Osteoarthritis of the knee joint occurs in every fifth European.Experts estimate that only 40 percent of cases of degenerative arthrosis are due to aging.In the remaining 60 percent, it is due to overload, injuries and physical inactivity.So 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 injuries, etc.In a large number of cases, the disease is caused by changes in the bone system of the muscles of the lower extremities or the spine, which leads to improper distribution of the load on the knee joint.A common cause of arthrosis is overweight and obesity.In elderly people, the destruction of the knee joint 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
At first, the symptoms of arthrosis of the knee joint are very weak, so the patient does not pay attention to them.Be careful if you notice phenomena such as:
- limited joint mobility after getting out of bed;
- pain when attempting to squat;
- difficulty straightening the leg;
- swelling and heat in the knee joints after exercise;
- creaking in the joints.
As osteoarthritis progresses, arthritis interferes with normal walking.The 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.
Joint exercises
Special exercises that need to be done regularly help to overcome arthrosis of the knee joints.They stimulate the blood flow to the knees, due to which the cartilage tissue begins to recover.Attention!If you have post-traumatic arthrosis, you should consult a traumatologist before performing the exercises.
- After waking up, without getting out of bed, slowly perform the "bicycle" exercise.The range of motion of the legs should be maximal.
- The following anti-arthrosis exercise is also performed in a lying position.Bend one leg at the knee and straighten the other, pulling the toes towards you as much as possible.Switch legs.Repeat the movements several times.
- During the day, it is useful for the health of the knees to do this simple exercise: sit on the floor, place the support under the heels, keeping the legs horizontal.Then, without bending your knees, pull your toes toward 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 towards 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 completely disappear.You can find many videos with useful exercises on the Internet.
Treatment
In the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint, all kinds of home methods are used - cold and warm compresses, compresses, 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 huge amounts of money.How to do it - read below.
Cold compresses
Ice packs are recommended when the pain is accompanied by swelling of the knee joint and overheating.Squeeze your legs tightly, apply ice packs to them 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 only helps in the early stages of arthrosis.
Warm compresses
In the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint, warm compresses are used only when there is no swelling.Before physical training, it reduces pain.But you have to be careful not to burn or irritate the skin.
Essential oils
Essential oils have properties that can help relieve knee pain when applied to the skin.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 regenerative effects.Entering through the skin by rubbing, it moisturizes the joint, which is especially important in conditions of lack of synovial fluid.
If you are suffering from arthrosis, call on the healing power of essential oils.To do this, it is recommended to make a simple homemade ointment: add a few drops of the selected oil to ordinary petroleum jelly and mix the product.
How to choose an essential oil against arthrosis of the joints?Focus on your symptoms.
Thus, peppermint oil will relieve pain and slightly cool the knees, rosemary oil will improve circulation (that is, it should be used in cases where arthrosis is caused by a sedentary lifestyle), and lavender oil helps to relieve inflammation.
It is also important not to make a mistake when buying essential oils.How to distinguish a quality product from a fake - look for videos on this topic on the Internet.
Hirudotherapy
Treatment with leeches (hirudotherapy) gives amazing results in diseases of the knee joints (arthrosis, arthritis, bursitis, etc.).The thing is that leeches thin the blood, improve circulation and remove all congestion.They will help in any case, regardless of what type of arthrosis you have: post-traumatic, senile, etc.Leeches should be placed in close proximity to the knee, avoiding large arteries.There is a break of 4-7 days between the procedures.In total, your treatment will last 3-5 hirudotherapy sessions.There are many videos on the internet on how to properly handle leeches.
Honey wraps
Honey compresses help reduce knee pain and treat arthrosis in its early stages.Simply smear the affected areas with natural honey, and place a loose honey bandage on top.It is recommended to perform this procedure at night.Continue the treatment until the arthrosis of the joints disappears completely.
Comfrey poultices
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 in its construction in case of degenerative changes in the joints.Melt 200 g of lard (fat) in a water bath, add 2 tablespoons of chopped comfrey and simmer for 5 minutes on low heat.After cooling, pour the resulting medicine into a glass container and store in the refrigerator.To get rid of arthrosis, apply comfrey to your knees at night and apply a bandage.
Slippery Elm Wraps
Slippery elm is an excellent folk remedy for arthrosis of the knee joint.You can prepare lard from it according to the above recipe (200 g lard + 2 tablespoons of crushed elm bark).Do it every night until the arthrosis or arthritis is completely gone.
Harpagophytum
The plant harpagophytum is popularly called "devil's claw".It is successfully used in the treatment of 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, cover with 1 liter of boiling water and leave for at least 2 hours.In order to successfully treat arthrosis, you need to drink 3-4 glasses of the obtained medicine in warm form a day.
Bischofite salt
Bischofite salt is a unique natural product that was created millions of years ago as a result of climate changes - evaporation of sea water and enrichment of salt with deposits of uncontaminated microelements.It helps in the treatment of any arthrosis and arthritis, even post-traumatic (there are many videos on the Internet about the healing properties of this drug).It is enough to bathe every two days in a warm bath in which 1 glass of bischophytic salt is dissolved.Continue treatment until arthrosis and arthritis are completely gone.
Massage for sore knees
During the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joints, do not forget about regular massage.It is preferable to lubricate the skin with a mixture of olive oil and lavender.Try to relax your legs, grab the knee cup with your hands and move it slightly left-right and back-and-forth.Pain relief 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 was shown to reduce pain when walking and standing.Therefore, include this spice in your daily diet and you will forget what arthrosis or arthritis of the joints is.
We will also tell you how to make ginger poultices.Grind the root of the plant on a grater so that you get about 2 tablespoons of raw material.Add onion juice, mix well and apply a thick layer on the area of painful joints.Cover the upper part with film and secure with a bandage.This arthrosis dressing should be worn 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 osteoarthritis in India.Adding this spice to your food 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 this condition.There is only one conclusion: if you want to treat arthrosis and arthritis, add turmeric to your daily menu.
Turpentine
Turpentine has long been used in the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint.It also helps fight sciatica and arthritis.How to apply it?At night, rub the joint area with turpentine, put on a warm bandage and go to bed.The next morning, you will discover that the arthrosis is no longer bothering you.
Warming compression
Here is another recipe for a warm compress for osteoarthritis.Mix 100 ml of pure alcohol with 50 g of powdered mustard, 50 g of gasoline and 50 g of camphor.Separately beat the whites of two or three eggs and combine all the ingredients.The obtained fat should be lubricated at night in places where there is arthrosis or arthritis of the joints.Continue treatment until complete relief from 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 conifer branches on low heat for 5-7 minutes, pour the soup into the bathtub and dilute with warm water.The duration of the procedure is 15 minutes.After a bath, do not rub yourself with a towel - just dry your body.
Dandelion flowers
And now we will tell you how to treat arthrosis of the knee joint with the help of dandelion.Here, everything is simple: in the spring, when the dandelion blooms, you should pick 3-4 flowers a day, wash them under running water, and then chew them well.The taste is not very pleasant, but what can you not do to treat arthrosis?
But for the winter, prepare an alcoholic tincture of dandelion flowers: to do this, you need to fill them whole with pure alcohol and store them in a cool and dark place for 1 month, then strain.As soon as your arthritis starts to get the better of you, rub your knees with this alcohol tincture.