Osteoarthritis of the knee joint refers to negative changes and destructive processes in the cartilage tissue of the knees.This disease is chronic and is accompanied by pain symptoms.Knee osteoarthritis most often develops with increasing age;The post-traumatic form is usually found at a young age.The disease is also called gonarthrosis and is popularly known as “salt deposits”.
Sign
Gonarthrosis is the destruction of cartilage tissue due to poor blood flow to the bone vessels.This can lead to deforming osteoarthritis caused by bone overgrowth.
The first symptoms of osteoarthritis usually go almost unnoticed.Mild pain does not cause any particular discomfort and does not restrict movements.It can take up to several years for an exacerbation to occur.The pain symptoms may become slightly worse after exercise or strain on the legs.
As the disease progresses, new symptoms appear and old ones worsen.The pain just appears and doesn't go away for a long time, even at rest.Walking for long periods of time or lifting heavy objects causes persistent pain in the knees.
After stage 2 of arthrosis of the knee joint, the following symptoms appear:
- Synovitis – Synovial fluid collects in the joint.Its excess can provoke the development of a dense formation on the posterior wall of the articular cavity.This phenomenon is called Baker's cyst and can be cured without surgery.
- Knee deformity.At first it swells a little, and in grades 2 and 3 the shape of the knee can change.
- Crunch.Appears in the 2nd and 3rd stages of the disease.With a sharp crunch, painful symptoms are clearly felt.
- Limited mobility.This is typical of grade 2 and 3 osteoarthritis, in which the leg can only be bent at a right angle.In the advanced form, the knees may be completely immobile and the joints in them are severely deformed.
- Meteosensitivity.Aching pain in changing weather conditions.
The symptoms and their intensity can vary significantly depending on the stage of development of the disease:
- In grade 1, pain occurs after active physical activity.In initial osteoarthritis, the cartilage tissue is damaged, but the joints are not deformed.Diagnosing the disease is difficult.
- In the second degree, the joint space narrows and the damaged cartilage tissue is clearly visible on the X-ray.Movements affecting the knees cause acute pain;A crunching noise is made when bending and stretching.The joints are working worse and worse and their deformation is visible to the naked eye.
- In grade 3, exposed bone areas “peep through” the thinned cartilage tissue.Salts are deposited in the joint cavity.The pain persists even at rest.
Types of diseases
There are different types of knee osteoarthritis.By origin:
- Primary.This type of arthrosis of the knee joint is not dependent on other diseases.Older people, women and people who are overweight are at risk.
- Secondary.The disease occurs after an injury or an infectious disease.They can be avoided if injuries or inflammation of the knee joint are treated in a timely manner.
By location:
- Double sided.Both knees are affected.The disease is age-related, progresses more rapidly and poses a serious threat of disability.Bilateral osteoarthritis is usually primary.
- Right-handed.The disease affects the right knee and is most common in athletes and people who regularly suffer from strain on the right leg.
- Left-handed.The left knee suffers;The disease is common in athletes and overweight older people.
Deforming osteoarthritis of the knee is a condition that occurs more often in overweight women.The cause lies in a strong salt deposit.In the initial stage of deformation, the inside of the joints is affected;in later stages the outside is also affected.Deforming gonarthrosis should be treated as early as possible so that the cartilage tissue in the overlying area remains in a normal state.The main symptoms are acute pain and grinding.
Patellofemoral syndrome
Knee osteoarthritis is very often preceded by patellofemoral syndrome.In medical literature and practice it is often referred to as osteoarthritis of the same name.This is a lesion of the cartilage tissue in the patella.Patellofemoral syndrome is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Pain in the joint, aggravated by prolonged bending of the leg, jumping, running, climbing stairs or squatting.
- Limited knee mobility.
- Crunching and “clicking” in the joints.
- Stiffness in the joints.
Patellofemoral syndrome usually occurs in people whose activities or lifestyle put a lot of strain on the knees - athletes, people who are overweight.Older people are also affected by this form of osteoarthritis.Patellofemoral osteoarthritis often occurs as a result of a serious knee injury.
When diagnosing the syndrome, it is important to immediately give the affected leg rest.Sometimes your doctor may recommend a brace or rigid bandage to take pressure off your knee.Overweight people have to lose their excess weight gradually.To relieve pain, you can apply cooling compresses at home.
Patellofemoral syndrome develops gradually:
- In grade 1, pain only occurs after very heavy exertion and you often feel tired in your knee.
- In the second case, pain and discomfort are registered more often, the joints are stiff.The symptoms disappear after rest.
- With the 3rd – constant pain, significant limitation of movement.
Patellofemoral syndrome needs to be treated comprehensively and not just for pain relief.Treatment should include medications, administration of chondroprotectors and physical interventions.Diet and physiotherapy will not be superfluous.
Post-traumatic osteoarthritis
Post-traumatic osteoarthritis is a condition that most commonly occurs at a young age.After a knee injury, the limb is unable to move and blood circulation worsens.This has a negative effect on the cartilage tissue and provokes the development of osteoarthritis.Sometimes post-traumatic osteoarthritis can occur after joint surgery.Tissue scars can cut off the blood supply to the knee.
Since the post-traumatic form of this disease is chronic, treatment is aimed at preventing further progression of osteoarthritis.Curing post-traumatic osteoarthritis at home alone is almost impossible.It is necessary to take analgesics, chondroprotectors and antispasmodics, physiotherapy, massage and hardware treatments.In advanced cases, surgery may be required.
