Failure of any part of the locomotor organs, especially the knees, leads to disturbances in movement and balance of the body. Pain during movement of the knee joint (bending, stretching, inward and lateral rotation, rotation, lifting and lowering) can occur under different conditions and under the influence of different factors. The severity and duration of pain syndrome vary depending on the depth of the lesion, the etiology and pathogenesis of the pathology.
Painful sensations and specific wheezing most often occur against the background of physical stress, trauma or chronic somatic pathologies. After medical treatment and elimination of the root cause of the pathology, pain and movement restrictions disappear. Otherwise, the prognosis is uncertain: complete or partial paralysis of the musculoskeletal system can lead to lifelong disability.
What can hurt?
The anatomical design of the knee joint has its own characteristics that respond to pain with any change. The knee joint includes the bone structure of the femur and tibia and the patella. The marginal shape of each bone is equipped with a condyle, the thickened shape and a certain comfort create the conditions for safe movement with ideal biomechanical, stable body balance in the horizontal position and joint shock absorption. The bones are reinforced with a special soft tissue plexus.
The muscles that connect the knee joint and their tendons are directed by both the thigh and the lower leg. There is a thin muscle by the thigh and a large adductor, as well as the biceps femoris, semitendinosus and semimembranosus. The strongest muscle of the articular knee structure is quadrangular, which in turn is divided into 4 muscles: rectus, lateral wide, middle wide + middle wide muscle. The sartorian, slender, adductor, biceps femoral, semitendinosus + semimembranous, as well as the triceps and popliteal muscles are involved in the formation of the knee joint. Their combined plexus creates firmness, mobility and mobility in the lower extremities.
Attention!Forced disruption of the integrity of the articular sex, such as fracture, shock, inflammation, destruction, or infection, leads to the development of pain syndrome with limited motor function.
Inside the articulation, the internal cavity of the joint consists of supraspinatus cartilage tissue, cruciate ligament, meniscus, synovial bursa. The blood supply and innervation of the knee joint is carried out through a very complex plexus. The sciatic, peroneal, tibial, and peroneal nerves are responsible for anterior and medial knee sensitivity. The posterior part gives sensitivity to the tibial nerve branches.
Plexuses from nerves and vessels (pulp and non-pulp nerve fibers) enter the meniscus along and inside the peripheral part of the cartilage plate. With meniscus trauma, an acute pain syndrome develops because the meniscus is very sensitive. As dystrophic processes develop in the genitalia, the pain grows and becomes permanent, and the body itself loses its functionality and ability to move.
Risk factors and alarming symptoms
Knee pain develops as a result of certain risk factors, including specific conditions related to the general condition of the body, lifestyle and harmful environmental factors. The risk group for articulatio pathologies accompanied by pain are the following people:
- genetic abnormalities;
- abnormalities in the development of cartilage and connective tissue;
- patients with pathologies of the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system;
- neuro-functions;
- obesity II, III - IV degrees;
- diseases of the endocrine glands (thyrotoxicosis, hypothyroidism, diabetes, acromegaly, adrenal dysfunction);
- renal and hepatic pathologies (pyelonephritis, renal failure, urolithiasis, hepatitis B + C);
- allergic reactions to various substances;
- bronchial asthma;
- reactive pathologies of the immune system.
An alarming symptom of knee joint structure is a hoarse sound during biomechanical movements such as bending, stretching, or rotation. This symptom indicates destruction of the joint, ie disruption of metabolic processes, erosion of the supraspinatus cartilage plate from the distal parts of the bones, and thickening of the joint capsules with the production of small amounts of synovial fluid. Excessive stress on the knee joints or constant motor operation of the lower extremities gradually destroys the shock-absorbing structure of the moving organs and leads to destructive processes.
The causes of gonarthrosis or pain in the knee joints can be divided into three main groups:
- Infectious and inflammatory type.
- Traumatic origin.
- Degenerative-dystrophic causes.
Gonarthrosis (inflammatory-destructive osteoarthritis) affects 65-70% of patients out of the total number of patients suffering from joint pathology. Rheumatoid arthritis is second only to osteoarthritis and arthritis. The mechanism of pain development is due to the accumulation of fluid in the intra-articular space with the infiltration of cartilage periosteal tissue, the intestinal plexus, the area of adjacent tissues, as well as a decrease in synovial fat. , bone fragments, cartilage tissue, meniscus or other post-traumatic body. Acute pain occurs after squeezing the nerve plexus as a result of injury or disproportionate physical force.
Causes of inflammation
Often, inflammation of the genus articulatio (unilateral or bilateral) begins as a result of heavy physical exertion, as well as against the background of other pathologies that lead to the accumulation of salts in the joints or washing of Ca + cartilage. Second, it is a trigger for the inflammatory process in the joints of the lower extremities.
