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 regularly ceases to function normally. If your knees hurt, their swelling is noticeable, and the pain is almost constant, then you definitely need to see a doctor. Such a pathological condition can be a signal for the development of one of the diseases that deform the joint. Of course, it is necessary to learn to distinguish situations in which 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. So the joint consists of femur, tibia and patella. The two largest bones each have two protrusions: the inner and outer condyles.

All surfaces in contact are covered with hyaline cartilage. Thanks to him, the mobility of the knee joint and its depreciation characteristics are ensured. Around this bone connection there is a kind of capsule, which is lined with a synovial layer from the inside. It is filled with synovial fluid, which nourishes the joint and ensures its mobility.

The knee joint is made up of more than just bones. All its elements are united by cruciate and collateral ligaments, thigh muscles and tendons. The kneecap is connected to other elements by its own ligament. In order for the knee to move, 6 articular sacs are needed. Nutrition and innervation of the presented joint is provided 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, it is impossible to fully heal the knee. However, it is possible to stop or slow its progression.

So we can distinguish such causes of pain in the knee joint:

• osteoarthritis of the knee.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, but it becomes difficult for a person to climb stairs, walk for a long time, squat and get up from his hips. During the movement, the patient hears a crunch in the knee, its mobility decreases. Over time, as the cartilage wears away, 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. Usually 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 acute, throbbing, sharp, strong. With this disease, there is no threat of joint deformation, but inflammation can affect the synovial bags;
• circulatory problems (necrosis).This disrupts the nutrition of the knee. This condition is most common in adolescents. They have bone growth that is too fast, which makes their diet a bit difficult. If the pain in the knee joint is strong enough initially, then after a while its intensity will decrease. The pain is usually localized to one point and does not spread to the entire knee. Discomfort can be aggravated by hypothermia;
• Arthritis.This is an inflammatory pathology of the knee that 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 gets worse. The knee also hurts at rest when the weather changes. The reason for the development of pathology is excess body weight, age, weakness of the immune system;
• bursitis.This is an inflammatory lesion of the synovial bags of the knee. The 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 containing harmful microorganisms. The cause of the development of pathology is trauma, excessive physical activity. The knee not only hurts very badly, 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 articulation 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 occurs when climbing stairs and stretching the leg. The pathological process affects the tendons, ligaments and muscles, the joint capsule. The pain aches, swelling appears on the limb;
• chondromatosis.This disease is characterized by the formation of small cartilaginous nodules located in the shell of the articular sac. At the same time, dehydration of the joint is revealed, its mobility is reduced, a crunch is heard when moving. Since the soft tissues are pinched, the patient feels severe pain;
• Chondromalacia patella.Here the cartilage undergoes degenerative changes: it simply dies. The reasons for this pathological condition are banal: knee injury, features of some professions. At the same time, the knee hurts a lot, the discomfort increases with every movement. In the left or right knee, a crunching, crackling can be heard very well. A person practically cannot stand on the affected limb;
• bone tumor.Pain in the knee occurs 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 adolescents and children from 3 to 7 years of age. 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, as it grows, the joint can become painful, especially when bending and straightening the leg. If the hernia is large, surgery is done to remove it;
• hamstring inflammation.This is inflammation of the tendons in the knee area, which are unable to perform their functions normally. Almost everyone is affected by the disease. The pain is usually aching, and the affected area is responsive to weather changes;

• osteochondritis of the knee.This is where the cartilage detaches from the joint surface. Initially, the knee does not hurt very much, but over time its intensity increases, and inflammation joins the pathological process;
• Koenig's disease.Part of the cartilage can detach from the bone and migrate into the joint. At the same time, 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 ensures the formation of bumps in the knee area. Most often, the disease is diagnosed in boys, as well as in athletes. The pain is sharp and is aggravated by bending and straightening the leg.

These reasons are the most important, but not the only ones. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account other factors, due to the influence of which pain in the knee appears.

Diseases of other organs as a cause of knee pain

Some pathologies not related to the knee joint can cause pain:

1. fibromyalgia.Discomfort is localized in the muscles and soft tissues, but can also be transmitted to nearby joints. The inflammatory process does not develop. In addition to aching pain in the knee joint, a person feels stiffness in movements, fatigue, and may experience cramps.
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 throbbing pain can radiate into thighs and knees.

