Recommend it
The official Site Hondrostrong

Pain in the knee joint: causes, treatment, why the knee hurts, what to do, how to treat

The knee joint is one of the largest and most complex. Every day it is subjected to a large load, so it is not surprising that periodically it stops functioning normally. If your knee hurts, the swelling is noticeable, and the pain is almost constant, then you must see a doctor. Such a pathological condition may be a signal of the development of one of the diseases that change the shape of the joint. Naturally, it is necessary to learn to distinguish situations when a visit to the doctor is absolutely necessary. But lack of treatment or self -treatment can lead to complications.

The structure of the knee joint

To better understand why your knee hurts, you need to understand its anatomy. So, the articulation consists of the femur, tibia and patella. The two largest bones have two protrusions each: an inner and outer condylus.

All surfaces in contact with each other are covered with hyaline cartilage. Thanks to him, the mobility of the knee joint, the nature of its depreciation is ensured. Around this bone connection is a kind of capsule, lined from the inside with a synovial layer. It is filled with synovial fluid, thanks to which the joint is preserved and its mobility is ensured.

The knee joint is made up of more than bone. All its elements are joined by the cruciate ligament and collateral, femoral muscles, tendons. The kneecap is attached to another element through its own ligaments. To allow the knee to move, 6 synovial bags are required. The nutrition and preservation of the presented joints is carried out through nerves and blood vessels, which are located in the soft tissues that surround the joints.

Pain in the knee joint: causes

If the knee starts to hurt, swelling appears, mobility is limited, and the discomfort is severe enough, you should see a doctor right away. If the process of destruction has already begun, then it is impossible to heal the knee completely. However, it is possible to stop or slow its progression.

So, we can distinguish the causes of pain in the knee joint:

  • gonarthrosis.It occurs in almost 50% of all cases of joint damage. Pathology develops for a very long time. Among the symptoms of this disease, the following can be distinguished: the knee does not hurt during rest, however, it becomes difficult for a person to climb stairs, walk long, squat and get up from his thighs. During movement, the patient hears a rumble in the knee, his mobility decreases. Over time, due to wear and tear of the cartilage, the distance between the bone surfaces decreases. In this case, osteophytes appear, nerves and blood vessels are compressed, and the knee itself is deformed;
    • Gonarthrosis of the knee on x-ray
  • meniscopathy, as well as the formation of meniscal cysts. Often only one knee hurts. The pathological cause may be a single injury or periodic damage to the joint. During exacerbations, the pain is acute, throbbing, sharp, severe. With this disease, joint deformation is not threatening, but inflammation can affect the synovial bags;
  • circulatory problems (necrosis).This interferes with the nutrition of the knee. Often, this condition occurs in adolescents. It is those who have too fast bone growth, where their nutrition is quite difficult. If at first the pain in the knee joint is strong enough, then after a while its intensity decreases. The pain is usually localized at one point, and does not spread to the entire knee. Discomfort may be exacerbated by hypothermia;
  • arthritis.This is an inflammatory pathology of the knee, which can be diagnosed in young people, especially women. At the same time, the knee is very sore, the affected area is characterized by swelling, the skin becomes red. The pain at night becomes more pronounced. The knee hurts even at rest, when the weather changes. The reasons for the development of pathology are overweight, old age, weakness of the immune system;
  • bursitis.This is an inflammatory lesion on the synovial bag of the knee. The characteristic symptoms of the pathology are redness of the skin in the affected area, swelling, and a decrease in range of motion. The cavity of the synovial bag is filled with exudate, which contains harmful microorganisms. The cause of pathological development is trauma, excessive physical activity. The knee not only hurts very badly, a person suffers from general weakness and malaise;
  • synovitisHere inflammation affects the synovial membrane of the knee joint. At the same time, swelling and burning pain appear in the articulation area;
  • periarthritis.The disease is more often diagnosed in women who are overweight and who are already 40 years old. At the same time, discomfort is felt when climbing stairs, when straightening the legs. Pathological processes affect tendons, ligaments and muscles, joint capsules. The pain is aching, swelling appears on the limbs;
  • chondromatosis.The disease is characterized by the formation of small nodules of cartilage, located inside the shell of the articular bag. At the same time, dehydration of the joints is manifested, its mobility is limited, a crackling sound when moving. As the soft tissue is pinched, the patient feels severe pain;
  • chondromalacia patella.Here the cartilage undergoes degenerative changes: it simply dies. The causes of this pathological condition are superficial: knee injuries, characteristic of some professions. At the same time, the knee is very sore, the discomfort becomes more pronounced with any movement. On the left or right knee, a squeak, a squeak sounds good. One can practically not stand on the affected limb;
  • bone tumors.Pain in the knee appears due to the growth of neoplasms that compress soft tissues with nerves and blood vessels;
  • Cyst Baker.This is a small hernia that can occur in young people and children from 3 to 7 years. It is so small that it cannot always be diagnosed on examination. It does not pose a threat to human health and does not cause discomfort. However, if it grows, then the joint may ache, especially when bending and straightening the leg. If the hernia is large, then surgery is performed to remove it;
  • knee tendinitis.This is an inflammation of the tendons in the knee area, which are unable to perform their functions normally. Almost everyone is affected by this disease. The pain is usually excruciating, and the affected area responds to changes in weather;
    • Tendinitis - inflammation of the tendons in the knee joint
  • osteochondritis of the knee.This is where the cartilage peels off from the articular surface. At first, the knee is not very sore, but over time, its intensity increases, and inflammation joins the pathological process;
  • Koenig's disease.Here, some cartilage can separate from the bone and move within the joint. At the same time, movement becomes difficult, there is mild pain. With progression, swelling of the knee joint is also observed. Pathological treatment in adults is more difficult than in children;
  • Osgood-Schlatter pathology.It provides for the formation of bumps in the knee area. Most often, the disease is diagnosed in boys, as well as people involved in sports. The pain is sharp, aggravated by bending and straightening the leg.

