Of all the joints in the human body, knee pain is the most common complaint in people. The knee joint is complex, it bears a great load during different types of physical activity, therefore there can be many reasons for pain in it. Knee pain, even if it occurs occasionally and goes away on its own, should not go unnoticed.
Causes of knee pain
- Gonarthrosis or osteoarthritis of the knee joint. This disease is caused by excessive stress, trauma, excess weight, metabolic disorders. The pain is usually bothersome during and after physical activity, such as climbing stairs, running, squatting, and gradually disappears with rest. Painful sensations are combined with a painful crunching in the joints, subsequently there is swelling, deformation of the contours of the knee, restriction and pain during movement. Often, and in young people, there is the so-called patellofemoral (femoral-patellar) osteoarthritis, when it is the joint between the patella and the articular surface of the femur that wears out.
- Damage to the menisci. The knee joint has two cartilaginous formations: the internal and external menisci, which provide better shock absorption. The medial meniscus suffers more often. It is important to know which degenerative and traumatic meniscus injuries are distinguished. The first occurs with a sharp turn of the body, when the foot is fixed, jumping, falling. The pain is sharp, the swelling of the joint develops rapidly, blood accumulates in its cavity, as a result of which a swelling appears above the kneecap. The knee may not be fully extended or the victim may experience a wedging sensation, "jumping" off a foreign body in the joint. Degenerative meniscus tears occur mainly in older people with knee osteoarthritis. They can occur simply when walking, trying to sit in a low seat, or carrying a weight. The pain gradually increases, accompanied by swelling, synovitis (inflammatory fluid in the joint cavity). Meniscus injuries also give pain during the rotation of the lower leg (on this basis the clinical tests carried out by the doctor), going down the stairs.
- Damage to the ligamentous apparatus. More frequent injuries or those associated with meniscus tears. The knee joint has the external and internal lateral ligaments, the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, and the patella proper ligament. The lateral ligaments are most often affected when there is a violent deviation of the lower leg outward or inward from the axis of the limb. The cruciate ligaments are damaged by twisting the lower leg and striking it. The patella ligament itself ruptures during its traumatic dislocation. Injuries to the ligamentous apparatus are characterized by pain, aggravated by walking, support on the leg. Also, with significant damage, instability of the knee joint occurs in one plane or another.
- Arthritis. Inflammation of the knee joint of an infectious or non-infectious nature. The person experiences constant pain that increases with exertion. The joint is swollen, enlarged, hot to the touch, the skin red. Overall body temperature can also rise.
- Rheumatoid arthritis. It is an autoimmune disease that affects many joints, often the knee. The pain in this case is inflammatory in nature, it is to say the patient complains at rest, especially after the night. Movement improves blood flow and pain is relieved. 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 temperature of the skin above.
- Knee joint tumors. Pain is not a permanent symptom of tumors. With small formations, it may not be there, like other signs. But, if the tumor grows and affects all the new structures of the joint, the patient begins to complain of pain. They are not associated with physical activity, more often they are disturbed in the second half of the night and in the morning.
- OsteochondropathyThey are injuries of the articular surfaces. In the knee joint, Koenig's disease may develop - osteochondropathy of the inner condyle of the thigh, while the cartilage is destroyed and its fragments can be freely located in the joint cavity, leading to an inflammatory process and blockage of the joint . Pain is felt during exertion and with the development of the disease and at rest.
Treatment
Pain is just a symptom of a disease. Its nature, location, dependence on stress, time of day help, along with other symptoms, to make a preliminary diagnosis.
Treatment should be primarily aimed at eliminating a specific disease or, if this is not possible, achieving long-term remission (a period without exacerbations), preventing progression.
Treatment methods can be conservative or surgical.
Symptomatic pain therapy is, first of all, a group of drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They are used in the form of intravenous, intramuscular injections, tablets, capsules, rectal suppositories, and topically (ointments, gels, creams, sprays).
For many diseases, the doctor can prescribe physical methods of treatment: physiotherapy procedures, dry heat or baths, semi-alcoholic compresses, therapeutic exercises in a gentle mode, use of a bandage or orthosis.
Such therapy, along with medications, helps improve blood flow, relieve inflammation, and reduce pain. If the pain is associated with mechanical reasons (a part of a torn meniscus that blocks a joint, a free cartilaginous body) or conservative therapy does not give effect, surgical techniques are used: joint debridement by arthroscopy, osteotomy, replacement of the joint of the knee with an artificial one, joint closure (arthrodesis).
If you experience knee pain, you should see an orthopedist or traumatologist (if an injury has occurred).