Hemarthrosis
Hemarthrosis is a separate form of knee osteoarthritis that occurs as a result of an injury or due to problems with blood clotting.Hemarthrosis can be caused by the following factors:
- Bruises or fractures of the knee joint and kneecap;
- traumatic damage to the meniscus and cartilage tissue;
- rupture of ligaments or synovium;
- fracture of the femur or tibia;
- Hemophilia;
- tumors of different origins;
- some neurological and infectious diseases;
- long-term use of anticoagulants;
- osteoarthritis;
- surgical intervention;
- Problems with blood vessels.
- the knee is swollen or has significantly changed its shape;
- When you press under your fingers, you will feel a flow of fluid.
- the temperature in the injured area rises;
- tense and blue soft tissues.
Hemarthrosis can only be accurately diagnosed after a joint puncture.In addition to analyzing the synovial fluid, CT and MRI can be performed.
To prevent complications, hemarthrosis must be treated immediately.For minor injuries, treatment can begin at home.Simple first aid methods help minimize the consequences of joint bleeding:
- rest the injured knee;
- Raise your leg and fix it;
- apply a cold compress;
- take a painkiller.
This sequence of measures also relieves pain symptoms at home and helps treat mild hemarthrosis;In more complex cases, you will need to seek medical help.
Folk remedies
Treatment of gonarthrosis with folk remedies should be coordinated with a doctor.It is recommended to combine folk remedies with methods of official medicine.At home, you can effectively treat mild hemarthrosis or alleviate the patient's condition with complications using folk remedies.It is recommended to make a compress with horseradish:
- Peel and grate a small piece of horseradish.
- For very sensitive skin, the rhizome is replaced by the leaves of the plant.
- Leave the mixture in a water bath for a few minutes.
- Place the root on gauze and make a compress.
- The duration of the procedure is two hours.
At home, ointments should not be used for traumatic hemarthrosis in the first two days after the injury.
If you have serious injuries and severe or prolonged bleeding in the joint, you should definitely consult a traumatologist.Traditional treatment methods are of secondary importance in this situation.Hemarthrosis must be treated in the hospital by puncturing the blood, but at home you can use products with anti-inflammatory and hemostatic effects.An infusion based on the following herbs is useful:
- Yarrow;
- Oregano;
- Nettle.
You do it like this:
- Grind plant materials.
- Mix herbs in equal parts.
- Pour three tablespoons of the mixture into 600 ml of boiling water.
- Leave on for 1 - 1.5 hours.
The warm, strained infusion should be taken 50 ml three times a day.
gelatin
At home, you can try to treat osteoarthritis deformans with gelatin.It contains large amounts of collagen, which improves the condition of cartilage tissue and increases the production of interarticular lubrication.Treatment with gelatin should be combined with taking a vitamin complex rich in iron and vitamin C.
The medicinal mixture with gelatin is prepared according to the following recipe:
- Pour a teaspoon of gelatin into 50 ml of cold water.
- Let the mixture stand for 12 hours.
- Add 150 ml boiling water.
- After stirring, add a teaspoon of honey.
A glass of this drink with gelatin is drunk on an empty stomach for 10 days.Then you need a week break.The course is repeated two more times.
Ointments and rubs
To make an effective ointment at home, you will need the following components:
- Turpentine – 150 ml;
- Vodka – 150 ml;
- Olive oil – 150 ml;
- Camphor - 3 grams.
All components of the ointment must be mixed and applied to the sore spot twice a day.
At home, osteoarthritis deformans can be treated with a radish ointment.The following ingredients are required:
- black radish;
- Linden honey – 150 grams;
- Vodka – 100 ml;
- Sea salt – 15 grams.
Ointment recipe:
- Peel and chop the radish.
- Pass the root vegetables through a meat grinder or grind in a blender.
- Squeeze the juice out of the radish.
- Add the remaining ingredients and stir the mixture.
Rub this mixture on the sore knee.
Pork fat can be used as an ointment..Every evening you need to rub this product into your joints and isolate them overnight.Osteoarthritis should be treated this way for at least six months.
If you want to quickly relieve pain and restore mobility to your leg, warming ointments will be helpful.It is important to understand that these remedies do not cure the disease, but can only temporarily relieve the symptoms.Contraindications to the use of warming drugs are post-traumatic arthrosis and damaged skin.
A warming drug with an anti-inflammatory effect can be made at home.Therapeutic ointment is prepared from the following components:
- Comfrey leaves - 1 cup;
- Comfrey roots - 2 cups;
- Olive oil – 0.5 cups;
- Honey – 0.5 cups.
Method of preparation and use:
- Grind and mix plant materials.
- Melt honey if necessary.
- Mix all ingredients, preferably with a mixer.
- Before use, the required portion of the product must be heated.
- The ointment can be stored for 2 weeks in the refrigerator or 3 months in the freezer.
- Apply the medication to the joint, isolate it and leave it on for 8-12 hours.
Hyaluronic acid
Primary osteoarthritis can be treated very effectively with hyaluronic acid.This substance is the basis of synovial fluid.Intra-articular injections with hyaluronic acid can cure any type of knee osteoarthritis or stop it from developing.This procedure is forbidden at home!Injections with hyaluronic acid should only be carried out by an experienced doctor under special circumstances.
In turn, to enhance the therapeutic effect, the patient can eat foods rich in hyaluronic acid.For joint health, it is recommended to include the following dishes in your diet:
- chicken broth or jellied meat prepared with combs, paws, tendons and skin;
- soybeans;
- Tofu;
- soy milk;
- red grape skins;
- Red wine;
- starchy roots and vegetables.
In order to activate the production of hyaluronic acid in your own body, it must receive sufficient calcium, rutin and vitamin C.