Arthrosis is a disease of the musculoskeletal system, as a result of which a person develops a joint deformation with subsequent impaired motor function. For treatment, chondroprotective drugs, anti-inflammatory compounds, ointments with a warming effect, as well as traditional medicine in the form of compresses are used. With arthrosis of the knee joint, it is extremely important to be under the supervision of a doctor and follow the recommended treatment methods.
Symptoms of the disease
One of the characteristic signs of arthrosis is a crunch in the patella. In the future, a pain symptom occurs that does not go away even at night. It becomes difficult for the patient to walk, since any movement brings unbearable suffering. Gradually, joint mobility begins to decline. In the absence of proper treatment, the limbs are immobilized.
The causes of arthrosis
Most often, arthrosis appears as a result of hypothermia, accompanied by subsequent inflammation. At risk are elderly people, patients with autoimmune diseases: lupus erythematosus, rheumatism or metabolic disorders. Thyroid problems can also lead to this disease.
Often, arthrosis appears in athletes after the end of a sports career. Bruises and injuries received during the competition adversely affect the condition of the ligaments and joints. Frequent fractures and dislocations lead to circulatory disorders with subsequent stagnation. In any adverse circumstances, the risk of this disease appears.
Gradually, both the quality and the amount of joint fluid change. Due to its lack of cartilage friction. This extremely dangerous phenomenon leads to cracks on the surface of the cartilage tissue and its gradual depletion. To maintain joint mobility, hyaluronic acid and other compounds are injected that replace the natural lubricant. This disease affects about 20% of the world's inhabitants.
Degree of disease
There are 3 stages of arthrosis. Each of them has its own characteristics:
- The first is characterized by a rare pain that occurs when the joint is stressed. In the absence of physical activity, symptoms of arthrosis, as a rule, do not occur. Nevertheless, the composition of the fluid gradually begins to change, the muscles weaken. A person does not feel the signs of an impending threat and does not attach special importance to them. With arthrosis of the knee, salt compresses help cope with swelling and pain.
- For the second degree of the disease, the onset of destruction of the bone joint is characteristic, accompanied by acute pain when walking and dull in the absence of movement. Now the patient constantly feels a crunch. Muscles change, their function is gradually disrupted.
- In the absence of proper treatment, degeneration of the affected joints occurs. All organs associated with it are inflamed: ligaments, muscles, bone tissue. The limbs are deformed and shortened. The motor function is impaired until the joints are completely immobilized. Treatment of knee arthrosis with compresses at this stage is pointless. Therapy of the third stage is carried out only with the help of an operation during which a part of the damaged organ is replaced with a prosthesis.
How to treat
Treatment of arthrosis should be comprehensive and include several areas and methods.
- First of all, you should review the daily menu, make it more balanced and fortified. There are products that favorably affect the condition of articular cartilage. These include fatty fish containing polyunsaturated acids Omega-3 and Omega-6, products in sulfur and selenium in the composition: radish, eggs and gooseberries. Also, legumes and dairy products should be included in the diet. Collagen, which is the main material of cartilage, is found in meat aspic and in jellied fish.
- Patient should avoid hard physical work in order to reduce the load on the joints.
- For the treatment of arthrosis using the method of intraosseous blockade and radiation.
- Physiotherapy, consisting of shock wave, pulsed and magnetic therapy, has proven itself well. These methods have been used for a long time and have a lot of positive reviews among patients.
- To relieve pain, painkillers or compresses are used.
- In case of arthrosis of the knee joint at the initial stage of the disease, physiotherapy exercises are recommended.
Since the treatment of arthrosis is a rather lengthy process, most drugs are used as injections so as not to damage the gastric mucosa. Compresses with vodka, honey, bischofite and other means are effective for arthrosis of the knee joint.
Medical preparations
For the treatment of this disease, chondroprotectors, anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers and vasodilators, as well as various ointments are used. In the treatment of this disease, vitamin complexes and biological supplements containing animal collagen, selenium, zinc and other components necessary for healthy joints are no less important.
