Negative changes and destructive processes occurring in the cartilaginous tissue of the knees are called osteoarthritis of the knee joint.This disease is chronic and accompanied by painful symptoms.Most often, osteoarthritis of the knee develops with age;at a young age, we generally find the post-traumatic form.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 the bone vessels.As a result, deforming osteoarthritis may develop, caused by bone overgrowth.
Usually, the first symptoms of osteoarthritis go almost unnoticed.Mild pain does not cause any particular discomfort and does not limit movements.It may take several years before an exacerbation occurs.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 appears simply and does not disappear for a long time, even at rest.Walking for a long time or lifting heavy objects leads to prolonged knee pain.
After stage 2 of osteoarthritis of the knee joint, the following symptoms appear:
- Synovitis – joint fluid builds up in the joint.Its excess can cause 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, at levels 2 and 3 the shape of the knee may 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 for osteoarthritis of the 2nd and 3rd degree, when the leg can only be bent at right angles.When the form is advanced, the knees may be completely immobile and their joints are severely deformed.
- Weather sensitivity.Aching pain during periods of changing weather conditions.
Symptoms and their intensity can vary considerably depending on the stage of development of the disease:
- At grade 1, pain appears after active physical activity.Initial osteoarthritis damages the cartilage tissue, but does not deform the joints.Diagnosis of the disease is difficult.
- At the second degree, the joint space narrows, damaged cartilage tissue is clearly visible on x-rays.Movements involving the knees cause sharp pain;a cracking noise appears during flexion and extension.The joints function less and less well, their deformation is perceptible to the naked eye.
- At grade 3, exposed areas of bone “see through” the thinned cartilage tissue.The salts are deposited in the joint cavity.The pain persists even at rest.
Types of diseases
There are several types of knee osteoarthritis.By origin:
- Primary.This type of osteoarthritis of the knee joint does not depend on other diseases.Elderly people, women and overweight people are at risk.
- Secondary.The disease appears after an injury or infectious disease.This can be avoided if an 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 quickly and seriously threatens disability.Bilateral osteoarthritis is most often primary.
- Right-handed.The disease attacks the right knee and is most often found 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 overweight athletes and older adults.
Deforming osteoarthritis of the knee is a disease more common in obese women.It is caused by heavy salt deposits.At the initial stage of deformity, the internal surface of the joints is affected;at a later stage, the outer side is also affected.Gonarthrosis deformans should be treated as early as possible so that the cartilaginous tissue in the area above remains in a normal state..The main symptoms are sharp pain and crunching.
Patellofemoral syndrome
Very often, osteoarthritis of the knee is preceded by patellofemoral syndrome.In medical literature and practice, osteoarthritis is often referred to by the same name.This is an injury to the cartilaginous tissue located in the kneecap.Patellofemoral syndrome is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Pain in the joint, worsened by prolonged bending of the leg, jumping, running, climbing stairs or squatting.
- Limited knee mobility.
- Creaks and “clicks” in the joints.
- Stiffness in the joints.
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.Very often, patellofemoral osteoarthritis occurs following 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 splint or tight bandage to relieve stress on your knee.Overweight people will need to gradually lose their excess weight.You can apply cooling compresses at home to relieve pain.
Patellofemoral syndrome develops gradually:
- At grade 1, the pain only appears 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.Symptoms disappear after rest.
- On the 3rd – constant pain, significant limitation of movements.
Patellofemoral syndrome must be treated holistically, not just to relieve pain.Treatment should 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 most often occurs at a young age.After a knee injury, the limb is immobilized and blood circulation deteriorates.This negatively affects cartilage tissue and provokes the development of osteoarthritis.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, treatment therefore aims to prevent the progression of osteoarthritis.It is almost impossible to cure post-traumatic osteoarthritis yourself at home.It will be necessary to take pain relievers, chondroprotectors and antispasmodics, physiotherapy, massage and hardware procedures.In advanced cases, surgery may be necessary.
Hemarthrosis
Hemarthrosis is a distinct type of knee osteoarthritis that occurs as a result of 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 cartilage tissue;
- rupture of ligaments or synovium;
- fracture of the femur or tibia;
- haemophilia;
- tumors of various origins;
- certain neurological and infectious diseases;
- long-term use of anticoagulants;
- osteoarthritis;
- surgery;
- problems with blood vessels.
- the knee is swollen or its shape has changed significantly;
- when you press under your fingers, you feel a flow of liquid;
- the temperature increases in the injured area;
- soft tissues tense and bluish.
Hemarthrosis can only be accurately diagnosed after puncture of the joint.In addition to joint fluid analysis, a CT scan and MRI may be performed.
To avoid complications, hemarthrosis must be treated immediately.For minor injuries, treatment can begin at home.Simple first aid methods will help minimize the consequences of joint hemorrhage:
- providing rest to the injured knee;
- lift your leg and fix 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, you should consult a doctor.
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 condition of the patient with complications.It is recommended to make a horseradish compress:
- 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.
At home, with traumatic hemarthrosis, ointments should not be used within the first two days after the injury.
In the event of a serious injury and heavy or prolonged bleeding from the joint, you must consult a traumatologist.Traditional methods of treatment in this situation are of secondary importance.Hemarthrosis should be treated with blood drainage through 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 matter.
- Mix the herbs in equal parts.
- Pour three tablespoons of the mixture into 600 ml of boiling water.
- Leave to act for 1 to 1.5 hours.
The warm, filtered infusion should be taken three times a day, at a rate of 50 ml.
Gelatin
At home, you can try to treat deforming osteoarthritis with gelatin.It contains large amounts of collagen, which improves the condition of cartilage tissue and increases the production of inter-articular 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 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.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 – 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 osteoarthritis can be treated with radish ointment.The following ingredients will be required:
- black radish;
- linden honey – 150 grams;
- vodka – 100 ml;
- sea salt – 15 grams.
Ointment recipe:
- Peel and chop the radish.
- Pass the root vegetable through a meat grinder or grind it in a blender.
- Squeeze the juice from the radish.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and mix the mixture.
Rub the sore knee with this mixture.
Pork fat can be used as an ointment..Every evening you should apply this product on your joints and insulate them overnight.Osteoarthritis 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 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 drugs are post-traumatic osteoarthritis and damaged skin.
A warming medicine with an 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 the plant materials.
- Melt the honey, if necessary.
- Mix all the ingredients, it is best to do this with a blender.
- Before use, the required part of the product must be heated.
- The ointment will keep for 2 weeks in the refrigerator or 3 months in the freezer.
- Apply the medicine to the joint, isolate it and leave 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 hyaluronic acid injections can cure or stop 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 and under specific 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 your diet:
- chicken broth or jellied meat prepared from combs, legs, tendons and skin;
- soy;
- tofu;
- soy milk;
- red grape skins;
- red wine;
- roots and starchy vegetables.
To activate the production of hyaluronic acid by your own body, it must receive sufficient calcium, rutin and vitamin C.