Knee pain is a common symptom that every person experiences at least once.It can be of a one-time nature and arise after injuries, overload or unsuccessful movements.Less often, it is pathological, caused by inflammatory, degenerative and dystrophic processes in the knee joint, knee ligaments, adjacent bones or surrounding soft tissues.
The intensity and nature of the pain can vary: from minor discomfort to debilitating pain, burning, sharp or cutting pain.Often, pain is accompanied by additional symptoms - swelling of soft tissues, local increase in skin temperature, redness and swelling.If pain in the knee area bothers you periodically or for more than 1-2 days, do not ignore the symptom and seek the help of a doctor.An orthopedist or traumatologist will carry out a diagnosis, determine the causes of pain and choose the appropriate course of treatment.
Causes of knee pain
- Bruises after falling on the knees or blows, in which the exudate accumulates outside the joint capsule or in it, and the skin quickly acquires a characteristic reddish-blue shade;
- sprain caused by excessive tension - with damage to muscles, ligaments, synovial bursa, popliteal muscle - is accompanied by accumulation of exudate and often instability in the knee joint;
- partial avulsion or complete rupture of ligaments as a result of a strong external force, which is accompanied by a long-term loss of stability and significant functional limitations of the limbs
- Tearing of the meniscus is a consequence of simultaneous bending and twisting of the knee, when the meniscus is partially or completely torn from the tibia;
- rupture of the cruciate ligaments, most often during braking;
- primary osteoarthritis - pathological wear and tear of joint cartilage, which loses elasticity and causes increased friction in the joint and constant pain in the knee area;
- rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which immune cells attack the synovial membrane, gradually destroying joint cartilage and connective tissue;
- patellofemoral pain syndrome is pain in the knee joint, in the front part, which occurs as a result of excessive loads and is not accompanied by any structural changes.
Types of knee pain
Painful sensations in the knees are divided into several groups according to the following criteria:
Because of the appearance
- Physiological – the body's natural reaction to prolonged standing, sitting or being in an uncomfortable position;
- traumatic - the result of damage to the knee joint itself and adjacent tissues;
- pathological - a consequence of inflammation of the knee joint, dystrophic or degenerative processes in it.
By frequency
- One-off - they are mostly physiological in nature, non-intense and pass by themselves within a few minutes or hours;
- periodic - associated with regularly repeated loads, for example, in professional athletes or recurring diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis;
- chronic - they constantly disturb a person, most often occur with joint pathologies and can intensify as the disease progresses.
By the time of creation
- Occurs only after exercise, for example, when walking or squatting;
- worse after trying to step on foot;
- constantly disturbing, regardless of physical activity and stress on the injured leg.
Diagnostic methods
When a patient complains of knee pain, the doctor writes down the symptoms, specifies when the pain started, what injuries and other factors preceded its occurrence.In order to narrow down the list of suspected lesions and joint diseases, he conducts a palpation examination and checks mobility during tests.The specialist makes an accurate diagnosis after blood analysis and hardware diagnostics, for example, radiography or magnetic resonance:
Which doctor should I contact?
To diagnose the cause of knee pain, visit a rheumatologist or orthopedist.If the pain syndrome was preceded by an injury, make an appointment with a traumatologist.Depending on the accompanying symptoms, a consultation with a surgeon and a neurologist may be necessary.
Treatment of knee pain
The course of treatment for painful knees depends on their causes.Minor bruises and sprains are treated with rest and the use of topical ointments for warmth and healing.For more severe injuries, it may be necessary to immobilize the limb with an orthosis or cast: in such cases, in order to get rid of the pain, the patient is prescribed analgesics in tablets or injections.Treatment of joint diseases is carried out comprehensively, with the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, chondroprotective drugs and physiotherapeutic procedures.
Consequences
After an injury, the prognosis depends on the severity of the injury.As a rule, recovery from bruises and sprains takes up to 1-2 weeks.Rehabilitation after ligament rupture takes longer;the most unfavorable prognosis for a meniscus fracture is that the instability of the knee joint can last for a long time.
Joint diseases without timely treatment cause their gradual destruction, deformation and loss of mobility.Often the changes are irreversible, and if treatment is not started in time, the normal functioning of the joint cannot be restored.
Preventing knee pain
- Do a regular warm-up if you stand for a long time or sit in an uncomfortable position;
- avoid overloading and knee injuries;
- avoid hypothermia, wear warm pants in winter;
- eat more foods with vitamin D and phosphorus;
- they regularly undergo regular medical examinations by orthopedists and do not cause any degenerative and inflammatory processes in the knee joint.