is allowed only in the initial stages of arthrosis of the 1st degree and arthrosis of the 2nd degree.
Infusion of nettle and lemon
This infusion should be taken orally 20-30 minutes before meals.Single dose 50-80 ml.
- To prepare the infusion, you will 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;
- 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 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 will need:
- we melted 2 tablespoons of butter;
- mix the oil with two tablespoons of honey and one spoon of 6% apple cider vinegar;
- Place the mixture in the refrigerator to solidify.
This ointment should be applied to the knee 2-3 times a day (the last time before going to bed).
Bath with dandelion
A tincture of dandelion roots is used for such a bath.To prepare it, mix 120 g of crushed dandelion root with 150 ml of vodka and leave in a dark place for 24 hours.Before bathing, the contents of the container must be poured into water and stirred.It is recommended to take such a bath 1-2 times a week.After the procedure, the pain in the knee decreases and the mobility of the joints is gradually restored.The effectiveness of the treatment will be greater if 150 g of sea salt enriched with iodine and bromine are added to the water.