The knee joint is one of the most complex joints in the human body.Systemic loads cause every person at least once in his life to experience dull, aching or sharp, and sometimes unbearable pain in the joints.It can occur when walking and moving the knee and can be a constant concern.The nature of pain in the knee joint and the sources of its occurrence are very diverse.
Structure of the knee joint
As the largest joint element in the human body, the knee joint is constantly subject to sports injuries.Bones, cartilages, tendons, ligaments, meniscus and periarticular capsules - if these parts are injured, they will certainly create pain in the knee.
The composition of the bones of the knee joint includes:
- shin (tibia).It is the main weight-bearing bone associated with the lower part of the femur;
- the thigh bone (femur), which is the longest and strongest bone and is connected to the knee cap and tibia;
- the patella, located at the bottom of the thigh.Together with the femur, it forms the patellofemoral joint.
The junction of the femur and knee cap contains cartilage that allows these bones to maintain a healthy state of motion relative to each other, eliminating friction and pain in the knee.
The muscles of the knee joint include the muscles of the back of the thigh and the quadriceps:
- The group of muscles of the posterior femoral surface consists of four heads located in its front part.These are the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis and vastus intermedius.They are attached to the joint by tendons.By contracting the quadriceps, the lower leg is extended and the leg straightened.
- The muscle group of the posterior femoral surface consists of three muscles, the contraction of which contributes to the bending of the lower leg.These are the biceps, semimembranous and semitendinosus muscles.
There are two main types of cartilage in the knee joint:
- Hyaline cartilage helps reduce friction because it is strong and flexible.
- The medial and lateral menisci are cartilaginous structures that act as "air cushions" to provide cushioning between bones in contact.
The knee joint includes ligaments in the form of fibers consisting of connective tissue.
Ligaments connect bones to each other:
- The tibia and femur are connected by an anterior cruciate ligament.It helps prevent the tibia from moving forward relative to the femur.
- The role of the posterior cruciate ligament is to prevent posterior movement of the tibia relative to the femur.
- On the outside of the knee is the external collateral ligament.It connects the fibula and femur and helps limit force and stabilize the knee joint.
- The inner lower edge of the femur is connected to the upper inner edge of the tibia by the internal collateral ligament, which stabilizes the joint and prevents unwanted movements.
Tendons attach muscles to bones.
Tendons are divided into the following types:
- At the back of the knee joint are the hamstring tendons.
- The quadriceps tendons are attached to the top of the cup.
- The lower area of the knee cap is attached to the top of the tibia by the hamstring tendon.
The nature of the pain depending on the location
Pathological changes in the joint are directly dependent on the localization of the pain.Pain, as an indicator, signals discomfort and changes in the joint.
namely:
- with arthritis, acute bursitis, meniscus tear, severe excruciating pain occurs;
- with initial bursitis and synovitis - tolerable but constant pain;
- gonarthrosis and arthrosis are accompanied by pinching pain;
- with degenerative arthrosis with joint deformation - vibrating pain;
- with bone tuberculosis and damage to the sciatic nerve, the pain is acute;
- injuries to the meniscus, osteoporosis, inflammation of the synovial bursa are accompanied by piercing pain in the knee joint;
- inflammation in the tendons and muscle tissue of the joint causes spasms;
- when the nerve roots are damaged, shooting pain occurs.
Causes of knee pain
Medical statistics show that knee pain syndrome is caused by the presence of an inflammatory process in the knee.
The sources can be very different:
- 50% of pain conditions are associated with arthrosis, as a result of which the hyaline cartilage is slowly destroyed.Sometimes the disease is asymptomatic, worsening only in the second stage.Due to the growth of osteophytes and their impact on the nerves in the joint, unpleasant sensations may appear.
- Often the joint can be affected by arthritis, both as an independent disease and as a complication in the form of rheumatism and arthrosis.Arthritis is characterized by severe pain, swelling and redness of the knee.
- Pain can occur with osteochondritis when the articular cartilage becomes inflamed as a result of degenerative arthrosis or mechanical trauma.
- The result of obesity is often periarthritis, which affects the tendons, muscles, and sometimes the lining of the joint.The disease is accompanied by nagging pain.
- In bursitis, inflammation of the synovial capsule occurs due to injury or complications of other diseases of the knee joint.
- In chondromatosis, nodules are formed in the area of hyaline cartilage, which subsequently spread throughout the joint.Soft tissues with a huge number of nerve cells are pressed and pain occurs.
- Pain may occur with cellulitis if foci of other concomitant diseases (purulent arthritis, soft tissue abscess) are located near the fatty tissue under the skin.
- In dermatitis, damage to the epidermis occurs as a result of eczema, erysipelas, allergic reactions and psoriasis.
- Synovitis is characterized by damage to the joint capsule as a result of chronic pathological changes.This disease develops in elderly people over the age of fifty-five.At a young age, the disease can occur due to severe injuries.
- The pain occurs due to osteomyelitis, which is characterized by bacterial inflammation of the bone marrow.The disease can occur as a result of complications during operations or open injuries.
What to do if your knee joint hurts a lot
After identifying the causes of pain in the joints, it is necessary to start treatment of the pathology.The most effective treatment is medication, as conservative therapy can help with the appearance of destructive changes in the body.If you do not go to the doctor in time, you must resort to surgical intervention.
Often knee pain starts suddenly and a person does not know how to behave in such a situation.If it is not possible to contact a specialist immediately, it is necessary to take urgent measures to relieve pain and swelling.
