Of all the joints in the human body, knee pain is the most common complaint of people. The knee joint is complex, it bears a large load during various types of physical activity, therefore, there are many reasons for pain in it. Knee pain, even if it occurs occasionally and goes away on its own, should not be noticed.
Causes of Knee Pain
- Gonarthrosis, or arthrosis of the knee joint. The disease is caused by excessive stress, trauma, overweight, metabolic disorders. Pain usually interferes during and after physical activity, including walking up stairs, running, squatting, and gradually subsides with rest. The painful sensation is combined with painful cramps in the joints, in turn there is swelling, deformation of the knee contour, restriction and pain during movement. Often, and in young people, there is a so-called patellofemoral (femoral-patella) arthrosis, when the joint between the patella and the articular surface of the femur is worn.
- Damage to the meniscus. The knee joint has two cartilaginous formations - the inner and outer meniscus, which provides better shock absorption. The internal meniscus suffers more often. It is important to know the differentiated traumatic meniscus injuries and degenerative injuries. The first occurs with a sharp round of the body, when the legs are fixed, jumping, falling. The pain is acute, the swelling of the joint develops rapidly, blood accumulates in its cavity, which causes swelling to appear above the patella. The knee may not be fully extended or the victim experiences a tingling sensation, "jumping out" of a foreign body in the joint. Degenerative meniscus rupture occurs primarily in the elderly with gonarthrosis. It can happen only when walking, when trying to sit in a low seat, or carrying a load. The pain increases gradually, accompanied by swelling, synovitis (inflammatory fluid in the articular cavity). Meniscus injuries also give pain during rotation of the lower leg (clinical trials conducted by doctors based on this), down stairs.
- Damage to the ligament apparatus. Trauma is more frequent than or associated with meniscus tearing. The knee joint has external and internal lateral ligaments, anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, and the patella ligament itself. The lateral ligaments are more often affected when there is a violent deflection of the lower part of the foot outward or inward from the axis of the limb. The cruciate ligament is damaged by twisting the bottom of the leg, hitting it. The patella ligament itself ruptured during its traumatic dislocation. Injuries of the ligament apparatus are characterized by pain, exacerbated by walking, support in the legs. In addition, with significant damage, instability of the knee joint occurs in one plane or another.
- Joint pain. Inflammation of the knee joint that is infectious or non -infectious. The person experiences constant pain that increases with energy. The joints are swollen, enlarged, hot to the touch, the skin turns red. General body temperature may also increase.
- Rheumatoid arthritis. It is an autoimmune disease that affects many joints, often the knee. The pain in this case is inflammatory in nature, i. e. patients complain of it during rest, especially after night. Movement improves blood flow and relieves pain. The pain is accompanied by prolonged stiffness (more than half an hour). There are also other signs of inflammation of the joints: swelling, redness, increased skin temperature on it.
- Tumor of the knee joint. Pain is not a permanent symptom of a tumor. With a small formation, it may be absent, as well as other signs. But, if the tumor grows, affecting all the new structures of the joint, the patient begins to complain of pain. They were not associated with physical activity, being more frequently interrupted in the second half of the night and in the morning.
- Osteochondropathy. This is a wound on the articular surface. In the knee joint, Koenig's disease can develop - osteochondropathy of the inner condyle of the thigh, while the cartilage is destroyed, and its fragments can be located independently in the joint cavity, leading to inflammatory processes and blocking the joint. Pain is felt during exercise, and with the progression of the disease and rest.
Treatment
Pain is just a symptom of a disease. Its nature, localization, dependence on stress, time of day help, along with other symptoms, to make an early diagnosis.
Treatment should be aimed primarily at eliminating the specific disease or, if this is not possible, achieving long -term remission (period without exacerbation), preventing progression.
Treatment methods can be conservative or surgical.
Symptomatic pain therapy is, first and foremost, a group of drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It is used in the form of intravenous, intramuscular injections, tablets, capsules, rectal and topical suppositories (ointments, gels, creams, aerosols).
For many diseases, the doctor may prescribe methods of physical treatment: physiotherapy procedures, dry heat or baths, semi -alcoholic compresses, therapeutic exercises in a gentle mode, wearing a bandage or orthosis.
Such therapies, along with medications, help improve blood flow, relieve inflammation and reduce pain. If pain is associated with mechanical causes (part of torn meniscus blocking joint, free cartilaginous body) or conservative therapy does not work, surgical techniques are used: joint debridement by arthroscopy, osteotomy, knee joint replacement with artificial, joint closure (arthrodesis).
If you are experiencing knee pain, you should consult an orthopedic or traumatologist (if an injury has occurred).