The main cause of acute knee pain in patients over 50 years of age is gonarthrosis (deforming arthrosis of the knee joint).
The disease is characterized by rapid progression and can lead to disability and incapacity for work, so timely detection of symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee joint and treatment of the disease, including at home, are the main tasks in the examination of patients at risk of pathology. musculoskeletal system.
What is osteoarthritis of the knee
The knee joint is one of the most mobile joints in the human skeleton, prone to injury and other mechanical injuries. The quadriceps femoris (patella or patella) connects the tibia and femur, as well as the largest sesamoid bone, located in the tendons. 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 forms a protective shell around them, but also acts as a shock absorber.
Cartilage contains collagen - a fibrillar protein that is a key element of connective fibers and provides strength and elasticity to 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 impaired, the amount of synovial fluid is reduced, which leads to exposure of parts of the joint and severe pain, so treatment of first-degree osteoarthritis of the knee joint is always included. use of chondroprotective drugs.
What happens to the joints with osteoarthritis:
- cartilage becomes soft and loose, deep ulcers appear on the surface;
- the synovial membrane thickens;
- the composition of synovial fluid changes, its secretion decreases;
- there is twisting of the ligaments and joint capsule;
- The articular cavity is filled with exudate - an inflammatory fluid that comes out of the blood vessels during acute inflammation.
In the absence of timely and adequate treatment, osteoarthritis leads to complete deformation and destruction of the knee joint, and the patient may show both abnormal mobility and complete immobility of the joint. When osteoarthritis of the knee is diagnosed, the doctor may suggest arthroplasty to stop the destruction of the articular and cartilage surface - a surgical procedure to replace it with an artificial prosthesis that fits the size of the damaged joint.
The cost of primary knee arthroplasty varies by region and can range from $ 255 to $ 1465.
If there are indications, the operation can be carried out in accordance with the quota under the CHI program.
Classification and etiological factors
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint can be primary or secondary. Primary osteoarthritis is diagnosed when the exact cause of the pathology cannot be determined. If there are other diseases and pathologies, knee injuries before cartilage deformity, osteoarthritis is considered secondary, ie it develops against the background of the underlying disease.
The main causes of secondary osteoarthritis of the knee joints include:
- various dysplasias and other pathologies with abnormal tissue development and formation;
- 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 (menisectomy);
- diseases of the endocrine system and hormonal disorders in which the rate of metabolic reactions slows down, the metabolism in bone tissue is disturbed.
Primary osteoarthritis of the knee joint often develops in people who lead a sedentary lifestyle or, conversely, who experience regular physical activity in the knee joint. Overweight patients, people over the age of 50, residents of environmentally unfavorable areas, patients with various types of toxic substances (smokers, drug addicts, alcoholics) are also at risk of developing gonarthrosis.
Regular hypothermia can contribute to inflammation and further deformation of the knee joint, so people prone to musculoskeletal disorders are advised to adhere to the temperature regime and refrain from activities associated with prolonged exposure to low temperatures (work outdoors, in the refrigerator and freezer). and so on. ). d. ).
Women over the age of 45 who are interested in how to treat osteoarthritis of the knee should know that the trigger for the development of pathology can reduce estrogen synthesis, which can occur after menopause and some gynecological diseases: endometrial hyperplasia, uterine fibroids, fibroadenoma, endometriosis. The downside is a variety of diets that limit the intake of foods rich in minerals, vitamins and other elements necessary for joint health.
Signs and symptoms
In order to make the prognosis of the next life 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 itself. This is necessary to consult a specialist in a timely manner and early detection of possible deformities and other injuries of the knee joint. At the initial stage, the pathology has very few symptoms, so grade 1 osteoarthritis can be diagnosed only after hardware and instrumental diagnostics.
The first symptoms of the disease include:
- morning stiffness in the knee;
- Pain when walking more than 1-1, 5 km;
- pain in the knees during sitting for a long time (more than 2 hours in a row);
- pain in the knee joint after standing for a long time;
- pain in the knees that occurs at the end of the day or in the first half of the night's sleep.
If the patient does not receive proper treatment at this stage, the disease progresses. To choose the right drug for osteoarthritis of the knee joint, it is necessary to undergo a series of diagnostic tests (MRI, computed tomography, X-ray, etc. ) and determine the degree of deformation, the level of synovial fluid in the joint. cavity, density of cartilage tissue and synovial membrane. The symptoms of grade 2 and 3 knee osteoarthritis are shown in the table below.
| diagnostic sign | Knee arthrosis 2 degrees | Knee arthrosis 3 degrees |
|---|---|---|
| Pain while resting at night | It can be seen when changing body position or getting out of bed. | It happens without any action. |
| Access to public transport (excluding low-rise buses) | The patient feels pain when climbing stairs, but with limited restrictions can use public transport without assistance. | Due to limited mobility of the knee joint, the patient cannot ride a bus or tram alone. |
| Lameness | Slightly expressed. | Lameness is strongly expressed, additional supports (canes) are required for movement. |
| Stiffness in the knee after waking up | Lasts less than 10-15 minutes. | Lasts about 20-30 minutes or more. |
| Pain while walking | Occurs after 800-1000 m. | They start at the beginning of the movement and intensify after a distance of less than 500 m. |
| Self-service ability | Usually stored. | The patient can not perform a number of exercises without outside help. |
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint at home
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint can be carried out with the help of:
- medical methods;
- physiotherapy exercises;
- massage.
