Negative changes and destruction processes that occur in the cartilage tissue of the knee are called arthrosis of the knee joint.This disease is chronic and accompanied by symptoms of pain.Most often, knee arthrosis develops with age;a post-traumatic form is usually found at a young age.The disease is also called gonarthrosis, and its popular name is "salt deposition".
Signs
Gonarthrosis is the destruction of cartilage tissue due to poor blood circulation in bone vessels.As a result, deforming arthrosis can develop, caused by excessive bone growth.
Usually the first symptoms of arthrosis pass almost unnoticed.Mild pain does not cause particular discomfort and does not limit movements.It can take up to several years until an exacerbation occurs.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 just appears and does not go away for a long time even at rest.Walking for long periods or lifting heavy objects leads to long-term pain in the knees.
After the 2nd stage of arthrosis of the knee joint, the following symptoms appear:
- Synovitis – joint fluid accumulates in the joint.Its excess can cause the development of a dense formation on the back wall of the joint cavity.This phenomenon is called Baker's cyst and can be cured without surgery.
- Knee deformity.In the beginning, it swells a little, and in the 2nd and 3rd stages, the shape of the knee can change.
- Crunch.It appears in the 2nd and 3rd stages of the disease.Painful symptoms are clearly felt with sharp creaking.
- Limited mobility.This is typical for arthrosis of the 2nd and 3rd degree, when the leg can only be bent at a right angle.When the form is advanced, the knees can be completely immobile, and the joints in them are severely deformed.
- Meteosensitivity.Aching pain during periods of changeable weather conditions.
Symptoms and their intensity can vary significantly depending on the stage of disease development:
- In stage 1, pain occurs after active physical activity.Initial arthrosis damages the cartilage tissue, but does not deform the joints.Diagnosis of the disease is difficult.
- In the second degree, the joint space narrows, damaged cartilage tissue is clearly visible on X-rays.Movements involving the knees cause acute pain;there is a creaking sound when bending and extending.The joints work worse and worse, their deformation is visible to the naked eye.
- In stage 3, exposed areas of bone "see through" thinned cartilage tissue.Salts are deposited in the joint cavity.The pain persists even during rest.
Types of diseases
There are several types of knee osteoarthritis.by origin:
- Primary.This type of arthrosis of the knee joint does not depend on other diseases.Elderly people, women and people with excess body weight are at risk.
- Secondary.The disease occurs after an injury or an infectious disease.It can be avoided if the injury or inflammation of the knee joint is treated in time.
By location:
- Double sided.Both knees are affected.The disease is related to age, progresses faster and seriously threatens disability.Bilateral arthrosis is most often primary.
- Right-handed.The disease attacks the right knee, most often occurs in athletes and people who regularly experience stress on the right leg.
- Left handed.Left knee suffers;the disease is common in athletes and elderly people with excess weight.
Deforming arthrosis of the knee is a disease that is more common in obese women.This is caused by strong salt deposition.In the initial phase of the deformation, the inner side of the joints is affected;at a later stage, the outside is also affected.Deforming gonarthrosis should be treated as soon as possible so that the cartilage tissue in the upper part remains in a normal state.The main symptoms are acute pain and grinding.
Patellofemoral syndrome
Knee arthrosis is often preceded by patellofemoral syndrome.In medical literature and practice, it is often called arthrosis of the same name.This is a lesion of the cartilage tissue located in the patella.Patellofemoral syndrome is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Pain in the joint, aggravated by prolonged bending of the leg, jumping, running, walking up stairs or squatting.
- Limited knee mobility.
- Creaking and "clicking" in the joints.
- Stiffness in the joints.
Patellofemoral syndrome usually occurs in people whose activities or lifestyle include heavy loads on the knees - athletes, obese people.This type of arthrosis also affects the elderly.Patellofemoral arthrosis often occurs as a result of a severe knee injury.
When diagnosing the syndrome, it is important to immediately rest the affected leg.Sometimes your doctor may recommend a brace or a tight bandage to relieve stress on the knee.Overweight people will need to lose extra pounds little by little.At home, you can apply cooling compresses to relieve pain.
Patellofemoral syndrome develops progressively:
- In degree 1, the pain occurs only after heavy exertion, and you often feel tired in the knee.
- In case 2 – pain and discomfort are more often noted, the joints are stiff.Symptoms disappear after rest.
- With the 3rd - constant pain, significant limitation of movement.
Patellofemoral syndrome should be treated comprehensively, not just for pain relief.Treatment should include medication, the use of chondroprotectors and physical procedures.Diet and physical therapy will not be superfluous.
