The joints of the lower limbs of a person are responsible for the free and active movement of the body in space. Therefore, the appearance of even small problems in the legs leads to a noticeable loss of mobility.
More than half of all joint diseases occur in the knee as one of the largest joint joints that can withstand the load of the entire human body.
Main causes of knee pain
All diseases in which the knee hurts can be divided into several groups depending on the predominant mechanism of joint damage:
- Inflammatory processes in the joint (arthritis) and periarticular sac (bursitis). In arthritis, the knee joints increase in size, crunching when folded. General well-being deteriorates, body temperature rises. Bursitis is characterized by the presence of a rounded protrusion in the joint area, which is an accumulation of fluid. The cause of inflammatory diseases lies in the penetration of infection into the joint (through wounds, cuts, foci of internal infection).
- Degenerative lesions of the joint - osteoarthritis. In this case for a long time there is a gradual destruction of the internal joint surfaces, excessive growth of bone tissue. As the load on the knee continues, the broken joint does not have time to recover and collapses even more. Osteoarthritis is characterized by initial pain, ie in the morning or after a long rest, sore knees when bending and walking. The pain disappears after squats or other stress on the joint. Patients with advanced osteoarthritis of the knee experience difficulty in climbing and descending stairs, the appearance of pain even at rest.
- Traumatic consequences - intra-articular fractures, bruises, sprains and strains. In case of any type of joint injury, it is advisable to contact a specialist who will decide what to do - to immobilize the joint or, conversely, to give it a functional load.
Causes of knee joint pain in pregnant women
Knee pain during pregnancy is explained by a sharp increase in the load on the joints of the lower extremities due to weight gain due to the uterus, fetus and amniotic fluid. In addition, during the last trimester, many people experience unusual fluid retention (swelling) and weight gain, which also creates excessive pressure on the legs and impedes the normal functioning of the knee joints.
In the last weeks of pregnancy and during childbirth, there is a strong production of relaxin substances that soften the joints. Thanks to relaxins, the ligaments of the pelvic joints are mostly stretched, but other joints, including the knee, can be affected.
In all these conditions, pregnant women have pain in the knee joints, even at rest and at night. Within a few weeks after birth, the woman leaves the body with excess water, the production of relaxin stops, the weight decreases, so the discomfort in the knees disappears.
Causes of pain during sports
When you run and play sports "on your feet" (volleyball, tennis, football), the knee joint experiences much more stress than when walking. surfaces increases.
In the presence of knee injuries in the past, the degradation of the joint under the influence of sports can progress rapidly. If there is pain in the knee joint after training (especially after running or jumping), this does not mean that you should completely give up sports. You just need to reconsider the options for loading the knees and replace the sport or set of exercises with a more gentle one for the legs.
Causes of knee pain in children
The most common cause of knee pain in a child is an injury that occurs due to excessive physical activity. Bruises may be suspected on the appearance of the knee - there are bruises and abrasions on the skin, swelling on the side of the impact.
If the child complains of knee pain, infectious arthritis should be ruled out, which usually occurs some time after the exacerbation of another bacterial (tonsillitis, otitis, bronchitis) or viral infection. In such arthritis the joint looks red, swollen, the general condition of the child worsens - body temperature rises, lethargy, drowsiness appear.
Another cause of knee disease in children can be autoimmune arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis). In this case, in addition to the knees, the child will be involved in the inflammatory process and the elbows, as well as the small joints of the fingers. This type of arthritis is characterized by the "volatility" of the lesion - in a short time the inflammation passes from one joint to another.
Treatment and prevention of knee pain
The appointment of treatment for the knee joint should be made by a specialist who after the examination will understand why the knee hurts and how to treat this case. Treatment of knee pain aims to reduce inflammation and degenerative processes. To do this, all patients with knee pathology are recommended:
- limiting the physical load on the joint (including refusing to carry weights, walking up stairs); women are advised not to wear heels, as due to improper redistribution of body weight, the pressure on the joints increases. In some cases (complex sprains) complete immobilization of the knee with the help of a splint or plaster is required;
- take a course of chondroprotectors - preparations containing substances necessary for the structure of the joints (chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine). Chondroprotectors are prescribed both for oral administration in the form of tablets and externally as part of ointments and gels. In a hospital, it is also possible to introduce these substances directly into the knee joint;
- use painkillers, anti-inflammatory (corticosteroid hormones and non-steroidal drugs) and antibacterial agents;
- outside the exacerbation stage to undergo a course of physiotherapy procedures (mud applications, ultrasound and electrophoresis);
- load the affected joint properly - with the help of therapeutic exercises. One of the best such exercises is the "bike" - in a supine position imitate the movement of the pedals of a bicycle.
- in extremely advanced degenerative processes in the joint, surgical endoprosthesis of the knee joint is preferable.
Treatment of joints with folk remedies
In addition to traditional methods of treating inflamed knees, folk remedies to relieve inflammation are also effective in many cases:
Lotions with ammonia-camphor solution
Mix half a cup of ammonia (10% solution) with 10 g of camphor alcohol, add 1 liter of salted water (this requires 1 tablespoon of salt per liter), shake until the precipitate disappears. Heat the solution to a warm temperature in a water bath, moisten gauze in it and apply on the affected knee. Top with polyethylene. Hold up to half an hour, 2-3 times a day.
Cabbage leaf compress
Beat a leaf of fresh cabbage with a hammer, sprinkle lightly with salt so that the cabbage releases juice. Apply on the knees for several hours, securing with a bandage. Another option for this compress is to apply a thin layer of honey on a cabbage leaf, otherwise the procedure is the same.
Tincture of cinquefoil
100 g of dry stems insist for 3 weeks on 1 liter of vodka. Take orally half an hour before meals, 1 tbsp. l. , diluted in 50 ml of water. The tincture can be rubbed into a sore knee or make lotions.
Ointment of beeswax
A piece of wax the size of a matchbox, egg yolk and honey (1 tbsp. L) Mix everything in a water bath, apply with a swab on the inflamed joint overnight.
Folk methods, as well as therapeutic exercises, should be agreed with the attending physician, as ignorance can easily injure a person (for example, when using bee products externally in a patient with allergic diseases or when trying to develop a sprained joint with exercise).
The prevention of diseases of the knee joints is aimed at preventing the entry of infection in them (timely treatment of chronic inflammatory foci), to reduce the load (fight overweight, wear fixative bandages) and strengthen the ligaments of the joints and bones. gymnastics, swimming, cycling, drinking, eating foods rich in calcium).
Remember that good and timely treatment of the knees, as well as the prevention of injuries and recurrence of joint diseases, will allow you to maintain active mobility for many years.