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 and can cause damage and injury, therefore, timely identification of symptoms of knee arthrosis 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, susceptible 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 muscle (patella or knee cap).The surfaces of the joint are covered with cartilage tissue - a dense, elastic substance that surrounds the 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 the strength and elasticity of cartilage, 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 proteoglycans is disturbed, the amount of synovial fluid decreases, which leads to the exposure of parts of the joint and intense pain, which is why 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 flabby, and deep ulcers appear on its surface;
- the synovial membrane thickens;
- the composition of the synovial fluid changes, its secretion decreases;
- dislocation of ligaments and joint capsule occurs;
- the joint cavity is filled with exudate - an inflammatory fluid released from the 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, and the patient may experience both unnatural mobility and complete immobility of the joint.To stop the process of destruction of the articular-cartilage surface in the case of diagnosed arthrosis of the knee, the doctor can offer endoprosthesis - 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 a quota under the mandatory medical insurance program.
Classification and etiological factors
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint can be primary and secondary.Primary arthrosis is diagnosed in cases where it is impossible to determine the exact cause of the pathology.If cartilage deformation is preceded by other diseases and pathologies, knee injuries, arthrosis is considered secondary, i.e.developing against the background of an underlying 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 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 speed of metabolic reactions slows down and the metabolism in bone tissue is disturbed.
Primary arthrosis of the knee joint often develops in people who lead a sedentary lifestyle or, conversely, who regularly experience increased physical load on the knee joint.Overweight patients, people over 50 years old, 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 additional deformation of the knee joint, so 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 the age of 45 who are interested in how to treat arthrosis of the knee should know that a provoking factor for the development of the pathology can be the reduced synthesis of estrogen, which can occur after menopause and in some gynecological diseases: endometrial hyperplasia, uterine myoma, fibroadenoma, endometriosis.A negative factor is also various diets that limit the consumption of foods rich in minerals, vitamins and other elements necessary for the health of the joints.
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 arthrosis of the knee, but also what 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 meager symptoms, so arthrosis of the knee joint of the 1st degree can be detected only after hardware and instrumental diagnostics.
- The first symptoms of the disease include:
- morning stiffness in the knee;
- 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 prolonged standing;
- knee pain that occurs at the end of the day or in the first half of the night.
If at this stage the patient does not receive the necessary treatment, the disease will progress.In order to choose the right medicine for arthrosis of the knee joint, it is necessary to undergo a series of diagnostic studies (MRI, computer tomography, radiography, etc.) and determine the degree of deformation, the level of synovial fluid in the joint cavity, the density of the cartilage tissue and the synovial membrane.Symptoms of arthrosis of the knee joint 2 and 3 degrees are given in the table below.
| Diagnostic sign | Arthrosis of the knee 2nd degree | Arthrosis of the knee joint 3 degrees |
|---|---|---|
| Pain while resting at night | It can appear when changing the position of the body or getting out of bed. | Occurs without movement. |
| Possibility to use public transport (except low-floor buses) | The patient has pain when climbing stairs, but with certain limitations can use public transport without assistance. | The patient cannot get on a bus or tram alone due to limited mobility of the knee joint. |
| Lameness | Weakly expressed. | The lameness is severe and additional supports (canes) are needed for movement. |
| Stiffness in knee after waking | Lasts less than 10-15 minutes. | It lasts about 20-30 minutes or more. |
| Pain when walking | Occurs after traveling 800-1000m. | They start at the beginning of the movement and intensify after traveling a distance of less than 500 m. |
| Self-service capability | It is usually saved. | The patient cannot perform a number of actions without assistance. |
Treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint at home
- Treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint can be carried out with the help of:
- medicinal methods;
- physical therapy;
- massage.
The use of recipes from traditional medicine is possible only after consultation with 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 patient's age and existing chronic diseases, but also on the stage of arthrosis and the degree of deformation of the cartilage and joint surface.
Arthrosis 1 degree
This is the mildest form of arthrosis, which in most cases can be cured with a slight adjustment of drugs and additional measures: massage, exercise therapy, physiotherapy treatment.The most effective method of treating arthrosis of the knee, 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 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 may offer pulse magnetic therapy, acupuncture, electromyostimulation and electrophoresis.All these methods are quite effective in the treatment of arthrosis with a degree of deformation no more than 20-25%, but the effectiveness of the 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 with knee arthrosis 1-2 degree can be offered sanatorium-resort treatment (during a period of stable remission), including mud therapy, heating in a sauna and medicinal baths.Overweight patients are prescribed a special diet, as obesity is one of the main factors in the development of knee arthrosis.
Arthrosis 2 degrees
Treatment of the 2nd degree of arthrosis of the knee joint includes physiotherapy and massage (outside the acute period), special nutrition, physiotherapy and drugs.It is very important to reduce the load on the damaged joint: limit walking, avoid movements that require bending the knee.In rapidly progressing arthrosis, the use of special orthoses is indicated - orthopedic devices designed to fix the diseased joint and limit its mobility.
- A drug treatment regimen may include the following drugs:
- chondroprotectors with glucosamine and chondroitin;
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid;
- injections of glucocorticosteroid hormones.
The diet for patients with knee arthrosis should contain a sufficient amount of foods rich in collagen.
- These are:
- products with 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 diabetic patients.
Arthrosis 3rd degree
The treatment of knee arthrosis grade 3 does not differ from the therapy used for arthrosis grade 2.If it is ineffective and there is a strong limitation of movement, the patient is prescribed surgical treatment with further prosthetics 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 described below is permissible only for arthrosis of the 1st degree and in the initial stage of arthrosis of the 2nd degree.
Tincture of nettle and lemon
This infusion should be taken orally 20-30 minutes before meals.A single dose is 50-80 ml.
- To prepare the infusion, you must:
- 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.
Ointment with honey 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 should be used for 30-45 days.
- To prepare the ointment, you need:
- melt 2 tablespoons of butter;
- mix the butter with two tablespoons of honey and one spoon of apple cider vinegar 6%;
- Place the mixture in the refrigerator to set.
You should apply this ointment to your knees 2-3 times a day (the last time before going to 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 vessel should 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 knees decreases, 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.