Knee arthritis refers to the inflammation of knee joints. It can lead to pain in the knee along with swelling, stiffness, tenderness (pain on touching affected area), cracking or popping sounds on moving the knees, and restricted motion of the knee joint. In chronic cases, knee deformity may be seen.
There is an excellent scope to treat knee arthritis in homeopathy. Homeopathy primarily works in providing relief in its symptoms such as pain, stiffness and swelling of the knee. Simultaneously, it reduces inflammation in the joint and stops further damage to the joint thereby controlling the advancement of the disease. Homeopathic medicines prove effective in both acute and chronic knee arthritis cases. Homeopathic intervention done at the right time and stage can give highly promising results in knee arthritis cases. In mild to moderate cases, complete recovery may occur depending on the cause behind it. However, in severe cases, symptom management may occur though the degenerative changes that have already occurred cannot be reversed. In severe cases, these medicines can be taken along with allopathic medicines as well, as they do not interfere with their action.
Homeopathy works magnificently in cases of knee arthritis by treating the root cause behind it. As knee arthritis can arise from various causes like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, injury, gout, etc, the action of homeopathic medicines is not superficial but quite deep that goes to the core of the problems targeting the root cause to provide wonderful results in such cases.
Homeopathic medicines are natural and safe to use which does not have any side effects. In conventional mode, medicines such as pain killers, NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti – inflammatory medicines, corticosteroids, and DMARDs (disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs) are prescribed for knee arthritis as per the cause. These medicines give temporary relief, can make one dependent on them and also have various kind of side effects. The homeopathic system of medicine has an edge over conventional treatment by providing relief that is not short-lived but has a lasting effect and it does not create any dependency.
Homeopathic medicines are selected individually for every case after thorough case taking followed by deep evaluation. So, it is advised to take any homeopathic medicine for knee arthritis after consulting a homeopathic physician. Self -medication should not be done as the medicine prescription, potency, dosage and repetition varies from case to case and only a homeopath can be your best guide.
Top 7 Homeopathic Medicines For Knee Arthritis
The most important homoeopathic medicines to treat knee arthritis are Rhus Tox, Bryonia Alba, Apis Mellifica, Benzoic Acid, Osteo-Arthritis-Nosode, Arnica Montana and Ledum Pal.
. Rhus Tox – Top-Grade Medicine
Rhus Tox is used as the first line of treatment for managing most of the cases of knee arthritis. The foremost indication for its use is pain in the knees while at rest and on taking the first few steps, with relief setting in with continuous walking. The pain is tearing type along with marked stiffness. Knee can be swollen as well. This medicine helps in relieving pain, stiffness, swelling of knee and improving its range of movement.
When to use Rhus Tox?
Rhus Tox can be used when knee pain worsens during rest and on taking initial few steps and relieved by continuous walking, along with knee stiffness.
1 .How to use Rhus Tox?
It may be used in both low and high potencies, but it is usually recommended in 30C potency three to four times a day as per the intensity of the pain.
2. Bryonia Alba – When Knee Pain Occurs On Movement And Gets Better By Taking Rest
It is the second most important medicine for knee arthritis sourced from the roots of plant ‘wild hops’. It is the most frequently recommended medicine for persons who experience knee pain with every little movement and only complete rest is comforting. Most times, they bear stitching type of pain while walking. The knee may be red and swollen as well.
When to use Bryonia Alba?
This medicine is the best solution for the knee pain which is restricting you from all kind of movements (as the slightest knee movement causes pain) while rest eases the pain.
How to use Bryonia Alba?
You may take this remedy in 30C potency two to three times a day.
3. Apis Mellifica – For Painful Swollen Knee
This medicine is of great service in knee arthritis cases where pain in knee is accompanied by marked swelling. The nature of pain most of the time is of stinging/ shooting type. There is a burning sensation in the knee and is also sore (sensitive to touch).
When to use Apis Mellifica?
This medicine can be considered when knee is swollen and painful with prominent stinging pain.
How to use Apis Mellifica?
To start with, one can take Apis Mellifica 30C twice or thrice a day and gradually reduce the dose when intensity seems to decline.
4. Benzoic Acid – For Knee Arthritis Due To High Uric Acid Level (Gout)
Benzoic Acid is the best prescription for managing knee arthritis and pain arising from high uric acid (gout). Those needing it complain of pain and swelling in the knee. Along with this, cracking sound emanates on moving the knees and dryness can be felt inside the knee.
When to use Benzoic Acid?
This medicine can be prescribed as the first remedy in case of knee inflammation, pain and swelling from high uric acid level.
How to use Benzoic Acid?
It usually works well in low power. It is usually recommended in 30C potency two to three times a day.
5. Osteo-Arthritic-Nosode – For Osteoarthritis Of Knee
Osteo-Arthritic-Nosode (OAN) is a homeopathic medicine prepared from the synovial fluid of an osteoarthritic knee. This medicine is a specific medicine to treat cases of osteoarthritis of knee. This medicine is known to relieve pain (especially at night) and stiffness in the joint (especially in the morning). It reduces knee swelling and also helps improve the range of joint movement.
When to use Osteo-Arthritic-Nosode?
It is mainly used as an intercurrent remedy (in cases where improvement has come to a standstill to help to remove any factors that are blocking further improvement) in knee osteoarthritis cases. It helps to relieve joint pain at night and stiffness in morning.
How to use Osteo-Arthritic-Nosode?
It is mostly taken in 200C potency on weekly basis (means one dose once a week only). Do not exceed this dose.
6. Arnica – For Arthritis Post Injury
This medicine is the top most in the list to manage arthritis that might arise from an injury. It is highly effective to reduce swelling in the knee and pain which is sore and bruised type. Along with pain management, Arnica heals the injured areas of knee joint and decrease joint inflammation, and halts further progression of the complaint.
