The knee joint is one of the most complex joints in the human body.Systemic loads cause every person to experience a dull, painful or sharp, sometimes unbearable combination at least once in their life.The knee can occur while walking and moving and can be a constant discomfort.The nature of pain in the knee joint and the sources of its occurrence are very diverse.
The structure of the knee joint
As the largest joint element in the human body, the knee joint is constantly subject to sports injuries.Bones, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, meniscus and periarticular capsules - if these parts are injured, they will certainly cause pain in the knee.
The composition of the bones of the knee joint includes:
- Shin (Tibia).It is the main weight-bearing bone attached to the bottom of the femur;
- femur (femur), which is the longest and strongest bone and is associated with the tibia and tibia;
- the patella, which is located at the bottom of the thigh.Together with the femur, it forms the patellofemoral joint.
The junction of the Femoral Notch and the Kneecap has cartilage that allows these bones to maintain a healthy position 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 muscle:
- The group of muscles of the posterior surface of the femur consists of four heads located in the front part.These are rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis and vastus intermedius.They are attached to the joint with tendons.By contracting the quadriceps muscle, the lower leg is extended and the leg is straightened.
- The muscle group of the posterior femoral surface consists of three muscles, which contribute to the flexion of the lower leg.These are the biceps, semimembranos and semiteninosus muscles.
There are two main types of cartilage in the knee joint:
- Hyaline cartilage promotes less 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 of connective tissue.
Ligaments connect bones together:
- The tibia and femur are connected by the 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.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 collateral internal ligament, which stabilizes the joint and prevents unwanted movements.
Tendons attach bones to bones.
Tendons are divided into the following types:
- Behind the knee joint are the tendons of the hamstring muscles.
- The quadriceps tendons are attached to the cup.
- The lower region of the Kneecap is attached to the top of the Tibia via the hamstring tendon.
The nature of the pain depending on the location
Joint pathological changes directly depend on the location of the pain.Pain, as an indicator, signals joint disturbances and changes.
Namely:
- Arthritis, an acute kidney, meniscal tear, severe reduction pain occurs;
- with primary swelling and synovitis - tolerable but constant pain;
- Gonarthrosis and arthrosis pains are accompanied by pinching;
- With degenerative arthrosis with joint deformation - throbbing pain;
- With damage to the bone tubercle and sciatic nerve, the pain is acute;
- Injuries of the meniscus, osteoporosis, inflammation of the synovial bursa, pain in the middle of the knee.
- Inflammation in joint tendons and muscle tissue causes cramping pains;
- When the nerve roots are damaged, shooting pain occurs.
Causes of pain in the knee joint
Medical statistics show that knee pain syndrome is caused by an inflammatory process in the knee.
Sources can be very different:
- 50% of pain conditions are associated with arthrosis, as a result of which hyaline cartilage is slowly destroyed.Sometimes the disease is asymptomatic, only worsens in the second stage.Unpleasant sensations may appear due to the growth of osteophytes and their effect on joint nerves.
- Often a partner can become a complication both as an independent disease and in the form of rheumatism and arthrosis.Arthritis is characterized by severe pain, swelling and redness of the knee.
- When the articular cartilage is inflamed as a result of degenerative arthrosis or mechanical trauma, pain can occur with osteochondritis.
- The result of obesity is periarchytis, which often affects the tendons, muscles, and sometimes the lining of the joint.The disease is accompanied by aching pains.
- With bursitis, inflammation of the synovial capsule occurs due to injuries or complications of other diseases of the knee joint.
- With chondromatosis, it forms nodules in the area of hyaline cartilage, which later spread throughout the joint.Soft tissues with a large number of nerve cells are compressed and pain occurs.
- Pain can be seen with cellulitis when the focus of other triple diseases (pruritic arthritis, soft tissue abscess) is close to the adipose tissue under the skin.
- Damage to the epidermis with dermatitis 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 people over fifty-five years old.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 be the result of complications during operations or from open injuries.
What to do if the knee joint hurts badly
It is necessary to determine the causes of joint pain and start treating the pathology.The most effective treatment is medicine, because conservative therapy can help start destructive changes in the body.If you do not see the doctor in time, you should apply for 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 immediately contact a specialist, it is necessary to take urgent measures to relieve pain and swelling.
