The knee joint is one of the largest and most complex. Every day is subject to a huge load, so it is not surprising that it periodically ceases to function normally. If your knees hurt, their swelling is noticeable and the pain is almost constant, then you should definitely consult a doctor. Such a pathological condition can be a sign of the development of one of the diseases that deform the joint. Of course, it is necessary to learn to distinguish situations where a visit to the doctor is very necessary. But lack of treatment or self-medication can lead to complications.
The structure of the knee joint
To better understand why your knees hurt, you need to understand their anatomy. Thus, the joint consists of the femur, tibia and patella. The two largest bones have two protrusions each: the inner and outer tubers.
All surfaces that come in contact with each other are covered with glassy cartilage. Thanks to it, the mobility of the knee joint, its damping properties are ensured. Around this junction of the bones there is a kind of capsule, lined on the inside with an articular layer. It fills with synovial fluid, thanks to which the joint is nourished and its mobility is ensured.
The knee joint is made up of more than just bones. All its elements are joined by cruciate and lateral ligaments, femoral muscles, tendons. The patella is connected to other elements through its own link. 6 articular sacs are needed to move the knee. The nourishment and innervation of the presented joint takes place through nerves and blood vessels, which are located in the soft tissues that surround the joint.
Knee joint pain: causes
If the knee starts to ache, swelling occurs, mobility is limited and the discomfort is quite severe, you should consult a doctor immediately. If the catastrophic process has already begun, then it will be impossible to completely heal the knee. However, it will be possible to stop or slow down its development.
Thus, we can distinguish such causes of pain in the knee joint:
- knee joint.It occurs in almost 50% of all cases of joint damage. The pathology develops for a very long time. Among the symptoms of this disease, the following can be distinguished: the knee does not ache at rest, however, it becomes difficult for a person to climb stairs, walk for a long time, squat and get up from his ankles. During the movement, the patient hears a knee injury, his mobility decreases. Over time, due to cartilage wear, the distance between the bone surfaces decreases. In this case, osteophytes appear, the nerves and blood vessels are compressed and the knee itself is deformed.
- meniscopathy, as well as the formation of meniscus cysts. Most of the time only one knee hurts. The cause of the pathology can be an individual injury or periodic damage to the joint. During an exacerbation, the pain is sharp, throbbing, sharp, intense. With this disease, deformity of the joint is not threatening, but inflammation can affect the articular sacs.
- circulatory problems (necrosis).This disrupts the nutrition of the knee. Most often, this condition occurs in adolescents. They are the ones who have very fast bone growth, in which their diet is somewhat difficult. If at first the pain in the knee joint is quite strong, then after a while its intensity decreases. The pain is usually localized at one point and does not spread to the entire knee. The discomfort may be exacerbated by hypothermia.
- arthritis.It is an inflammatory pathology of the knee, which can be diagnosed in young people, especially in women. At the same time, the knee hurts a lot, the affected area is characterized by swelling, the skin reddens. The pain at night becomes more intense. The knee hurts even at rest, when the weather changes. The reason for the development of pathology is overweight, old age, the weakness of the immune system.
- bursitis.It is an inflammatory lesion of the articular sacs of the knee. The characteristic symptoms of the pathology are the redness of the skin in the affected area, the swelling and the reduction of the range of motion. The cavities of the joint sacs are filled with exudate, which contains harmful microorganisms. The cause of the development of the pathology is the trauma, the excessive physical activity. Not only does the knee ache very badly, a person develops general weakness and malaise.
- arthritisHere inflammation affects the synovial membrane of the knee joint. Simultaneously, swelling and burning pain appear in the joint area.
- periarthritis.This disease is most 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 leg. The pathological process affects the tendons, ligaments and muscles, the joint capsule. The pain hurts, swelling appears in the limb.
- chondromatosis.This disease is characterized by the formation of small cartilage nodules, which are located in the shell of the joint sac. At the same time, dehydration of the joint occurs, its mobility is limited, it stings when moving. As the soft tissues are pinched, the patient feels intense pain.
