Pain in the knee

Pain in the knee is a symptom of a disease of one of the largest, most important and complex joints. The symptomatology of pain is also diverse, as are the diseases about which pain in the knee can speak. This can be a signal of a general disease of the body, metabolic disorders, an inflammatory process in the vascular system, or may indicate a purely osteopathic problem.

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• Swollen knee joints (swollen knee)
• Pain in the knee joint
• Pain in the knee when walking
• What is the danger of pain in the knee and what to do about it

Pain in the knee should be differentiated, because there are pathological diseases that require urgent surgical care, and there are transitory diseases that can be cured conservatively. It is also important to differentiate and to know to which specialist to seek help - phlebologist, surgeon or orthopedist.

[1], [2], [3], [4]

Diseases that cause pain in the knee?

Painful symptom in the knee joints can be caused by the following diseases: 

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

[5], [6], [7], [8]

Gonarthrosis

If the pain in the knee persists a person older than 35-40 years, a typical explanation for such a painful symptom may be a disease called gonarthrosis. As a rule, with arthrosis pain in the knee arises immediately in two legs, rarely one knee hurts. The first manifestations are insignificant and do not bother the person too much. Then the symptomatology grows and manifests itself with such signs: 

• Crunch in the knees during bending, squats, inclines; 
• Difficulties with knee extension in the morning; 
• Difficulty walking up the stairs; 
• Sharp pain in the knee, shooting, aching; 
• Pain in the knee when lifting from the "squatting" position; 
• The intensity of pain decreases at rest, in sleep; 
• With the passage of time, the pain in the knee increases, with every year the dynamics of pain increases.

The causes that cause pain in the knee, arthrosis etiology: 

• Deformation and damage to the cartilage, bone tissue of the knees; 
• Age deformation of joint structures; 
• Tumor of the bone; 
• Rheumatoid arthritis; 
• Osteoarthritis; 
• Bruising, trauma.

Diagnose it by visual examination, palpation of the knee, anamnesis. Assign an ultrasound scan, X-ray. Also the condition of the joint is checked in motion, in dynamics, with a prolonged, chronic progressive process, internal diagnostics is prescribed-arthroscopy by puncture.

How is pain in the knee treated: 

• Drug therapy with NSAIDs - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; 
• Physiotherapeutic procedures - electrophoresis, UHF; 
• Salt baths, applications; 
• According to the indications - endoprosthetics (replacement of articular formations).

There are also alternative safe methods of treatment, which are expedient for applying in the initial stage of the process. Effective applications with clay (blue, red), pain in the knee subsides under a compress of fresh cabbage leaves. Also effective are ointments, gels containing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory components and anesthetics.

Meniscopathy

Damages, changes in the structure of the meniscus occur quite often - 35-40% of all treatment for pain in the knee joint. A meniscus can be damaged at any age, regardless of sex, as a rule, one knee usually hurts in such cases. Despite the fact that meniscopathy is considered a traumatic injury, it is not always caused by a classic trauma. A meniscus can be damaged even when walking, jumping, and even when lifting from a chair. The disease progresses rapidly, the symptoms are very obvious, the pain in the knee is strong. At first, a characteristic crunch is heard, then comes a sharp, piercing pain in the knee. Man loses mobility almost completely. Even though in half an hour the pain in the knee is somewhat dulled, it should not move, because any activity only aggravates the pathological process. Characterized by puffiness, tingling when moving. In some cases, the pain in the knee can subside after two or three weeks, as well as swelling, the meniscus lesion becomes chronic and, if relapsed, can give stronger pain sensations. Moreover, the triggered disease can provoke arthrosis, and then its deformation, then there is no way to do without surgery. Therefore, with the first symptoms similar to a meniscus injury, you should consult a surgeon.

Arthritis

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

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Coxarthrosis

Coxarthrosis is much less common than other diseases that cause pain in the knees. Pain in the knee is secondary, reflected, which follows the pains in the main source of inflammation - the hip joint. The mobility of the knee is preserved, but here the rotational movements are extremely difficult to make. Also, difficulties cause the legs to swing, legs to the sides. Treatment appoint a complex, aimed at stopping the symptoms of the main pathological process.

[10], [11], [12]

Vascular disorders and pain in the knee

Pain in the knee with vascular pathology is typical for the adolescent period, when there is a rapid development of all systems and organs. Sore, usually both knees, often with changing weather conditions, cold or after intense physical exertion. External treatment - ointments of irritating action, ointments with anesthetics. Massages and physiotherapeutic measures are also effective.

Periarthritis is an inflammatory process affecting the tendon. This is a typical "female" disease, most often they suffer from ladies of "Balzac" age. Pain in the knee arises at the descents (the stairs, the street), at rest the pain in the knee does not bother. The pain signal is localized below a certain zone within the knee. The knee does not swell, movements are not limited. Treatment is usually conservative, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used. Effective rubbing, gentle massage, reflexotherapy.

Pain in the knee can also be reflected from the hip.

Pain in the knee is a symptom that occurs very often, but not all respond to it in a timely manner. Any pain signal is a sign of an unhappy state of an organ, system. Especially significant symptoms are those that are localized in the limbs, knees. If the disease is allowed to drift, serious consequences are possible up to loss of mobility.