An inflammatory disease, symptoms:
| Inflammation of the muscles of the joints and knees (tendonitis) | Pathology occurs at a young age (16 - 28 years), as well as in physically active patients aged 30-45 years. Athletes often get sick. The pain is sharp, with variable exacerbations. It is painful with a decrease in inflammation. At rest, the foot does not hurt, a small movement creates a sharp pain that increases rapidly. Motor function is partially or completely limited, all depending on the degree of inflammation. |
| Knee arthritis | Inflammation of the genus Arthuldtio occurs suddenly after trauma, intoxication. The joint increases in volume, the skin is hyperemic and edematous. The pain syndrome is strong. Motor paralysis appears. Microbial infection may be involved in the process. After eliminating the cause, the pain disappears and knee function is restored. |
| Genital bursitis | The list of causes is the same as arthritis. The clinical picture is very similar to inflammation of the knee joint. Treatment method: medicine + surgery (bag puncture, stress during sweeping / destruction). |
| Inflammation of certain muscle groups of the genus Arthuldtio or myositis | Intense exercise or long walks cause muscle pain. A large accumulation of lactic acid in the muscle tissue causes an inflammatory reaction in the limb muscles and especially in the knee joints. The volume of the motor body increases with vision. Muscle contraction is felt during palpation, and the patient reacts to the sharp pain by trying to remove the doctor's hand. The general condition of the patient is satisfactory, in some cases the temperature rises locally on the affected tissues and is widespread on all sides of the body (up to 38-39 degrees). After drug treatment, the pain disappears, the joint regains its previous shape + function. |
By eliminating the pathological source through medication or surgery, the functional ability of the knee joint is restored and the acute or excruciating pain disappears completely. If the inflammatory process involves wider areas and the depth of the lesion is very large, motor function can be partially restored. In some cases, the joint is surgically repaired.
Traumatic causes
Any injury of a mechanical nature can cause gonarthrosis. Contusion, compression, fractures of the knee bones, open or closed injuries, as well as enlarged meniscus, bursitis, rupture of ligaments, soft tissue contusion are included in the list of traumatic causes. Chemical and physical exposure can also cause knee pain. This group of causes includes burns, intoxication with toxic substances.
Causes of degenerative-dystrophic nature
There are several factors that can trigger the mechanism of degenerative-dystrophic destruction by partial or irreversible processes in the knee: continuous physical activity with heavy lifting, excessive exercise, damage of any etiology. It is also a poor diet, a sedentary lifestyle with stressful situations. And finally: the aging of the human body with the disruption of the normal functioning of all systems and organs.
Pathologies that cause degeneration and destruction of the knee joint:
- Arthritis.
- Osteoarthritis.
- Sclerotherapy of muscles, ligaments, ligaments, bursa.
- Many osteophytes that replace cartilage plaque.
- Meniscopathy.
- Metabolic disease.
- Dysfunction of the hormonal system.
- Intoxication of the body with heavy metals.
In the area of worn cartilage, bare areas are formed, ie bare bones that cause unbearable pain in the knee when the joint moves. After some time, sharp osteophytes develop in this area. Gradual deformation of the joint with gonarthrosis leads to a change in the anatomical configuration of the articular structure and partial or complete paralysis of the motor function of the knee (or knees). Symptoms of destructive gonarthrosis include persistent tingling in the knee with sharp pain and swelling of the soft tissues.
Tip!Degenerative-destructive type Gonarthrosis is not treated with folk remedies or a drug regimen invented individually, but it is permanent under the strict guidance of doctors. Self-medication will lead to lifelong disability!
Pathological diagnosis and first aid
The final diagnosis of the pathology is made in an inpatient setting. Laboratory and instrumental studies determine the causes of pain and the limited biomechanics of the knee. Diagnosis is approached separately because not all patients are eligible for the same studies, as each disease event has its own source + developmental mechanism.
List of diagnostic measures:
- Pass general and biochemical blood tests.
- General urinalysis (if you suspect pyelonephritis and urolithiasis, other urine tests are recommended).
- Conducting tests to determine rheumatoid factor.
- Knee radiography in three projections.
- CT plus MRI of the genus Artuldtio to detect damage to bones, cartilage, and musculoskeletal system.
Patients with gonarthrosis of unknown etiology are advised to consult the following doctors: traumatologist, arthrologist, rheumatologist and endocrinologist. If a malignant process in the joints is suspected, the patient is referred to an oncologist.
First aid for acute pain in the knee joints is provided at home or when injured. Before the ambulance arrives, the joint must be immobilized, ie fixed with a splint. In addition, intramuscular injection with an analgesic and one of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is recommended. A cold compress should be applied to the inflamed joint and in no case should it be warmed or vasodilated. If the injury is open bleeding, apply a tourniquet over the knee to stop the bleeding.
