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Knee pain

knee pain

Pain in the knee joint is one of the most common unpleasant sensations that every person has experienced at least once.The progression of diseases that can cause pain is due to the fact that the human knee is made up of different structures, and every day they are all subjected to enormous loads.The damage may affect one of the ligaments or tendons, or specific sacs that fill with fluid, as well as cartilaginous tissue.This symptom can be a sign of diseases not only related to the knee, but also general diseases of the body or systems.

It is also necessary to distinguish during which movements the pain occurs, for example, pain in the knee when bending, is characteristic of people leading an active lifestyle and often indicates a violation of the structure of joints and bones.Such spasms appear mainly in the more advanced stages of the disease, when treatment with surgical intervention is inevitable.Knees often hurt and creak when squatting, which may indicate that the cartilage tissue is worn out (seen mainly in athletes due to constant running).Internal pain occurs due to various joint pathologies or the occurrence of neoplasms.The appearance of pain after childbirth is due to the fact that during pregnancy the female body has undergone many changes and may develop some diseases.

It is important to determine why pain in the knee joint appears, since some diseases can only be cured with the help of surgical intervention, and for some, the use of traditional medicine will be enough.

Etiology

As mentioned above, there are many reasons why knees hurt and they are not always directly related to injuries, illnesses and bruises in the knee joint.The first group of factors consists of disorders that directly affect the knee joint, among which are:

  • gonarthrosis is a disorder that most frequently affects people over forty years of age.The pathology usually affects both knees.The main symptom is pain and clicking during extension and squatting.The spasms are sharp and sharp.The intensity level decreases when you are lying down;
  • blood entering the joint cavity;
  • Meniscus damage can occur at any age, regardless of gender.Often only one knee is affected.This disease is characterized by strong clicking and pain in the knee when bending or after running.Furthermore, the person loses the ability to move because they feel unbearable pain at the slightest movement of the leg;
  • arthritis - the disorder develops very quickly, the inflammatory process spreads to the knee joints of both legs.It is best to start treatment as early as possible, as the disease spreads to other joints;
  • violation of the integrity of the ligaments due to rupture, most often the internal ligament is susceptible to this, much less common in the lateral ligament.In this case, swelling and limitation of motor functions are observed;
  • various inflammations of the tendons - the appearance of which has many causes, for example, infectious diseases or the influence of bacteria, injuries or bruises, drug allergies or anomalies in the structure of the body.With these disorders, knee pain is expressed internally;
  • dislocation or dislocation of the kneecap – occurs very rarely and mainly in children or athletes, after intense exercise or running;
  • inflammatory process in the joint capsule.If treatment is not carried out in a timely manner, complications may arise that should only be treated with medical intervention;
  • pathological processes in the synovial membrane covering the joint;
  • the appearance of a cyst on the inside of the knee joint causes pain behind the knee;
  • destruction of the integrity of the fatty tissue covering the joint.Externally, this manifests itself in the form of swelling of the injured knee;
  • osteoarthritis, in which the cartilaginous tissue becomes thinner;
  • various infectious diseases, the course of which can lead to arthritis.Knee pain occurs when walking and also after squats;
  • bone tuberculosis;
  • spinal pathologies cause pain in the knee when walking;
  • Metabolic disorders or salt deposits in the knee often cause knee pain during squats.
healthy joint and pain due to destruction of the knee joint

The second group of reasons consists of other influences that cause pain in the knee joint:

  • excessively high body weight;
  • external injuries or bruises to the knee joint;
  • working conditions that require a person to stand for several hours at a time;
  • intense physical activity - which is why this disorder is most often observed in professional athletes, for example, after running;
  • incorrect posture during work;
  • wearing uncomfortable high-heeled shoes.

There are several reasons why a woman's knees hurt during pregnancy:

  • increase in body weight (in some cases up to twenty kilos);
  • lack of calcium and other minerals in the body;
  • the production of a specific hormone that softens the ligament tissue.

