Negative changes and destructive processes occurring in the cartilaginous tissue of the knees are called arthrosis of the knee joint.This disease is chronic and accompanied by pain symptoms.Most often, knee osteoarthritis develops with age;at a young age, the post-traumatic form is usually found.The disease is also called gonarthrosis and its popular name is “salt deposition”.
Signs
Gonarthrosis is the destruction of cartilaginous tissue due to poor blood circulation in bone vessels.As a result, deforming osteoarthritis may occur, caused by excessive bone growth.
Normally the first symptoms of osteoarthritis go almost unnoticed.Mild pain does not cause any special discomfort and does not limit movement.It may take several years for an exacerbation to occur.Pain symptoms may worsen slightly after exercise or stress on the legs.
As the disease progresses, new symptoms appear and old ones intensify.The pain simply appears and does not go away for a long time even at rest.Walking for a long time or lifting heavy objects results in prolonged knee pain.
After stage 2 arthrosis of the knee joint, the following symptoms appear:
- Synovitis – joint fluid builds up in the joint.Its excess can provoke the development of a dense formation on the posterior wall of the joint cavity.This phenomenon is called Baker's cyst and can be cured without surgery.
- Knee deformity.At first it swells a little, in grades 2 and 3 the shape of the knee may change.
- Crunching.Appears in the 2nd and 3rd stages of the disease.With an acute attack, painful symptoms are clearly felt.
- Limited mobility.This is typical for arthrosis of the 2nd and 3rd degrees, when the leg can only be bent at a right angle.When the form is advanced, the knees can become completely immobile and the joints in them become severely deformed.
- Meteosensitivity.Aching pain during periods of changing weather conditions.
Symptoms and their intensity can vary significantly depending on the stage of development of the disease:
- At grade 1, pain appears after active physical activity.Early osteoarthritis damages cartilaginous tissue but does not deform the joints.Diagnosing the disease is difficult.
- In the second degree, the joint space narrows, damaged cartilaginous tissue is clearly visible on x-rays.Movements involving the knees cause sharp pain;a crunching sound appears when flexing and extending.The joints work worse and worse, their deformation is noticeable to the naked eye.
- In grade 3, the exposed areas of the bone “look through” the thinned cartilaginous tissue.Salts are deposited in the joint cavity.The pain persists even during rest.
Types of disease
There are several types of knee osteoarthritis.By origin:
- Primary.This type of arthrosis of the knee joint does not depend on other diseases.At risk are the elderly, women and people with excess body weight.
- Secondary.The disease appears after an injury or infectious disease.It can be avoided if the injury or inflammation of the knee joint is treated immediately.
By location:
- Double sided.Both knees are affected.The disease is age-related, progresses more quickly and seriously threatens disability.Bilateral arthrosis is most often primary.
- Right-handed.The disease attacks the right knee and is most often found in athletes and people who regularly suffer from stress on the right leg.
- Left-handed.The left knee suffers;The disease is common among athletes and overweight elderly people.
Deforming osteoarthritis of the knee is a disease more common in obese women.It is caused by strong salt deposition.In the initial phase of deformation, the inner side of the joints is affected;at a later stage, the external side is also affected.Deforming gonarthrosis should be treated as early as possible so that the cartilaginous tissue in the above area remains in normal condition.The main symptoms are sharp pain and clicking.
patellofemoral syndrome
Knee osteoarthritis is often preceded by patellofemoral syndrome.In medical literature and practice, it is often called arthrosis with the same name.This is an injury to the cartilaginous tissue located in the patella.Patellofemoral syndrome is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Joint pain, aggravated by prolonged leg flexion, jumping, running, climbing stairs or squatting.
- Limited knee mobility.
- Crunching and “clicking” in the joints.
- Stiffness in the joints.
Patellofemoral syndrome often occurs in people whose activities or lifestyle involve heavy loads on the knees - athletes, obese people.This type of osteoarthritis also affects elderly people.Patellofemoral osteoarthritis often occurs as a consequence of a serious knee injury.
When diagnosing the syndrome, it is important to immediately rest the affected leg.Sometimes, your doctor may recommend a brace or tight bandage to relieve stress on your knee.Overweight people will need to lose excess weight little by little.You can apply cooling compresses at home to relieve pain.
Patellofemoral syndrome develops progressively:
- In grade 1, the pain appears only after very intense efforts and you often feel tired in the knee.
- With the 2nd – pain and discomfort are recorded more frequently, the joints become stiff.Symptoms disappear after rest.
- With the 3rd – constant pain, significant limitation of movements.
Patellofemoral syndrome needs to be treated comprehensively and not just to relieve pain.Treatment must include medications, administration of chondroprotectors and physical procedures.Diet and physiotherapy will not be superfluous.
Post-traumatic osteoarthritis
Post-traumatic osteoarthritis is a type of disease that occurs more frequently at a young age.After a knee injury, the limb is immobilized and blood circulation in it deteriorates.This negatively affects cartilaginous tissue and provokes the development of arthrosis.Post-traumatic osteoarthritis can sometimes develop after joint surgery.Tissue scarring can cut off the blood supply to the knee.