- patellar cartilage.Here the cartilage undergoes degenerative changes: it simply dies. The reasons for this pathological condition are simple: knee injury, characteristic of certain professions. At the same time, the knee hurts a lot, the discomfort becomes more intense with any movement. On the left or right knee, a crackling sound can be heard very well. A person can practically not stand on the affected limb.
- bone volume.Knee pain occurs due to the development of a tumor that compresses the soft tissues with nerves and blood vessels.
- Baker cyst.This is a small hernia that can occur in young people and children from 3 to 7 years old. It is so small that it can not always be diagnosed on examination. It does not pose a threat to human health and is not a nuisance. However, if it grows, then the joint may ache, especially when you bend and straighten the leg. If the hernia is large, then surgery is performed to remove it.
- knee tendonitis.It is an inflammation of the tendons in the knee area, which can not perform their functions properly. Almost everyone is affected by the disease. The pain usually hurts and the affected area reacts to changes in the weather.
- osteochondritis of the knee.This is where the cartilage comes off the joint surface. At first, the knee does not hurt much, but over time, its intensity increases and the inflammation becomes part of the pathological process.
- Koenig's disease.Here, part of the cartilage can separate from the bone and move inside the joint. At the same time, the movement becomes difficult, there is a mild pain. As it progresses, there is swelling of the knee joint. Treating the pathology in adults is more difficult than in children.
- Osgood-Schlatter pathology.Predicts the formation of bumps in the knee area. Most often, the disease is diagnosed in boys, as well as in people who do sports. The pain is acute, aggravated by bending and straightening the leg.
These reasons are the main ones, but not the only ones. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account other factors, due to the effect of which there is knee pain.
Diseases of other organs, as a cause of knee pain
Some pathologies that are not related to the knee joint can cause pain in it:
- Fibromyalgia.The discomfort is located in the muscles and soft tissues, but can be given to nearby joints. The inflammatory process does not develop. In addition to pain in the knee joint, a person feels stiffness in movements, fatigue, may experience convulsions.
- Dysplasia or coxarthrosis of the hip joint.The pain syndrome in this case extends to the entire leg.
- Sciatic nerve neuropathy.It is bitten by the vertebrae of the lumbar spine. Intense throbbing pain may radiate to the thigh and knee.
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:
- arthritis.The disease occurs due to violation of uric acid metabolism in the body. It is slightly removed from it, it turns into salt deposits that accumulate in the joints. In this case, the knee may also ache. And the pain is very sharp, sharp. Most often, the pathology occurs in men who abuse alcohol, eat inappropriately. In the affected area, the skin turns red and at night the knee joint hurts more. The duration of the attack varies from a few days to several weeks.
- osteoporosis.The pathology is associated with low bone density due to its improper formation. The pain in the knee joint is dull and it hurts, it is not so easy to remove it. The bones in this pathology are very sensitive to fractures.
- rheumatoid arthritis.This is a systemic pathology, characterized by inflammation of the connective tissue. It begins its active development by reducing the protective functions of the body. It manifests itself with a feeling of rigidity, which can be felt by a person after a long stay at rest.
- osteomyelitis.The presented bacterial pathology causes quite intense pains of a dull nature. In the area of the affected joint, the skin reddens and the discomfort increases with any movement. The danger of this disease is that its consequence is the onset of bone marrow death.
- infectious diseases.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 incorrectly, so the spine begins to deform. With this pathology, the tubular bones are affected, which then become very fragile. Recognizing this disease is quite difficult, as the symptoms may not appear. The only thing that can indicate the presence of pathology is that the aching knee hurts at night and the heat is felt at the site of the injury.
If the knee pain was caused by a systemic disease or skeletal pathology, then it is not always possible to get rid of it completely. However, treatment must be done without failure, so that the disease does not progress further or at least slow down its course.
Trauma as a cause of pain syndrome
The pathological processes in this case can develop both immediately after the injury and shortly after it. We can distinguish such injuries of the knee joint:
- Torn, torn or torn ligaments in the knee.These injuries lead to the appearance of the "promotion" syndrome of the joint. In addition, a person feels severe pain, develops joint hemorrhage, which becomes unstable.
- Damage.Here the intensity of the pain syndrome is low. There are no serious consequences after the injury. The swelling, as well as the hematoma, usually go away on their own in one to two weeks.