- Such drugs as Sulindak, Meloxicam and Piroxicam are used to relieve the inflammatory syndrome. Depending on the degree of the disease, the attending physician may prescribe Ibuprofen or Ketanov painkillers. When treating arthrosis, you should definitely be under the supervision of a doctor.
- The main drugs for arthrosis are chondroprotectors. These drugs are designed to restore or replace joint fluid, without which mobility of the limb is impossible. They consist, as a rule, of hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine. The most famous drugs today are Teraflex, Zinaxin and Structum. The course of taking chondroprotectors is at least six months. They are most effective in the initial stages of the disease and are absolutely useless with grade 3 arthrosis.
- For local treatment using ointments, rubbing and gels. The most popular are Libexin, Revmalgon and Nikoflex. In addition to these drugs, patches are used that are glued to a sore spot. All of these tools have analgesic and calming effects, so that complex treatment is easier and faster.
Sometimes pain relief requires painkillers, anti-inflammatory suppositories, as well as intramuscular injections. The treatment of the patient will depend on the nature of the disease and its stage.
Far from the last role is played by folk remedies, such as compresses for arthrosis of the joints. They are safe and do not harm the body, which is already exhausted by taking a huge amount of drugs.
Compresses for arthrosis
In the treatment of diseased joints, compresses are very often used. They have several advantages over gels and ointments. First of all, they give a long-term effect, saturate the tissues of the diseased organ with the necessary nutrients. The action that the compress has is much faster. After 10-20 minutes, you can feel the effect of the drug. With regular use, muscle tone significantly increases, acute pain passes and joint mobility is restored. Especially well-proven vodka compresses on the knee with arthrosis.
Medical bile
This popular product is made from bile from pigs or cows. It is a dark brown liquid, it contains ethanol, alcohol and furatsilin. The drug is used exclusively for the preparation of compresses and is prohibited for oral administration. It has a pronounced anti-inflammatory property with an analgesic effect.
Apply it as follows:
- The vial with the drug is pre-shaken.
- Gauze, folded in 3 layers, is impregnated with medical bile.
- Apply to a sore spot, and cover with medical paper on top and fix with a bandage.
- As it dries, the compress is moistened and reapplied.
- The course of treatment is one month.
Compress is recommended to use throughout the day. If irritation appears on the skin, treatment is temporarily discontinued and restored only after the disappearance of all adverse symptoms.
Dimexidum solution
It is a colorless liquid with a specific odor. Contraindicated in the following cases:
- Violation of the vascular system.
- Renal and liver failure.
- Retinal Disease
- Fungal skin diseases.
- Intolerance to dimethyl sulfoxide.
To prepare a compress with Dimexide in case of arthrosis of the knee, the drug is diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 1. Gauze tissue is folded in two layers and impregnated in a prepared solution. Compress is applied to a sore spot up to three times a day. It should be borne in mind that this tool significantly enhances the effect of antibiotics and Aspirin.
Bischofite for knees
This tool is a brine obtained by drilling oil wells. It contains a lot of useful components, including bromine, iodine and iron. This drug is used to smear a sore knee and insulate it. To avoid irritation, the compress should be kept for a short time (25 minutes are enough), and then rinse. Many patients do not know which compresses for arthrosis of the knee joint can be used. Information on the most effective is presented in this publication.
"Paracetamol" for the knee with iodine
Each of these components has its own advantages. A net of iodine has long been used to treat inflammation. On the basis of this drug, you can prepare an excellent compress. The Paracetamol tablet is dissolved in one tablespoon of water and iodine solution is added. Active components penetrate deep into the epidermal tissue. This procedure is popular among patients with arthrosis. According to patients, like compresses with “Dimexide” for arthrosis of the knee joint, iodine with “Paracetamol” perfectly anesthetizes and relieves swelling.
