Osteoarthritis of the knee joint: symptoms

The main cause of acute knee pain in patients older than 50 years is gonarthrosis (deforming arthrosis of the knee joint).The disease is characterized by rapid progression and can cause incapacity and inability to work, so early detection of symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee and treatment of the disease, including at home, are the main tasks in examining patients at risk for pathologies ofmusculoskeletal system.

What is knee osteoarthritis

The knee ligament is one of the most mobile joints of the human skeleton, prone to injury and other mechanical damage. It connects the tibia and femur, as well as the largest sesamoid bone, located in the tendons of the quadriceps femoris (patella or patella). The surfaces of the joint are covered with cartilage tissue - a dense, elastic substance that surrounds chondrocytes (oval-shaped cells formed by chondroblasts) and creates a protective shell around them, and also acts as a shock absorber.

The composition of cartilage contains collagen - a fibrillar protein, which is the main element of connective fibers and provides strength and elasticity to cartilage - and glucosamine. Glucosamine is a substance produced by cartilage. Glucosamine is part of synovial fluid - a yellow elastic mass that fills the joint cavity and acts as a lubricant. If the synthesis of glucosamine and proteoglycans is impaired, the amount of synovial fluid is reduced, which leads to exposure of the ankle parts and the appearance of intense pain, therefore, treatment of first-degree osteoarthritis of the knee always involves the use of chondroprotective drugs.

What happens to arthritic joints:

1. cartilage becomes soft and loose and deep ulcers appear on its surface;
2. the synovial membrane thickens;
3. the composition of synovial fluid changes, its secretion is reduced;
4. there is a compression of the ligaments and joint capsule;
5. the articular cavity is filled with exudates - an inflammatory fluid released by blood vessels during a period of acute inflammation.

In the absence of timely and adequate treatment, osteoarthritis leads to deformity and complete destruction of the knee joint, while the patient may exhibit unnatural mobility and complete immobility of the joint. To stop the process of destruction of the articular and cartilaginous surface in case of diagnosed knee osteoarthritis, the doctor may suggest arthroplasty - a surgical operation to replace the damaged joint with an artificial prosthesis of suitable size.

The cost of primary knee arthroplasty varies by region and can range from $ 255 to $ 1465.

If there are indications, the operation can be done according to the quota within the CHI program.

Classification and etiological factors

Knee osteoarthritis can be primary and secondary. Primary osteoarthritis is diagnosed in cases where it is impossible to accurately determine the cause of the pathology. If cartilage deformity was preceded by other diseases and pathologies, knee injuries, osteoarthritis is considered secondary, i. e. it develops against the background of a primary disease.

The main causes of secondary osteoarthritis of the knee joints include:

• various dysplasias and other pathologies in which abnormal tissue development and formation occurs;
• neurodystrophic diseases of the lumbar spine or cervix;
• inflammation of the knee joint (arthritis);
• ankle injuries and microtraumas;
• surgical removal of an damaged meniscus or part of it (menisectomy);
• endocrine system diseases and hormonal disorders, in which the rate of metabolic reactions slows down, metabolism in bone tissue is disturbed.

Primary osteoarthritis of the knee joint often develops in people who lead a sedentary lifestyle, or, conversely, who regularly experience increased physical activity in the knee joint. At increased risk for developing gonarthrosis are also overweight patients, persons over 50 years, residents of environmentally unfavorable areas, patients with various types of addictions to toxic substances (smokers, drug addicts, alcoholics).

Regular hypothermia can contribute to further inflammation and deformity of the knee joint, so people with a predisposition to diseases of the musculoskeletal system are advised to adhere to the temperature regime and abandon activities related to prolonged exposure to low temperatures (work out, in refrigerators and freezers, etc. ) d. ).