- Meniscus tearing.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 when climbing stairs, which is quite difficult to apply. There is slight swelling in the area of the knee joint.
- Fracture.Appears when falling from a great height or from a strong shock. The pain is strong, acute, swelling appears in the affected area and the skin becomes pale. The victim can not stand on his injured leg. During a fracture, a squeak and a squeak are heard and the bone may break the skin.
- Tendon rupture.This injury is not common, but it leads first to acid and then to pain. When you walk, the pain in your left or right knee increases.
- Dislocation of the knee joint.In this case, some of the components of the joint may come out of it.
Trauma can cause chronic diseases.
Most pathologies of the knee joint have similar symptoms, so it can be quite difficult to identify them. This is why self-medication is not worth it, as you can make the condition worse.
Who is at risk?
Knee pain, stinging and swelling in the affected area are more common in some people than others. The risk group includes people who:
- The presence of primary pathologies.
- genetic predisposition.
- Continuous athletic overload of the knee.
- Excess body weight.
- Damage.
- I had surgery on my knee joint.
- Insufficiently good development of the muscular device of the knee joint.
In addition, women are more prone to knee diseases, as well as older and older people.
In which cases it is necessary to consult a doctor
If a person feels that their knees hurt, then they should urgently contact a specialist in this case:
- The patient feels pain for more than two months, which does not allow him to sleep peacefully at night.
- If the pain syndrome is characterized by high intensity, it appears suddenly.
- There is a sting in the knee joint when walking.
- The knees ache every day, and at certain times, under certain conditions.
- Instability is felt in the knee joint from time to time.
- If there are additional pathological signs: skin rash, fever, fever.
- There was aching pain, which is accompanied by deformity of the joints, restriction of their mobility.
- Pain syndrome becomes a constant companion of a person.
- Signs of inflammatory process appeared: redness of the skin, swelling, increased local temperature in the affected area.
These signs are already enough for you to decide to see a doctor. By delaying the visit, the patient increases the duration and complexity of the treatment and also allows the pathology to develop further.
Varieties of pain
Why the knees hurt, most of the reasons for the development of the pathological condition are already clear. But the nature of the pain can be different. For example, depending on the illness that caused it, the pain is of the following nature:
- sharp, sharp.Causes rupture of meniscus or ligaments, reactive arthritis, acute phase of bursitis.
- dull, pulling.Bursitis or arthritis can cause it.
- painful.This type of pain is typical of arthropathy, arthritis.
- throbbing.A person feels it with injury to the menisci or as a result of damage with deforming arthropathy.
- combustion.It is characteristic of the sciatic nerve sting, as well as the tuberculosis of the bones.
- stabbing.It is caused by a cyst in the articular thorax. And knife pain is typical of osteoporosis, an old meniscus injury.
- drilling.It is caused by osteomyelitis.
- periodic.Occurs when the patient develops inflammation of the tendons or muscles.
- shooting inside.Causes stinging of nerve endings.
Pathology diagnosis and first aid
Many people complain that their knees hurt and do not know what to do. However, when you feel pain and stinging in the knee joint, you should definitely be examined and start treatment.
Diagnosis involves the use of such procedures:
- Laboratory blood and urine tests.
- Blood chemistry.
- Bone marrow and synovial fluid puncture.
- Coatings for the presence of bacterial microflora.
- Arthroscopy. This procedure is used both as a diagnosis and as a treatment for joint pain. It is easy to do and does not require a long recovery period.
- X-ray.
- MRI or CT.
- ultrasound.
- Densitometry.
Knee pain: First aid
If a person feels pain or pulling in the leg in the knee area, first of all, he must secure the rest of the limb. Home treatment includes taking painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs.
The pain can be relieved with a cold compress. Cold is used as a method of pain relief when the cause of the pain is trauma. The end is immobilized and placed on a hill. When there are injuries in the joint area, they should be treated with antiseptic. These measures are not a complete cure. They should only be taken before a visit to the doctor.
Knee pain: Medical treatment
So what to do if you hear a sting in the joint and you feel severe discomfort? You must first find out why these symptoms occur. One of the stages of treatment is drug therapy. Thus, with pain in the knee joint, you can quickly remove severe symptoms with the help of such drugs:
- antibiotics (when the 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 knee joint cavity, it should be removed. The bladder can also be treated with surgery or glucocorticosteroids.
