One in five Europeans has knee osteoarthritis.Experts estimate that only 40 percent of cases of degenerative arthritis are caused by aging.The remaining 60% is due to overload, injury and lack of physical activity.Knee disease is therefore the price we pay for our lifestyle.
Degenerative changes in the knee joint (arthrosis and arthritis) develop slowly and gradually, destroying the cartilage.Meanwhile, the disease comes in many forms.Therefore, post-traumatic arthritis occurs after various knee injuries, such as ligament sprains, knee injuries, meniscus injuries, etc.In many cases, the disease is caused by changes in the musculoskeletal system of the lower limbs or spine that result in improper distribution of load on the knee joint.Common causes of joint disease are overweight and obesity.In the elderly, destruction of the knee joints is caused by the body's natural aging and endocrine disorders: systemic diseases such as hypothyroidism, acromegaly, diabetes and chronic inflammatory arthritis, as well as other diseases of the musculoskeletal system (rheumatoid arthritis and gout).
symptom
Initially, symptoms of knee arthritis are so subtle that the patient does not notice them.You should be alert if you notice the following:
- Limited joint movement after getting up;
- Pain when trying to squat;
- Difficulty straightening legs;
- Knee joint swelling and heat after exercise;
- The joints creaked.
As the joint progresses, arthritis can interfere with normal walking.Pain occurs when a person tries to sit, stand, or simply move around.However, if treatment is started on time, the function of the knee joint can be restored.
joint exercises
Special exercises that need to be done regularly can help overcome knee arthritis.They stimulate blood flow to the knee so that cartilage tissue begins to recover.attention!If you have post-traumatic arthritis, you should consult a traumatologist before exercising.
- After getting up, do the "cycling" exercise slowly without getting out of bed.Legs should have maximum range of motion.
- The following anti-joint exercises are also performed in the lying position.Bend the knee of one leg and straighten the other leg, pulling your toes toward you as far as possible.Change legs.Repeat the action several times.
- Throughout the day, do this simple exercise for good knee health: Sit on the floor, place a support under your heels and keep your legs level.Then, without bending your knees, pull your toes toward 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 toward you.This exercise should be done as often as possible so that you forget what arthritis is.
Experts point out that through regular physical exercise, the symptoms of knee joint disease will be significantly reduced or completely eliminated.On the Internet you can find many videos containing useful exercises.
treat
When treating arthritis of the knee, you can use a variety of home remedies - cold compresses, hot compresses, wraps, ointments.Proper diet plays an important role.Knee osteoarthritis can be cured quickly without spending a lot of money if you add a few simple foods to your diet.How to do this - read below.
cold compress
Ice packs are recommended when pain is accompanied by swelling and overheating of the knee joint.Squeeze your legs tightly, apply ice packs to your legs, and then place your legs on a higher surface.Do not move your lower limbs for half an hour.Ice has anti-inflammatory properties and can quickly relieve symptoms.However, it is only helpful in the early stages of joint disease.
Hot compress
When treating arthritis of the knee, use heat only if there is no swelling.It relieves pain before physical training.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 properties.
Essential oils not only contain aromatic compounds, but they also contain chemical components that are great for your joints.The latter include terpenoids and terpenes, hydrocarbons and aldehydes, organic acids, and amines.They all have anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and regenerative properties.They enter the skin through friction and moisturize the joints, which is especially important in cases of synovial fluid deficiency.
If joint disease bothers you, harness the healing power of essential oils to help you.To do this, it is recommended to make a simple homemade ointment: add a few drops of the oil of choice to ordinary petroleum jelly and mix the product.
How to choose essential oils to fight joint arthritis?Pay attention to your symptoms.
So, peppermint oil can relieve pain and cool your knees slightly, rosemary oil can improve circulation (that is, it should be used for joint problems caused by a sedentary lifestyle), and lavender oil can help relieve inflammation.
It’s 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.
Leech therapy
Leech therapy (leech therapy) has amazing results for knee joint disorders (arthrosis, arthritis, bursitis, etc.).The fact is that leeches thin the blood, improve circulation and eliminate all congestion.In any case, they will be helpful, no matter what type of arthropathy you have: post-traumatic arthropathy, senile arthropathy, etc.Leeches should be applied close to the knees, avoiding major arteries.Allow 4-7 days of rest between surgeries.In total, your treatment will require 3-5 leech treatments.There are many videos on the internet on how to properly handle leeches.
honey wrap
Honey wrap helps reduce knee pain and heals joints in the early stages.Simply lubricate the affected area with natural honey and apply a loose honey bandage over it.It is recommended to perform this procedure at night.Continue treatment until the articulation of the joint is completely gone.