Diseases of other organs as a cause of knee pain
Pain and impaired functional movement of the knee joints are not only the result of inflammation, osteoarthritis / arthritis or trauma, but also a complication of accompanying pathologies. After a full course of medical therapy, the pain may decrease or disappear completely, all depending on the correction of somatic diseases.
List of diseases of the organs and systems that cause pain in the knee joint structures:
- Hepatitis B, C
- Thyrotoxicosis
- Hypothyroidism
- Diabetes
- Urolithiasis
- Bronchial asthma
- Crohn's disease
- Blood disease
- Shoot
Anamnesis, laboratory and instrumental studies help to determine the cause. Each pathology has its own treatment regimen. It is prescribed by a doctor after receiving the results of the study.
Types of pain
The pain in the defeat of the knee joints is completely different, depending on the location, the involvement of soft tissues and microbial infection, as well as the degree of destruction of the joint. It can be due to the nature of painful sensations: sharp, stinging, aching. By localization: from the inner, outer, front, back of the knee joint, as well as from the upper and lower part of the patella. By type of spread: the pain is strictly localized or spreads to the thigh or lower leg. Duration: temporary, permanent, changeable.
How to get rid of knee pain
Before starting therapeutic treatment, the exact cause of the pathology is identified, and after finding the source, they begin to eliminate it and stabilize the general condition. Therapy consists of drug therapy, physiotherapy (according to medical prescriptions), exercise therapy, massage and time-tested folk remedies.
Medication
All treatment efforts are aimed at eliminating the cause of pain, and then treating the underlying disease. In parallel, you can use the drug in the form of ointments, gels, local compresses. In the first days of acute pain, it is recommended to administer the drug intravenously or intramuscularly. After calming down, you can switch to oral administration.
The complex of therapeutic measures consists of the following.
- Pain reliever in affected joints.
- Eliminate knee inflammation.
- Restorative measures of a biomechanical nature, ie motor function of the genus articulatio.
- Treatment of pathology that causes pain in the knees (treatment regimen is prescribed by the attending physician or highly qualified specialists such as endocrinologist, hepatologist, allergist, rheumatologist, arthrologist, oncologist).
- Increase the body's resistance.
- Normalization of metabolism.
- Hepatoprotectors.
- Restoration of the cartilaginous periosteal layer and normalization of synovial fluid production (use of the latest generation of chondroprotectors, vitamins B and C, D).
Attention!Obese patients are advised to lose extra pounds thanks to special diets prescribed by this nutritionist. All people, without exception, should work in a gentle mode to reduce the load on the lower extremities.
Therapeutic gymnastics and massage
Continuous passive movement of the patient's joint and massage of inflamed limbs for 1-1, 5 months will restore the function of the lower extremities. The set of exercises is selected by the exercise therapy physician. Massage is performed locally only on the legs or joints of a general nature. The use of warming, anti-inflammatory or analgesic ointments will improve blood circulation and metabolism. The course of massage procedures depends on the speed of body recovery. In addition, a special diet is applied to these activities, except for fried, fatty, sweet and sour. The nutritionist adjusts the menu by adding gelatin-rich foods in the form of fractional meals. All complex procedures in one course of treatment will eliminate pain and paralysis in the knee joints.
Folk remedies
Grandmother's methods in the form of folk recipes can be used in parallel with drug treatment. All funds are negotiated with the attending physician and applied locally directly to the affected joint. The effect of folk remedies is aimed at eliminating pain + edema and warming, which improves blood supply, innervation, nourishes the painful knee.
Popular folk remedies:
- Herbal baths: garland, chamomile, mint, wormwood + ginseng root. The composition is taken on a spoon, pour 1 liter of boiling water, then infuse for 2-3 minutes. Foot bath is carried out at a tolerable temperature.
- Baking soda compression: a tablespoon of baking soda for 1 liter of boiling water. After a generous lubrication of the knee with a firming cream, apply a compress overnight.
- Compression of moonshine and grated potatoes: half a kilo of grated potatoes + 0, 5 moonshine. It is recommended to keep it for an hour. Repeat 3-4 times a week until the pain and swelling disappear.
- Honey rubbing: honey 200g + 100ml vodka + 200g grated horseradish. One day he insists. Painful joints are rubbed 2-5 times a day.
Patients with increased reactions to certain herbs or substances should abandon traditional medicine.
Prophylaxis
As a preventive measure, it is recommended to adjust the diet to keep the lower extremities healthy until old age, to be careful when moving except for injuries, to exercise regularly, to swim and to walk more often in the fresh air. People over the age of 45 are advised to regulate the hormonal background of sex hormones and eat foods rich in gelatin. Spa treatments are recommended for all patients with musculoskeletal problems. Be examined by a attending physician once every six months.
Pain in the knee joints occurs spontaneously, is the result of increased wear of the articular structure, and leads to irreversible consequences. The reasons for the development of pathologies can be both somatic diseases and pathologies of the locomotor system. Timely treatment will help prevent consequences.