Women over 45 who are interested in how to treat osteoarthritis of the knee should know that a provocative factor in the development of pathology may be the reduction of estrogen synthesis, which can occur after menopause and with some gynecological diseases: endometrial hyperplasia, uterine fibroids, fibroadenoma, endometriosis. A negative factor are also the various diets that limit the intake of foods rich in minerals, vitamins and other elements necessary for joint health.

signs and symptoms

In order for the prognosis of later life to be as favorable as possible, it is important not only to know how to treat knee osteoarthritis, but also what symptoms the disease manifests. This is necessary for timely access to a specialist and early detection of possible deformities and other injuries of the knee joint. In the initial stage, the pathology has quite weak symptoms, therefore it is possible to identify grade 1 knee osteoarthritis only after performing the hardware and instrumental diagnosis.

The first symptoms of the disease include:

1. morning stiffness in the knee;
2. pain when walking when walking at a distance exceeding 1-1, 5 km;
3. knee pain with prolonged lowering (more than 2 consecutive hours);
4. pain in the knee joint after long standing;
5. knee pain that occurs at the end of the day or in the first half of night sleep.

If the patient does not receive the necessary treatment at this stage, the disease will progress. To choose the right medicine for osteoarthritis of the knee joint, it is necessary to undergo a series of diagnostic examinations (MRI, computed tomography, radiography, etc. ) and to determine the degree of deformation, the level of synovial fluid in the joint. cavity, cartilage tissue density and synovial membrane. Symptoms of grade 2 and 3 knee osteoarthritis are presented in the table below.

Differential diagnosis of grade 2 and 3 knee arthrosis:

diagnostic sign	Knee osteoarthritis 2 degrees	Osteoarthritis of the knee 3 degrees
Pain during overnight rest	It can appear when you change body position or when you get out of bed.	Occurs without any movement.
Ability to use public transport (excluding low-floor buses)	The patient experiences pain while climbing stairs, but with certain restrictions can use public transport without assistance.	The patient can not board the bus or tram alone due to limited knee joint movement.
halting	Slightly expressed.	The limping is very pronounced, additional supports (canes) are needed for movement.
Knee stiffness after waking up	Lasts less than 10-15 minutes.	Lasts about 20-30 minutes or more.
Pain while walking	Occur after crossing 800-1000 m.	They start at the beginning of the movement and intensify after passing a distance of less than 500 m.
Ability for self-service	Usually stored.	The patient can not perform a series of actions without outside help.

Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint at home

Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint can be performed with the help of:

• medical methods;
• physiotherapy exercises;
• massage.

The use of traditional medicine prescriptions is possible only after consultation with the attending physician and should not replace the main treatment prescribed by a specialist.

The choice of drugs and treatment methods depends not only on the age of the patient and his chronic diseases, but also on the stage of osteoarthritis and the degree of deformation of the cartilaginous and articular surface.

Osteoarthritis 1 degree

This is the mildest form of osteoarthritis, which in most cases can be cured with minor medication correction and additional measures: massage, exercise therapy, physiotherapy. The most effective treatment for knee osteoarthritis, regardless of its stage, is laser therapy. This is the main method of physiotherapy, which gives quite good results in the initial stage of osteoarthritis.

Helps to achieve the following effect:

1. the rate of inflammation in the joint cavity decreases;
2. pain intensity decreases;
3. stimulates the process of tissue regeneration;
4. the need for the use of glucocorticosteroids and other drugs with serious side effects disappears.

As an alternative to laser therapy, your doctor may offer pulse magnetotherapy, acupuncture, electromyostimulation, and electrophoresis.

All of these methods are quite effective in treating osteoarthritis.with a degree of deformation not more than 20-25%, but the effectiveness of the treatment will be higher if combined with physiotherapy exercises and massage.

Orthopedists and surgeons note the positive effect of using water exercises aimed at developing leg muscle strength.

Patients with osteoarthritis of the knee 1-2 degrees may be offered sanatorium treatment (during a period of sustained remission), including mud therapy, sauna heating, therapeutic baths. Overweight patients are prescribed a special diet, as overweight is one of the main factors in the development of osteoarthritis of the knee.

