Negative changes and destruction processes occurring in the cartilage tissue of the knees are called arthrosis of the knee joint.This disease is chronic and is accompanied by painful symptoms.Most often, knee arthrosis develops with age;at a young age, the post-traumatic form is usually detected.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 caused by bone overgrowth can develop.
Usually, the first symptoms of arthrosis go almost unnoticed.Mild pain does not cause particular discomfort and does not limit movements.It can take up to several years for a flare-up to occur.Pain symptoms may be 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 go away for a long time even at rest.Prolonged walking or lifting heavy objects leads to prolonged pain in the knees.
After stage 2 of arthrosis of the knee joint, the following symptoms appear:
- Synovitis - accumulation of synovial fluid 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 Baker's cyst and can be cured without surgery.
- Deformation of the knee.Initially it swells a little, with grades 2 and 3 the shape of the knee may change.
- I'm crunching.Appears in the 2nd and 3rd stages of the disease.With a sharp squeak, painful symptoms are clearly felt.
- Limited mobility.This is typical for arthrosis of the 2nd and 3rd degree, when the leg can only bend at a right angle.In an advanced form, the knees can be completely immobile, and the joints in them are severely deformed.
- Weather sensitivity.Pain during periods of change in weather conditions.
Symptoms and their intensity can vary significantly depending on the stage of development of the disease:
- In degree 1, the pain appears 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 narrows, the damaged cartilage tissue is clearly visible on X-rays.Movements involving the knees cause sharp pain;crunch occurs when bending and unfolding.The joints work worse and worse, their deformation is noticeable to the naked eye.
- In grade 3, the exposed areas of bone "see through" the 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.The elderly, women and overweight people are at risk.
- Secondary.The disease occurs after an injury or infectious disease.It can be avoided if the injury or inflammation of the knee joint is treated promptly.
By location:
- Duplicitous.Both knees are affected.The disease is age-related, progresses faster and seriously threatens disability.Bilateral arthrosis is most often primary.
- The right hand.The disease affects the right knee, most often occurs in athletes and people who regularly experience stress on the right leg.
- Leftist.Left knee suffers;the disease is common among athletes and older people who are overweight.
Osteoarthritis of the knee is a disease that occurs more often in obese women.It is caused by heavy salt deposition.In the initial stage of deformation, the inner side of the joints is affected;at a later stage, the exterior is also affected.Deforming gonarthrosis should be treated as early as possible so that the cartilage tissue in the upper area remains in a normal state..The main symptoms are sharp pain and crunching.
Patellofemoral syndrome
Very often knee arthrosis is preceded by patellofemoral syndrome.In medical literature and practice, it is often called arthrosis with 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 that worsens with prolonged bending of the leg, jumping, running, walking up stairs or squatting.
- Limited knee mobility.
- Crackling and "clicking" in the joints.
- Stiffness in the joints.
Patellofemoral syndrome usually occurs in people whose activities or lifestyle are associated with high loads on the knees - athletes, people with obesity.This type of arthrosis also affects the elderly.Quite often, patellofemoral arthrosis occurs as a result of a severe injury to the knee.
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.People who are overweight will need to lose extra pounds little by little.You can apply cooling compresses at home to relieve pain.
Patellofemoral syndrome develops progressively:
- In grade 1, the pain occurs only after very heavy exertion and you often feel tired in the knee.
- In the 2nd - pain and discomfort are more often registered, the joints are stiff.Symptoms disappear after rest.
- With the 3rd - constant pain, significant limitation of movements.
Patellofemoral syndrome should be treated comprehensively, not just for pain relief.Treatment should include medication, chondroprotectors and physical procedures.Diet and physiotherapy will not be superfluous.
Post-traumatic arthrosis
Post-traumatic arthrosis is a type of disease that most often occurs at a young age.After an injury to the knee, the limb is immobilized and blood circulation in it deteriorates.This negatively affects cartilage tissue and provokes the development of arthrosis.Post-traumatic arthrosis can sometimes develop after joint surgery.Scar tissue can cut off 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 treat post-traumatic arthrosis alone at home.It will be necessary to take analgesics, chondroprotectors and antispasmodics, physiotherapy, 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 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 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;
- blood vessel problems.
- the knee is swollen or greatly changed in shape;
- when you press under your fingers, you feel a flow of liquid;
- the temperature rises in the damaged area;
- tense and blue soft tissues.
Hemarthrosis can be accurately diagnosed only after a puncture of the joint.In addition to joint fluid analysis, CT and MRI may be done.
To prevent complications, hemarthrosis should 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 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 complicated cases you should seek medical help.
People's funds
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 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 leaves of the plant.
- 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.
In home conditions 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, you should definitely consult a traumatologist.Traditional methods of treatment in this situation are of secondary importance.Hemarthrosis should be treated by 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:
- yarrow;
- oregano;
- nettles.
They do it like this:
- Grind plant materials.
- Mix the herbs in equal parts.
- Three tablespoons of the mixture are poured with 600 ml of boiling water.
- Leave for 1 - 1.5 hours.
The warm, strained infusion is taken three times a day for 50 ml.
gelatin
At home, you can try to treat deforming arthrosis with gelatin.It contains a large amount of collagen, which improves the condition of cartilage tissue and increases the production of inter-articular lubricant.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 with 50 ml of cold water.
- Leave the mixture for 12 hours.
- Add 150ml 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 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 - 150 ml;
- 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 needed:
- black turnip;
- linden honey - 150 grams;
- vodka - 100 ml;
- sea salt - 15 grams.
Ointment recipe:
- Peel and chop the radishes.
- Pass the root through a meat grinder or grind in a blender.
- Squeeze the juice from the radishes.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and stir the mixture.
Rub the sore knee with this mixture.
Lard can be used as an ointment..Every night you should rub this product into the joints and isolate them at night.Arthritis 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 are useful.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 an anti-inflammatory effect can be made at home.Therapeutic ointment is prepared from the following components:
- leaves of black comfrey - 1 cup;
- orman roots - 2 cups;
- olive oil - 0.5 cups;
- honey - 0.5 cups.
Method of preparation and use:
- Grind and mix plant materials.
- Melt the honey if necessary.
- Mix all the ingredients, it is better to do this with a mixer.
- Before use, the necessary part 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 of hyaluronic acid can cure or stop the development of any type of osteoarthritis of the knee.This procedure is prohibited at home!Hyaluronic acid injections should only be administered by an experienced physician under special conditions.
In turn, the patient can take 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 stock or jellied meat made with combs, legs, 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 by your own body, it must receive enough calcium, rutin and vitamin C.