Pain in the knee joint: causes, treatment, why the knees hurt, what to do about it, how to treat

The knee joint is one of the largest and most complex. Every day it is subjected to a huge load, so it is not surprising that it periodically stops working normally. If your knees hurt, their swelling is noticeable and the pain is almost constant, you should definitely consult a doctor. Such a pathological condition may be a sign of the development of one of the diseases that deforms the joint. Naturally, it is necessary to learn to distinguish situations when a visit to the doctor is very necessary. But the lack of treatment or self-treatment 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 each have two projections: the internal and external condyles.

All surfaces that come into contact with each other are covered with hyaline cartilage. Thanks to him, the mobility of the knee joint, its damping properties are provided. 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 nourished and its mobility is ensured.

The knee joint is made up of more than just bones. All its elements are united by the cruciate and collateral ligaments, femoral muscles, tendons. The patella is attached to other elements by its own ligament. For the knee to move, 6 synovial bags are needed. Nutrition and innervation of the presented joint are carried out by nerves and blood vessels, located in the soft tissues surrounding the joint.

Pain in the knee joint: causes

If the knee begins to hurt, swelling appears, mobility is limited, and the discomfort is severe enough, you should immediately consult a doctor. If the destructive 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 progress.

Thus, we can distinguish such 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 at rest, however, it becomes difficult for a person to climb stairs, walk for a long time, squat and rise from the hips. During the movement, the patient hears a crack in the knee, his mobility decreases. Over time, due to wear 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;

• meniscopathy, as well as the formation of meniscus cysts. Most often, only one knee hurts. The cause of the pathology can be a single injury or periodic damage to the joint. During an exacerbation, the pain is sharp, throbbing, sharp, severe. With this disease, the deformation of the joint does not threaten, but the inflammation can affect the synovial bags;
• circulatory problems (necrosis).This disrupts the nutrition of the knee. Most often, this condition occurs in adolescents. They are the ones who have too fast bone growth, in whom their nutrition is somewhat difficult. If at first the pain in the knee joint is strong enough, after a while its intensity decreases. The pain is usually localized to one point and does not spread to the whole knee. Discomfort may be aggravated 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 hurts a lot, the affected area is characterized by swelling, the skin turns red. The pain at night becomes more pronounced. The knee hurts even at rest, when the weather changes. The reason for the development of pathology is excessive body weight, old age, weak immune system;
• bursitis.This is an inflammatory lesion of the synovial pockets of the knee. Characteristic symptoms of the pathology are reddening of the skin in the affected area, swelling and a decrease in the range of motion. The cavities of the synovial bags are filled with exudate, which contains harmful microorganisms. The cause of the development of pathology is trauma, excessive physical activity. Not only does the knee hurt badly, but a person develops general weakness and malaise;
• synovitisHere, the inflammation affects the synovial membrane of the knee joint. At the same time, swelling and burning pain appear in the joint area;
• periarthritis.This disease is more often diagnosed in women who have a large body weight and 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 is aching, swelling appears on the limb;
• chondromatosis.This disease is characterized by the formation of small nodules of cartilage, located in the shell of the articular bag. At the same time, dehydration of the joint is manifested, its mobility is limited, a creak is heard when moving. Since the soft tissues are pinched, the patient feels severe pain;
• chondromalacia patellae.Here, the cartilage undergoes degenerative changes: it simply dies. The reasons for this pathological condition are banal: knee injury, characteristic of certain professions. At the same time, the knee hurts a lot, the discomfort becomes more pronounced with each movement. In the left or right knee, a creak, a creak is heard very well. A person practically cannot stand on the affected limb;
• bone tumor.Knee pain appears due to the growth of a neoplasm that compresses soft tissues with nerves and blood vessels;
• Baker's 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 cannot always be diagnosed on examination. It does not pose a threat to human health and does not cause discomfort. However, if it develops, the joint may hurt, especially when bending and straightening the leg. If the hernia is large, an operation is performed to remove it;
• knee tendonitis.It is an inflammation of the tendons in the knee area, which cannot perform their functions normally. Almost everyone is affected by the disease. The pain is usually aching and the affected area reacts to changes in the weather.

• knee osteochondritis.This is where the cartilage detaches from the joint surface. At first, the knee does not hurt very much, but over time its intensity increases, and inflammation joins 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 slight pain. With progression, swelling of the knee joint is also observed. Treatment of pathology 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 in sportsmen. 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 take into account other factors, due to the influence of which there is pain in the knee.

