Knee pain

Pain in the knee joint is one of the most common unpleasant sensations that everyone experiences at least once.The development of diseases that can cause pain is due to the fact that the human knee consists of many structures, and every day they are all subjected to enormous loads.Damage can affect one of the ligaments or tendons, or certain fluid-filled sacs, as well as cartilage tissue.These symptoms can be a signal of diseases not only related to the knee, but also general diseases of the body or system.

It is also necessary to distinguish where movement pain occurs, for example, pain in the knee when bending is characteristic of people who lead an active lifestyle, and often indicates a violation of the joint and bone structure.Such spasms mainly appear in the late stages of the disease, when treatment with surgical intervention is unavoidable.Knees often hurt and crack when squatting, this may indicate that the cartilage tissue is worn (especially observed in athletes due to continuous running).Pain in the inner part occurs due to various joint pathologies or the occurrence of neoplasms.The appearance of pain after childbirth is due to the fact that during pregnancy a woman's body undergoes many changes, which causes several diseases to develop.

It is important to determine why the pain in the knee joint is expressed, because some diseases can only be cured with the help of surgical intervention, and for some it will be enough to use traditional medicine.

Etiology

As mentioned above, there are many reasons why the knee hurts, and they are not always directly related to injuries, diseases and bruises on the knee joint.The first group of factors consists of disorders that directly affect the knee joint, among which are:

• gonarthrosis is a disorder that most often affects people over the age of forty.Pathology usually affects both knees.The main symptom is pain and throbbing during extension and squatting.Cramps are sharp and sharp.The intensity level decreases when lying down;
• blood enters the joint cavity;
• Meniscus damage can occur at any age, regardless of gender.Usually only one knee is affected.The disease is characterized by severe cramps and pain in the knees when bending or after running.In addition, the person loses the ability to move because he experiences unbearable pain at the slightest movement of his legs;
• arthritis - the disorder develops quickly, the inflammatory process spreads to the knee joints of both legs.It is better to start treatment as early as possible, because the disease spreads to other joints;
• violation of the integrity of the ligaments due to rupture, often the internal ligaments are exposed to this, less often the lateral ligaments.In this case, swelling and limitation of motor function are observed;
• various inflammation of the tendons - the appearance of which has many causes, for example, infectious diseases or bacterial influences, injuries or bruises, allergies to drugs or abnormalities in the structure of the body.With such a disorder, pain in the knee is expressed in the inner part;
• displacement or dislocation of the kneecap - occurs very rarely and especially in children or athletes, after intense exercise or running;
• inflammatory process in the joint capsule.If treatment is not done on time, complications may arise that only need to be treated with medical intervention;
• pathological process in the synovial membrane that covers the joint;
• the appearance of a cyst on the inside of the knee joint leads to pain behind the knee;
• destruction of the integrity of the adipose tissue covering the joint.Externally, this manifests itself in the form of swelling of the injured knee;
• osteoarthritis, in which cartilage tissue becomes thinner;
• various infectious diseases, which can lead to arthritis.Knee pain occurs when walking, as well as after squatting;
• bone tuberculosis;
• pathology of the spine causes the feeling that the knee hurts when walking;
• Metabolic disorders or salt deposits in the knee often cause knee pain when squatting.

The second group of reasons consists of other influences that cause pain in the knee joint:

• overweight;
• external injuries or bruises on the knee joint;
• work conditions that require a person to stand for several hours at a time;
• intense physical activity - this is why this disorder is most often observed in professional athletes, for example, after running;
• improper posture while working;
• wearing uncomfortable high-heeled shoes.

There are several reasons why women's knees hurt during pregnancy:

• weight gain (in some cases up to twenty kilograms);
• lack of calcium and other minerals in the body;
• the production of certain hormones that soften ligament tissue.

After childbirth, all unpleasant sensations should disappear by themselves, but if this does not happen, you should see a doctor, because this may be a sign of the disease described above.After giving birth, a woman may experience pain in her knees when squatting, standing, and straightening.This is due to the following reasons:

• intense muscle work during childbirth;
• sudden involuntary movements during the birth of the baby can cause dislocation;
• if a woman has various diseases of the musculoskeletal system before childbirth;
• When breastfeeding, fluid accumulates in the woman's body, which has a bad effect on the joints, which is why pain is felt when standing and straightening the knees.

symptoms

In addition to the obvious signs - pain of varying intensity and throbbing when squatting, this manifestation has additional symptoms characteristic of the disease that causes knee pain when walking or other leg movements:

• sleep disorders;
• increased body temperature;
• lack of appetite or complete;
• stiffness of movement;
• increasing pain when walking.There is a significant improvement in the sitting or lying position;
• significant swelling of the injured knee - can be observed from the inside;
• inability to shift weight on the affected limb;
• deformation of the kneecap;
• skin discoloration on the knee;
• fever

When the first signs appear, you must immediately contact a medical facility for effective diagnosis and treatment.

Diagnostics

Since many disorders are caused by knee pain when walking, after running, when squatting and standing, the diagnosis should consist of:

• a detailed survey of the patient about the appearance of the first symptom, the intensity of the pain, the location of its appearance (from the outside or inside), the possible reason (for example, while walking, after running or giving birth), what caused the pain;
• palpation of the knee by the attending physician to find out a more complete picture of the localization of pain, as well as to identify swelling;
• blood analysis of patients for general and biochemical studies;
• radiography - where any pathology in the structure of the knee will be clearly visible;
• fluid collection using a puncture - carried out if the attending physician suspects bone tuberculosis;
• fluid puncture from the knee joint;
• arthroscopy - performed in case of meniscus injury, which causes pain in the knee on the inside.This method is carried out not only for diagnosis, but also during treatment;
• measurement of bone tissue density;
• Knee ultrasound;
• examination of patients using MRI and CT.

Treatment

There is no one way to cure all diseases and disorders.The treatment method for each patient is determined individually and depends on the cause and the intensity of the cramp, if the knee hurts when walking, after running, when squatting or standing.Treatment methods prescribed to all patients without exception, including postpartum women:

• reduce the load on the lower limbs so that the slightest symptom does not arise;
• wearing a fixation bandage on the damaged knee;
• heat the knee with a heating ointment or compress.As prescribed by the doctor, use a cold compress, but not more than fifteen minutes a day;
• anti-inflammatory drugs.

If necessary, treatment is carried out with surgical intervention.

In addition, there are folk remedies that can reduce symptoms, but they can only be used after consulting a doctor.Treatments for such pain include:

• iodine network;
• compresses from your own urine;
• a mixture of raw potatoes with kerosene;
• lotion made from apple cider vinegar mixed with egg yolk;
• an ointment made from mashed potatoes with horseradish;
• onion compress, for this you need to cut it in half and apply half on the outside and inside of the knee;
• cologne and dandelion solution;
• elecampane root tincture and alcohol;
• compress made of black elderberry, chamomile and pine;
• calendula lotion;
• a mixture of mustard and honey.

Folk remedies are not recommended for use by women during pregnancy and after childbirth, while the baby is breastfeeding.

Prevention

To avoid knee pain while walking, after running or squatting, you must:

• adhere to a healthy lifestyle;
• always pay attention to your posture;
• maintain a normal weight;
• warm up the muscles before training to avoid knee cramps after running and exercising;
• wear only comfortable shoes;
• immediately treat all diseases that can lead to this disorder;
• undergoing preventive examinations at the clinic several times a year;
• doing gymnastics if one's lifestyle or working conditions are in a standing or sitting position;
• avoid hypothermia;
• At the first symptoms, especially after giving birth or running, seek the advice of a doctor.