Osteoarthritis of the knee joint occurs in every fifth European.Experts estimate that only 40% of cases of degenerative osteoarthritis are a consequence of aging.In the remaining 60%, this is due to overload, injuries and a sedentary lifestyle.So, knee disease is the price we pay for our lifestyle.
Degenerative changes in the knee joints (arthrosis and arthritis) develop slowly and progress gradually, destroying the cartilage.At the same time, there are several forms of this disease.Thus, post-traumatic arthrosis arthritis appears after all types of knee injuries, such as ligament sprains, knee injuries, meniscus injuries, etc.In many cases, the disease is caused by changes in the skeletal system of the muscles of the lower extremities or spine, which leads to inadequate distribution of the load on the knee joint.A common cause of osteoarthritis is overweight and obesity.In the elderly, 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
Initially, the symptoms of arthrosis of the knee joint appear very weakly, so the patient does not pay attention to them.You should be careful if you notice phenomena such as:
- limited joint mobility after getting out of bed;
- pain when trying to squat;
- difficulty straightening the leg;
- swelling and heat in the knee joints after exercise;
- crushing in the joints.
As osteoarthritis progresses, arthritis interferes with normal walking.A person feels pain when trying to sit, stand or simply move.However, if you start treatment on time, you can restore the functionality of the knee joint.
Exercises for joints
Special exercises that need to be done regularly help overcome arthrosis of the knee joints.They stimulate blood flow to the knees, causing the cartilage tissue to begin to repair.Attention!If you have post-traumatic osteoarthritis, you should consult a traumatologist before exercising.
- When you wake up, without getting out of bed, slowly do the “bicycle” exercise.The range of movement of the legs must be maximum.
- The next exercise against arthrosis is also performed in the supine position.Bend one leg at the knee and straighten the other, pulling your toes toward you as much as possible.Swap legs.Repeat the movements several times.
- Throughout the day, it is useful for knee health to do this simple exercise: sit on the floor, place support under your heels, keeping your legs horizontal.Then, without bending your knees, you should pull your toes towards you.Repeat several times.
- While sitting in 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 arthrosis and arthritis are.
Experts note: with regular physical activity, symptoms of knee joint disease are significantly reduced or disappear completely.On the Internet you can find many videos with useful exercises.
Treatment
In the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint, all types of home methods are used - cold and hot compresses, bandages, ointments.Proper diet plays an important role.If you add some simple foods to your diet, you can quickly cure knee joint osteoarthritis without spending a lot of money.How to do this - read below.
Cold compresses
Ice packs are recommended when pain is accompanied by swelling of the knee joint and overheating.Squeeze your legs tightly, apply ice packs to them, and place them on an elevated surface.For half an hour you should not move your lower limbs.Ice has an anti-inflammatory effect and quickly brings relief.However, it only helps in the initial stages of osteoarthritis.
Hot compresses
In the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint, hot compresses are used only when there is no swelling.Before physical training, it reduces pain.But you must be careful to avoid burning or irritating your skin.
Essential oils
Essential oils have properties that can help relieve knee pain when used on 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 joints.Among the latter are terpenoids and terpenes, hydrocarbons and aldehydes, organic acids, amines.They all have anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and regenerating effects.Entering through the skin by friction, they moisturize the joint, which is especially important in conditions of synovial fluid deficiency.
If osteoarthritis is bothering you, turn to the healing power of essential oils to help.To do this, it is recommended to make a simple homemade ointment: add a few drops of the chosen oil to regular petroleum jelly and mix the product.
How to choose essential oil against osteoarthritis of the joints?Focus on your symptoms.
Thus, peppermint oil relieves pain and cools the knees a little, rosemary oil improves blood circulation (that is, it should be used in cases where osteoarthritis is caused by a sedentary lifestyle) and lavender oil helps to relieve inflammation.
It is also important not to make mistakes when purchasing essential oils.How to distinguish a quality product from a fake - look for videos on this topic on the Internet.
Hirudotherapy
Leech treatment (hirudotherapy) gives amazing results for diseases of the knee joints (arthrosis, arthritis, bursitis, etc.).The fact is that leeches thin the blood, improve blood circulation and eliminate all congestion.They will help in any case, regardless of the type of osteoarthritis you have: post-traumatic, senile, etc.The leeches should be applied very close to the knee, avoiding large arteries.There is an interval of 4 to 7 days between procedures.In total, your treatment will take 3 to 5 hirudotherapy sessions.There are many videos on the Internet on how to properly deal with leeches.