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:

• Gout.The presented disease occurs 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. More often pathology occurs in men who abuse alcohol and eat improperly. In the affected area, the skin turns red, and at night the knee joint hurts more. The duration of the attack ranges from a few days to several weeks;
• Osteoporosis.The pathology is associated with low bone density due to its improper formation. The pain in the knee joint is dull and aching, it is not so easy to get rid of it. Bones in this pathology are very prone to fracture;
• Rheumatoid arthritis.This 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 body. Manifested by a feeling of stiffness that a person can 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 every movement. The danger of this disease is that its consequence is the beginning death of the bone marrow;
• 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 improperly formed, so the spine begins to deform. With this pathology, the tubular bones are affected, which subsequently become very fragile. Recognizing this disease is quite difficult as there may be no symptoms. The only thing that can indicate the presence of a pathology is that the sore knee hurts at night and heat is felt at the site of the lesion.

If knee pain was caused by a systemic disease or skeletal pathology, it is not always possible to completely get rid of it. However, it is imperative that treatment be carried out so that the disease does not develop further, or at least slow its progression.

Trauma as a cause of pain syndrome

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

1. Torn, torn, or torn ligaments in the knee.These injuries lead to the occurrence of articulation "advance" syndrome. Also, a person feels severe pain, hemarthrosis of the joint develops, which becomes unstable.
2. Injury.Here the intensity of the pain syndrome is small. There are no serious consequences after the injury. Swelling and bruising usually go away on their own after a week or two.
3. meniscus tear.This results in a strong blow to the front of the knee joint. After the expiration of the acute phase of the pathology, the pain syndrome usually worries the patient when climbing stairs, which is quite difficult to implement. There is slight swelling around the knee joint.
4. Fracture. It occurs with a fall from a 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, there will be a crunching and cracking sound, and the bone may break through the skin.
5. tendon rupture.This injury is not common, but causes first acute, and then aching pain. When walking, the pain in the left or right knee increases.
6. Dislocation of the knee joint.In this case, some of the components of the joint may come out.

Trauma can lead to chronic diseases.

Most pathologies of the knee joint have similar symptoms, so recognizing them can be quite difficult. Therefore, self-medication is not worth it, as you can aggravate the situation.

who is at risk

Knee pain, crunching, 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 athletic overload of the knee.
4. Excessive body weight.
5. Injury.
6. I had surgery on my knee joint.
7. Insufficiently good development of the muscular apparatus of the knee joint.

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

In what cases it is necessary to consult a doctor

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

1. The patient has been suffering from excruciating pain 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 occurs suddenly.
3. A crunching sound can be heard in the knee joint when walking.
4. Knees hurt every day and at a certain time under certain conditions.
5. Instability can be felt in the knee joint from time to time.
6. If there are additional pathological signs: rash, fever, fever.
7. Aching pains appeared, which were accompanied by deformation of the joints and limitation of their mobility.
8. Pain syndrome becomes a person's constant companion.
9. Signs of an inflammatory process appeared: reddening of the skin, swelling, increased local temperature in the affected area.

Already these signs are enough to decide to visit a doctor. By delaying the visit, the patient increases the duration and complexity of therapy, and also allows the pathology to progress 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 can be different. For example, depending on the disease that caused it, the pain is of the following nature:

• sharp, sharp.It causes meniscus or ligament rupture, reactive arthritis, acute phase of bursitis;
• blunt, pulling.Bursitis or synovitis can provoke it;
• Pain.This type of pain is characteristic of arthrosis, gonarthrosis;
• pulsating.A person feels it with an injury to the menisci or as a result of a lesion with deforming arthrosis;

• Combustion.It is characteristic of pinching of the sciatic nerve, as well as tuberculosis of the bones;
• piercing.It is caused by a cyst in the synovial bursa. And shooting pains are characteristic of osteoporosis, an ancient injury to the menisci;
• Drill.It is caused by osteomyelitis;
• periodically.It occurs when the patient develops inflammation of the tendons or muscles;
• shoot through.It causes pinching of nerve endings.

Diagnosis of pathology and first aid

Many people complain about knee pain and don't know what to do. But if you feel pain and crunching in the knee joint, then you definitely need to undergo an examination and start treatment.