After giving birth, all unpleasant sensations should disappear on their own, but if this does not happen, you should consult a doctor, as this may be a sign of the diseases described above.After giving birth, a woman may experience pain in her knees when squatting, standing and straightening.This is caused by the following reasons:

  • intense muscle work during childbirth;
  • sudden involuntary movements during the birth of a baby can cause dislocation;
  • if a woman had various diseases of the musculoskeletal system before giving birth;
  • When breastfeeding a child, fluid accumulates in the female body, which harms the joints, which is why pain is felt when getting up and straightening the knees.

Symptoms

In addition to pronounced signs - pain of varying intensity and crunching when squatting, this manifestation has additional symptoms characteristic of the disease that caused knee pain when walking or other leg movements:

  • sleep disorders;
  • increased body temperature;
  • decreased or complete lack of appetite;
  • stiffness of movements;
  • increasing pain when walking.There is a noticeable improvement in the sitting or lying position;
  • noticeable swelling of the injured knee - can be seen from the inside;
  • inability to transfer weight on the affected limb;
  • deformation of the kneecap;
  • change in skin color on the knee;
  • fever.

When the first signs appear, you should immediately contact a medical facility for diagnosis and effective treatment.

Diagnosis

As many disorders are caused by pain in the knees when walking, after running, when squatting and lifting, the diagnosis should consist of:

arthroscopy for knee pain
  • detailed survey of the patient regarding the appearance of the first symptoms, intensity of pain, location of its appearance (external or internal), possible causes (for example, when walking, after running or childbirth), which causes pain;
  • palpation of the knee by the attending physician to obtain a more complete picture of the location of the pain, as well as to identify swelling;
  • patient blood analysis for general and biochemical studies;
  • x-ray - on which any pathologies in the structure of the knee will be clearly visible;
  • fluid collection by puncture - carried out if the attending physician suspects bone tuberculosis;
  • fluid puncture of the knee joint;
  • arthroscopy – performed in cases of meniscal injury, which causes pain in the inner part of the knee.This method is carried out not only for diagnosis, but also during treatment;
  • bone tissue density measurements;
  • Ultrasound of the knee;
  • examinations of patients using magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography.

Treatment

There is no single way to cure all diseases and disorders.The method of treatment for each patient is prescribed individually and depends on the cause and degree of intensity of the spasms, whether the knee hurts when walking, after running, when squatting or standing.Treatment methods prescribed to all patients without exception, including women after childbirth:

  • reduce the load on the lower limbs so that the slightest symptoms do not appear;
  • apply a fixation bandage to the injured knee;
  • Warm the knee with ointments or hot compresses.As directed by your doctor, use cold compresses, but no more than fifteen minutes a day;
  • anti-inflammatory medications.

If necessary, treatment is carried out with surgical intervention.

In addition, there are folk remedies that can reduce symptoms, but they can only be used after consulting a doctor.These pain treatments include:

  • iodine network;
  • compress your own urine;
  • a mixture of raw potatoes and kerosene;
  • lotions made from apple cider vinegar mixed with egg yolk;
  • ointment made from mashed potatoes and horseradish;
  • onion compress, for this you need to cut it in half and apply half to the outer and inner sides of the knee;
  • a solution of cologne and dandelion;
  • tinctures of elecampane root and alcohol;
  • black elderberry, chamomile and pine compress;
  • calendula lotion;
  • a mixture of mustard and honey.

Folk remedies are not recommended for use by women during pregnancy and after childbirth, when the baby is breastfeeding.

Prevention

To avoid knee pain when walking, after running or squatting, you should:

  • adhere to a healthy lifestyle;
  • always watch your posture;
  • maintain normal body weight;
  • warm up your muscles before training to avoid knee spasms after running and exercising;
  • wear only comfortable shoes;
  • promptly treat all diseases that can lead to this disorder;
  • undergo a preventive examination at the clinic several times a year;
  • perform gymnastics if a person's lifestyle or working conditions are standing or sitting;
  • avoid hypothermia;
  • At the first symptoms, especially after giving birth or running, consult a doctor.