Honey Wraps
Honey wraps help reduce knee pain and treat osteoarthritis in the early stages.Simply lubricate the affected areas with natural honey and apply a loose honey bandage on top.It is recommended to carry out this procedure at night.Continue treatment until the osteoarthritis of the joints disappears completely.
Comfrey Wraps
To treat arthrosis of the knee joint with folk remedies, comfrey is often used, as this plant strengthens the cartilaginous tissue and helps to strengthen it in case of degenerative changes in the joints.Melt 200 g of pork fat (lard) in a water bath, add 2 tablespoons of chopped comfrey and cook for 5 minutes over low heat.After cooling, pour the resulting medicine into a glass container and store in the refrigerator.To get rid of arthrosis, lubricate your knees with comfrey at night and apply a bandage on top.
Slippery Elm Wraps
Elm is an excellent folk remedy for arthrosis of the knee joint.You can prepare ointments according to the recipe we gave above (200 g of lard + 2 tablespoons of crushed elm bark).Bandage every night until the osteoarthritis or arthritis disappears completely.
Harpagofito
The harpagophytum plant 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: 2 tablespoons of dry harpagophytum root must be placed in a thermos, pour 1 liter of boiling water and leave for at least 2 hours.To successfully treat arthrosis, you must drink 3-4 glasses of the resulting medicine in warm form per day.
Bishofite salt
Bichofite salt is a unique natural product that was formed millions of years ago as a result of climate change - the evaporation of sea water and the enrichment of salt with deposits of uncontaminated microelements.It helps to cure any osteoarthritis and arthritis, even post-traumatic (there are many videos on the internet about the healing properties of this medicine).Just take hot baths every two days, in which 1 glass of bischofite salt is dissolved.Continue treatment until osteoarthritis and arthritis disappear completely.
Massage for sore knees
During the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joints, do not forget to massage regularly.It is advisable to lubricate the skin with a mixture of olive and lavender oils.Try to relax your legs, hold your kneecap with your hands and move it slightly left and right, back and forth.Pain relief occurs almost immediately.
Ginger
Ginger has long been used to treat stomach ailments.Scientists recently discovered that this product also relieves knee pain, reducing the symptoms of joint osteoarthritis.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 osteoarthritis or arthritis of the joints is.
We will also tell you how to make ginger compresses.Grind the root of the plant on a grater to obtain about 2 tablespoons of raw materials.Add the juice of a small onion, mix well and apply a thick layer to the area of painful joints.Cover the top with film and secure with a bandage.This compress for osteoarthritis should be used 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 work wonders as 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.The conclusion is just one: if you want to treat osteoarthritis and arthritis, add saffron to your daily menu.
Turpentine
Turpentine has long been used to treat arthrosis of the knee joint.It also helps fight sciatica and arthritis.How to apply?Rub the joint area with turpentine at night, apply a warm bandage and go to bed.The next morning you will discover that osteoarthritis no longer bothers you.
Warming compress
Here is another hot compress recipe for osteoarthritis.Mix 100 ml of pure alcohol with 50 g of mustard powder, 50 g of gasoline and 50 g of camphor.Separately beat the whites of two or three eggs and mix all the ingredients.The resulting ointment must be lubricated in places where there is arthrosis or arthritis of the joints at night.Continue treatment until complete relief of the disease.
Pine baths
Osteoarthritis and arthritis of the joints can also be treated with pine baths.How are they made?Boil 1 liter of chopped young coniferous twigs over low heat for 5-7 minutes, pour the broth into the bath and dilute with warm water.The duration of the procedure is 15 minutes.After showering, don't rub yourself with a towel - just pat your body dry.
Dandelion Flowers
And now we will tell you how to treat arthrosis of the knee joint with the help of dandelions.Everything is simple here: in spring, when dandelions bloom, you should pick 3-4 flowers a day, rinse under running water and then chew thoroughly.The taste is not very pleasant, but what not to do to treat osteoarthritis?
But for the winter, prepare an alcohol tincture with dandelion flowers: to do this, you need to fill them whole with pure alcohol and store them in a cool, dark place for 1 month, then strain.As soon as arthritis starts to take over you, lubricate your knees with this alcohol tincture.