The information in this section cannot be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, diagnostic tests should be prescribed only by the treating doctor. To make a diagnosis and properly prescribe treatment, you must contact your doctor.
When we experience knee discomfort, we rarely think about joint damage. After forty, it seems that there is nothing to worry about: at this age, your joints will inevitably hurt. In fact, it is very important to find out in time.Why is there pain in the knee joint?: This could be a sign of injury, illness, or even problems with the nervous system.
What can be damaged in the knee?
The knee is one of the largest joints in the human body. Consists in:
- joint,
- the end of the femur and tibia,
- muscles,
- ships,
- nerves
- ligaments,
- ball joint,
- menisci,
- joint capsule.
All of these parts can be damaged, although not all of them can hurt: there are no nerve endings in the bones.
Knee pain can be caused by damage to the femur and tibia, as well as nearby muscles.
Parts of the injury, such as a dislocated joint, torn or torn meniscus, will reduce mobility. Damage to even small vessels will lead to bruising and swelling, leading to discomfort when trying to move the leg. The joint capsule is an excellent environment for infections: after viral and bacterial infections, patients often complain of complications and joint pain. And if there is a nervous disease, the patient will feel a sharp stabbing pain in the knee even with a completely healthy joint.
Knee pain due to injury.
Injuries are one of the most common causes of pain. Knees can be damaged by an unfortunate fall, playing sports, or a sudden movement; Even uncomfortable shoes can cause complications.
- knee bruise- quite weak and very frequent damage. With it, the knee swells, turns red, and the temperature of the joint may rise slightly. If bruising occurs, a knee massage may be necessary;
- ligament tearIt occurs when the leg or thigh is twisted too much in an unnatural direction. A complete tear of the ligaments causes severe pain and excessive joint mobility;
- meniscus tearIt can be caused by a high load, an unnatural position, a blow to the leg, or twisting of the shin. This is a common and difficult to diagnose injury that interferes with normal leg movement;
- Knee, leg or hip fractures.combined with damage to soft tissues, causing unbearable pain, excessive mobility and deformation of the knee.
These injuries can be diagnosed by a surgeon or traumatologist. A visual exam is usually sufficient, but you may be ordered to have an x-ray (if a fracture or dislocation is suspected) or a CT scan if the doctor suspects damage to the ligaments or menisci.
What joint diseases can cause pain?
Any damage to the joint, whether cartilage destruction, infection in the joint capsule, or inflammation of the bones, will cause pain and decreased mobility. The disease is not always located specifically in the knee: general joint diseases will affect the entire body. The knees will deteriorate more quickly due to the high load.
- Arthritis- inflammation of the joint, which can develop after injury, infection or metabolic problems;
- Bursitis- inflammation of the joint capsule, which causes serious discomfort when trying to move the joint;
- InperiarthritisThe tendons, muscles and ligaments surrounding the knee joint become inflamed. The pain is felt with increased load on the bent leg, for example, when going down stairs;
- Chondropathy— gradual destruction of the cartilage that surrounds the joint and softens friction and impact;
- NeoplasmsThey compress the vessels and can deform the joint capsule, which will cause pain and limit mobility;
- InosteoporosisCalcium is gradually removed from bones and joints, tissues become weak and brittle. The disease is accompanied by severe pain and an increased risk of injury;
- Osteomyelitis- inflammation of bone tissue. Swelling is visible in the affected area, the temperature rises, and the patient experiences severe acute pain;
- Diseasesof various nature, for example, influenza and tuberculosis, can cause complications due to an infection that has entered the joint capsule. In these cases, there is an increase in temperature, weakness and pain in several joints at the same time.
To diagnose these diseases, an x-ray, MRI, or CT scan is performed, which shows all parts of the affected joint. If inflammation is suspected, the doctor will recommend a general and biochemical blood test and a puncture of the synovial fluid. To exclude infectious diseases, you may be referred for additional testing and fluorography.
Knee pain due to nerve damage.
Much less often, pain in the knees appears due to a disorder of the nervous tissue. It is accompanied by sharp shooting pains and numbness and tingling may begin in the leg.
- Neuritis- inflammation of the nerve in one or more areas. With it, the patient feels a stabbing pain and loses sensitivity, mobility may decrease, the leg begins to contract involuntarily at the knee;
- pinched nerve- a common consequence of inflammation, neoplasms and injuries. Due to physical pressure on the nerve roots of the knee, burning, numbness, loss of mobility and even paralysis occur.
To diagnose nervous diseases, magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography is used, depending on the patient's contraindications. If the pain is caused by a pinched nerve, blood and synovial fluid tests may be needed to determine the cause of the joint deformity.
Is it possible to determine from the symptom why there is pain in the knee joint?
The exact cause of the pain can only be discovered by a specialist and after appropriate tests. However, it is quite possible to approximately determine at least the affected area:
- If you feel numbness or tingling in addition to pain,nerve damage;
- Increased knee temperature and swelling.signs of inflammation;
- General weakness, fever and poor health.joint diseases after illness;
- The pain is felt not only in the knees, but also in other joints, for example, in the shoulder or fingers: it can be likeosteoporosis, and the consequencesinfectious disease;
- Acute pain in the joint when trying to bend or straighten the leg, and great weakness at rest.bursitis or advanced chondropathy;
- Impaired mobility in a joint without loss of sensation isJoint destruction, neoplasia or arthritis.;
- Fractures, dislocations and bruises will be preceded by a blow or a fall, which you will hardly ignore. Wherejoint dislocation, ligament and meniscus damageaccompanied by excessive mobility in the knee.
Having roughly determined the cause of the pain, you can prepare for a visit to the doctor and take the necessary tests and photographs. This will reduce diagnosis time and speed recovery. Do not try to treat knee pain yourself, as you may confuse the cause of the disease and worsen the condition. Severe pain can be relieved with analgesics, and it is better to consult a doctor about anti-inflammatory drugs, chondroprotectors, bandages and physiotherapy.