Diagnostics involves the use of such procedures:

1. Laboratory tests of blood and urine.
2. blood chemistry.
3. Puncture of bone marrow and synovial fluid.
4. Swabs for the presence of bacterial microflora.
5. arthroscopy. This procedure is used both to diagnose and treat joint pain. It is easy to perform and does not require a long rehabilitation period.
6. radiography.
7. MRI or CT.
8. Ultrasonic.
9. densitometry.

Knee Pain: First Aid

If a person feels pain or pulling pain in the leg in the knee area, then first of all he needs to ensure the rest of the limb. Home treatment involves taking pain relievers or anti-inflammatory drugs.

Pain can be relieved with a cold compress. Cold is used as a method of pain relief when the cause of the pain is trauma. The limb is immobilized and placed on a mound. Wounds in the joint area should be treated with an antiseptic. These measures are not a complete treatment. They should only be taken before visiting a doctor.

Knee Pain: Medical Treatment

So what to do if you hear a crunch in the joint and there are severe symptoms? First you need to find out why these symptoms occur. 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 (if symptoms are caused by a viral infection);
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Some pathologies must be treated with surgery. If there is fluid in the cavity of the knee joint, it must be removed. The cyst can also be treated with surgery or glucocorticosteroid blockade.

In some cases, when the joints are painful due to an injury, it is necessary to reposition the bones. A solid bandage, an orthosis and even a plaster are applied to the affected joint. It is necessary to treat a limb not only with the help of pills. Often the patient is instructed to wear or use special orthopedic devices to allow the knee to be unloaded.

It is necessary to treat systemic pathologies in a complex way. Pain in the knees in these cases must be treated with immunosuppressants, anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticosteroids. To eliminate the symptoms of gonarthrosis, injections of drugs into the joint, chondroprotectors are used.

Remedial gymnastics and massage

If the knee joint hurts when you get up, a crunch is heard, and discomfort bothers you even at night, physical exercises, as well as massage sessions, will help eliminate stiffness and reduce pain.

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 hurt a lot, you need to switch to the simplest exercises. The weekly load can be increased.

In a lying or sitting position, you can bend and straighten the limbs, alternately half-turn, pull your knees to your stomach and move your legs to the side. After completing a set of exercises, you need to relax, and then proceed to the massage. This procedure is also very effective for pain relief.

Sore knees can be kneaded and rubbed yourself, but it would be better if a specialist did this. 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. Rubbing the internal and external and lateral surfaces, pressure on the patella is performed. During the procedure, you need to make sure that the person does not get hurt.

How to treat knee joints at home?

A crunch in the knees, as well as pain that occurs at night, is an unpleasant phenomenon. It is already known why these symptoms occur. Pain can be relieved and the normal functionality of the joint restored not only with medication. You can do this at home with the help of folk remedies.

Getting rid of pathology quickly will not work. This is how you need to treat the knee for at least two months. In addition, you need to find really effective products that have good reviews.

The following recipes may be helpful:

1. In half a liter of boiling water, pour 2 large spoons of cinquefoil grass, after which you need to let it brew. Drink the drug twice a day for 100 ml. You can put a decoction of cinquefoil on a sore 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 grain. The mixture is boiled, after which it is left overnight. During the day you need to use 2 glasses of liquid, dividing it into several parts. It takes 2 weeks to treat 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 in equal parts. It will help get rid of pain quickly. Place a compress on the affected knee and cover with a clean towel. Wash it off after 15 minutes. To relieve unpleasant symptoms, only 10 procedures are enough.
4. A mustard compress applied to the aching leg at night also received good reviews. To prepare it, a tablespoon of mustard is taken, which is mixed with an equal amount of honey and soda. In the morning, the compress will help relieve severe discomfort.
5. If the knee joints hurt, a tincture of bitter pepper can be used for rubbing. A half-liter jar should be filled with chopped pepper, and then pour alcohol into the container at the very top. You need to let the remedy persist for a week.

You can massage the knee yourself at home.

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

Prevention of pathology

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

1. reduce joint stress.
2. It is reasonable to combine rest and work.
3. Timely treat any infectious diseases in the body.
4. Avoid hypothermia of the extremities.
5. After 35 years, it is advisable to start taking chondroprotectors.
6. When playing 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. Diet plays an important role in skeletal health. It is better to reduce consumption of animal saturated fats, white bread and sweets. More fiber, vegetable oils, vegetables and fruits should be included in the diet. Proper nutrition not only helps to relieve discomfort, but also improves the functionality of the joints.