When use Arnica Montana?
This medicine can be given in cases presenting with knee arthritis post-injury with swelling and pain in knees as sore and bruised type.
How to use Arnica Montana?
It can be taken in 30C potency three to four times a day depending on the intensity of pain.
7. Ledum Pal – For Knee Pain With Cracking Sounds On Knee Movement
Ledum Pal is a highly suitable medicine for managing knee pain attended with cracking sound on knee movement. The pain in knee is worse from movement. Along with this there occurs swelling, stiffness and weakness in the knees.
When to use Ledum Pal?
The use of this medicine is advised to manage cases of knee pain with cracking sound when knee is moved.
How to use Ledum Pal?
This medicine can be taken twice a day in 30 C potency. Its higher potencies can also be used afterwards under guidance of a homeopathic physician.
Note Do not exceed use of any of these medicines in more than the recommended power and dose. You may continue these medicines for about a month. To use beyond that or to use high potencies, kindly consult a homeopathic physician.
Causes Of Knee Arthritis And Its Symptoms
Before learning the causes of knee arthritis, let us first review the structure of knee joint. Knee is the strongest and the most complex joint in the body. It is responsible for bearing body weight and movement. It is made of bones, meniscus, muscles, ligaments and tendons. The bones that can get affected in knee arthritis include lower end of thigh bone (femur), upper end of a bone in leg called tibia and knee cap called patella in front of knee. Between thigh bone and tibia, two meniscus are present. Meniscus are C-shaped tough, rubbery cartilages that work as a shock absorber and stabilize the joint and prevent direct rubbing of bones against each other. Knee joint is surrounded by synovial membrane that releases fluid to keep the joint lubricated and reduces friction on movement. Small fluid-filled sacs called bursa are present in the knee joint that function to decrease friction between knee tissues during movement. Any of these components of knee can be affected in case of knee arthritis.
Knee arthritis can happen due to various reasons but the major causes are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gouty arthritis and injury (post traumatic arthritis).
1. Osteoarthritis
One of the most common causes of knee arthritis is osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Among the over 100 different types of arthritic conditions, osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. This is most common in old and middle age. Osteoarthritis generally affects the weight-bearing joints such as the knee, but it may harm any other joint too.
What is the Cause and How does it affect the knee joint?
The real cause of osteoarthritis is not very clear. Medical researchers believe that it is due to a combination of factors that include aging, injury to the joint or stress, being overweight and genetic factors.
Osteoarthritis affects the knee joint by damaging the cartilage in the knee joint which slowly degenerates. Cartilage is made up of a protein substance that acts as a cushion between the bones of the joints. In advanced cases of osteoarthritis, the cartilage may disappear and the bones start rubbing against each other causing more pain. When bones start rubbing against each other, bony growth may occur around the joints.
Symptoms of knee osteoarthritis
In the initial stages of knee osteoarthritis, one may simply feel deep pain in the knee joint. As the problem advances, common symptoms include pain that is worse after an exercise session or weight bearing, swelling in the joint, limited movement of the knee joint, stiffness during periods of inactivity such as sleeping or sitting; cracking or grating sounds in the knee joint. As the damage to the knee joint worsens, the joint may become less movable and pain may occur even when the joint is at rest and can keep the person awake throughout the night.
2. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
What is it? It is an autoimmune disorder resulting in joint pain, stiffness, swelling and decreased movement of joint. An autoimmune disorder means the immune cells start damaging the healthy tissue of the body due to a misdirected response. In most cases, RA starts from small joints but afterward affects large joints as well, including the knee. It tends to affect the same joint bilaterally (on both sides) at a given time.
Why and How it occurs?
The exact reason for it is not clear. However, it seems to begin from an interaction between genetic susceptibility (persons having HLA – DR1 and HLA – DR4 genes are at high risk of it) and environmental factors (some infection with virus, bacteria, smoking). In RA, inflammation occurs in the synovial lining of the synovial membrane and with progression causes destruction of the cartilage and the bone of the joint.
Signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis affecting knee
1. Knee pain and swelling
2. Knee stiffness worse in morning lasting for an hour with gradual relief as day progresses, and after inactivity
3. Heat and tenderness in knee joint
3. Gout
What is gout and Why does it occur?
Gout means inflammation of the joint due to high uric acid level. This type of arthritis arises when uric acid crystals (monosodium urate crystals) collect in the joint. These are needle-like crystals that trigger inflammation and swelling in the joint. Though commonly it affects the big toe joint but can occur in other joints as well, including knee.
Symptoms when gout attacks the knee
1. Knee pain
2. Knee swelling
3. Redness, warmth and tenderness on knee
4. Injuries (Post-Traumatic Arthritis)
Injury to knee joint can also trigger arthritis referred to as post-traumatic arthritis, which can result in osteoarthritis. It may begin after an injury to ligament, meniscus tear or broken bone. The wear and tear makes the knee joint unstable and puts extra pressure on the joint that may develop into arthritis later.
How to diagnose knee arthritis?
The first test recommended to diagnose a case of knee arthritis is an X-ray of the affected knee. This test helps to find bone spurs, narrowing of joint space and other bone changes. In some cases, blood tests including ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and CRP (C-reactive protein) are advised to get an idea of the intensity of inflammation. In cases suspected of rheumatoid arthritis, blood tests including rheumatoid factor qualitative and Anti CCp (anti – citrullinated protein antibody) are recommended. If symptoms point towards gout, then a blood test to check uric acid levels may be recommended. In advanced cases, MRI or CT scan could be required to get more details of bones and to look into changes in the soft tissue of the joint.
