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 throughout our lives, at least once, each of us has experienced pain in the knee - dull, aching, sharp, suffocating, or even unbearable.Sometimes unpleasant sensations bother people only when they walk or bend and straighten 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 injury or be 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.
Among the most common reasons why knees hurt are the following:
- Knee arthritis 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 causes deformation and deprives the joint of mobility.
- Due to injury due to a very strong blow to the knee, hitting it with a hard object or falling.In this case, the joint is excessively damaged and bends unnaturally.
- Ligament damage – Any activity that involves physical effort can lead to knee injury.This often happens when playing sports and during active recreation and an immediate sharp pain is felt and the joint swells.If this happens, it is necessary to exclude further stress on the injured leg until medical help is provided, so as not to worsen the injury.
- Meniscus damage.The meniscus is a rounded piece of cartilage in the knee joint that is easily damaged by sudden landing or twisting.The doctor diagnoses this cause after a personal examination, ultrasound and radiography.
- Scholarships.Many people wonder why their knees hurt when they bend.There can be many answers to this question, but sometimes it is the usual excessive formation of fluid in the joint, or rather in the bursa where it is located.The pain is not localized and can often radiate to neighboring areas, even to the toes.Bursitis can appear in acute form, but often becomes chronic.Acute bursitis is expressed as sharp pain in the leg above the knee or in the knee itself, redness of the skin and significant limitation of the mobility of the leg.Accumulated fluid can easily be felt even through the skin;the swelling has a clear contour.
- The pain occurs when a cyst forms under the knee (Becker cyst).The formation appears in the fossa as a result of an inflammatory process previously observed in the knee joint.Substances accumulated during inflammation in the joint penetrate the tendon areas of the popliteal fossa and are located inside the fossa.
- Tendonitis (inflammation of ligaments and tendons) is characterized by swelling and discomfort in a certain area.It intensifies with flexion and extension of the knees and muscle contraction associated with the tendon affected by the inflammation and radiates to the adjacent muscles of the leg and thigh.
- Ischemic pain - occurs due to impaired blood supply to the knee joint.The cause may be a sudden change in the weather, a long stay in the cold and excessive physical activity.As a rule, the pain is located symmetrically, that is, in both knees, has the same intensity and does not affect the mobility of the joints.
Acute or chronic knee pain that appears should not be ignored, so you should consult a doctor.After completing the diagnosis, the specialist will tell you what to do in a particular case.Treatment may consist of tablets, ointments, rubs, physical procedures and surgery.
Diagnosing
First, the orthopedist examines the patient's injured knee, performs range of motion tests and collects history to make an accurate diagnosis.In addition, the doctor may prescribe the following examinations:
- Instrumental - using x-rays.Ultrasound, CT, MRI or densitometry.
- During a laboratory study, general and biochemical tests are taken, a smear and a blood test for bacterial microflora, a serological test, a puncture of the bone marrow and joint fluids are performed.
- Invasive methods include arthroscopy.
Based on the results of analyzes and examinations, the specialist makes a diagnosis and tells you how to treat knee pain in your case.
Treatment of knee pain
Doctors can determine why the joints hurt.Therefore, a timely visit to a specialist is an important component for the quick and accurate elimination of the problem that has arisen.However, whatever the cause of knee pain, the first thing you should do is reduce the load on the joint.Often during periods of acute pain, the patient requires bed rest followed by leg activation.It is recommended to use a cane or crutches while walking and to wear soft and comfortable shoes.In some cases, the doctor prescribes orthopedic insoles.
At home, the main means of drug treatment for knee pain are chondroprotectors, pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs.The release forms 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 more effective in 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 will help.You can take an ice pack and apply it to the injured area.After some time, the pain will begin to subside.
- Chondroprotectors, on the contrary, do not reduce pain, but with long-term use they promote the restoration of damaged cartilage tissue, restore joint function and reduce the number of relapses of the disease.
- Applying a restraining bandage can also help.But you must be sure that it can be done for your injury, otherwise you can make the situation worse.
- If your knee hurts when you sit in one place for a long time, then you should move a little.A sedentary lifestyle or sedentary work is very dangerous - there is a risk of gaining too much weight, which will stress the knee joints, and also all the time without movement is very harmful, the knees get stuck.
Drug treatment is usually supplemented by 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-based foods rich in vitamins, fish dishes and seafood helps restore articular cartilage.And, of course, when the pain can be overcome, we must try to make sure that it does not return: lead a healthy lifestyle, strengthen the body and not subject to excessive stress.