Comfrey Wrap
To treat arthrosis of the knee with folk remedies, comfrey is often used, since this plant strengthens cartilage tissue and helps to strengthen it in case of degenerative changes in the joints.Melt 200 grams of lard (lard) in a water bath, add 2 tablespoons of crushed comfrey, and cook over low heat for 5 minutes.After cooling, the resulting drug is poured into glass containers and stored in the refrigerator.To get rid of joint disease, lubricate the knees with comfrey at night and put a bandage on them.
Slippery Elm Wrap
Slippery elm is an excellent folk remedy for arthritis of the knee.You can prepare an ointment according to the recipe we gave above (200 g of lard + 2 tablespoons of crushed slippery elm bark).Wrap every night until the joint or arthritis is completely gone.
Habag plant
The harpagophytum plant is commonly known as "devil's claw."It is successfully used to treat arthropathy of the knee joint, as well as other degenerative diseases (such as arthritis, osteoporosis, etc.).Recipe: Pour 2 tablespoons of dried Hapag roots into a thermos, add 1 liter of boiling water and leave for at least 2 hours.In order to successfully treat joint disease, you must drink 3-4 glasses of warm medicine every day.
Hydromanganese mineral salt
Hydroxite salt is a unique natural product that was formed millions of years ago as a result of climate change - the evaporation of seawater and the enrichment of the salt by uncontaminated trace element deposits.It helps with any joint and arthritis, even post-traumatic arthritis (there are many videos on the internet about the healing properties of this drug).Simply take a hot bath with 1 cup of tetrachlorite dissolved in it every two days.Continue treatment until the joints and arthritis are completely gone.
Massage for sore knees
While you're treating knee arthritis, don't forget to get regular massage.It is recommended to use a mixture of olive and lavender oil to lubricate the skin.Try to relax your legs as much as possible, grab your kneecaps with both hands, and move them slightly left and right, back and forth.Pain relief is almost immediate.
ginger
Ginger has been used to treat stomach problems since ancient times.Scientists recently discovered that the product can also relieve knee pain and reduce symptoms of arthritis in the joints.A study of 261 patients with moderate to severe knee pain showed that ginger can reduce pain when walking and standing.So, include this spice in your daily diet and you will forget what joint or joint arthritis is.
We will also tell you how to make a dressing with ginger.Grate the roots of the plant with a grater to get about 2 tablespoons of the stock.Add the juice of the shallots, mix well and apply a thick layer on the painful areas of the joints.Cover the top with film and secure with a bandage.This dressing for your joints should be worn for at least 3 hours, but preferably overnight.Repeat the treatment every 2-3 days until the unpleasant symptoms completely disappear.
turmeric
You will be surprised, but turmeric is the most popular folk medicine in India for treating knee arthritis.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 the condition.There is only one conclusion: if you want to treat joint disease and arthritis, add turmeric to your daily menu.
turpentine
Turpentine has long been used to treat arthritis of the knee.It also helps fight sciatica and arthritis.How to apply?Rub the joint area with turpentine at night, wrap it with a warm bandage, and go to bed.The next morning, you will notice that your joint pain is no longer bothering you.
Hot compress
This is another hot compress method for treating joint disease.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 used to lubricate joints or arthritic areas at night.Treatment is continued until the disease is in complete remission.
Pine tree bath
Pinewood baths can also treat arthropathy and arthritis.How are they made?Boil 1 liter of chopped young coniferous branches over low heat for 5-7 minutes, pour the broth into the bath and dilute with warm water.The duration of this process is 15 minutes.After bathing, do not wipe your body with a towel, just pat your body dry.
dandelion flower
Now we will tell you how to treat arthritis of the knee with the help of dandelion.Everything here is simple: in spring, when dandelions bloom, pick 3-4 flowers a day, rinse them under running water and chew them thoroughly.It doesn’t smell too good, but what else can’t be done to treat joint disease?
But in winter, prepare alcoholic tinctures from dandelion flowers: for this, you need to fill them all with pure alcohol and store them in a cool, dark place for 1 month, then filter.Lubricate your knees with this alcohol-based tincture as soon as arthritis sets in.