Agar agar and kelp
Doctors advise eating a small amount of agar agar daily. It is found in marmalade, pastille and oriental sweets. Substances that are part of algae have a high biological activity and are able to quickly penetrate the pores of the skin, affecting the focus of inflammation. Ground kelp is poured with hot water and then smeared with their knee. The compress is held for 2-3 hours. It should be borne in mind that algae do not adhere well to the skin and constantly glide. Therefore, this tool is used only at night.
Agar agar is treated in a similar manner. He is given a preliminary swell in warm water, and then imposed on his knee. This procedure is recommended for 50-60 days.
Salt compress
Patients very often use salt compresses to treat knee arthrosis . They can be used both independently and together with alcohol tinctures of medicinal herbs or propolis. To do this, half a kilogram of salt is heated in a frying pan, poured into a pre-prepared bag of natural fabric (for this purpose you can use a regular sock) and add 2-3 teaspoons of tincture of eucalyptus, calendula or propolis. A salt compress for joints with arthrosis should not be too hot.
The skin is covered with a cloth, and salt is placed on top. It is held until it cools. This effective tool is used in the first and second stages of the disease.
Painkillers with Novocain
To prepare a compress, you will need a solution of Novocaine. It is bred in a glass container. In the solution, a paper towel is moistened and applied to the skin. To prevent the product from evaporating, cover the skin with medical paper and warm it with a scarf or scarf. Under the influence of this compress muscles are perfectly relaxed and pain impulses are blocked. To achieve a lasting effect, the procedure should be done daily for two weeks.
Alcohol grinding
Her help is resorted to in the early stages of the disease, when urgent care is needed for sudden pain. Grind alcohol with vigorous movements in order to improve blood circulation. In the absence of irritation, an alcohol compress on the knee with arthrosis can be kept until it dries completely. So that alcohol does not evaporate quickly, gauze is covered and insulated.
Sea salt
A solution prepared from sea salt contains iodine. Preparing a salt compress for the knee with arthrosis is extremely simple. Half a glass of salt is dissolved in water and a small piece of natural tissue is moistened in the resulting solution. Procedures are done over one week. Other beneficial ingredients can be added to the saline solution, such as chamomile or eucalyptus oil. And you can also dilute the salt in a decoction of calendula flowers.
Warming compresses for arthrosis
In order to ensure a rush of blood to the affected area and enhance the effect of drugs, warming compresses are used. Usually for this purpose, decoctions of yarrow and chamomile herbs are used with the addition of tinctures, salt or alcohol. Since this compress with arthrosis tends to cool quickly, it should be moistened every 5 minutes and reapplied to the knee.
Honey-alcohol solution
To prepare a honey and vodka compress for arthrosis of the knee, just mix two tablespoons of natural linden honey with three tablespoons of medical alcohol. The resulting mixture is applied to a gauze dressing and applied to a sore spot. The compress is fixed on top with an elastic bandage. In the absence of irritation, this composition can be used for a month. In the future, to avoid addiction, take a short break and continue treatment again.
Honey contains a huge amount of nutrients, including zinc, calcium and potassium. These trace elements are essential in a disease such as arthrosis. In addition to external use, honey is recommended to be taken orally. A bee product strengthens the immune system and helps to fight against any diseases that occur in both acute and chronic form. Honey is a product of high biological activity. It penetrates the pores of the skin and directly affects the cartilage and bones of the diseased joint. This beekeeping product is included in many anti-inflammatory compresses used for bronchitis, mastitis and other diseases.
Indian onion with vodka
In the treatment of the inflammatory process, one cannot fail to mention such a proven and reliable drug as Indian onion. Its properties are rightly called unique. A perennial plant helps get rid of so many diseases, including arthrosis. To prepare the medicine, you need a large sheet of Indian onion twisted through a meat grinder and three tablespoons of natural honey. The mixture is thoroughly mixed and applied to the knees. The therapeutic composition can be stored in the refrigerator and used daily for 30-40 minutes.
This plant may cause skin irritation. In such cases, take a short break in 1-2 days and continue treatment again.
