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 see a doctor. Such a pathological condition can be a signal of the development of one of the diseases that deforms 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. Hence, the joint consists of the femur, tibia and patella. The two largest bones each have two protrusions: 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 depreciation properties are ensured. Around this connection of bones there 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 cruciate and collateral ligaments, femoral muscles, tendons. The patella is attached to other elements through its own ligament. In order for the knee to move, 6 synovial bags are needed. The nutrition and innervation of the presented joint is carried out through the nerves and blood vessels, which are located in the soft tissues surrounding the joint.

Knee joint pain: causes

If the knee starts to hurt, swelling appears, limited mobility, and the discomfort is severe enough, you should immediately consult a doctor. If the destructive process has already begun, it will be impossible to completely cure the knee. However, it will be possible to stop or slow down its progression.

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

• gonarthrosis.It occurs in nearly 50% of all cases of joint damage. Pathology develops for a 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 get up from the hips. During movement, the patient feels a creak of the knee, his mobility decreases. Over time, due to the wear of the cartilage, the distance between the bone surfaces decreases. In this case, osteophytes appear, the 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, deformation of the joint is not threatened, but inflammation can affect the synovial bags;
• circulatory problems (necrosis).This disrupts the nutrition of the knee. Most often, this condition occurs in adolescents. It is they who have too rapid bone growth, in which their feeding 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 spot and does not spread to the entire knee. Discomfort can 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. Night pain becomes more pronounced. The knee also hurts at rest, when the weather changes. The reason for the development of pathology is excessive body weight, old age, weakness of the immune system;
• bursitis.This is an inflammatory lesion of the synovial bags of the knee. The characteristic symptoms of the disease are redness of the skin in the affected area, swelling and decreased range of motion. The cavities of the synovial sacs are filled with exudate, which contains harmful microorganisms. The cause of the development of pathology is trauma, excessive physical activity. The knee not only hurts a lot, 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 appear in the joint area;
• periarthritis.This disease is most often diagnosed in women who have a high body weight and who 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 cartilage nodules, which are located in the shell of the joint bag. At the same time, dehydration of the joint occurs, its mobility is limited, a creak is heard during movement. Since the soft tissues are squeezed, the patient feels severe pain;
• patella of chondromalacia.Here the cartilage undergoes degenerative changes: it simply dies. The reasons for this pathological condition are trivial: knee injury, characteristic of some professions. At the same time, the knee hurts a lot, the discomfort becomes more pronounced with any movement. In the left or right knee, a creak, a rattle 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 aged 3 to 7. It is so small that it cannot always be diagnosed on examination. It does not pose a threat to human health and presents no discomfort. However, if it grows, the joint could hurt, especially when bending and straightening the leg. If the hernia is large, an operation is performed to remove it;
• knee tendonitis.This 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;

• osteochondritis of the knee.This is where the cartilage breaks away from the joint surface. At first, the knee does not hurt much, but over time its intensity increases, and the inflammation joins the pathological process;
• Koenig's disease.Here, part of the cartilage can separate from the bone and move into 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 involves the formation of bumps in the knee area. Most often, the disease is diagnosed in boys and people involved in sports. The pain is acute, made worse by bending and straightening the leg.

These reasons are the main, but not the only ones. Therefore, it is necessary to consider other factors, due to the influence of which there is pain in the knee.

Diseases of other organs, such as the cause of knee pain

Some pathologies that are not related to the knee joint can cause pain in it:

1. Fibromyalgia.Discomfort is localized in the muscles and soft tissues, but it can be given to the joints located nearby. The inflammatory process does not develop. In addition to aching pain in the knee joint, a person experiences stiffness in movements, fatigue, may have seizures.
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. A severe stabbing pain can radiate to the thigh and knee.

What systemic pathologies can cause knee pain? In addition to the reasons that have already been 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, 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, the pathology occurs in men who abuse alcohol, eat improperly. In the affected area, the skin turns red, and at night the knee joint hurts more. The duration of the attack varies from a couple of days to several weeks;
• osteoporosis.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 remove it. Bones in this pathology are highly susceptible to fractures;
• rheumatoid arthritis.This is a systemic pathology, characterized by inflammation of the connective tissue. Its active development begins with a decrease in the protective functions of the body. Manifested by a feeling of stiffness, which a person can feel after a long stay in a state of rest;
• osteomyelitis.The presented bacterial pathology causes rather severe pains of a dull nature. In the area of the affected joint, the skin turns red and the discomfort increases with any 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 a course of antibiotic treatment;
• Paget's disease.In this case, the bone tissue is formed incorrectly, 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, as 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 injury site.

