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 overuse, 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 progress gradually, destroying the cartilage.However, this disease has many forms.Thus, post-traumatic arthrosis arthritis occurs after all kinds 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 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.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, as well as other diseases of the musculoskeletal system (rheumatoid arthritis and gout).
Symptoms
Initially, 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 symptoms such as:
- limited joint mobility after getting out of bed;
- pain when trying to squat;
- difficulty in straightening the leg;
- swelling and heat in the knee joints after exercise;
- crackling 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 the joints
Special exercises to be performed regularly help to overcome arthrosis of the knee joints.They stimulate blood flow to the knee, as a result of which the cartilage tissue begins to recover.Attention!If you have post-traumatic osteoarthritis, 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 leg movements should be maximal.
- The following exercise against arthrosis is also performed in a lying position.Bend one leg at the knee and straighten the other, pulling your toes towards you as far as possible.Switch legs.Repeat the movements several times.
- To keep your knees healthy, it's helpful to do this simple exercise throughout the day: sit on the floor, place support under your heels, and keep your legs horizontal.Then, without bending your knees, pull your toes towards you.Repeat several times.
- While sitting in a chair at the office or at home, extend 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 arthrosis arthritis is.
Experts note: with regular physical activity, the symptoms of knee joint diseases are significantly reduced or disappear completely.On the Internet you can find many videos with useful exercises.
Treatment
All kinds of home methods are used to treat arthrosis of the knee joint - hot and cold compresses, compresses, ointments.A proper diet 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 sums of money.How to do this - read below.
Cold compresses
Ice packs are recommended if the pain is accompanied by swelling and overheating of the knee joint.Squeeze your feet together, put ice packs on them, and place your feet on an elevated surface.Do not move your lower limbs for half an hour.Ice is anti-inflammatory and provides quick relief.However, this only helps in the early stages of arthrosis.
Warm poultices
When treating arthrosis of the knee joint, warm compresses are used only if there is no swelling.It reduces pain before physical training.But 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 pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects.
Essential oils contain not only aromatic compounds, but also chemical components that have a very beneficial effect on the joints.The latter include terpenoids and terpenes, hydrocarbons and aldehydes, organic acids, amines.All have anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and regenerating effects.They hydrate the joint by rubbing it in through the skin, which is especially important in case of joint fluid deficiency.
If arthrosis bothers you, call on the healing power of essential oils.For this, it is recommended to make a simple homemade ointment: add a few drops of the selected oil to the usual petroleum jelly and mix the product.
How to choose an essential oil against joint arthrosis?Focus on your symptoms.
So peppermint oil soothes pain and slightly cools your knees, rosemary oil improves blood circulation (that is, it is worth using in cases where a sedentary lifestyle causes arthritis), and lavender oil helps to relieve inflammation.
It is also important not to make mistakes 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 for knee joint diseases (arthrosis, arthritis, bursitis, etc.).The fact is that leeches thin the blood, improve blood circulation and remove any congestion.In any case, they help, regardless of the type of arthrosis you suffer from: post-traumatic, old age, etc.Leeches should be applied in close proximity to the knee, avoiding large arteries.There is a break of 4-7 days between procedures.The treatment consists of a total of 3-5 hirudotherapy sessions.There are many videos on the Internet about the proper treatment of leeches.
Honey wraps
Honey packs help reduce knee pain and treat arthrosis in the early stages.Simply apply natural honey to the affected areas and apply a loose honey bandage.This procedure is recommended to be done at night.The treatment should be continued until the joint arthrosis has completely disappeared.
Comfrey wraps
For the treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint with folk remedies, comfrey is often used, as this plant strengthens the cartilage tissue and promotes its construction in the 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 over low heat.After cooling, pour the resulting medicine into a glass container and store it in the refrigerator.To get rid of arthrosis, apply comfrey to your knees at night and put a bandage on them.
Slipper wraps
Slippery elder is an excellent folk remedy for arthrosis of the knee joint.According to the recipe we gave above, we can make ointments from it (200 g of lard + 2 tablespoons of crushed slippery elder bark).Do the wraps every night until the arthrosis or arthritis is completely gone.
Harpagophytum
The harpagophytum plant is popularly called "devil's claw".It is successfully used to treat arthrosis of the knee joints and other degenerative diseases (such as arthritis, osteoporosis, etc.).Recipe: 2 tablespoons of dried harpagophytum roots should be poured into a thermos, filled with 1 liter of boiling water and allowed to stand for at least 2 hours.For the successful treatment of arthrosis, you need to drink 3-4 glasses of the received medicine in warm form every day.
Bishofite salt
Bichofite salt is a unique natural product that was created millions of years ago as a result of climate change - the evaporation of seawater and the enrichment of salt with deposits of uncontaminated microelements.It helps to cure all arthritis and arthritis, even post-traumatic (there are many videos on the Internet about the healing properties of the drug).Only take a warm bath every two days, in which 1 glass of Bischofite salt is dissolved.Continue the treatment until the arthrosis and arthritis are completely gone.
Massage for sore knees
When treating arthrosis of the knee joints, do not forget to massage regularly.It is advisable to anoint the skin with a mixture of olive and lavender oil.Try to relax your leg, grab your kneecap with your hand and move it slightly left and right and forward and back.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 and reduces the symptoms of joint arthrosis.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 is.
We will also tell you how to make a poultice from ginger.Grind the root of the plant on a grater so that you get about 2 tablespoons of raw material.Add some onion juice, mix well and apply a thick layer to the area of the painful joints.Cover the top with foil and secure with a bandage.This anti-arthrosis poultice 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.
curcuma
You will be surprised, but turmeric is the most popular folk remedy for knee joint in India.Adding this spice to food works wonders as turmeric contains the enzyme curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory properties.Canadian scientists conducted animal studies and found that curcumin reduces arthritis 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 long been used to treat arthrosis of the knee joint.It also helps to fight sciatica and arthritis.How should it be applied?At night, rub the joint area with turpentine, apply a warm bandage and go to bed.The next morning, you will find that the arthrosis is no longer bothering you.
Warming poultice
Here is another recipe for warm poultices for arthrosis.Mix 100 ml of pure alcohol with 50 g of mustard powder, 50 g of gasoline and 50 g of camphor.Beat the whites of two or three eggs separately and mix all the ingredients together.The resulting ointment should be applied to places with arthrosis or arthritis at night.Continue the treatment until the disease is completely relieved.
Pine baths
Joint arthrosis and arthritis can also be treated with a pine bath.how are they made?Boil 1 liter of chopped young conifer branches on low heat for 5-7 minutes, pour the soup into the bath and dilute it with warm water.The duration of the procedure is 15 minutes.After bathing, do not rub yourself with a towel, just wipe your body dry.
Dandelion flowers
And now we will tell you how to treat arthrosis of the knee joint with the help of dandelion.Everything is simple here: in the spring, when the dandelion blooms, it is worth picking 3-4 flowers a day, rinsing them under running water, and then chewing them thoroughly.The taste is not very pleasant, but what can't be done to treat arthrosis?
But for the winter, make an alcoholic tincture of dandelion flowers: for this, you need to fill it completely with pure alcohol and store it in a cool, dark place for 1 month, then filter it.As soon as the arthritis starts to get the better of you, rub your knees with this alcohol tincture.