If the joints ache due to injury, then in some cases it is necessary to reposition the bones. A tight bandage, orthosis and even a cast are applied to the affected joint. It is necessary to treat one limb not only with the help of pills. The patient is often instructed to wear or use special orthopedic devices so that the load can be removed from the knee.
It is necessary to treat systemic pathologies in a complex way. Knee pain in these cases should be treated with immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticosteroids. To eliminate the symptoms of arthritis, injections of drugs are used in the joint, chondroprotectants.
Therapeutic gymnastics and massage
If your knee joint hurts when you stand up, a sting is heard and the discomfort bothers you even at night, physical exercises as well as massage sessions will help you get rid of the stiffness and relieve the pain.
At the same time, exercise should be done if the person is not very painful and with the permission of the doctor. All exercises are performed slowly. You can not make abrupt movements. If your knees hurt a lot, then you should go for the simplest exercises. The weekly load can be increased.
In a lying or sitting position, you can bend and extend the limbs, alternating half turns, pulling the knees towards the stomach, moving the legs sideways. After completing a set of exercises, you should relax and then proceed to the massage. This procedure is also very effective in relieving pain.
Sore knees can be kneaded, rubbed on their own, but it would be better to have a specialist. To get rid of most of the symptoms, you need to do a course of massage procedures, a session of which does not last more than 20 minutes. Rubbing the inner and outer surfaces, as well as the lateral surfaces, puts pressure on the patella. During the procedure, you must make sure that the person is not in pain.
How To Heal Knee Joints At Home?
Stinging in the knees, as well as pain that occurs at night, is an unpleasant phenomenon. Why these symptoms occur is already known. However, it is possible to relieve pain and restore normal joint function not only with medication. You can do this at home with the help of folk remedies.
Get rid of the pathology quickly will not work. This way, you should treat your knee for at least two months. In addition, you need to find really effective products that have good reviews.
The following recipes may be helpful:
- In half a liter of boiling water, pour 2 tablespoons of cinquefoil grass, after which it must be left to brew. Take the drug should be twice a day for 100 ml. You can apply a decoction of clover leaf on a sore knee as a compress for the night.
- An oatmeal will help you get rid of the pain. To prepare it, you need to take a liter of water and a glass of cereal. The mixture is boiled and then left to infuse overnight. During the day you should use 2 glasses of liquid, dividing it into several parts. It takes 2 weeks to treat the joints this way.
- To relieve discomfort and improve blood circulation to the affected area, you can apply a compress of mashed potatoes and horseradish, taken in equal proportions. It will help you get rid of the pain quickly. Apply a compress to the affected knee and cover with a clean cloth. Rinse it off after 15 minutes. Only 10 procedures are enough to relieve the unpleasant symptoms.
- A mustard compress, which is applied to a sore foot at night, also received good reviews. To prepare it, take a tablespoon of mustard, mix it with the same amount of honey and soda. By morning, the compress will help relieve severe discomfort.
- If the knee joints ache, bitter pepper tincture can be used for rubbing. A half-liter jar should be filled with chopped pepper and then pour alcohol on top of the container. You should insist on treatment for a week.
You can self-massage the knee at home.
If you already know why the discomfort occurred, then you can choose the appropriate folk remedies that will help you remove them. But before that, you should consult a doctor.
Prevention of pathology
In order for the knee joints to remain healthy and function well for a long time, you must follow the simple recommendations of doctors:
- Reduce joint stress.
- It makes sense to combine rest and work.
- Treat any infectious diseases in the body in time.
- Avoid hypothermia of the limbs.
- After 35 years, it is recommended that you start taking chondroprotectants.
- During sports, it is necessary to protect the joints with patella - special orthopedic devices for fixing the joint.
- It is important to normalize your weight.
- Nutrition plays an important role in skeletal health. It is better to reduce the consumption of saturated animal fats, white bread, sweets. More fiber, vegetable oils, vegetables and fruits should be included in the diet. Proper nutrition will not only help relieve discomfort, but also improve joint function.