Osteoarthritis of the knee joint occurs in every fifth European.Experts estimate that only 40 percent of degenerative osteoarthritis cases are the result of aging.In the remaining 60 percent, it is due to overload, injury and physical inactivity.Thus, knee disease is the price we pay for our lifestyle.
Degenerative changes in the knee joints (arthrosis and arthritis) develop slowly and gradually progress, destroying the cartilage.At the same time, there are several forms of this disease.Thus, post-traumatic osteoarthritis occurs after all types of knee injuries, such as ligament sprains, knee injuries, meniscus, etc.In many cases, the disease is caused by changes in the skeletal system of the muscles of the lower limbs or spine, which leads to an incorrect distribution of the load in the knee joint.A common cause of arthrosis is overweight and obesity.The destruction of the knee joint in the elderly is explained by the natural aging of the body and endocrine disorders: hypothyroidism, acromegaly, systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus and chronic inflammatory arthritis and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system (rheumatoid arthritis and gout).
symptoms
Initially, the symptoms of arthrosis of the knee joint appear very weak, so the patient does not pay attention to them.You should be careful if you notice such events as:
- limited joint mobility after getting out of bed;
- pain when trying to sit down;
- Difficulty straightening the leg;
- Swelling and heat of the knee joints after exercise;
- Cramps in the joints.
As arthrosis progresses, arthritis interferes with normal walking.A person experiences pain when trying to sit down, stand up or simply move.However, if you start treatment in time, you can restore the functionality of the knee joint.
Exercises for joints
Special exercises, which should be done regularly, help to overcome arthrosis of the knee joints.They stimulate blood circulation in the knees, due to which the cartilage tissue begins to recover.Attention!If you have post-traumatic osteoarthritis, you should consult a trauma specialist before starting exercise.
- After waking up, without getting out of bed, slowly perform the "bicycle" exercise.The range of motion of the leg should be maximal.
- The following exercise against arthrosis is also performed in the supine position.Bend one leg at the knee, straighten the other, pull your toes as far as possible.Change legs.Repeat the movements several times.
- Doing this simple exercise throughout the day is beneficial for knee health: sit on the floor, place a support under your heels, keep your legs horizontal.Then, without bending your knees, you should pull your toes towards you.Repeat several times.
- While sitting on a chair in the office or at home, stretch your legs forward so that your knees are as straight as possible.Pull your toes toward you.This exercise should be done as often as possible and you will forget what osteoarthritis is.
Experts note: with regular physical activity, the symptoms of knee joint disease are significantly reduced or disappear altogether.On the Internet you can find many videos with useful exercises.
treatment
In the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint, all kinds of home methods are used - cold and hot compresses, bandages, ointments.Proper nutrition plays an important role.By adding a few simple foods to your diet, you can quickly cure osteoarthritis of the knee joint without spending a fortune.How to do it - read below.
Cold compresses
Ice packs are recommended when the pain is accompanied by swelling and overheating of the knee joint.Wrap your legs tightly, apply ice packs and place your feet on an elevated surface.Do not move your lower limbs for half an hour.Ice has an anti-inflammatory effect and provides quick relief.However, it helps only in the initial stages of arthrosis.
Warm compresses
In the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint, warm compresses are used only when there is no swelling.It reduces pain before physical activity.But you have to be careful to avoid burning or irritating your skin.
essential oils
Essential oils have properties that help relieve knee pain when applied topically.Many essential oils have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.
Essential oils contain not only aromatic compounds, but also chemical components that are very beneficial for the joints.Among the latter are terpenoids and terpenes, hydrocarbons and aldehydes, organic acids, amines.All of them have anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and restorative effects.When penetrating the skin, they moisturize the joint, which is especially important in conditions of synovial fluid deficiency.
If you suffer from arthritis, turn to the healing power of essential oils for help.To do this, it is recommended to make a simple homemade ointment: add a few drops of the selected oil to ordinary vaseline and mix the product.
How to choose an essential oil against arthrosis of the joints?Focus on your symptoms.
So, peppermint oil will relieve pain and cool your knees a little, rosemary oil will improve blood circulation (that is, it should be used in cases where arthrosis is caused by a sedentary lifestyle), and lavender oil helps to remove inflammation.
It is also important not to make mistakes when purchasing essential oils.How to distinguish a quality product from a fake - search for a video on this topic on the Internet.
Hirudotherapy
Treatment with puppies (hirudotherapy) gives amazing results for diseases of knee joints (arthrosis, arthritis, bursitis, etc.).The fact is that leeches thin the blood, improve blood circulation and remove any swelling.They will help you in any case, regardless of what type of arthrosis you have: post-traumatic, senile, etc. Leeches should be placed near the knee, avoiding large arteries.There is a 4-7 day break between procedures.In total, your treatment will require 3-5 sessions of hirudotherapy.There are many videos on the Internet about how to properly handle puppies.
honey packaging
Honey wraps help reduce knee pain and treat arthrosis at an early stage.Simply apply natural honey on the affected areas and apply a loose honey poultice on top.It is recommended to carry out this procedure at night.Continue the treatment until the arthrosis of the joints disappears completely.
