The knee joint is one of the most complex joints in the human body.Such a “complicated” device, combined with a constant load, makes the joint very vulnerable.
In this regard, it is not surprising that each of us has felt pain in the knee at least once during our lives - dull, aching, sharp, muffled or even unbearable.Sometimes unpleasant sensations bother people only when walking or when bending and straightening their legs, in some cases even regularly.
The type of pain in the knee joint, as well as the causes that cause it, can be very different;In this article we will try to understand in detail why the knee hurts and what to do in this case.
Causes of knee pain
Pain in the knee joint can be due to an injury or of a pathological nature.Sometimes this is a symptom of a serious illness, which can be determined by the nature of the sensations and a number of additional signs.
The most common causes of knee pain include:
- Arthritis of the knee joint is an inflammatory disease.It can be either an independent pathology, or a symptom or complication of other diseases.
- Osteoarthritis of the knee joint is a degenerative process of destruction of joint tissue;Over a long period of time, it causes deformation and impairs the mobility of the joint.
- Due to an injury caused by a very strong blow to the knee, its impact with a hard object, or a fall.When this happens, the joint becomes excessively damaged and bends unnaturally.
- Ligament Damage – Any activity that requires physical exertion can lead to knee injuries.This often occurs during sports and active leisure activities and immediate stabbing pain occurs and the joint swells.In this case, further stress on the injured leg must be excluded until medical attention is sought so as not to aggravate the injury.
- Meniscus damage.The meniscus is a rounded piece of cartilage in the knee joint that can easily be damaged by sudden squatting or twisting.The doctor diagnoses this cause after a personal examination, ultrasound and X-ray.
- Bursitis.Many people wonder why their knees hurt when they bend.There may be many answers to this question, but sometimes it is the usual excessive fluid formation in the joint or the bursa in which it is located.The pain is not localized and can often radiate to neighboring areas, even to the toes.Bursitis can manifest itself in an acute form, but is often chronic.Acute bursitis manifests itself as stabbing pain in the leg above the knee or in the knee itself, redness of the skin and significant limitation of leg mobility.The accumulated fluid can even be clearly felt through the skin;The swelling has a clear contour.
- Pain occurs when a cyst forms under the knee (Becker's cyst).The formation arises in the fossa as a result of a previously observed inflammatory process in the knee joint.During inflammation, substances accumulated in the joints penetrate into the tendon areas of the popliteal fossa and are localized on the inside of the popliteal fossa.
- Tendinitis (inflammation of ligaments and tendons) is characterized by swelling and discomfort in a specific area.It increases with the flexion and extension of the knees and the contraction of the muscles associated with the tendon affected by the inflammation and radiates to the neighboring muscles of the leg and thigh.
- Ischemic pain – occurs due to impaired blood supply to the knee joint.The cause can be a sudden change in the weather, a long stay in the cold and excessive physical activity.As a rule, the pain is localized symmetrically, i.e. in both knees, of the same intensity and does not affect joint mobility.
Acute or chronic knee pain should not be ignored, so consultation with a doctor is necessary.After completing the diagnosis, the specialist will tell you what needs to be done in each individual case.Treatment can consist of tablets, ointments, rubs, physical procedures and surgical procedures.
diagnosis
First, the orthopedist examines the patient's painful knee, conducts movement tests and collects a medical history to make an accurate diagnosis.In addition, the doctor may order the following examinations:
- Instrumental - using radiography.Ultrasound, CT, MRI or densitometry.
- During a laboratory examination, general and biochemical tests are carried out, a smear and blood test for bacterial microflora, a serological test, a puncture of the bone marrow and synovial fluid are carried out.
- The invasive method is arthroscopy.
Based on the results of the tests and examinations, the specialist will make a diagnosis and explain how to treat knee pain in your case.
Treatment of knee pain
Doctors can determine why joints hurt.Therefore, a timely visit to a specialist is an important part of quickly and correctly resolving the problem that has arisen.Regardless of the cause of the knee pain, the first thing to do is to reduce the strain on the joints.During periods of acute pain, the patient often requires bed rest and subsequent activation of the legs.It is recommended to use a cane or crutches when walking and to wear soft and comfortable shoes.In some cases, the doctor prescribes orthopedic insoles.
At home, the primary means of drug treatment for knee pain are chondroprotective, analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs.The release forms of these drugs can be different (gels, creams, ointments, injections, tablets).Depending on the type, degree and location of the damage, the specialist will prescribe one or another form of the drug.
- NSAIDs are most effective at relieving pain and inflammation.However, they have no influence on the cause of the disease.
- If your knee is swollen and painful, an ice compress will help.You can take an ice pack and apply it to the damaged area.After some time the pain will subside.
- Chondroprotectors, on the other hand, do not relieve pain, but with prolonged use they help restore damaged cartilage tissue, restore joint function and reduce the number of relapses of the disease.
- Applying a fixation bandage can also be helpful.But you need to be sure that this is possible for your injury, otherwise you may just make the situation worse.
- If your knee hurts when you sit in one place for a long time, you need to move around a little.A sedentary lifestyle or sedentary work is very dangerous - there is a risk of gaining excess weight, which puts strain on the knee joints, and constant immobility is also very harmful, the knees stagnate.
Drug treatment is usually supplemented by physiotherapy.This allows you to quickly relieve pain, shorten the course of treatment and reduce the dosage of medication.
It is equally important to follow a diet - eating plant foods rich in vitamins, fish dishes and seafood contributes to the restoration of articular cartilage.And of course, if the pain can be overcome, we must try to ensure that it does not return: lead a healthy lifestyle, strengthen the body and do not subject it to excessive stress.