What will help with this:
- It is necessary to stop any activity, lie down with a pillow under your knee;
- For swelling, you should use a cold compress (ice, cold things) 4-5 times a day;
- If two days have passed after the treatment procedures and the pain has significantly decreased, you can start exercises to restore joint comfort.A short massage (5-10 minutes) is possible;
- To combat pain after an impact on the knee, you should loosen it with an elastic bandage (or using a knee brace) to maintain the integrity of the parts of the joint;
- Even if you get rid of the pain a few weeks after the injury, you should treat the injured limb with care, move less and avoid vigorous 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 ointments and tablets.
Conservative treatment is often supplemented with physiotherapeutic procedures.Manual therapy is very effective, with its help, you can damage ligaments, meniscus and arthrosis in the initial stages.
In cases where conservative treatment of the knee joint is impossible, experts recommend surgical intervention.Ligament tears, meniscus, fractures - such injuries are restored with the help of serious operations.
Diagnostics
Early diagnosis allows successful treatment of knee joint diseases and eliminates the risk of developing serious processes.An initial consultation with a therapist will help determine the direction of examination and referral to a specialist.
Pain sensations are studied in several directions:
- In operation.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.An examination is organized using x-ray, ultrasound, MRI and a biopsy of synovial bursa fluid.
- In Rheumatology.General laboratory tests are carried out in the form of a blood test for the presence of rheumatoid protein, hematological and uric acid levels.DNA testing is used.
- In Psychiatry and Neurology.Ultrasound allows you to compress muscles and nerves.In patients with mental disorders, a special examination for the presence of a mental illness is prescribed for somatic pain.
Treatment of knee joint diseases
Folk treatment
After an accurate diagnosis, you can turn to traditional medicine and be sure to consult your doctor.It is not possible to completely cure the diseases of the knee joint using traditional methods, but traditional medicine will help to relieve pain and inflammation and can also act as an operational therapy.
Garbage and ointments are considered effective folk remedies:
- egg yolk ointment.Yolk is combined with a spoon and a spoon of apple cider vinegar.Helps relieve joint pain and inflammation;
- 300 grams of horse chestnut kernels are crushed and placed in a bottle of vodka.This mixture is poured for two weeks (it needs to be buried alternately).
It is used for rubbing before going to bed.Knee joints are also treated with compresses.
Medicinal plants and vegetables are used for this type of treatment:
- Wash 7-8 burdock. Then put the steamed leaves on a knee previously greased with vegetable oil, wrap it in cling film and cover it with gauze or a soft cloth.The compress is kept for several hours.
- Peel the raw potato tubers, put them in a large frying pan and heat them in a little water bath.Place the puree in a natural cloth bag.The bag was placed on the knee and left overnight.Treatment is carried out within a week.You should not forget to prepare new contents of the bag every day.
- Celandine is used to relieve pain and stop the inflammatory process in the knee.It is necessary to thoroughly wet a piece of linen 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 intervals.
Traditional medicine
Knee joint diseases are very common manifestations, causing long-term pain, 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 arthrosis are treated with the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.A condition during therapy is the normalization of metabolism and the removal of salts with the help of a number of drugs, as well as the creation of an optimal acid-base balance.When treating arthritis and arthrosis, you should follow the instructions of the specialist to achieve a continuous positive dynamic.
The treatment of tendonitis and bursitis is focused on anti-inflammatory therapy and establishing a resting position for the affected limb.A puncture of the joint capsule is performed to relieve pain, manage the accumulated fluid and antibiotics.In severe cases, surgery is indicated.
Therapeutic measures for dystrophic lesions of the knee joint (meniscopathy, tendinopathy, chondropathy) are aimed at relieving knee pain, treating and restoring healthy joint functions.But even in this case, if there is no therapeutic effect, surgery is prescribed.
Preventive measures
Helps prevent knee joint diseases, wear, damage, inflammation, health and complications.Effectively organized preventive measures prevent pain and inflammatory processes and prevent the development of the disease.
What measures should be taken to prevent knee joint diseases:
- Follow safety rules to prevent knee injury;
- proper dose of physical activity;
- maintain normal body weight;
- monitor diet and fluid intake;
- fight any infection in time;
- Contact a specialist in time for joint disease treatment.
If there is a systemic disease that affects the function of the knee joint, the most optimal preventive measure will be timely and adequate treatment.Only in this way can prevent destructive processes in joint tissues.With the complex therapy of knee joint diseases, the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, physiotherapy, therapeutic exercises and other therapeutic and health technologies, as well as the use of proper diet and physical activity, it is possible to ensure the joy of movement and the joy of an active, fulfilling life.