The knee joint is one of the most complex joints in the human body.Such a "complex" device, combined with constant load, makes the joint very vulnerable.
In this regard, it is not surprising that throughout our lives, at least once, each of us has experienced pain in the knee – dull, aching, sharp, dull or unbearable.Sometimes unpleasant sensations bother people only when walking or bending and straightening their legs, in some cases - regularly.
The nature of pain in the knee joint, as well as the reasons causing it, can vary greatly;In this article we will try to understand in detail why knee pain occurs and what should be done in this situation.
causes of knee pain
Pain in the knee joint can be due to injury or be pathological in nature.Sometimes this is a symptom of a serious disease, which can be determined by the nature of the sensations and a number of additional signs.
The most common causes of knee pain are:
- 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 articular tissues;Over a long period of time, this causes deformity and deprives the joint of mobility.
- A very strong blow to the knee, caused by an injury caused by being hit by a hard object or by falling.In this case, the joint becomes excessively damaged and becomes unnaturally bent.
- Ligament damage – Any activity that involves physical effort can lead to knee injury.This often happens while playing sports and during active recreation, and immediate severe pain is felt and the joint becomes swollen.If this happens, it is necessary to exclude additional stress on the injured leg until medical assistance is provided, so that the injury does not worsen.
- Meniscus damage.The meniscus is a round piece of cartilage in the knee joint that is easily damaged by sudden sitting or twisting.Doctors diagnose the cause after 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 just a normal excess formation of fluid in the joint, or rather, in the bursa where it is located.The pain is not localized and can often spread to neighboring areas, even to the toes.Bursitis can appear in acute form, but often it becomes chronic.Acute bursitis is expressed as severe pain in the leg above the knee or in the knee itself, redness of the skin, and a significant reduction in the mobility of the leg.Accumulated fluid can also be easily felt through the skin;The swelling has a clear outline.
- Pain occurs when a cyst (Baker cyst) forms under the knee.The formation in the fossa appears as a result of the inflammatory process previously observed in the knee joint.The substances accumulated during inflammation of the joint enter the tendon areas of the popliteal fossa and are localized inside the fossa.
- Tendonitis (inflammation of ligaments and tendons) is characterized by swelling and discomfort in a specific area.It is intensified with flexion and extension of the knee and contraction of the muscles attached to the affected tendon by swelling, and spreads to neighboring muscles of the leg and thigh.
- Ischemic pain – occurs due to disrupted blood supply to the knee joint.This can be caused by sudden changes in weather, prolonged exposure to cold and excessive physical activity.As a rule, the pain is localized symmetrically, that is, in both knees, has the same intensity and does not affect the mobility of the joints.
Acute or long-term knee pain should not be ignored, so you need to consult a doctor.After completing the diagnosis, the specialist will tell you what to do in a particular case.Treatment may include pills, ointments, rubbing, physical procedures, and surgery.
diagnosis
First, the orthopedist examines the patient's knee pain, conducts movement tests and collects history to make an accurate diagnosis.Additionally, the doctor may prescribe the following examinations:
- Using instrumental radiography.Ultrasound, CT, MRI or densitometry.
- During a laboratory study, general and biochemical tests are carried out, a smear and a blood test for bacterial microflora, a serological test, a puncture of the bone marrow and joint fluid.
- Invasive methods include arthroscopy.
Based on the results of tests and examinations, the specialist makes a diagnosis and tells you how to treat knee pain in your case.
knee pain treatment
Doctors can determine what causes joint pain.Therefore, a timely visit to a specialist is an important component in order to quickly and correctly eliminate the problem that has arisen.However, whatever the cause of knee pain, the first thing to do is to reduce the load on the joints.Often during periods of intense pain, the patient requires bed rest followed by leg activation.It is advisable to use a stick or crutches while walking and wear soft and comfortable shoes.In some cases, doctors recommend prescribing orthopedic insoles.
At home, the primary means of drug treatment for knee pain are chondroprotective, pain-relieving, and anti-inflammatory drugs.The forms of release of these drugs may vary (gels, creams, ointments, injections, tablets).The specialist prescribes one or another form of medication depending on the type, degree and location of the damage.
- NSAIDs are most effective in relieving pain and inflammation.But they have no effect on the cause of the disease.
- If your knee is swollen and painful, applying ice will help.You can take an ice pack and apply it on the damaged area.After some time the pain will start reducing.
- On the contrary, chondroprotectors do not reduce pain, but with prolonged use they promote the restoration of damaged cartilage tissue, restore joint function and reduce the number of recurrences of the disease.
- Applying a restraining bandage may also help.But you have to make sure that this can be done for your injury, otherwise you may make the situation worse.
- If your knee hurts due to sitting at one place for a long time, then 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 will put stress on the knee joints, and being without moving all the time is also very harmful, the knees become immobile.
Drug treatment is usually complemented by a course of physiotherapy.This allows you to quickly relieve pain, shorten the course of treatment and reduce the dosage of drugs.
It is equally important to adhere to the diet - eating plant-based foods rich in vitamins, fish dishes and seafood helps to restore articular cartilage.And, of course, while the pain can be overcome, we must try to ensure that it does not happen again: adopt a healthy lifestyle, strengthen the body and not expose it to excessive stress.