These reasons are the main ones, but not the only ones. Therefore, it is necessary to consider other factors, due to the influence of which there is pain in the knee.

Diseases of other organs, as a cause of pain in the knee

Some pathologies unrelated to the knee joint can cause pain in it:

  1. Fibromyalgia.Discomfort is localized to muscles and soft tissues, but can be given to nearby joints. The inflammatory process does not develop. In addition to aching pain in the knee joint, a person feels stiffness in movement, fatigue, he may experience seizures.
  2. Dysplasia or coxarthrosis of the hip joint.The pain syndrome in this case extends to the entire leg.
  3. Sciatic nerve neuropathy.It is pinched by the vertebrae of the lumbosacral spine. Severe throbbing pain can spread to the thighs and knees.

What systemic pathologies can cause knee pain? In addition to the reasons already described above, there are other factors that contribute to the development of pain syndrome:

  • gout.The presented diseases occur due to violations of uric acid metabolism in the body. It is less removed from it, turning into salt deposits that accumulate in the joints. In this case, the knee can also hurt. And the pain is very sharp, sharp. More often, the pathology occurs in men who abuse alcohol, eat improperly. In the affected area, the skin becomes red, and at night the knee joint is more sore. The duration of the attack is from a few days to a few weeks;
  • osteoporosis.Pathology is associated with low bone density due to its improper formation. The pain in the knee joint is dull and aching, it is not so easy to remove it. Bones in this pathology are highly susceptible to fractures;
  • rheumatoid arthritis.This is a systemic pathology, characterized by inflammation of the connective tissue. It begins its active development with a decrease in the protective function of the body. Manifested by a feeling of stiffness, which can be felt by a person after a long stay in a state of rest;
  • osteomyelitis.The bacterial pathology presented causes relatively severe pain of a dull nature. In the affected joint area, the skin becomes red, and discomfort increases with any movement. The danger of this disease is that the consequence is the onset of bone marrow death;
  • contagious disease.They are characterized by pain in the knee joint, which disappears after a course of antibiotic treatment;
  • Paget's disease.In this case, the bone tissue is formed improperly, so the spine begins to deform. With this pathology, it is the tubular bone that is affected, which then becomes very brittle. Recognizing the disease is quite difficult, as symptoms may not appear. The only thing that can indicate the presence of pathology is a painful sore knee at night, and heat is felt at the site of the lesion.
Athlete's knee pain

If knee pain is caused by a systemic disease or skeletal pathology, then it is not always possible to get rid of it completely. However, treatment must be carried out without fail so that the disease does not progress further or at least slow down its course.

