The joints of the lower extremities of a person are responsible for the free and active movement of the body in space. Therefore, the appearance of even minor 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 articular joints that can withstand the stresses of the entire human body.
Main causes of knee pain
All diseases in which the knees hurt can be divided into several groups depending on the predominant mechanism of joint damage:
- Inflammatory processes in the joint (arthritis) and in the sac near the joint (bursitis). With arthritis, the knee joints increase in size and crunch when you bend. General well-being deteriorates, body temperature rises. Bursitis is characterized by the presence of a rounded protrusion in the area of the joint, which is a fluid accumulation. The cause of inflammatory diseases lies in the penetration of infections into the joint (through wounds, cuts, internal foci of infection).
- Degenerative lesions of the joint - arthrosis. In this case, for a long time there is a gradual destruction of the internal articular surfaces, excessive growth of bone tissue. As the stress on the knee continues, the destroyed joint does not have time to recover and collapses even more. Osteoarthritis is characterized by the onset of pain, i. H. Pain in the knees when bending and walking in the morning or after a long period of rest. Pain disappears after squats or other loads on the joint. Patients with arthrosis of the knee joints in the advanced stage note difficulty climbing and descending stairs, the occurrence of pain even at rest.
- Traumatic consequences - intra-articular fractures, bruises, dislocations and sprains. With any type of joint injury, it is advisable to contact a specialist who will decide what to do - immobilize the joint or, conversely, functionally load it.
Causes of joint pain in knees in pregnant women
Knee pain during pregnancy is explained by a sharply increased load on the joints of the lower extremities due to weight gain from the uterus, fetus and amniotic fluid. In addition, many people in the last trimester suffer from abnormal fluid retention (edema) and weight gain, which also causes excessive pressure on the legs and makes it difficult for the knee joints to function normally.
In the last weeks of pregnancy and during childbirth, there is a strong production of relaxin substances that soften the joint ligaments. Thanks to Relaxin, the ligaments of the pelvic joints in particular are stretched, but other joints, including the knee, can also be affected.
With all these diseases, pregnant women have pain in their knee joints even when they are resting and at night. Within a few weeks after childbirth, a woman leaves the body with excess water, the production of relaxins stops, weight decreases, so the discomfort in the knees disappears.
Causes of pain in sports
When running and sports "on the feet" (volleyball, tennis, football), the knee joint is subjected to much greater loads than when walking. The fluid produced in the joint for its normal operation does not have time to form in sufficient quantities, and therefore thefriction of the joint surfaces.
If you have had knee injuries in the past, the joint degeneration can progress rapidly under the influence of sport. If pain in the knee joint appears after exercise (especially after running or jumping), this does not mean that you need to give up sports altogether. All you have to do is reconsider your knee loading options and replace the sport or exercise set with one that is gentler on the legs.
Causes of knee pain in children
The most common cause of knee pain in a child is an injury that occurs from excessive physical activity. Bruises can be suspected by the appearance of the knee - there are bruises and abrasions on the skin, swelling on the side of the blow.
If a child complains of knee pain, infectious arthritis should be ruled out, which usually occurs some time after an exacerbation of another bacterial (tonsillitis, otitis media, bronchitis) or viral infection. With such arthritis, the joint looks red and 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 is involved in the inflammatory process, and the elbows, as well as the small joints of the fingers. This type of arthritis is characterized by "volatility" of the lesion - within a short time the inflammation passes from one joint to another.
Treatment and prevention of knee pain
The appointment for the treatment of the knee joint should be taken by a specialist who, after the examination, will find out why the knee hurts and how to treat this case. Treatment of pain in the knee joints is aimed at reducing inflammation and degenerative processes. To do this, all patients with pathology in the knees are recommended:
- limit physical loads on the joint (including refusing to carry weights, walking up the stairs); Women are advised not to wear heels, as improper redistribution of body weight increases pressure on the joints. In some cases (complex dislocations) it is necessary to completely immobilize the knee using a splint or plaster;
- Take a regimen of chondroprotectors - preparations containing substances necessary for the structure of the joints (chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine). Chondroprotectors are prescribed both for oral use 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 nonsteroidal drugs), and antibacterial agents.
- undergo a number of physiotherapeutic procedures outside the stage of exacerbation (mud applications, ultrasound and electrophoresis treatment);
- properly load the affected joint - with the help of therapeutic exercises. One of the best exercises of this type is the "bicycle" - imitate the movement of the pedals of a bicycle while lying on your back.
- If the degenerative processes in the joint are far advanced, surgical knee arthroplasty is to be preferred.
Treatment of joints with folk remedies
In addition to traditional methods of treating knee pain, folk remedies to relieve inflammation are also effective in many cases:
Lotions with ammonia-camphor solution
Mix half a glass of ammonia (10% solution) with 10 g of camphor alcohol, add 1 liter of salt water (this will require 1 tablespoon of salt per liter), shake until the sediment disappears. Warm the solution in a water bath to a warm temperature, moisten gauze in it and apply to the sore knee. Top with polyethylene. Hold up to half an hour, 2-3 times a day.
cabbage leaf compress
Beat a fresh cabbage leaf with a mallet, lightly sprinkle with salt to help the cabbage absorb the juice. Apply to knees for several hours and secure with bandage. Another variation of this compress is to apply a thin layer of honey to a cabbage leaf, otherwise the procedure is the same.
Cinquefoil tincture
100 g of dry stems insist 3 weeks per 1 liter of vodka. Take 1 tbsp orally half an hour before a meal. l. , diluted in 50 ml of water. The tincture can be rubbed into a sore knee or made into lotions.
Beeswax Ointment
A matchbox-sized piece of wax, egg yolk and honey (1 tbsp) Mix everything in a water bath, apply to the painful joint with a swab overnight.
Folk methods, as well as therapeutic exercises, need to be coordinated with the attending physician, since ignorance can easily injure a person (for example, when applying bee products externally to a patient with allergic diseases, or when trying to develop a dislocated joint with physical exercises).
Prevention of diseases of the knee joints is aimed at preventing the penetration of infections (timely treatment of chronic foci of inflammation), reducing the load (fighting obesity, wearing fixing bandages) and strengthening the ligamentous apparatus of the joint and bones (gymnastics, swimming, cycling, drinking, eating calcium-rich foods).
Remember that good and timely treatment of the knees, as well as the prevention of injuries and the recurrence of joint diseases, will allow you to remain actively mobile for many years.