Knee pain

Knee pain is a symptom of a disease of one of the largest, most important and complex joints. The symptoms of pain are as varied as the diseases that knee pain may indicate. It may be a signal of a general disease of the body, metabolic disorders, an inflammatory process in the vascular system, or it may indicate a purely osteopathic problem.

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• Swollen knee joints (swollen knee)
• Knee joint pain
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• Why knee pain is dangerous and what to do about it

Knee pain should be differentiated, as there are pathological diseases that require urgent surgical care, and there are also transient diseases that can be treated conservatively. Differentiation is also important in order to know which specialist to contact for help - a phlebologist, a surgeon or an orthopedist.

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Diseases that cause knee pain?

Pain in the knee joints can be caused by the following diseases:

• Gonarthrosis;
• Arthritis is an inflammatory process in the joint;
• Meniscopathy;
• Coxarthrosis is an arthrosis pathology of the hip joint;
• Vascular inflammation inside the joint;
• Periarthritis is an inflammatory process in the tendons.

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Gonarthrosis

If knee pain haunts a person over 35-40 years old, a typical explanation for such a pain symptom may be a disease called gonarthrosis. As a rule, with arthrosis, knee pain occurs in both legs at once, less often one knee hurts. The first symptoms are minor and do not bother a person too much. Then the symptoms increase and are manifested by the following signs:

• Crunching in the knees when bending, squatting, or leaning;
• Difficulty straightening the knees in the morning;
• Difficulty walking up stairs;
• Sharp pain in the knee, shooting, aching;
• Knee pain when rising from a squatting position;
• The intensity of pain decreases at rest and during sleep;
• Over time, the pain in the knee increases, and the dynamics of pain sensations increase with each year.

Causes that cause knee pain of arthrosis etiology:

• Deformation and damage to cartilage and bone tissue of the knees;
• Age-related deformation of articular structures;
• Bone tumor;
• Rheumatoid arthritis;
• Arthrosis;
• Bruise, injury.

It is diagnosed by visual inspection, palpation of the knee, and anamnesis collection. Ultrasound scanning and X-ray are prescribed. The condition of the joint in motion, in dynamics, is also checked; in the case of a long-term, chronic progressive process, internal diagnostics are prescribed - arthroscopy using a puncture.

How to treat knee pain:

• Drug therapy using NSAIDs – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• Physiotherapeutic procedures – electrophoresis, UHF;
• Salt baths, applications;
• According to indications – endoprosthetics (replacement of joint structures).

There are also folk safe methods of treatment that are advisable to use at the initial stage of the process. Clay applications (blue, red) are effective, knee pain subsides under a compress of fresh cabbage leaves. Ointments, gels containing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory components and anesthetics are also effective.

Meniscopathy

Damage and changes in the structure of the meniscus are quite common - 35-40% of all visits for knee pain. The meniscus can be damaged at any age, regardless of gender, usually one knee hurts in such cases. Despite the fact that meniscopathy is considered a traumatic injury, it is not always caused by a classic injury. The meniscus can be damaged when walking, jumping, and even when getting up from a chair. The disease progresses rapidly, the symptoms are very obvious, the pain in the knee is severe. At first, a characteristic crunch is heard, then comes a sharp, piercing pain in the knee. The person loses mobility almost completely. Even though after half an hour the pain in the knee dulls somewhat, you should not move, since any activity only aggravates the pathological process. Swelling and tingling when moving are characteristic. In some cases, knee pain may subside after two or three weeks, as well as swelling, meniscus injury becomes chronic and may cause more severe pain if it recurs. Moreover, neglected disease may provoke arthrosis, and then its deformation, and then surgery is unavoidable. Therefore, at the first symptoms similar to meniscus injury, you should consult a surgeon.

Arthritis

Arthritis accounts for about 10% of all diagnosed cases of knee joint disease. Both joints may become inflamed, less often one. Arthritis can be rheumatoid and reactive, there is also a type of psoriatic etiology. Inflammation can be a consequence of the main metabolic disease - gout, they also accompany a serious disease - ankylosing spondylitis (Bechterew's disease). The disease develops very quickly, the knees swell, painful sensations increase, as a rule, at night. Knee pain increases regardless of whether the person is at rest or in motion. Treatment at the initial stage is conservative, complex, since the process affects other joint structures, often far from the main site of inflammation.

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Coxarthrosis

Coxarthrosis is much less common than other diseases that cause knee pain. Knee pain is secondary, reflected, which follows pain in the main source of inflammation - the hip joint. Knee mobility is preserved, but rotational movements are extremely difficult. Leg swings and leg spreading also cause difficulties. Complex treatment is prescribed, aimed at relieving the symptoms of the main pathological process.

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Vascular disorders and knee pain

Knee pain due to vascular pathology is typical for adolescence, when all systems and organs are rapidly developing. Both knees usually hurt, often with changes in weather conditions, cold, or after intense physical activity. External treatment - irritant ointments, ointments with anesthetics. Massages and physiotherapy are also effective.

Periarthritis is an inflammatory process affecting tendons. This is a typical "female" disease, most often it affects ladies of "Balzac" age. Knee pain occurs when going down (stairs, on the street), at rest, knee pain does not bother. The pain signal is localized below a certain zone inside the knee. The knee does not swell, movements are not limited. Treatment is usually conservative, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used. Rubbing, gentle massages, reflexology are effective.

Knee pain may also be referred from the hip.

Knee pain is a symptom that occurs very often, but not everyone reacts to it in a timely manner. Any pain signal is a sign of an unfavorable condition of an organ or system. Particularly significant symptoms are those that are localized in the limbs and knees. If the disease is left to its own devices, serious consequences are possible, including loss of mobility.