Trauma as a cause of pain syndrome

The pathological process in this case can develop immediately after injury, and some time afterwards. We can distinguish knee joint injuries:

  1. Ligaments are torn, torn, or torn in the knee.This injury leads to the emergence of articulatory "advance" syndrome. In addition, a person feels severe pain, hemarthrosis of the joints develops, which becomes unstable.
  2. injuries.Here the intensity of the pain syndrome is low. There were no serious consequences after the injury. The swelling, as well as the hematoma, usually goes away on its own in one to two weeks.
  3. Tear the meniscus.It results in a strong blow to the anterior area of the knee joint. After the acute period of pathology has passed, the pain syndrome usually worries the patient while climbing stairs, which is quite difficult to implement. There is a slight swelling in the knee joint area.
  4. Broken. It appears when falling from a high altitude or a strong shock effect. Strong, sharp pain, swelling appears in the affected area, and the skin becomes pale. The victim cannot stand on his injured leg. During a fracture, crisp sounds and creaks are heard, and the bone can penetrate the skin.
  5. Tendon rupture.This injury is not uncommon, but it leads first to acute, and then to excruciating pain. When walking, pain in the left or right knee increases.
  6. Dislocation of the knee joint.In this case, some constituent parts of the joint may come out of it.

Trauma can cause chronic illness.

Most knee joint pathologies have similar symptoms, so it is quite difficult to recognize them. That is why the drugs themselves are not worth it, because you can make the situation worse.

Who is at risk

Knee pain, cramps, and swelling in the affected area are more common in some people than others. Risk groups include those who:

  1. The presence of major pathology.
  2. genetic predisposition.
  3. The constant sports load of the knee.
  4. Being overweight.
  5. injuries.
  6. I underwent surgery on my knee joint.
  7. Inadequate development of the muscular apparatus of the knee joint.

In addition, women are more susceptible to knee disease, as are older and older people.

In what case should consult a doctor

The doctor examines the patient's knee

If a person feels his knee hurts, then he should immediately contact a specialist in this case:

  1. The patient had been experiencing excruciating pain for more than two months, which did not allow him to sleep peacefully at night.
  2. If the pain syndrome is characterized by high intensity, it appears suddenly.
  3. A murmur is heard at the knee joint when walking.
  4. Knee pain every day, and at certain times, in certain circumstances.
  5. At the knee joint, instability is felt from time to time.
  6. If additional pathological signs are present: skin rash, fever, chills.
  7. Painful pain appears, which is accompanied by deformation of the joints, limitation of their mobility.
  8. Pain syndrome becomes a person's constant companion.
  9. Signs of the inflammatory process appear: redness of the skin, swelling, increased local temperature in the affected area.

These signs are enough to decide to see a doctor. By delaying the visit, the patient increases the duration and complexity of therapy, and also allows the pathology to develop further.

Various pains

Why the knee hurts, most of the reasons for the development of pathological conditions are already clear. But the nature of the pain can be different. For example, depending on the disease that causes it, the pain is as follows:

  • sharp, sharp.It causes rupture of the meniscus or ligaments, reactive arthritis, acute phase of bursitis;
  • boring, interesting.Bursitis or synovitis can trigger it;
  • heartache.This type of pain is characteristic of arthrosis, gonarthrosis;
  • throbbing.One feels it with injury to the menisci or as a result of a lesion with deformed arthrosis;
    • Pulsating knee pain caused by meniscal injury
  • on fire.It is characteristic of pinching of the sciatic nerve, as well as tuberculosis of the bone;
  • stab.It is caused by cysts in the synovial exchange. And stabbing pain is a hallmark of osteoporosis, a long -standing injury to the menisci;
  • drill.It is caused by osteomyelitis;
  • periodically.It appears when a patient has inflammation of a tendon or muscle;
  • shoot through.It causes pinching of the nerve endings.

Pathological diagnosis and first aid

Many people complain of sore knees and do not know what to do. But when you feel pain and numbness in the knee joint, you definitely need to undergo an examination and start treatment.

Diagnosis of pain in the knee joint using MRI

Diagnostics involves the use of such procedures:

  1. Blood and urine laboratory tests.
  2. Blood chemistry.
  3. Puncture of bone marrow and synovial fluid.
  4. Smear for the presence of bacterial microflora.
  5. Arthroscopy. This procedure is used as a diagnosis and as a treatment for joint pain. It’s easy to do, and a long recovery period isn’t required.
  6. Radiography.
  7. MRI or CT.
  8. ultrasound.
  9. Densitometers.

Knee Pain: First Aid

If a person feels pain or pulls pain in the leg in the knee area, first of all, he must make sure the whole limb. Home treatment involves taking painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs.

Use cold compresses for knee injuries

The pain can be relieved with cold compresses. Cold is used as a method of pain relief when the cause of the pain is trauma. The limbs do not move and are placed on a hill. When there is a wound in the articulation area, it should be treated with antiseptic. These steps are not a complete treatment. They should be taken only before a visit to the doctor.