Diseases of other organs, as a cause of knee pain

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

1. Fibromyalgia.Discomfort is localized in muscles and soft tissues, but can be transmitted to nearby joints. The inflammatory process does not develop. In addition to aching pains in the knee joint, a person feels stiffness in movement, fatigue, he may have convulsions.
2. Dysplasia or coxarthrosis of the hip joint.The pain syndrome in this case extends to the entire leg.
3. Neuropathy of the sciatic nerve.It is pinched by the vertebrae of the lumbosacral spine. Severe stabbing 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:

• drop.The presented disease is due to a violation of uric acid metabolism in the body. It is poorly removed from it, turns into salt deposits that accumulate in the joints. In this case, the knee can also hurt. And the pain is very sharp, sharp. Most often, pathology occurs in men who abuse alcohol, eat poorly. 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. Pathology is associated with low bone density due to its incorrect formation. The pain in the knee joint is dull and aching, it is not so easy to remove it. The bones of this pathology are very susceptible to fractures;
• rheumatoid arthritis.It is a systemic pathology characterized by inflammation of the connective tissue. It begins its active development with a decrease in the protective functions of the organism. Manifested by a feeling of stiffness, which a person may feel after a long stay in a state of rest;
• osteomyelitis.The presented bacterial pathology causes quite severe pain of a boring nature. In the area of the affected joint, the skin turns red and the discomfort increases with each 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 antibiotic treatment;
• Paget's disease.In this case, the bone tissue is poorly formed, so the spine begins to deform. With this pathology, it is the tubular bones that are affected, which subsequently become very fragile. Recognizing this disease is quite difficult, since symptoms may not appear. The only thing that can indicate the presence of pathology is that the sore knee hurts at night and heat is felt at the site of injury.

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

Trauma as a cause of pain syndrome

Pathological processes in this case can develop both immediately after the injury and some time after it. One can distinguish such injuries of the knee joint:

1. Torn, torn or torn ligaments in the knee.These lesions lead to the appearance of joint "advanced" syndrome. In addition, a person feels severe pain, hemarthrosis of the joint develops, which becomes unstable.
2. Injury.Here, the intensity of the pain syndrome is low. There are no serious consequences after the injury. The swelling, along with the hematoma, usually goes away on its own within one to two weeks.
3. Meniscus tear.This results in a strong blow to the anterior region of the knee joint. After the acute period of the pathology has passed, the pain syndrome usually worries the patient when climbing the stairs, which is quite difficult to implement. There is slight swelling in the knee joint area.
4. Fracture.It appears during a fall from a great height or a strong shock effect. The pain is strong, sharp, swelling appears in the affected area, and the skin turns pale. The victim cannot stand on his injured leg. When fractured, a cracking and cracking noise is heard, and the bone can pierce the skin.
5. Tendon rupture.This injury is not common, but it leads first to sharp pain, then to aching pain. When walking, pain in the left or right knee increases.
6. Dislocation of the knee joint.In this case, some of the constituent parts of the seal can come out.

Trauma can cause chronic disease.

Most pathologies of the knee joint have similar symptoms, so it can be quite difficult to recognize them. That is why self-medication is not worth it, because you can further aggravate the situation.

Who is at risk

Knee pain, cracking, and swelling in the affected area are more common in some people than others. The risk group includes people who:

1. The presence of primary pathologies.
2. genetic predisposition.
3. Constant sports overload of the knee.
4. Excessive body weight.
5. Injury.
6. I had knee joint surgery.
7. Insufficient development of the muscular apparatus of the knee joint.

In addition, women are more susceptible to knee diseases, as well as people of older and older age.

In which cases it is necessary to consult a doctor

If a person feels that his knees hurt, then he should urgently contact a specialist in this case:

1. The patient has been experiencing aching pains for more than two months, which does not allow him to sleep peacefully at night.
2. If the pain syndrome is characterized by high intensity, then it appears suddenly.
3. A cracking sound is heard in the knee joint when walking.
4. My knees hurt daily, and at certain times, under certain conditions.
5. In the knee joint, instability is felt from time to time.
6. If additional pathological signs are present: rash, fever, fever.
7. Aching pains appeared, which are accompanied by deformation of the joints, limitation of their mobility.
8. Pain syndrome becomes a constant companion of a person.
9. Signs of an inflammatory process appeared: redness of the skin, swelling, increased local temperature in the affected area.

Already these signs are enough to make the decision to consult a doctor. By delaying the visit, the patient increases the duration and complexity of the therapy, 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 may be different. For example, depending on the disease that caused it, the pain is of the following nature:

• pointed, pointed.It causes rupture of the meniscus or ligaments, reactive arthritis, an acute phase of bursitis;
• dull, pulling.Bursitis or synovitis can cause it;
• painful.This type of pain is characteristic of arthrosis, gonarthrosis;
• thrilling.A person feels it with an injury to the meniscus or as a result of an injury with deforming arthrosis;

• burning.It is characteristic of pinching of the sciatic nerve, as well as tuberculosis of the bones;
• stab.It is caused by a cyst in the synovial bursa. And the throbbing pain is characteristic of osteoporosis, an old injury to the menisci;
• drilling.It is caused by osteomyelitis;
• periodic.It appears when the patient develops inflammation of the tendons or muscles;
• pulling through.It causes pinching of nerve endings.