What activities will help with this:
- it is necessary to stop any activity, lie down with a pillow under the knee;
- in case of swelling, you should use cold compresses (ice, cold objects) for 15-20 minutes 4-5 times a day;
- If two days have passed after the treatment procedures and the pain has decreased significantly, you can start exercises to restore the flexibility of the joints.A short massage (5-10 minutes) is possible;
- to combat the pain after a blow to the knee, you should wrap it loosely with an elastic bandage (or use a knee pad) to maintain the correctness of the parts of the joint;
- Even if you overcome the pain a few weeks after the injury, you should treat the injured limb with caution, move less and give up intense activity.
To relieve pain in the knee joint, you can switch to conservative treatment.The most common drugs recommended by doctors are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of gels, ointments and tablets.
Conservative treatment is often supplemented by physical therapy procedures.Manual therapy is very effective, with the help of which you can cure damage to ligaments, meniscus and arthrosis in the initial stages.
In cases where conservative treatment of the knee joint is impossible, specialists recommend surgical intervention.Torn ligaments, meniscus, fractures - such injuries are repaired with the help of serious operations.
Diagnosis
Early diagnosis allows successful treatment of knee joint diseases and eliminates the risk of developing serious processes.The initial consultation with a therapist will help determine the direction of research and referral to a specialist.
Pain sensations are studied in several directions:
- In surgery.CT, MRI, ultrasound, fluoroscopy, blood test for the presence of rheumatoid factor, puncture of the hyaline cartilage of the knee joint are used.
- In traumatology.Examination with X-rays, ultrasound, MRI and biopsy of fluid in the synovial bursa is organized.
- In rheumatology.General laboratory tests are performed in the form of a blood test for the presence of rheumatoid protein, hematology and uric acid levels.A DNA test is used.
- In Psychiatry and Neurology.Ultrasound allows you to diagnose pinched muscles and nerves.For so-called somatic pain in patients with mental disorders, a special examination for the presence of a mental illness is prescribed.
Treatment of diseases of the knee joints
People's funds
You can turn to traditional medicine after an accurate diagnosis and do not forget to consult your doctor.It is impossible to completely cure diseases of the knee joint with traditional methods, but traditional medicine will help relieve pain and inflammation and can act as a supportive therapy.
Rubbing and ointments are considered effective folk remedies:
- egg yolk ointment.The yolk is ground together with a spoonful of turpentine and a tablespoonful of apple cider vinegar.Helps relieve joint pain and inflammation;
- 300 g of horse chestnut nuts are crushed and placed in a bottle of vodka.This mixture is infused for two weeks (it is necessary to constantly shake the infusion).
It is used to rub before going to bed.Knee joints are also treated with compresses.
Medicinal plants and vegetables are used for this type of treatment:
- Rinse thoroughly 7-8 burdock leaves, dry, fold and press with a bowl of boiling water to release healing phytoncides.Then put the stewed leaves on a knee previously smeared with vegetable oil, wrap it in cling film and cover it with gauze or a soft cloth.The compress is kept for several hours.
- The lumps of the raw potato are peeled, grated on a coarse grater and heated a little in a water bath.Place the puree in a natural cloth bag.The bag is placed on the knee and left overnight.The treatment is carried out within one week.Do not forget to prepare new contents of the bag every day.
- Jaundice is used to relieve pain and stop the inflammatory process in the knee.It is necessary to thoroughly soak the linen fabric with the juice of the plant, wrap it around the knee and cover it with a film.The compress should be kept for about 50 minutes, after which the knee should be treated with sunflower oil.The weekly procedure should be carried out three times with 10-day breaks.
Traditional medicine
Diseases of the knee joint have many common manifestations in the form of prolonged pain, difficulty in movement, swelling, deformity and inflammation of the knee.Arthritis, arthrosis and bursitis are characterized by inflammatory processes and swelling of the knee joint, often with an increase in body temperature.
Arthritis and osteoarthritis are treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.During the therapy, a mandatory condition is the normalization of the metabolism and the removal of salts with the help of a number of drugs, as well as the establishment of an optimal acid-base balance.In the treatment of arthritis and arthrosis, you must follow the specialist's instructions to achieve sustainable positive dynamics.
The treatment of tendinitis and bursitis is aimed at anti-inflammatory therapy and creating a resting position for the affected limb.To eliminate the pain, a puncture of the joint capsule is performed to remove the accumulated fluid and antibiotics are administered.In severe cases, surgery is indicated.
Therapeutic measures for dystrophic lesions of the knee joint (meniscopathy, tendinopathy, chondropathy) are aimed at alleviating knee pain, treatment and restoration of healthy joint functions.But even in this case, if there is no therapeutic effect, surgery is prescribed.
Preventive measures
Preventing diseases of the knee joint allows you to avoid wear, injury, inflammation, helps to maintain their health and prevent complications.Effectively organized preventive measures help to prevent pain and inflammatory processes and prevent the development of the disease.
What measures should be taken to prevent diseases of the knee joints:
- follow safety rules to avoid knee injury;
- properly dose physical activity;
- maintaining a normal body weight;
- follow the diet and fluid intake;
- timely fight any infections;
- contact a specialist in time for the treatment of joint diseases.
If there is a systemic disease that affects the functioning of the knee joint, the most optimal preventive measure will be timely and adequate treatment.Only in this way can the destructive processes in the joint tissues be prevented.With the complex therapy of diseases of the knee joint, the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, physiotherapy, therapeutic gymnastics and other therapeutic and health technologies, as well as the observance of the right diet and physical activity, it is possible to ensure the healthy functioning of the joints and reliably ensure the joy of movement and an active, fulfilling life.