Knee Pain: Medical Treatment

So, what to do if irritation is heard in the joints and severe discomfort is felt? First you need to find out why these symptoms appear. One of the stages of therapy is drug treatment. Therefore, with pain in the knee joint, you can quickly remove severe symptoms with the help of such drugs:

  • antibiotics (when discomfort is caused by a viral infection);
  • non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Some pathologies need to be treated with surgery. If there is fluid in the cavity of the knee joint, it must be removed. Cysts can also be treated through surgery or glucocorticosteroid blockade.

Take medicine to relieve knee pain

If the joint hurts as a result of injury, then in some cases it is necessary to reposition the bone. Tight bandages, orthoses and even plasters are applied to the affected joints. It is necessary to treat the limbs not only with the help of pills. Often, patients are assigned to wear or use a special orthopedic device so that the load can be removed from the knee.

It is necessary to treat systemic pathology in a complex way. Pain in the knee in this case should be treated with immunosuppressants, anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticosteroids. To eliminate the symptoms of gonarthrosis, drug injections into the joints, chondroprotectors are used.

Therapeutic gymnastics and massage

If the knee joint hurts when standing, a buzzing sound is heard, and the discomfort bothers even at night, physical exercise, as well as a massage session, will help relieve stiffness and relieve pain.

Therapeutic massage sessions for injured knees

At the same time, gymnastics should be done if the person is not too sick and with the permission of the doctor. All exercises are done slowly. You cannot make sudden movements. If the knee is very sore, then you need to switch to the simplest exercise. The weekly load can be increased.

In a lying or sitting position, you can do flexion and extension of the limbs, half -turns alternately, pulling the knees to the abdomen, moving the legs to the side. After completing a set of exercises, you need to relax, and then proceed to massage. This procedure is also very effective for pain relief.

A sore knee can be kneaded, rubbed on its own, but it is better if a specialist does this. To get rid of most of the symptoms, you need to do a course of massage procedures, one session lasting no more than 20 minutes. Rubbing the inside and outside, as well as the lateral surfaces, pressure on the patella is performed. During the procedure, you need to make sure that the person is not injured.

How to treat knee joints at home?

Irritation in the knee, as well as pain that appears at night, is an unpleasant phenomenon. Why these symptoms appear is already known. However, it is possible to relieve pain and restore normal joint function not only with medications. You can do this at home with the help of folk remedies.

Quickly get rid of the pathology will not work. This way, you need to treat the knee for at least two months. In addition, you need to find a truly effective product that has good reviews.

Knee treatment at home with compresses

The following recipes may be useful:

  1. In half a liter of boiling water, pour 2 tablespoons of cinquefoil grass, after which you need to let it brew. Take the drug should be twice a day for 100 ml. You can use a decoction of cinquefoil on a sore knee as a compress for the night.
  2. Boiling oats will help relieve pain. To prepare it, you need to take a liter of water and a glass of cereal. The mixture is boiled, after which it is left overnight to infuse. During the day you need to use 2 glasses of liquid, dividing it into several parts. It takes 2 weeks to treat the joints this way.
  3. To relieve discomfort and improve blood circulation in the affected area, you can use a compress of grated potatoes and horseradish, taken in equal proportions. It will help to quickly relieve pain. Apply a compress on the affected knee and cover with a clean cloth. Wash off after 15 minutes. To relieve unpleasant symptoms, only 10 procedures are sufficient.
  4. Compressed mustard, used on sore feet at night, also received good reviews. To prepare it, one tablespoon of mustard is taken, mixed with the same amount of honey and soda. By morning, compresses will help relieve severe discomfort.
  5. If the knee joint is sore, a tincture of bitter pepper can be used for rubbing. Half a liter jar should be filled with chopped pepper, and then pour the alcohol to the very top of the container. You need to insist on the medication for a week.

You can do your own knee massage at home.

If you already know why the discomfort appears, then you can choose the appropriate folk therapy that will help get rid of it. But before that, you need to consult a doctor.

Pathology prevention

In order for the knee joint to stay healthy and function well for a long time, you must follow the doctor's simple recommendations:

  1. Reduces joint stress.
  2. It is rational to combine rest and work.
  3. Treat any infectious disease in the body in a timely manner.
  4. Avoid hypothermia in the legs.
  5. After 35 years, it is advisable to start taking chondroprotectors.
  6. During sports, it is necessary to protect the joints with knee pads - special orthopedic devices for correcting the joints.
  7. It is important to normalize your weight.
  8. Nutrition plays an important role in skeletal health. It is better to reduce the consumption of animal saturated fats, white bread, sweets. More fiber, vegetable oils, greens and fruits should be included in the diet. Proper nutrition will not only help relieve discomfort, but also improve joint function.