Pain in the knee joint is one of the most common unpleasant sensations that every person has experienced at least once.The progression of diseases that can cause pain is caused by the fact that the human knee consists of many structures, and every day they are all subjected to enormous loads.Damage can involve one of the ligaments or tendons, or specific fluid-filled sacs, as well as cartilage tissue.This symptom can be a signal of diseases not only related to the knee, but also general diseases of the organism or system.
It is also necessary to distinguish during which movements the 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 structure of joints and bones.Such spasms usually occur in the later stages of the disease, when surgical treatment is inevitable.Knees often hurt and crack when squatting, which can indicate wear and tear of cartilage tissue (mainly seen in athletes due to constant running).Internal pain is caused by various joint pathologies or the appearance of neoplasms.The appearance of pain after childbirth is caused by the fact that during pregnancy the woman's body underwent many changes, due to which some diseases could develop.
It is important to determine what causes pain in the knee joint, because some diseases can only be cured by surgery, and for some it will be enough to use traditional medicine.
Etiology
As already mentioned, there are many reasons why the knees hurt, and they are not always directly related to injuries, diseases and bruises of the knee joint.The first group of factors consists of disorders that directly affect the knee joint, including:
- Gonarthrosis is a disorder that most often affects people over the age of forty.The pathology usually affects both knees.The main symptom is pain and grinding during extension and squatting.Cramps are sharp and sharp.The intensity level decreases when you lie down;
- blood enters the joint cavity;
- Meniscus damage can occur at any age, regardless of gender.Often only one knee is affected.This disease is characterized by a strong creaking and pain in the knee when bending or after running.In addition, the person loses the ability to move because he experiences unbearable pain at the slightest movement of the leg;
- arthritis - the disorder develops very quickly, the inflammatory process spreads to the knee joints of both legs.It is best to start treatment as soon as possible, because the disease spreads to other joints;
- violation of the integrity of the ligaments due to rupture, most often the internal ligament is subject to this, much less often the lateral ligament.In this case, swelling and limitation of motor functions are observed;
- various tendinitis - the occurrence of which has many causes, for example, infectious diseases or the influence of bacteria, injuries or bruises, drug allergies or abnormalities in the structure of the body.In such disorders, the pain in the knee is expressed from the inside;
- displacement or dislocation of the knee cap - occurs very rarely and mostly in children or athletes, after intense exercise or running;
- inflammatory process in the joint capsule.If the treatment is not done on time, complications may arise that will have to be treated only with medical intervention;
- pathological processes in the synovial membrane covering 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 fatty 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 whose course can lead to arthritis.Pain in the knee occurs when walking, as well as after squatting;
- bone tuberculosis;
- pathologies of the spine cause the feeling that the knee hurts when walking;
- Metabolic disorders or salt deposits in the knee often lead to knee pain when squatting.
The second group of reasons consists of other influences that cause pain in the knee joint:
- excessively high body weight;
- external injuries or bruises of the knee joint;
- working conditions that require a person to be on their feet 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 during work;
- wearing uncomfortable high-heeled shoes.
There are several reasons why a woman's knees hurt during pregnancy:
- weight gain (in some cases up to twenty kilograms);
- lack of calcium and other minerals in the body;
- production of a specific hormone that softens the ligament tissue.
After childbirth, all unpleasant sensations should disappear by themselves, but if this does not happen, consult a doctor, as this may be a sign of the diseases described above.After giving birth, a woman may feel pain in her knees when squatting, standing and standing up.This is caused by the following reasons:
- intense muscle work during childbirth;
- involuntary sudden movements during childbirth can cause dislocation;
- if the woman had various diseases of the musculoskeletal system before giving birth;
- During breastfeeding, fluid accumulates in a woman's body, which has a harmful effect on the joints, causing pain when standing up and straightening the knees.
Symptoms
In addition to the pronounced signs - pain of varying intensity and creaking when squatting, this manifestation also has additional symptoms characteristic of the disease due to which the knee hurts when walking or other leg movements:
- sleep disorders;
- increased body temperature;
- reduced or complete lack of appetite;
- stiffness of movement;
- increased pain when walking.The improvement is noticeable in a sitting or lying position;
- noticeable swelling of the injured knee - can be noticed internally;
- inability to transfer weight to the affected limb;
- knee deformation;
- discoloration of the skin on the knee;
- fever.
When the first signs appear, you must immediately contact a medical institution for diagnosis and effective treatment.
Diagnostics
Since many disorders are caused by pain in the knee when walking, after running, when squatting and standing up, the diagnosis should consist of:
- a detailed examination of the patient regarding the appearance of the first symptoms, the intensity of the pain, the place of its appearance (external or internal), possible causes (for example, when walking, after running or giving birth), what causes the pain;
- palpation of the knee by a doctor to get a more complete picture of pain localization, as well as to identify swelling;
- patient's blood analysis for general and biochemical studies;
- radiography - on which all pathologies in the structure of the knee will be clearly visible;
- collection of fluid through puncture - performed if the doctor suspects bone tuberculosis;
- puncture of fluid from the knee joint;
- arthroscopy - performed in cases of meniscus injury, which causes pain in the knee from the inside.This method is carried out not only for diagnosis, but also during treatment;
- bone tissue density measurements;
- Ultrasound of the knee;
- examinations of patients using MRI and CT.
Treatment
There is no one way to cure all diseases and disorders.The method of treatment for each patient is prescribed individually and depends on the cause and degree of intensity of the spasms, whether the knee hurts when walking, after running, when squatting or standing up.Treatment methods prescribed to all patients without exception, including postpartum women:
- reducing the load on the lower limbs so that not even the smallest symptoms appear;
- applying a fixing bandage to the damaged knee;
- heating the knee with ointments or heating pads.According to the doctor's recommendation, use cold compresses, but not more than fifteen minutes a day;
- anti-inflammatory drugs.
If necessary, treatment is carried out by surgical intervention.
In addition, there are folk remedies that can reduce symptoms, but they can be used only after consulting a doctor.Such pain treatments include:
- iodine network;
- a poultice made of your own urine;
- mixture of raw potatoes with kerosene;
- lotions of apple cider vinegar mixed with egg yolk;
- mashed potatoes with horseradish;
- onion wrap, for this you need to cut it in half and apply half on the outer and inner side of the knee;
- a solution of cologne and dandelion;
- tinctures of elecampane root and alcohol;
- poultice of black elder, chamomile and pine;
- calendula lotion;
- a mixture of mustard and honey.
Folk remedies are not recommended for women during pregnancy and after childbirth, when the baby is breastfeeding.
Prevention
To avoid knee pain when walking, after running or squatting, you must:
- adhere to a healthy lifestyle;
- always watch your posture;
- maintain a normal body weight;
- warm up your muscles before training to avoid knee cramps after running and exercising;
- wear only comfortable shoes;
- timely treat all diseases that can lead to this disorder;
- undergo a preventive examination at the clinic several times a year;
- perform gymnastics if the person's lifestyle or working conditions are in a standing or sitting position;
- avoid hypothermia;
- At the first symptoms, especially after giving birth or running, consult a doctor.