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 consists of many structures and every day they are all subjected to enormous loads.The damage can affect one of the ligaments or tendons, or specific sacs that fill with fluid, as well as cartilage tissue.This symptom can be a signal of diseases related not only to the knee, but also general diseases of the body or systems.
It is also necessary to distinguish during which movements pain occurs, for example, pain in the knee when bending is characteristic of people leading an active lifestyle, and often indicates a violation of the structure of the joints and bones.Such spasms appear mainly in the later stages of the disease, when treatment with surgical intervention is inevitable.Knees often hurt and crack when squatting, this may mean that the cartilage tissue is worn out (mainly observed in athletes due to constant running).Pain from the inside occurs due to various pathologies of the joint or the appearance of neoplasms.The appearance of pain after childbirth is due to the fact that during pregnancy the female body has undergone many changes, due to which some diseases can develop.
It is important to determine why the pain in the knee joint is expressed, because some diseases can be cured only with the help of surgery, and for some it will be enough to use traditional medicine.
Etiology
As mentioned above, 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, among which are:
- gonarthrosis is a disease that most often affects people over forty years old.The pathology usually affects both knees.The main symptom is pain and crunching when flexing and squatting.The spasms are sharp and sharp.The intensity level decreases in the supine position;
- blood entering 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, 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 early as possible, since the disease spreads to other joints;
- violation of the integrity of the ligaments due to rupture, most often the internal ligament is susceptible to this, much less often the lateral ligament.In this case, swelling and limitation of motor functions are observed;
- various inflammations of the tendons - the appearance of which has many causes, for example, infectious diseases or the influence of bacteria, injuries or bruises, allergies to drugs or abnormalities in the structure of the body.In such disorders, the pain in the knee is expressed from the inside;
- Displacement or luxation 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 carried out in time, complications may occur, which will have to be treated only with medical intervention;
- pathological processes in the synovial membrane that covers 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 damaged knee;
- osteoarthritis, in which cartilage tissue becomes thinner;
- various infectious diseases, the course of which can lead to arthritis.Pain in the knee occurs when walking, as well as 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 causes 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 stand on their feet for several hours;
- intense physical activity - therefore this disorder is most often observed in professional athletes, for example after running;
- incorrect posture during work;
- wearing uncomfortable high-heeled shoes.
There are several reasons why a woman's knees hurt during pregnancy:
- an increase in body weight (in some cases up to twenty kilograms);
- lack of calcium and other minerals in the body;
- the production of a specific hormone that softens the ligament tissue.
After childbirth, all unpleasant sensations should disappear on their own, but 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 feel pain in her knees when squatting, standing, and standing.This is due to the following reasons:
- intense muscle work during childbirth;
- involuntary sudden movement during the birth of the baby can cause dislocation;
- if the woman had various diseases 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 is felt when standing up and straightening the knees.
Symptoms
In addition to the expressed signs - pain of varying intensity and crunching when squatting, this manifestation has additional symptoms characteristic of the disease that caused pain in the knee when walking or other leg movements:
- sleep disorders;
- increased body temperature;
- reduced or complete lack of appetite;
- stiffness of movements;
- increasing pain when walking.There is noticeable improvement in sitting or lying down;
- noticeable swelling of the damaged knee - can be observed from the inside;
- inability to shift weight on the affected limb;
- knee cap deformity;
- change in the color of the skin of the knee;
- a fever
When the first signs appear, you should immediately contact a medical facility for diagnosis and effective treatment.
Diagnosis
Since many diseases are caused by pain in the knee when walking, after running, when squatting and standing, 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 pain;
- palpation of the knee by the attending physician to understand a more complete picture of the localization of pain, as well as to identify swelling;
- blood analysis of the patient for general and biochemical tests;
- radiography - in which all pathologies in the structure of the knee will be clearly visible;
- collection of fluid using a puncture - performed if the attending physician suspects bone tuberculosis;
- puncture of fluid from the knee joint;
- arthroscopy - performed in the event of an injury to the meniscus, which causes pain in the knee from the inside.This method is carried out not only for diagnosis, but also during treatment;
- bone density measurement;
- Ultrasound of the knee;
- examinations of patients using MRI and CT.
Treatment
There is no single cure for all diseases and disorders.The treatment method 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.Treatment methods that are prescribed to all patients without exception, including women after childbirth:
- reducing the load on the lower limbs so that the slightest symptoms do not appear;
- application of a fixation bandage on the injured knee;
- warming the knee with heating ointments or compresses.As prescribed by the doctor, 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 only be used after consulting a doctor.Such pain treatments include:
- iodine network;
- compress from your own urine;
- a mixture of raw potatoes with kerosene;
- lotions of apple cider vinegar mixed with egg yolk;
- cream of crushed potatoes with horseradish;
- onion compress, for this you need to cut it in half and apply half to the outer and inner side of the knee;
- cologne and dandelion solution;
- tinctures of elecampane root and alcohol;
- compress of black elder, chamomile and pine;
- calendula lotion;
- a mixture of mustard and honey.
Folk remedies are not recommended for use by women during pregnancy and after childbirth, when the baby is breastfeeding.
Prevention
To avoid knee pain when walking, after running or squatting, you should:
- adhere to a healthy lifestyle;
- always watch your posture;
- maintaining a normal body weight;
- warm up the muscles before training to avoid knee cramps after running and exercising;
- wear only comfortable shoes;
- timely treatment of all diseases that can lead to this disorder;
- several times a year undergo a preventive examination at the clinic;
- perform gymnastics if a person's lifestyle or working conditions are standing or sitting;
- avoid hypothermia;
- At the first symptoms, especially after giving birth or running, consult a doctor.