The main cause of acute knee pain in patients over 50 is gonoarthrosis (deformative arthropathy of the knee joint).The disease is characterized by rapid progression and can cause disability and disability, so early recognition of the symptoms of arthropathy of the knee joint and treatment of the disease, including at home, are the main tasks when examining patients at risk for pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.
What is knee arthropathy?
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 larger sesamoid bone, located on the tendons of the quadriceps femoris muscle (patella or patella).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 fibrous protein that is the main component 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 exposure of parts of the joint and severe pain, so the treatment of grade 1 knee arthropathy always includes the use of drugs with glucosamine and chondroitin.
- What happens in articulated joints:
- the cartilage becomes soft and loose and deep ulcers appear on its surface.
- the synovial membrane thickens.
- the composition of synovial fluid changes, its secretion decreases.
- ligament and joint sprain occurs.
- the joint cavity is filled with exudate - inflammatory fluid released from blood vessels during the period of acute inflammation.
In the absence of timely and appropriate treatment, arthropathy leads to complete deformation and destruction of the knee joint, while the patient may experience abnormal mobility and complete immobility of the joint.To stop the process of destruction of the articular and cartilaginous surface in cases of diagnosed knee arthrosis, the doctor may suggest endoprosthetic surgery - replacement of the damaged joint with an artificial prosthesis of an appropriate size.If appropriate, the operation can be carried out with a quota under the compulsory medical insurance scheme.
Classification and causative factors
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint can be primary or secondary.Primary arthropathy 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, injuries to the knee, the arthropathy is considered secondary, that is, it develops against the background of a primary disease.
- The main causes of secondary arthrosis of the knee joints include:
- various malformations and other pathologies in which inappropriate growth 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 the metabolism in bone tissue is disturbed.
Primary arthropathy of the knee joint often develops in people who lead a sedentary lifestyle or, on the contrary, who regularly experience increased physical pressure 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 for developing gonoarthrosis.
Regular hypothermia can contribute to inflammation and further 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 outside, in refrigerators and freezers, etc.).
Women over 45 years of age who are interested in the treatment of knee arthropathy should know that a causative factor in the development of the pathology can be the reduced synthesis of estrogen, which can occur after menopause and with certain 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 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 knee arthropathy, 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.At the initial stage, the pathology has rather sparse symptoms, so knee arthropathy of the 1st degree can be detected only after diagnostics through hardware and instruments.
- 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.
- knee pain when sitting for long periods of 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 the patient does not receive the necessary treatment at this stage, the disease will progress.To choose the right medicine for arthritis of the knee joint, it is necessary to undergo a series of diagnostic tests (MRI, CT scan, X-ray, 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.The symptoms of 2nd and 3rd degree knee arthropathy are given in the table below.
| Diagnostic sign | Knee arthropathy 2 degrees | Knee arthropathy 3 degrees |
|---|---|---|
| Pain when resting at night | It can occur when you change body position or when you get out of bed. | It appears without any movement. |
| Possibility to use public transport (except low-floor buses) | The patient feels pain when climbing stairs, but with some limitations he can use public transport without assistance. | The patient cannot get into a bus or tram by himself due to limited mobility of the knee joint. |
| Lameness | Lightly expressed. | The lameness is severe and requires additional supports (canes) for movement. |
| Stiffness in knee after waking | It takes less than 10-15 minutes. | It takes about 20-30 minutes or more. |
| Pain when walking | Appears after passing 800-1000 m. | They start at the beginning of the movement and intensify after traveling a distance of less than 500 m. |
| Self-care ability | It is usually saved. | The patient cannot perform many actions without assistance. |
Treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint at home
- The treatment of arthropathy of the knee joint can be carried out using:
- medicinal methods;
- Physiotherapy;
- massage.
The use of traditional medicine recipes 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 the joint and the degree of deformation of the cartilage and the joint surface.
1st degree arthropathy
This is the mildest form of arthropathy, which in most cases can be cured with a small medicinal correction and additional measures: massage, exercise therapy, physiotherapy treatment.The most effective method of treating knee arthropathy, regardless of its stage, is laser therapy.This is the main method of physical therapy, giving quite good results in the initial stage of arthritis.
- It helps to achieve the following result:
- the degree of inflammation in the joint cavity is reduced.
- the intensity of the 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 these methods are quite effective in the treatment of arthropathy with a degree of deformation not exceeding 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 using water exercises aimed at developing muscle strength in the legs.Patients with grade 1-2 knee arthropathy may be offered sanatorium-resort treatment (during a period of stable remission), which includes mud therapy, sauna warming, and thermal baths.Overweight patients are prescribed a special diet, as obesity is one of the main factors in the development of knee joints.
Arthropathy 2 degrees
Treatment of grade 2 knee arthritis includes physiotherapy and massage (except in the acute period), special diet, 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.With rapidly developing arthropathy, it is advisable to use special orthoses - orthopedic devices designed to correct the affected 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 injections of hyaluronic acid.
- injections of glucocorticosteroid hormones.
The diet for patients with knee arthropathy should contain a sufficient amount of foods rich in collagen.
- These are:
- products with gelling additives (jelly, jelly, meat jelly, 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 patients with diabetes.
Arthropathy 3 degrees
The treatment of grade 3 arthropathy of the knee joint does not differ from the treatment used for grade 2 arthropathy. If it is ineffective and there is a severe restriction 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 need to consult a doctor.The use of the methods given below is allowed only for joints of the 1st degree and in the initial stage of arthropathy of the 2nd degree.
Nettle and lemon infusion
This infusion should be taken orally 20-30 minutes before meals.A single dose is 50-80 ml.
- To prepare the infusion, you need:
- Mix 100 g of dried or fresh nettle leaves with three cleaned 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.
Honey ointment for joints
This ointment helps relieve inflammation and reduce pain.The first effect is noticeable after a week of daily use, but to achieve a stable effect 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 tablespoon 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 going to bed).
Dandelion bath
For such a bath, a tincture of dandelion roots is used.To prepare it, you need to mix 120 grams 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, the pain in the knees becomes less and the mobility in the joints is gradually restored.The effectiveness of the treatment will be greater if you add 150 grams of sea salt enriched with iodine and bromine to the water.