The post-traumatic form of this disease is chronic, therefore treatment is aimed at preventing the progression of arthrosis.It is almost impossible to cure post-traumatic osteoarthritis alone at home.It will be necessary to take analgesics, chondroprotectors and antispasmodics, physiotherapy, massages and hardware procedures.In advanced cases, surgery may be necessary.
Hemarthrosis
Hemarthrosis is a separate type of knee osteoarthritis that arises as a result of injury or due to blood clotting problems.Hemarthrosis can be caused by the following factors:
- bruises or fractures of the knee joint and patella;
- traumatic damage to the meniscus and cartilaginous tissue;
- rupture of ligaments or synovium;
- fracture of the femur or tibia;
- hemophilia;
- tumors of different origins;
- some neurological and infectious diseases;
- prolonged use of anticoagulants;
- osteoarthritis;
- surgical intervention;
- problems with blood vessels.
- the knee is swollen or has a very altered shape;
- when you press under your fingers, you feel a flow of liquid;
- the temperature rises in the injured area;
- tense and blue soft tissues.
Hemarthrosis can only be accurately diagnosed after puncturing the joint.In addition to analyzing joint fluid, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging may be performed.
To prevent complications, hemarthrosis must be treated immediately.For minor injuries, treatment can begin at home.Simple first aid methods will help minimize the consequences of bleeding in the joint:
- provide rest to the injured knee;
- lift the leg and fix it;
- apply a cold compress;
- take a painkiller.
This sequence of actions, even at home, will alleviate painful symptoms and help treat mild hemarthrosis;In more complex cases, it is necessary to seek medical help.
Folk remedies
Treatment of gonarthrosis with folk remedies must be agreed with a doctor.It is recommended to combine folk remedies with methods of official medicine.At home, using folk remedies, you can effectively treat mild hemarthrosis or alleviate the patient's condition with complications.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 plant leaves.
- Keep 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, for traumatic hemarthrosis, ointments should not be used in the first two days after the injury.
In case of serious injury and heavy or prolonged bleeding in the joint, you should definitely consult a traumatologist.Traditional methods of treatment in this situation are of secondary importance.Hemarthrosis needs to be treated by blood drainage puncture in the hospital, but at home you can use products with anti-inflammatory and hemostatic effects.An infusion based on the following herbs will be useful:
- yarrow;
- oregano;
- nettle.
They do it like this:
- Grind plant materials.
- Mix the herbs in equal parts.
- Pour three tablespoons of the mixture into 600 ml of boiling water.
- Leave for 1 to 1.5 hours.
The warm, strained infusion should be taken three times a day, 50 ml.
Gelatin
At home, you can try to treat deforming osteoarthritis with gelatin.Contains large amounts of collagen, which improves the condition of cartilage tissue and increases the production of interarticular lubrication.Gelatin treatment must be combined with the intake of 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.
- Leave the mixture for 12 hours.
- Add 150 ml of boiling water.
- After stirring, add a teaspoon of honey.
A glass of this gelatin drink is drunk on an empty stomach for 10 days.So you need a week off.The course is repeated two more times.
Ointments and rubs
To prepare an effective ointment at home, you will need the following components:
- turpentine – 150 ml;
- vodka – 150ml;
- olive oil – 150ml;
- camphor - 3 grams.
All components of the ointment must be mixed and applied to the wound twice a day.
At home, deforming osteoarthritis can be treated with horseradish-based ointment.The following ingredients will be needed:
- black radish;
- linden honey – 150 grams;
- vodka – 100ml;
- sea salt – 15 grams.
Ointment recipe:
- Peel and chop the radish.
- Pass the root vegetable through a meat grinder or grind in a blender.
- Squeeze the juice from the radish.
- Add the remaining ingredients and mix the mixture.
Rub the painful knee with this mixture.
Pork fat can be used as an ointment..Every night you need to rub this product into the joints and insulate them overnight.Osteoarthritis must be treated in this way for at least six months.
When you need to quickly relieve pain and restore leg mobility, warming ointments come in handy.It is important to understand that these remedies are not capable of curing the disease, but only temporarily relieving the symptoms.Contraindications to the use of warming agents are post-traumatic arthrosis and damaged skin.
A warming remedy 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 cup;
- honey – 0.5 cups.
Preparation method and use:
- Grind and mix plant materials.
- Melt the honey if necessary.
- Mix all the ingredients, it is best to do this 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 medicine to the joint, isolate and leave to act for 8 to 12 hours.
Hyaluronic acid
Primary osteoarthritis is treated very effectively with hyaluronic acid.This substance is the basis of synovial fluid.Intra-articular injections with hyaluronic acid can cure or prevent the development of any type of knee osteoarthritis.This procedure is prohibited at home!Hyaluronic acid injections should only be administered by an experienced doctor under special conditions.
In turn, the patient can eat foods rich in hyaluronic acid to enhance the therapeutic effect.For joint health, it is recommended to include the following dishes in your diet:
- chicken broth or gelatinous meat prepared with honeycombs, legs, tendons and skin;
- soy;
- tofu;
- soy milk;
- red grape skins;
- red wine;
- roots and starchy vegetables.
To activate your body's own production of hyaluronic acid, it must receive sufficient calcium, rutin and vitamin C.