The use of traditional medical prescriptions is possible only after consultation with the attending physician and should not replace the basic 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 osteoarthritis and the degree of deformation of the cartilage and articular surface.
Osteoarthritis 1 degree
This is often the mildest form of osteoarthritis that can be treated with minor drug correction and additional measures: massage, exercise therapy, physiotherapy. Regardless of the stage of osteoarthritis of the knee, the most effective treatment is laser therapy. This is the main method of physiotherapy, which gives quite good results in the early stages of osteoarthritis.
Helps to achieve the following effect:
- the degree of inflammation in the joint space decreases;
- the intensity of pain decreases;
- the process of tissue regeneration is stimulated;
- There is no need to use glucocorticosteroids and other drugs with serious side effects.
As an alternative to laser therapy, your doctor may suggest pulse magnetotherapy, acupuncture, electromyostimulation, and electrophoresis.
All these methods are very effective in the treatment of osteoarthritis.With a deformation rate of not more than 20-25%, but the treatment will be more effective when combined with physiotherapy exercises and massage.
Orthopedists and surgeons note the positive effects of the use of water exercises aimed at developing muscle strength in the legs.
Patients with 1-2 degrees of osteoarthritis of the knee may be offered sanatorium treatment (during stable remission), including mud therapy, warming 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 for second-degree osteoarthritis of the knee includes physiotherapy and massage (beyond the acute period), special nutrition, physiotherapy exercises, and medication. It is very important to reduce the load on the damaged joint: limit walking, avoid movements that require knee flexion. The use of special orthoses with rapidly progressing osteoarthritis is indicated - orthopedic devices designed to correct the patient's joint and limit mobility.
The drug treatment regimen may include the following drugs:
- chondroprotectors;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- intraarticular injections of hyaluronic acid;
- injections of glucocorticosteroid hormones.
Patients with osteoarthritis of the knee should have a diet rich in collagen.
This is:
- products with jelly additives (jelly, jelly, jelly, aspic);
- products containing pectin;
- fish oil.
Almost all fruit and berry joints contain essential amino acids and minerals to keep joints healthy and active, but these foods should be consumed.limited to diabetics.
Osteoarthritis 3 degrees
Treatment of grade 3 osteoarthritis of the knee is no different from the therapy used for grade 2 osteoarthritis.
Due to its ineffectiveness and severe restriction of movement, the patient is prescribed surgical treatment with subsequent prostheses of the damaged joint.
Folk methods
You should consult a doctor before learning how to treat knee joints at home with alternative medicine prescriptions. The use of the methods listed below is allowed only in the initial stage of osteoarthritis of the 1st degree and osteoarthritis of the 2nd degree.
Stinging nettle and lemon infusion
This infusion should be taken orally 20-30 minutes before meals. The single dose is 50-80 ml.
To prepare the infusion you need:
- Mix 100 g of dried or fresh nettle leaves with three heads of peeled garlic;
- pass the mixture through a meat grinder;
- Add 4 tablespoons 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 - twice 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 to eliminate inflammation and reduce pain. The first result is noticeable after a week of daily use, but it should be applied within 30-45 days to get a stable result.
To prepare the ointment you need:
- Melt 2 tablespoons butter;
- mix the butter with two tablespoons of honey and one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar 6%;
- Place the mixture in the refrigerator to solidify.
Apply such an ointment on your knees 2-3 times a day (the last time - before bedtime).
Bath with dandelions
For such a bath is used tincture of dandelion roots. To prepare it, mix 120 g of crushed dandelion root with 150 ml of vodka and insist in a dark place for a day. Before taking a bath, the contents of the container should be poured into water and mixed. It is recommended to take such a bath 1-2 times a week. After the procedure, pain in the knees is reduced, mobility in the joints is gradually restored. If you add 150 g of iodine and bromine-enriched sea salt to the water, the treatment will be more effective.
Reviews
- "Only hyaluronic acid injections helped me with osteoarthritis. It is a very good drug with minimal side effects and high effectiveness. Now I almost do not feel pain in my knees, although I could not even go down the stairs without help before.
- "It seems to me that osteoarthritis of the knee is a disease that nothing can cure. You can reduce the pain a little, but then it will come back again. During the exacerbation, I treat myself with ficus and Jerusalem artichoke. Pills do not help worse, only no damage to the heart and liver.
- "I was also diagnosed with grade 2 osteoarthritis of the knee joint. The reason was probably overweight (I weighed more than 130 kg at the time). I was prescribed a salt-free diet, chondroprotectors, anti-inflammatory ointments and hormonal injections. I did everything according to the instructions - osteoarthritis completely disappeared.
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint is a severe pathology of the musculoskeletal system that tends to progress rapidly. The treatment regimen should be selected by the attending physician after a thorough diagnosis and determination of degenerative, dystrophic processes and the degree of deformation of the cartilage and joint surface. The prognosis of treatment depends on compliance with medical prescriptions and timely medical care.