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

Trauma as a cause of pain syndrome

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

1. Torn, torn, or torn ligaments in the knee.These injuries lead to the onset of "advance" syndrome of the joint. In addition, a person experiences 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, as well as the hematoma, usually go away on their own in a week or two.
3. Tear of the meniscus.It results in a strong blow to the anterior region of the knee joint. After the acute period of pathology has passed, the pain syndrome usually worries the patient while climbing the stairs, which is quite difficult to implement. There is slight swelling in the knee joint area.
4. Fracture.It appears when falling from a great height or a strong shock effect. The pain is severe, sharp, swelling appears in the affected area, and the skin becomes pale. The victim cannot stand on the injured leg. During a fracture, a creaking and crackling sound is heard and bone can break through the skin.
5. Rupture of the tendon.This injury is not common, but leads to sharp pain first 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 constituent parts of the joint may protrude from it.

Trauma can cause chronic illness.

Most knee joint disorders have similar symptoms, so it can be quite difficult to recognize them. That is why self-medication is not worth it, as you can further 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 those 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 system of the knee joint.

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

In what cases it is necessary to consult a doctor

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

1. The patient has had aching 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, it appears suddenly.
3. When walking, a creak is heard in the knee joint.
4. Knees hurt every day and at a certain time under certain conditions.
5. In the knee joint, instability is felt from time to time.
6. If there are additional pathological signs: rash, fever, fever.
7. Aching pain appeared, which is 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 a decision to see a doctor. By delaying the visit, the patient increases the duration and complexity of therapy and also allows the pathology to develop further.

Variety 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:

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

• ardent.It is characteristic of pinching the sciatic nerve and tuberculosis of the bones;
• stabbing.It is caused by a cyst in the synovial bursa. And excruciating 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;
• shooting.It causes pinching of the nerve endings.

Diagnosis of pathology and first aid

Many people complain that their knees hurt and don't know what to do. But when you feel pain and creak in the knee joint, 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 the bone marrow and synovial fluid.
4. Smears 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 rehabilitation period is not required.
6. X-ray.
7. MRI or CT scan.
8. ultrasound.
9. Densitometry.

Knee pain: first aid

If a person experiences pain or pain in the leg in the knee area, they must first secure the rest of the limb. Home treatment involves taking pain relievers or anti-inflammatory drugs.

Pain can be relieved with a cold pack. 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 hill. When there are wounds in the joint area, they should be treated with an antiseptic. These measures are not a complete treatment. They should only be taken before a visit to the doctor.

Knee pain: medical treatment

So, what to do if you hear a creak in the joint and feel severe discomfort? 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 remove severe symptoms with the help of such drugs:

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

Some conditions need to 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 through surgery or a glucocorticosteroid block.

If the joints hurt due to an injury, in some cases it is necessary to reposition the bones. A tight bandage, 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 assigned to wear or use special orthopedic devices so that the load can be removed from the knee.

It is necessary to treat systemic diseases in a complex way. Knee pain in these cases should be treated with immunosuppressants, anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticosteroids. 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 is disturbing even at night, physical exercises and massage sessions will help get rid of stiffness and relieve 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 your knees are very sore, you need to move on to the simpler exercises. The weekly load can be increased.

In a lying or sitting position, you can perform flexion and extension of the limbs, alternate half turns, pulling the knees to the stomach, moving the legs to the sides. After completing a series of exercises, you need to relax and then move on 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 if a specialist did. To eliminate most of the symptoms, it is necessary to carry out a course of massage procedures, one session lasts no more than 20 minutes. The rubbing of the inner and outer surfaces, as well as the lateral surfaces, is performed by pressure on the patella. During the procedure, it is necessary to ensure that the person does not hurt.

How to treat knee joints at home?

A crunch in the knees, as well as pain that appears at night, is an unpleasant phenomenon. Why these symptoms appear is already known. However, it is possible to relieve pain and restore normal joint function not only with drugs. You can do this at home with the help of folk remedies.

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

The following recipes can be helpful:

1. In half a liter of boiling water, pour 2 large tablespoons of cinquefoil herb, after which you need to let it brew. Drink the drug should be twice a day per 100 ml. You can apply cinquefoil decoction on a sore knee as a night pack.
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 wheat. The mixture is boiled, after which it is left to infuse overnight. During the day it is necessary 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. It will help to quickly get rid of pain. Apply a compress to the affected knee and cover with a clean cloth. Rinse 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, take a tablespoon of mustard, 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, bitter pepper tincture can be used for rubbing. A half-liter jar should be filled with chopped pepper, then pour the alcohol on 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 to remove them. But first you should consult a doctor.

Pathology prevention

In order for the knee joints to remain healthy and function well for a long time, it is necessary to follow the simple recommendations of doctors:

1. Reduce joint stress.
2. It is rational to combine rest and work.
3. Promptly 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. 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 animal saturated fats, white bread, sweets. More fiber, vegetable oils, vegetables and fruits should be included in the diet. Proper nutrition will not only help relieve discomfort but will also improve joint function.