Knee pain: causes and treatments

knee pain

The knee joint is one of the most complex joints in the human body.Such a "complex" device with a constant load makes the joint very sensitive.

In this regard, it is not surprising that during our life, at least once, each of us experiences pain in the knee, something dull, aching, sharp, silent or even unbearable.Sometimes unpleasant sensations bother people only when walking or bending and straightening, in some cases - regularly.

The nature of pain in the knee joint, as well as the causes, can be very different;In this article, the knee hurts and we will try to understand in detail what to do in this situation.

Causes of knee pain

Pain in the knee joint is of an injury or pathological nature.Sometimes this is a sign of a serious disease that can be determined by the nature of the sensations and a number of additional symptoms.

Among the most common causes of knee pain are:

  1. Arthritis of the knee joint is an inflammatory disease.It can be either an independent pathology or a symptom or complication of other diseases.
  2. Osteoarthritis of the knee joint is a degenerative process of destruction of articular tissues;Over a long period of time, this causes deformation and deprives the joint of mobility.
  3. Due to injury due to a very strong blow to the knee, impact with a hard object or fall.In this condition, the joint is excessively damaged and bends abnormally.
  4. Ligament damage - any activity that requires physical effort can cause knee damage.It often happens when playing sports and during active rest, and immediately sharp pain and joint swelling are felt.If this happens, further stress on the injured leg should be avoided until medical attention is sought to avoid aggravating the injury.
  5. Meniscus damage.The meniscus is a round cartilage in the knee joint that is easily damaged by a sudden sprain or twist.The doctor diagnoses this cause after an examination of a person, ultrasound and X-ray.
  6. Bursitis.Many people see why their knees hurt when they bend over.There can be many answers to this question, but sometimes it is the joint, or rather, the occurrence of the usual limit of liquids that exist in Bursa.The pain is not localized and can often radiate to neighboring areas, up to the toes.Bursitis can manifest itself in an acute form, but it is often chronic.Acute bursitis is characterized by sharp pain above or above the knee, redness of the skin, and significant limitation of leg mobility.Accumulated fluid can also be easily felt through the skin;The swelling has a clear outline.
  7. The pain occurs when a cyst forms under the knee (becker cyst).Fossa is formed as a result of an inflammatory process observed earlier.Substances collected during inflammation in the joints penetrate into the tendon areas of the popliteal fossa and are localized inside the Fosta.
  8. Tendonitis (inflammation of ligaments and tendons) is characterized by swelling and discomfort in a specific area.It is strengthened by the contraction and stretching of the muscles and muscles associated with the tendon affected by the inflammation and radiates to the neighboring muscles of the leg and thigh.
  9. Ischemic pain - occurs due to impaired blood supply to the knee joint.The reason can be a sudden change in weather conditions, cold and excessive physical activity for a long time.As a rule, the pain is symmetrically localized, that is, it has the same intensity in both knees and does not affect joint mobility.

Acute or chronic knee pain that should not appear, so you should see a doctor.After completing the diagnosis, the specialist will tell you what to do in a certain situation.Treatment may include tablets, ointments, massage, physical procedures, and surgery.

Diagnostics

First, the orthopedist examines the patient's bad knee, conducts movement tests and collects anamnesis to make an accurate diagnosis.In addition, the doctor may prescribe the following tests:

  1. Instrumental - use of radiography.Ultrasound, CT, MRI or DENSITITERY.
  2. During the laboratory examination, general and biochemical tests, a smear and bacterial microflora, serological test, bone marrow and joint fluid puncture are performed.
  3. Invasive methods include arthroscopy.

Based on the results of the tests and examinations, the specialist makes a diagnosis and tells you how to treat knee pain at work.

Treatment of knee pain

Doctors can determine why compounds are causing harm.Therefore, a timely visit to a specialist is an important component to quickly and correctly eliminate the problem.But whatever the cause of knee pain, the first thing is to reduce the load on the joints.Often during periods of acute pain, the patient requires bed rest due to activation of the leg.When walking, it is recommended to use a walking stick or a walking stick and wear soft and comfortable shoes.In some cases, the doctor prescribes orthopedic casts.

At home, the primary means of drug treatment for knee pain are chondroplectic, pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs.The forms of release of these drugs can be different (gels, creams, ointments, injections, tablets).The specialist prescribes one or another form of medicine depending on the type, degree and location of the damage.

  1. NSAIDS are most effective in relieving pain and inflammation.But it has no effect on the cause of the disease.
  2. If your knee is swollen and painful, an ice pack will help.You can take an ice pack and apply it on the injured area.After a while, the pain will begin to subside.
  3. Chondroprotectors, on the other hand, reduce pain, but with long-term use, they promote the regeneration of damaged cartilage tissue, restore joint function and reduce the number of relapses of the disease.
  4. Applying a discreet bandage may also help.But you need to make sure that it can be done for the injury, otherwise you can make the situation worse.
  5. 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 - you will gain excess weight, which will put stress on the knee joints, and movement all the time is very harmful, the knees are stagnant.

Drug treatment is usually completed 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-based foods rich in vitamins, fish dishes and seafood helps to restore articular cartilage.Of course, when the pain can be eliminated, we must try to make sure that it does not return: lead a healthy lifestyle, strengthen the body and do not submit to excessive stress.