Negative changes and destruction processes that occur in the cartilaginous tissue of the knees are called arthrosis of the knee joint.This disease is chronic and accompanied by painful symptoms.Most often, knee osteoarthritis develops with age;the 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 cartilaginous tissue due to poor blood circulation in the bone vessels.As a result, deforming arthrosis may develop, caused by excessive bone growth.
Usually the first symptoms of osteoarthritis go almost unnoticed.The mild pain does not cause particular discomfort and does not limit movement.It may take several years for a flare-up to occur.Pain symptoms may get slightly worse 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 disappear for a long time even at rest.Walking for a long time or lifting heavy objects causes prolonged pain in the knees.
After stage 2 of arthrosis of the knee joint, the following symptoms appear:
- synovitis: joint fluid accumulates in the joint.Its excess can provoke the development of a dense formation on the back wall of the joint cavity.This phenomenon is called a Baker's cyst and can be cured without surgery.
- Knee deformity.At first it swells a little, with grades 2 and 3 the shape of the knee may change.
- Crunch.It appears at the 2nd and 3rd stages of the disease.With a sharp crunch, painful symptoms are clearly felt.
- Limited mobility.This is typical of 2nd and 3rd degree arthrosis, when the leg can only be bent at a right angle.When the form is advanced, the knees may be completely immobile and their joints are 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:
- In grade 1, pain appears after active physical activity.Initial osteoarthritis damages the cartilaginous tissue, but does not deform the joints.Diagnosis of 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 creaking sound is heard during flexion and extension.The joints function worse and worse, their deformation is noticeable to the naked eye.
- In grade 3, exposed areas of bone “peek through” thinned cartilage tissue.The salts are deposited in the joint cavity.The pain persists even during rest.
Types of disease
There are different 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 promptly.
By location:
- Double sided.Both knees are affected.The disease is age-related, progresses more rapidly and seriously threatens disability.Bilateral arthrosis is most often primary.
- Right.The disease affects the right knee, found most often in athletes and people who regularly experience stress on the right leg.
- Left-handed.The left knee is in pain;the disease is common among athletes and overweight older adults.
Deforming knee osteoarthritis is a disease more common in obese women.It is caused by heavy salt deposition.In the initial stage of deformation, the internal side of the joints is affected;in a subsequent phase the external side is also affected.Gonarthrosis deformans should be treated as soon as possible so that the cartilaginous tissue in the overlying area remains in normal condition.The main symptoms are sharp pain and crunching.
Patellofemoral syndrome
Very often knee osteoarthritis is preceded by patellofemoral syndrome.In medical literature and practice it is often called arthrosis of the same name.This is a lesion of the cartilaginous tissue located in the kneecap.Patellofemoral syndrome is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Joint pain, aggravated by prolonged bending of the leg, jumping, running, climbing stairs or squatting.
- Limited knee mobility.
- Creaks and "clicks" in the joints.
- Joint stiffness.
Patellofemoral syndrome usually occurs in people whose activities or lifestyle involve heavy loads on the knees: athletes, obese people.This type of osteoarthritis also affects older people.Most often, patellofemoral arthrosis occurs as a result of a serious knee injury.
When diagnosing the syndrome, it is important to immediately provide rest to the affected leg.Sometimes, your doctor may recommend a brace or tight bandage to relieve stress on your knee.Overweight people will have 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 effort and you often feel tired in the knee.
- With the 2nd – pain and discomfort are recorded more often, the joints are stiff.The symptoms disappear after rest.
- With the 3rd – constant pain, significant limitation of movements.
Patellofemoral syndrome must be treated comprehensively and not just for pain relief.Treatment should include medications, administration of chondroprotectants, and physical procedures.Diet and physical therapy will not be superfluous.
Post-traumatic arthritis
Post-traumatic arthrosis is a type of disease that occurs most often at a young age.After a knee injury, the limb is immobilized and blood circulation in it deteriorates.This negatively affects the cartilaginous tissue and causes the development of arthrosis.Sometimes post-traumatic osteoarthritis can develop after joint surgery.Tissue scarring can cut off the blood supply 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 yourself at home.It will be necessary to take analgesics, chondroprotectors and antispasmodics, physical therapy, massage and hardware procedures.In advanced cases, surgery may be necessary.
Hemarthrosis
Hemarthrosis is a separate type of knee osteoarthritis that appears due to injury or 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;
- haemophilia;
- tumors of various origins;
- some neurological and infectious diseases;
- long-term use of anticoagulants;
- osteoarthritis;
- surgery;
- problems with blood vessels.
- the knee is swollen or has changed shape significantly;
- when you press under your fingers, you feel a flow of liquid;
- the temperature increases in the injured area;
- soft tissues tense and blue.
Hemarthrosis can only be accurately diagnosed after puncture of the joint.In addition to joint fluid analysis, 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 will help minimize the consequences of bleeding in the joint:
- provide rest to the injured knee;
- lift your leg and adjust it;
- apply a cold compress;
- take a painkiller.
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 the 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 with the leaves of the plant.
- Keep the mixture in a bain-marie for a couple of minutes.
- Place the root on gauze and make a compress.
- The duration of the procedure is two hours.
At home, in case of traumatic hemarthrosis, ointments should not be used in the first two days after the injury.
In case of serious injuries 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 should be treated by blood drainage via 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 the plant materials.
- Mix the herbs in equal parts.
- Pour three tablespoons of the mixture into 600 ml of boiling water.
- Leave for 1 - 1.5 hours.
The warm, filtered infusion should be taken three times a day, 50 ml.
Jelly
At home, you can try to treat deforming arthrosis with gelatin.Contains large amounts of collagen, which improves the condition of cartilage tissue and increases the production of interarticular lubrication.Gelatin treatment 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 gelatine 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 drink with gelatin is drunk on an empty stomach for 10 days.Then you need a week's break.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 – 150 ml;
- camphor - 3 grams.
All components of the ointment should be mixed and applied to the sore spot twice a day.
At home, deforming arthrosis can be treated with radish-based ointment.The following ingredients will be required:
- black radish;
- lime 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 your sore knee with this mixture.
Pork fat can be used as an ointment..Every evening you need to rub this product on your joints and isolate them overnight.Osteoarthritis should be treated in this way for at least six months.
When you need to quickly relieve pain and restore mobility of the leg, warming ointments come in handy.It is important to understand that these remedies are not able to cure the disease, but only temporarily relieve the symptoms.Contraindications to the use of warming drugs are post-traumatic arthrosis and damaged skin.
A warming medicine with anti-inflammatory effect can be prepared 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.
- Dissolve 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 it and leave for 8 – 12 hours.
Hyaluronic acid
Primary arthrosis is treated very effectively 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 osteoarthritis.This procedure is prohibited at home!Injections with hyaluronic acid should only be administered 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 to include the following dishes in the diet:
- chicken broth or jellied meat prepared using combs, legs, tendons and skin;
- soybeans;
- tofu;
- soy milk;
- red grape skins;
- red wine;
- roots and starchy vegetables.
To activate your body's production of hyaluronic acid, it must receive enough calcium, rutin and vitamin C.