Gonarthrosis (deforming osteoarthritis of the knee joint) is the main cause of acute knee pain in patients over 50 years old.The disease is characterized by rapid progression and can lead to disability and disability.That is why 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 injury 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 surfaces of the joint are covered with cartilaginous 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 which is the main element of connective fibers and which ensures the strength and elasticity of cartilage, 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 disrupted, the amount of synovial fluid decreases, which leads to exposure of parts of the joint and severe pain.Therefore, treatment of grade 1 knee osteoarthritis always includes the use of drugs containing 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;
- sprain of ligaments and joint capsule occurs;
- the joint cavity is filled with exudate - an 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 abnormal mobility and complete immobility of the joint.To stop the process of destruction of the joint and cartilage surface in case of diagnosed knee osteoarthritis, the doctor may offer endoprostheses - a surgical operation aimed at replacing the damaged joint with an artificial prosthesis of suitable size.If indicated, the operation can be carried out within the framework of a quota 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, developing 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 inappropriate development and formation of tissues occurs;
- neurodystrophic diseases of the lumbar or cervical spine;
- inflammation of the knee joint (arthritis);
- injuries and microtrauma 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 the metabolism of bone tissue is disrupted.
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 ecologically 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 deformation of the knee joint, therefore people with a tendency to diseases of the musculoskeletal system are advised 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 the treatment of knee osteoarthritis should know that a provoking factor in the development of pathology may be a decrease in estrogen synthesis, which can occur after menopause and in some gynecological diseases: endometrial hyperplasia, uterine fibroids, fibroadenoma, endometriosis.A negative factor is also 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 future life to be as favorable as possible, it is important to know not only how to treat osteoarthritis of the knee, 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 sparse symptoms, so grade 1 knee osteoarthritis can be detected only after hardware and instrumental diagnosis.
- The first symptoms of the disease include:
- morning stiffness in the knee;
- pain when walking when covering a distance more than 1-1.5 km;
- knee pain when sitting for prolonged periods (more than 2 hours straight);
- painful sensations in the knee joint after prolonged standing;
- 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 medication for osteoarthritis of the knee joint, it is necessary to undergo a series of diagnostic examinations (MRI, CT scan, X-ray, etc.) and determine the degree of deformation, the level of synovial fluid in the joint cavity, the density of cartilaginous tissue and synovial membrane.Symptoms of grade 2 and 3 knee osteoarthritis are shown in the table below.
| Diagnostic sign | Osteoarthritis of the knee 2 degrees | Osteoarthritis of the knee 3 degrees |
|---|---|---|
| Pain at rest at night | May appear when changing body position or getting out of bed. | Occurs without any movement. |
| Possibility of using public transport (except low-floor buses) | The patient experiences pain when climbing stairs, but with certain restrictions he can use public transport without assistance. | The patient cannot board a bus or tram alone due to limited mobility of the knee joint. |
| Lameness | Slightly expressed. | The lameness is severe and additional supports (canes) are required to move around. |
| Knee stiffness after waking up | Lasts less than 10-15 minutes. | Lasts approximately 20-30 minutes or more. |
| Pain when walking | Occurs after exceeding 800-1000 m. | They begin at the beginning of the movement and intensify after covering a distance of less than 500 m. |
| Ability to take care of yourself | Usually recorded. | The patient cannot perform a number of actions without help. |
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee at home
- Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint can be carried out using:
- medicinal methods;
- physiotherapy;
- massage.
The use of traditional medicine recipes is possible only after consulting 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 joint surface.
1st degree osteoarthritis
This is the mildest form of osteoarthritis, which in most cases can be cured with minor drug correction and additional measures: massage, exercise therapy, physiotherapeutic treatment.The most effective method for treating osteoarthritis of the knee, regardless of its stage, is laser therapy.This is the main method of physiotherapy, giving fairly good results at the initial stage of osteoarthritis.
- This achieves the following effect:
- the degree of inflammation in the joint cavity decreases;
- the intensity of 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, the doctor may suggest pulsed magnetic therapy, acupuncture, electromyostimulation and electrophoresis.All of these methods are quite effective in the treatment of osteoarthritis with a degree of deformation not exceeding 20-25%, but the effectiveness of treatment will be higher if combined with physiotherapy and massage.Orthopedists and surgeons note the positive effect of using water exercises aimed at developing muscle strength in the legs.Patients suffering from osteoarthritis of the knees grade 1-2 can be offered sanatorium treatment (during a period of stable remission), including 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 osteoarthritis of the knees.
Osteoarthritis 2 degrees
Treatment of grade 2 knee osteoarthritis includes physiotherapy and massage (outside of the acute period), special nutrition, physical therapy and medication.It is very important to reduce the load on the damaged joint: limit walking, avoid movements that require bending the knee.In case of 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 drugs:
- chondroprotectants based on glucosamine and chondroitin;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid;
- injections of glucocorticosteroid hormones.
The diet of patients with knee osteoarthritis should contain a sufficient amount of foods rich in collagen.
- 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 the consumption of these foods should be limited in diabetic patients.
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 movements, the patient is prescribed surgical treatment with other 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 1st degree and at the initial stage of osteoarthritis of the 2nd degree.
Nettle and lemon infusion
This infusion should be taken orally 20 to 30 minutes before meals.A single dose is 50 to 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;
- let stand 4 hours.
The duration of treatment with this method is at least 60 days.During the first week, the infusion should be taken once a day, over 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 visible after a week of daily use, but to obtain a stable result it must be used for 30-45 days.
- To prepare the ointment, you need:
- melt 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 harden.
You should apply this ointment on your knees 2-3 times a day (last time before bed).
Dandelion bath
For such a bath, 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 taking a bath, 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, knee pain decreases and joint mobility 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.