Diagnosis of pathology and first aid

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

Diagnosis involves the use of such procedures:

1. Blood and urine laboratory tests.
2. blood chemistry.
3. Bone marrow and synovial fluid puncture.
4. Smear for the presence of bacterial microflora.
5. Arthroscopy. This procedure is used both as a diagnosis and as a treatment for joint pain. It is easy to do and a long period of rehabilitation is not necessary.
6. X-ray.
7. MRI or CT.
8. ultrasound.
9. Densitometry.

Knee Pain: First Aid

If a person feels pain or tightness in the leg at the knee, he must first secure the rest of the limb. Home treatment consists of taking painkillers or anti-inflammatories.

The pain can be relieved with a cold compress. Cold is used as a method of pain relief when the cause of pain is trauma. The limb is immobilized and placed on a hill. When there are wounds in the joint area, they should be treated with an antiseptic. These measures do not constitute a complete treatment. They should only be taken before a visit to the doctor.

Knee pain: medical treatment

So what if a cracking sound is heard in the joint and significant discomfort is felt? First you need to find out why these symptoms appear. One of the stages of therapy is drug treatment. So, with pain in the knee joint, you can quickly get rid of severe symptoms with the help of such drugs:

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

Some pathologies require surgical treatment. If there is fluid in the cavity of the knee joint, it must be removed. The cyst can also be treated with surgery or by blocking glucocorticosteroids.

If the joints are painful due to an injury, it is sometimes necessary to reposition the bones. A tight bandage, brace and even a cast are applied to the affected joint. It is necessary to treat a member not only with the help of pills. Often the patient is instructed to wear or use special braces 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 immunosuppressants, anti-inflammatories, glucocorticoids. To eliminate the symptoms of gonarthrosis, injections of drugs into the joint, chondroprotectors are used.

Therapeutic gymnastics and massage

If the knee joint hurts when standing up, a creak is heard, and discomfort bothers even at night, physical exercises, as well as massage sessions, will help get rid of stiffness and relievepain.

At the same time, gymnastics should be performed if the person is not very painful and with the permission of the doctor. All exercises are performed slowly. You cannot make sudden movements. If the knees are very sore, you need to move on to the simplest exercises. The weekly load can be increased.

In a lying or sitting position, you can flex and extend the limbs, alternate half-turns, pull the knees to the stomach, move the legs to the sides. After completing a set of exercises, you need to relax, and then proceed to massage. This procedure is also very effective in relieving pain.

Sore knees can be kneaded, rubbed on their own, but it would be better for a specialist to do this. In order to get rid of most of the symptoms, you need to perform a series of massage procedures, one session of which lasts no more than 20 minutes. The friction of the inner and outer surfaces, as well as the side surfaces, pressure on the patella is carried out. During the procedure, you need to make sure that the person does not injure himself.

How to treat knee joints at home?

A crunch in the knees, as well as pains that appear at night, are an unpleasant phenomenon. The reason why these symptoms appear is already known. However, it is possible to relieve pain and restore the normal functionality of the joint not only with medication. You can do this at home using folk remedies.

Quickly getting rid of pathology will not work. In this way, you need to treat the knee for at least two months. Plus, you need to find really effective products that have great reviews.

The following recipes may be helpful:

1. In half a liter of boiling water, pour 2 large spoons of potentilla grass, after which you need to infuse. Drink the drug should be twice a day for 100 ml. You can apply a potentilla decoction to a painful knee as a compress for the night.
2. A decoction of oats will help get rid of 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 to infuse overnight. During the day, you need to use 2 glasses of liquid, dividing it into several parts. It takes 2 weeks to treat the joints in this way.
3. To relieve discomfort and improve blood circulation in the affected area, you can apply a compress of grated potatoes and horseradish, taken in equal proportions. This will help to quickly get rid of pain. Apply a compress to the affected knee and cover with a clean cloth. Wash it off after 15 minutes. To relieve unpleasant symptoms, only 10 procedures are enough.
4. A mustard compress, which is applied to the sore leg at night, also received good reviews. To prepare it, a tablespoon of mustard is taken, mixed with the same amount of honey and soda. In the morning, the compress will help relieve severe discomfort.
5. If the knee joints hurt, tincture of bitter pepper can be used to rub. A half-liter jar should be filled with chopped pepper, then pour alcohol to the very top of the container. You need to insist on the remedy for a week.

You can do knee self-massage at home.

If you already know why the discomfort appeared, you can choose the appropriate folk therapies that will help you get rid of them. But before that, you should consult a doctor.

Prevention of pathology

In order for the knee joints to stay healthy and work well for a long time, you need to follow the simple recommendations of doctors:

1. Reduce joint stress.
2. It is rational to combine rest and work.
3. Timely treat all infectious diseases in the body.
4. Avoid extremity hypothermia.
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 fixing the joint.
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 saturated animal fats, white bread, sweets. More fiber, vegetable oils, vegetables and fruits should be introduced into the diet. Proper nutrition will not only help relieve discomfort, but also improve the functionality of the joints.