Using Indian onions and vodka, you can prepare an effective tincture, which will later be used to grind the knee or to prepare a vodka compress for arthrosis of the knee joint. For one bottle of vodka you will need one large leaf of onion. It is cut into small slices or ground through a meat grinder. Both components are mixed in a separate container and sent to infuse in a dark, cool place. After five days, the tincture can be used.
With cabbage leaf
This vegetable perfectly removes salt from the tissue, so swelling passes. For medicinal purposes, you can use both a whole cabbage leaf and juice from it. For cooking, you need a juicy head of cabbage with strong healthy sheets. A few pieces are scrolled through a meat grinder and laid together with the pulp on a piece of natural fabric. The top is fixed with an elastic bandage. If a cabbage leaf is used instead of juice, then it should be slightly kneaded until the juice appears. A thin layer of honey can be smeared on top of the cabbage leaf, as honey compresses are extremely useful for arthrosis of the knee joint.
Oatmeal
This arthrosis compress for the knee is prepared as follows: half a cup of oatmeal is brewed in water without adding salt and slightly cooled. The gruel is smeared on the knees, and on top is fixed with a plastic bag and a cloth. The compress holds for at least half an hour, after which the mixture is washed off the skin surface with warm water.
Potato with propolis
Boiled potatoes are often used as a compress for arthrosis of the knee joint. It perfectly warms and relieves puffiness. You will need jacket-cooked potatoes and alcohol tincture of propolis. Knead the potatoes with a fork and add a small amount of tincture. The mixture is transferred to a gauze dressing and used as a compress. As a rule, it is kept until the potatoes have cooled. At the end of the procedure, the contents of the gauze are discarded, and the next day a new mixture is prepared.
Vodka with ginger
This warming compress for arthrosis of the knee increases blood flow to the affected area and has a beneficial effect on metabolism. Ginger should be twisted through a meat grinder and pour vodka. The ratio of root and vodka should be 1: 3. The composition is infused for two hours, after which it can be used. A small piece of natural tissue is moistened in tincture and applied to the knee. The fabric changes as it dries.
Honey with horseradish
The burning root crop, on the basis of which a compress is made for arthrosis of the knee joint, gives a warming effect, and honey saturates the painful area with useful substances. To prepare the composition, two tablespoons of grated horseradish are mixed with the same amount of warm water and three tablespoons of linden or buckwheat honey are added. The components are thoroughly mixed, and then smeared with a thick layer on the knee. A plastic bag is placed on top and secured with a cloth with insulation.
In the first 10 minutes, the compress can be unpleasant, as the composition bakes a little because of horseradish. If the burning sensation becomes unbearable, you need to open the compress and remove the plastic bag. It should be borne in mind that the skin under this tool should be intact, without obvious damage, scratches or skin diseases. It is undesirable to use such formulations for problems of the cardiovascular system.
Arthrosis Prevention
In order to prevent this disease, the following recommendations of doctors should be followed:
- Control your own weight and not overload the joints. Many modern people either lead a sedentary lifestyle, or exhaust themselves in the gym. These extremes adversely affect the health of the musculoskeletal system and provoke the appearance of arthrosis.
- Frequent injuries occurring in athletes and dancers are extremely harmful. People who engage in heavy physical labor in unsanitary conditions risk not only microtrauma, but also infection.
- Admission of contraceptives adversely affects joint health.
- Swimming in the hole, during which there is a sharp hypothermia, as well as overheating in hot weather, subsequently negatively affects the condition of the musculoskeletal system.
- Food poisoning and even sexually transmitted diseases can lead to this disease. That is why arthrosis recently very often appears in relatively young people.
What is important is what a person eats. Not only nicotine and alcohol lead to various diseases. When carried away by bakery products, the body becomes acidified, as a result of which the entire gastrointestinal tract suffers. Slags harm all human organs without exception. Doctors do not recommend consuming large amounts of coffee, sugary sodas and chocolate. Compliance with preventive measures will protect a person from such a dangerous disease as arthrosis.