Osteoarthritis 2 degrees

Treatment of second-degree knee osteoarthritis includes physiotherapy and massage (outside the acute period), special diet, physiotherapy exercises, and medication. It is very important to reduce the load on the injured joint: restrict walking, avoid movements that require knee flexion. With rapidly progressing osteoarthritis, the use of special orthoses - orthopedic devices designed to regulate the diseased joint and restrict its mobility - is indicated.

The drug treatment regimen may include the following medications:

• chondroprotectors;
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid;
• glucocorticosteroid hormone injections.

The diet for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee should contain a sufficient amount of collagen-rich foods.

This:

• products with gel additives (jelly, jelly, jelly, aspic);
• products with the addition of pectin;
• fish fat.

Almost all fruits and berries contain amino acids and essential minerals to keep joints healthy and mobile, but these foods should be consumed.limited to patients with diabetes.

Osteoarthritis 3 degrees

Treatment of third-degree knee joint osteoarthritis is no different from the therapy used for second-degree osteoarthritis.

With its ineffectiveness and severe restriction of movement, the patient is prescribed surgical treatment with further prosthetics of the damaged ankle.

Popular methods

Before learning how to treat knee joints at home with alternative medicine prescriptions, you should consult a doctor. The use of the methods listed below is permissible only for first-degree osteoarthritis and in the initial stage of second-degree osteoarthritis.

Infusion of nettle and lemon

This infusion should be taken orally 20-30 minutes before meals. A single dose is 50-80 ml.

To prepare the infusion, you need:

1. Mix 100 g of dried or fresh nettle leaves with three heads of peeled garlic;
2. pass the mixture through a meat grinder;
3. add 4 tablespoons of lemon juice;
4. mix everything, add 250 ml of boiling water and cover;
5. insist for 4 hours.

The duration of treatment in this way is at least 60 days. In the first week, the infusion should be taken 1 time per day, in the next 7-10 days - 2 times a day. Starting from the third week of treatment, the number of doses should be increased to 3 times a day.

Ointment with honey for the joints

This ointment helps relieve inflammation and reduce pain. The first result is visible after a week of daily use, but to achieve a lasting result you should apply it for 30-45 days.

To prepare the oil, you need:

• melt 2 tablespoons butter;
• mix the oil with two tablespoons of honey and one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar 6%;
• Place the mixture in the refrigerator to set.

Apply such an ointment on the knees 2-3 times a day (the last time - before going to bed).

Dandelion bath

For such a bath, dandelion root solution is used. To prepare it, you need to mix 120 g of crushed dandelion root with 150 ml of vodka and insist in a dark place for a day. Before bathing, the contents of the container should be poured into water and mixed. It is recommended to take such a bath 1-2 times a week. After the procedure, the knee pain becomes less, and the mobility in the joints gradually restores. The effectiveness of the treatment will be higher if you add to the water 150 g of sea salt enriched with iodine and bromine.

evaluations

1. "Only hyaluronic acid injections helped me with osteoarthritis. A very good medicine with a minimum of side effects and high efficiency. Now I almost do not feel pain in my knees, although before I could not even go down the stairs without help. "
2. "It seems to me that osteoarthritis of the knee is such a disease that nothing can cure it. You can ease the pain a little, but then it will come back. During irritations I am treated with ficus and Jerusalem artichoke. It does not help worse than pills, only that there is no harm to the heart and liver.
3. "I was also diagnosed with second-degree osteoarthritis of the knee. The reason was, most likely, excess weight (at that time I weighed more than 130 kg). For treatment, a diet without salt, chondroprotectors, was prescribed, anti-inflammatory ointments and hormonal injections. I did everything according to the instructions - the arthrosis was completely gone.

---

Osteoarthritis of the knee joint is a severe pathology of the musculoskeletal system, prone to rapid progression. The treatment regimen should be chosen by the attending physician after a comprehensive diagnosis and identification of the degree of degenerative, dystrophic processes and deformity of the cartilaginous and articular surface. The prognosis of treatment depends on adherence to medical prescriptions and timely seeking medical help.