Post-traumatic arthrosis
Post-traumatic arthrosis is a type of disease that most often occurs at a young age.After a knee injury, the limb is immobilized and the blood circulation in it deteriorates.This negatively affects the cartilage tissue and causes the development of arthrosis.Post-traumatic arthrosis can sometimes develop after joint surgery.Scar tissue can cut off blood flow to the knee.
The post-traumatic form of this disease is chronic, so treatment is aimed at preventing further progression of arthrosis.It is almost impossible to cure post-traumatic arthrosis at home.It will be necessary to take analgesics, chondroprotectors and antispasmodics, physical therapy, massage and hardware procedures.In advanced cases, surgery may be required.
Hemarthrosis
Hemarthrosis is a separate type of knee arthrosis 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 patella;
- traumatic damage to the meniscus and cartilage tissue;
- rupture of ligaments or synovium;
- fracture of the femur or tibia;
- hemophilia;
- tumors of different origin;
- some neurological and infectious diseases;
- long-term use of anticoagulants;
- osteoarthritis;
- surgical intervention;
- problems with blood vessels.
- the knee is swollen or greatly altered in shape;
- when you press under your fingers, you feel the flow of liquid;
- the temperature rises in the injured area;
- tense and blue soft tissues.
Hemarthrosis can be accurately diagnosed only after joint puncture.In addition to joint fluid analysis, CT and MRI can be done.
In order to prevent complications, hemarthrosis must be treated immediately.For minor injuries, treatment can be started at home.Simple first aid methods will help minimize the consequences of bleeding in the joint:
- give rest to the injured knee;
- lift the leg and fix it;
- apply a cold compress;
- take a pain reliever.
This sequence of actions, even at home, will relieve pain 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 should 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 condition of a patient with complications.It is recommended to make a poultice from horseradish:
- Peel and grate a small piece of horseradish.
- For very sensitive skin, the rhizome is replaced by the leaves of the plant.
- Keep the mixture in a water bath for a few minutes.
- Put the root on gauze and make a poultice.
- 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 severe injury and profuse or prolonged bleeding in the joint, be sure to consult a traumatologist.Traditional methods of treatment in this situation are of secondary importance.Hemarthrosis needs to be treated with puncture blood drainage 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 to you:
- yarrow;
- oregano;
- nettles.
They do it like this:
- Grind plant materials.
- Mix herbs in equal parts.
- Pour three tablespoons of the mixture with 600 ml of boiling water.
- Leave for 1 - 1.5 hours.
Take 50 ml of the warm, strained infusion three times a day.
Gelatin
At home, you can try to treat arthrosis deformans with gelatin.It contains large amounts of collagen, which improves the condition of cartilage tissue and increases the production of inter-articular lubrication.Treatment with gelatin should be combined with taking a vitamin complex rich in iron and vitamin C.
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 mixing, add a teaspoon of honey.
A glass of this beverage with gelatin is drunk on an empty stomach for 10 days.Then you need a break of a week.The course is repeated two more times.
Fats and rubs
To prepare 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 painful area twice a day.
At home, arthrosis deformans can be treated with radish-based ointment.The following ingredients will be needed:
- 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 from the radish.
- Add the remaining ingredients and stir the mixture.
Rub this mixture on the painful knee.
Lard can be used as a salve..You must rub this product into your joints every evening and isolate them overnight.Arthrosis should be treated in this way for at least six months.
When you need to quickly relieve pain and restore mobility to your leg, warming ointments will come in handy.It is important to understand that these drugs are not able to cure the disease, but only temporarily alleviate the symptoms.Contraindications to the use of heating drugs 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 root - 2 cups;
- olive oil - 0.5 cups;
- honey - 0.5 cups.
Method of preparation and use:
- Grind and mix the plant materials.
- If necessary, melt the honey.
- Mix all the ingredients, it is better to do it with a mixer.
- Before use, the required part of the product must be heated.
- The fat can be stored for 2 weeks in the refrigerator or 3 months in the freezer.
- Apply the medicine to the joint, isolate it and leave it for 8-12 hours.
Hyaluronic acid
Primary arthrosis is very effectively treated with hyaluronic acid.This substance is the basis of synovial fluid.Intra-articular injections with hyaluronic acid can cure or stop the development of any type of knee arthrosis.This procedure is prohibited at home!Injections with hyaluronic acid should only be given by an experienced doctor under special conditions.
For his part, the patient can eat foods rich in hyaluronic acid to enhance the therapeutic effect.For joint health, it is recommended that you include the following foods in your diet:
- chicken soup or jelly made from meat prepared using 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 enough calcium, rutin and vitamin C.