Comfrey wraps
For the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint with folk remedies, comfrey is often used, because this plant strengthens the cartilage tissue and helps to rebuild it in case of degenerative changes in the joints.Melt 200 g of lard in a water bath, add 2 tablespoons of chopped comfrey and boil for 5 minutes over low heat.After cooling, pour the medicine into a glass container and store it in the refrigerator.To get rid of arthrosis, rub your knees with comfrey at night and put a bandage on top.
Slippery elm wraps
Slippery elm is an excellent folk remedy for arthrosis of the knee joint.You can prepare ointments from it according to the above recipe (200 g of pork fat + 2 tablespoons of crushed slippery elm bark).Do the wrap every night until the arthrosis or arthritis is completely gone.
Harpagophytum
The plant Harpagophytum is popularly called "devil's claw".It is successfully used to treat arthrosis of the knee joints, as well as other degenerative diseases (such as arthritis, osteoporosis, etc.).Recipe: pour 2 tablespoons of dried Harpagophytum root into a thermos, pour 1 liter of boiling water and leave for at least 2 hours.To successfully treat arthrosis, you should drink 3-4 cups of the medicine in a warm form a day.
Bischofite salt
Bichophyte salt is a unique natural product that was formed millions of years ago as a result of climate change - evaporation of sea water and enrichment of salt with deposits of uncontaminated trace elements.It helps to cure any arthrosis and arthritis, even post-traumatic (there are many videos on the Internet about the healing properties of this drug).Simply give yourself warm baths every two days in which 1 cup of Bischofite salt is dissolved.Continue treatment until arthrosis and arthritis completely disappear.
Massage for painful knees
When treating arthrosis of the knee joints, do not forget to massage regularly.It is recommended to lubricate the skin with a mixture of olive and lavender oils.Try to relax your legs, hold the knee cap with your hands and move it slightly to the left and right, forward and backward.Relief from pain occurs almost immediately.
Ginger
Ginger has long been used to treat stomach ailments.Scientists have recently discovered that this product also relieves knee pain, reducing the symptoms of osteoarthritis of the joints.In a study of 261 patients with moderate to severe knee pain, ginger reduced pain while walking and standing.Therefore, include this spice in your daily diet and you will forget what joint arthrosis or arthritis is.
We will also tell you how to make compresses from ginger.Grind the root of the plant on a grater so that you get about 2 tablespoons of raw material.Add a little onion juice, mix well and apply a thick layer on the painful joints.Cover the top with a film and secure with a bandage.For arthrosis, you should do this compress for at least 3 hours, but it is better to do it all night.Repeat the treatment every 2-3 days until the unpleasant symptoms disappear completely.
Turmeric
You will be surprised, but turmeric is the most popular folk remedy for knee arthrosis in India.Adding this spice to your diet can do wonders because turmeric contains the enzyme curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory properties.Canadian scientists conducted animal studies and found that curcumin reduces joint inflammation by inhibiting the enzyme that causes the condition.There is only one conclusion: if you want to treat arthrosis and arthritis, add turmeric to your daily menu.
Turpentine
Turpentine has been used for a long time to treat arthrosis of the knee joint.It also helps fight sciatica and arthritis.How to use it?At night, rub the joint area with turpentine, apply a warm bandage and go to sleep.The next morning, you will find that you are no longer suffering from arthritis.
Heating compress
Here is another recipe for a warm compress for arthrosis.Mix 100 ml of pure alcohol with 50 g of mustard powder, 50 g of gasoline and 50 g of camphor.Beat two to three egg whites separately and mix all the ingredients.The obtained ointment should be applied to the areas where there is arthrosis or arthritis of the joints at night.Continue treatment until complete remission of the disease.
Pine baths
Arthritis and arthritis of the joints can also be treated with pine baths.How are they made?Boil 1 liter of chopped young coniferous branches for 5-7 minutes on low heat, pour the broth into the bath and rinse with warm water.The duration of the procedure is 15 minutes.Do not rub with a towel after the bath - just dry the body.
Dandelion flowers
And now I will tell you how to treat arthrosis of the knee joint with the help of dandelions.Everything here is simple: in the spring, when dandelions bloom, you need to pick 3-4 flowers a day, wash them under running water and then chew well.The taste is not very pleasant, but what can not be done to treat arthrosis?
But for the winter, prepare an alcoholic tincture of dandelion flowers: for this, you need to fill them completely with pure alcohol and keep them in a cool, dark place for 1 month, then strain them.Once your arthritis starts to get the better of you, rub your knees with this rubbing alcohol.