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 during our lives has, at least once, experienced pain in the knee - dull, aching, sharp, muffled or even unbearable.Sometimes unpleasant sensations bother people only when walking or bending and stretching their legs, in some cases - regularly.
The nature 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 caused by an injury or be of a pathological nature.Sometimes this is a symptom of a serious disease, which can be determined by the nature of the sensations and some additional symptoms.
Some of the most common reasons why knees hurt include the following:
- Arthritis of the knee joint is an inflammatory disease.It can be an independent pathology, or a symptom or complication of other diseases.
- Osteoarthritis of the knee joint is a degenerative process of destruction of joint tissues;over a long period of time it causes deformation and deprives the joint of mobility.
- Due to an injury caused by a very hard blow to the knee, a collision with a hard object or a fall.In this case, the joint is excessively damaged and bends unnaturally.
- Ligament Damage – Any activity that requires physical exertion can lead to knee injuries.This often happens during sports and active recreation, and a sharp pain is immediately felt and the joint swells.If this happens, it is necessary to exclude further loading of the injured leg until medical assistance is provided, so as not to aggravate the injury.
- Meniscal damage.The meniscus is a rounded piece of cartilage in the knee joint that is easily 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 rather in the bursa where it is located.The pain is not localized and can often radiate to adjacent areas, even to the toes.Bursitis can manifest itself in an acute form, but often becomes chronic.Acute bursitis manifests as sharp 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 be easily felt even through the skin;the swelling has a clear contour.
- Pain occurs when a cyst forms below the knee (Becker cyst).The formation appears in the fossa as a result of a previously observed inflammatory process in the knee joint.Substances that accumulate in the joints during inflammation penetrate into the tendon areas of the popliteal fossa and are localized on the inside of the fossa.
- Tendinitis (inflammation of ligaments and tendons) is characterized by swelling and discomfort in a specific area.It intensifies with flexion and extension of the knees and contraction of the muscles associated with the tendon affected by the inflammation, and radiates to the adjacent muscles of the leg and thigh.
- Ischemic pain - occurs due to reduced blood flow to the knee joint.The cause may be a sudden change in weather, a long stay in the 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 joint mobility.
Acute or chronic knee pain that occurs should not be ignored, so you should consult a doctor.After the diagnosis is made, the specialist will tell you what to do in a particular case.Treatment may include tablets, ointments, rubs, physical procedures and surgery.
Diagnostics
First, the orthopedist examines the patient's painful knee, performs range of motion tests and collects a history to make an accurate diagnosis.In addition, the doctor may prescribe the following examinations:
- Instrumental - using radiography.Ultrasound, CT, MRI or densitometry.
- During a laboratory examination, general and biochemical tests are performed, a smear and a blood test for bacterial microflora, a serological test, a puncture of the bone marrow and joint fluid are performed.
- Invasive methods involve arthroscopy.
Based on the results of tests and examinations, the specialist will make a diagnosis and tell you 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 solving the arising problem.Whatever the cause of knee pain, the first thing you should do is reduce the stress on the joints.During periods of acute pain, the patient often requires bed rest, followed by activation of the leg.It is recommended to use a cane or crutches when walking and wear soft, comfortable shoes.In some cases, the doctor prescribes orthopedic insoles.
At home, the main means of drug treatment of knee pain are chondroprotective agents, analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs.The forms of release of these drugs can be different (gels, creams, ointments, injections, tablets).The specialist prescribes one form or another of the drug, depending on the type, degree and location of the damage.
- NSAIDs are most effective at relieving pain and inflammation.But they have no effect on the cause of the disease.
- If your knee is swollen and painful, an ice pack may help.You can take an ice pack and apply it to the damaged area.After some time the pain will start to disappear.
- Chondroprotectors, on the other hand, do not reduce pain, but with long-term use promote the recovery of damaged cartilage tissue, restore joint function and reduce the number of recurrences of the disease.
- Applying a fixative bandage can also help.But you need to be sure that this can be done 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 a little.A sedentary lifestyle or sedentary work is very dangerous - there is a risk of excess weight, which will burden the knee joints, and also all the time without movement is very harmful, the knees stagnate.
Drug treatment is usually supplemented with a course of physiotherapy.This allows you to quickly relieve pain, shorten the course of treatment and reduce the dose of drugs.
It is equally important to follow a diet: eating plant foods rich in vitamins, fish dishes and seafood helps restore articular cartilage.And of course, if the pain can be overcome, we should try to ensure that it does not return: leading a healthy lifestyle, strengthening the body and not exposing it to excessive stress.