Arthrosis of the knee joint is one of the most common diseases of the joints and, in terms of the severity of the disease, occupies the second place after coxarthrosis.
According to the latest research, the disease occurs in one in five adults on Earth. In the material, we will tell you what the symptoms of this disease are and how to treat it properly to avoid complications.
Every day, a person's knee joints are subject to stress, as when walking, playing sports supports the entire weight of the body. Over time, the cartilaginous tissue wears out, which leads to changes in the joints. It is for this reason that older people can suffer from knee joint osteoarthritis.
In addition, there is a risk group, which includes people:
It must be remembered that this disease develops very slowly and it is very important to see a doctor in time if the main symptoms are found.
This will avoid possible complications, such as deficiencies in the future.
To locate the disease, just pay attention to the symptoms - they are quite common in osteoarthritis. That includes:
One of the most important symptoms is pain and stinging in the knee area.
At the same time, the disease itself does not appear "suddenly": such sensations can increase for months or years, and at first they will only bother with increased loads, then the pain will be felt even at rest.
But it is important to remember that the symptoms vary depending on the degree of the disease.
Let's take a closer look at each option.
Arthrosis of this degree is almost asymptomatic, but there are a number of factors that are characteristic of this stage of the disease:
If there is pain, it is almost invisible. It is very difficult to diagnose the disease at this stage, so you cannot do without an X-ray: arthrosis will manifest itself as a small gap on the surface of tissues and bones.
At this stage, the symptoms are more intense. The pain can arise even with a light load on the legs and, over time, these sensations can arise with a simple movement. The discomfort only disappears after a long rest.
Additionally, symptoms like:
A characteristic of this degree is intense pain, which no longer depends on the load: the joints can disturb even at night in the absence of any movement.
Mobility is also impaired - a person cannot bend the leg at the knee. Sensitivity to climate can also be observed.
After listening to the doctor, he will examine the appearance of the knee, assess your mobility. Then, the patient will be referred to an X-ray, and several images can be taken during the treatment period, which will allow to assess the dynamics of the development of arthrosis. In some cases, MRI or tomography is prescribed.
If research is needed to correctly identify the root cause of osteoarthritis and separate it from other diseases with similar symptoms.
Treatment usually includes the following:
The main goals of treatment are as follows:
Massage procedures, physiotherapy and even proper nutrition are also important. If you see a doctor too late or none of the above methods will help you, an operation will be prescribed: the installation of an endoprosthesis.
At the moment, there are groups of drugs prescribed for the treatment of early-stage osteoarthritis:
NSAIDs aim to eliminate pain and inflammation. And it is only after reducing the pain syndrome that additional treatment can begin.
If the use of non-steroidal drugs has not worked, especially if the disease just progresses, doctors usually prescribe hormonal drugs.
However, it is worth remembering that due to a series of side effects, such drugs are prescribed only during the period of the disease - if there is an accumulation of fluid within the joint. The solution is injected no more than 1 time in 10 days.
The only group of agents that directly affect the cause of arthrosis are chondroprotectors. They are especially effective in the early stages.
Also in the early stages, hyaluronic acid, which is injected into the joint, is very effective. This procedure is not the cheapest, but it does help to abrasion the cartilaginous surface.
When arthrosis is detected, ointments are also prescribed - they also reduce the sensation of pain and remove inflammation.
It must be said immediately that you should not use only the methods of traditional medicine - they should be used only as a complement to medical treatment.
Let's take a look at some things that can help with knee arthrosis:
You only need to eat 5 dandelion flowers a day, make sure to rinse them with boiled water. You can also make tinctures: take 5 bottles of dark glass, fill 50% with flowers, fill the container with triple colony to the neck. Insist for a month, then clean your knees with the resulting infusion.
This is a compound that needs to be rubbed into the knee joint regularly.
To make this composition is very simple: take the egg yolk, mix it with 1 tbsp. me. turpentine, add 1 tsp. Apple vinegar. All ingredients must be mixed and left overnight.
Lubricate your knees every night and cover with a woolen scarf.
Furthermore, it is very important to wash the applied mixture thoroughly in the morning. To relieve symptoms, you must use this method for 2 to 3 weeks.
According to the folk effects, you need to place 3-4 large leaves of burdock on the sore knee and wrap it with a bandage. Repeat this manipulation for at least a week to relieve the pain. And to enhance the effect, it is necessary to lubricate the joints with cinquefoil oil.
Wet a piece of cloth with juice and place it on the affected knee. After an hour, brush with vegetable oil. Repeat the procedure for a week.
Take 2 tbsp. me. means, pour into a thermos, pour 1 liter of boiling water, leave for two hours. Take at least 3 warm glasses a day.
Often, in case of osteoarthritis of the knee joint, it is recommended to use special knee pads, which reduce the sensation of discomfort and have a therapeutic effect. Typically, if you use them for a short period of time, you will see improvements like:
It is very important to choose the right model that will be effective when used. To do this, let's first study what types of knee pads are:
In addition to the type, you must also take into account the material the knee pad is made of. Therefore, these items can be made from:
But it is important not only to choose the right knee pads, but also to use them. Doctors provide several important recommendations to be followed:
In conclusion, it must be said that you should not neglect a healthy lifestyle - in this case, the body will function as it should. If you experience joint pain, see a doctor urgently to make the correct diagnosis.
