Knee pain

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 due to the fact that the human knee is made up of many structures and they are subjected to enormous stress on a daily basis.The damage may affect one of the ligaments or tendons or certain fluid-filled sacs as well as cartilage tissue.This symptom can be a signal of diseases affecting not only the knee, but also general diseases of the body or system.

It is also necessary to distinguish which movements cause pain.For example, pain in the knee when bending is characteristic of people leading an active lifestyle and often indicates a violation of the joint and bone structure.Such cramps occur primarily in later stages of the disease when surgical treatment is unavoidable.When squatting, the knees often hurt and crack, which can be an indication that the cartilage tissue is worn out (observed especially in athletes due to constant running).Pain inside occurs due to various joint diseases or the appearance of neoplasms.The appearance of pain after childbirth is due to the fact that the female body has undergone many changes during pregnancy, due to which some diseases can develop.

It is important to find out why pain manifests itself in the knee joint, because some diseases can only be cured with the help of surgical intervention, for some the use of conventional medicine is sufficient.

etiology

As mentioned above, there are many reasons why knees hurt, and they are not always directly related to injuries, diseases and bruises of the knee joint.The first group of factors includes diseases that directly affect the knee joint, including:

• Gonarthrosis is a disease that most often affects people over 40 years old.The pathology usually affects both knees.The main symptom is pain and crunching when stretching and squatting.The cramps are sharp and sharp.The intensity decreases when lying 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 severe crunching and pain in the knee when bending or after running.In addition, a person loses the ability to move, as he feels unbearable pain at the slightest movement of his leg;
• Arthritis – the disease develops very quickly, the inflammatory process spreads to the knee joints of both legs.It is best to start treatment as early as possible as the disease spreads to other joints;
• Violation of the integrity of the ligaments due to a tear, most often the inner ligament is susceptible to this, much less often the collateral ligament.In this case, swelling and limitation of motor functions are observed;
• Various inflammations of the tendons - the occurrence of which has many causes, for example infectious diseases or the influence of bacteria, injuries or bruises, allergies to medications or abnormalities in the body structure.In such diseases, pain in the knee is expressed inwards;
• Displacement or dislocation of the kneecap – occurs very rarely and mainly in children or athletes after intense training or running;
• inflammatory process in the joint capsule.If treatment is not given in a timely manner, complications may arise that only require medical intervention;
• pathological processes in the synovial membrane covering the joint;
• The appearance of a cyst on the inside of the knee joint causes 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 the cartilage tissue becomes thinner;
• various infectious diseases, the course of which can lead to arthritis.Knee pain occurs when walking and after squats;
• 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 to the knee joint;
• Working conditions that require being on your feet for several hours at a time;
• intense physical activity – that is why this disorder is most often observed in professional athletes, for example, after running;
• incorrect posture when working;
• Wear uncomfortable high-heeled shoes.

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

• Increase in body weight (in some cases up to twenty kilograms);
• Lack of calcium and other minerals in the body;
• the production of a certain hormone that softens the ligament tissue.

After childbirth, all unpleasant sensations should disappear on their own.However, if this does not happen, you should consult a doctor, as this may be a sign of the diseases described above.After giving birth, a woman may experience pain in her knees when squatting, standing, and straightening up.This is due to the following reasons:

• intensive muscle work during childbirth;
• Involuntary sudden movements during delivery of a baby can cause dislocation.
• if a woman had various complaints of the musculoskeletal system before giving birth;
• When breastfeeding a child, fluid accumulates in the female body, which has a detrimental effect on the joints, which is why pain occurs when standing up and straightening the knees.

Symptoms

In addition to pronounced signs - pain of varying intensity and crunching when squatting - this manifestation has other characteristic symptoms of the disease that lead to pain in the knee when walking or other leg movements:

• sleep disorders;
• increased body temperature;
• reduced or complete loss of appetite;
• stiffness of movements;
• increasing pain when walking.There is a noticeable improvement when sitting or lying down;
• noticeable swelling of the injured knee – can be observed from the inside;
• inability to transfer weight to the affected limb;
• deformation of the kneecap;
• Change in skin color on the knee;
• Fever.

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

diagnosis

Since many complaints are caused by knee pain when walking, after running, while squatting and standing up, the diagnosis should include:

• a detailed questioning of the patient regarding the appearance of the first symptoms, the intensity of the pain, the place of its occurrence (external or internal), possible causes (e.g. when walking, after running or during childbirth) that cause pain;
• Palpation of the knee by the attending physician to obtain a more complete picture of the localization of pain and detect swelling;
• Analysis of the patient's blood for general and biochemical studies;
• X-ray – in which all pathologies in the knee structure are clearly visible;
• Fluid removal via puncture – is carried out if the attending physician suspects bone tuberculosis;
• Puncture of fluid from the knee joint;
• Arthroscopy – performed for meniscus injuries that cause pain in the inside of the knee.This method is carried out not only for diagnosis, but also during treatment;
• measurements of bone tissue density;
• ultrasound of the knee;
• Patient examinations using MRI and CT.

Treatment

There is no single way to cure all diseases and ailments.The treatment method is prescribed for each patient individually and depends on the cause and degree of intensity of cramps when the knee hurts when walking, after running, while squatting or standing up.Methods of treatment that are prescribed to all patients without exception, including women after childbirth:

• Reducing the load on the lower limbs so that not the slightest symptoms appear;
• Applying a fixing bandage to the damaged knee;
• Warming the knee with warming ointments or compresses.Use cold compresses as prescribed by a doctor, but no more than fifteen minutes per day;
• anti-inflammatory drugs.

If necessary, treatment involves surgical intervention.

In addition, there are folk remedies that can relieve symptoms, but they should only be used after consulting a doctor.These pain treatments include:

• iodine network;
• compress from your own urine;
• a mixture of raw potatoes with kerosene;
• Lotions made from apple cider vinegar mixed with egg yolk;
• Ointment made from mashed potatoes with horseradish;
• Onion compress, for this you need to cut it in half and apply half to the outside and inside of the knee;
• a solution of cologne and dandelion;
• tinctures of elecampane root and alcohol;
• Black elderberry, chamomile and pine compress;
• 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 pay attention to your posture;
• maintaining normal body weight;
• Warm up muscles before exercise to avoid knee cramps after running and exercise.
• Wear only comfortable shoes;
• Promptly treat any illnesses that may lead to this disorder.
• undergo preventive examinations in the clinic several times a year;
• Perform gymnastics if a person's lifestyle or working conditions require a standing or sitting position;
• avoid hypothermia;
• At the first symptoms, especially after birth or when walking, consult a doctor.