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 only be prescribed by the attending physician. To make a diagnosis and correctly prescribe treatment, you should consult your doctor.
When we think of knee problems, we rarely think of joint damage. At forty, it seems that there is nothing to worry about: at this age the joints will inevitably hurt. In fact, it is very important to find out about this in timeWhy is there pain in the knee joint?: This could be a signal of an 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. It consists of:
- together,
- the end of the femur and tibia,
- muscles,
- Ships,
- Annoy
- ribbons,
- kneecap,
- 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 shinbone, as well as the surrounding muscles.
Parts of the injury, such as a dislocated joint, a torn or torn meniscus, affect mobility. Damage to even small vessels leads to hematoma and inflammation, which causes discomfort when trying to move the leg. The joint capsule is an excellent environment for infection: After viral and bacterial infections, patients often complain of complications and pain in the joints. And if there is a nerve disease, the patient feels a stabbing pain in the knee even if the joint is completely healthy.
Knee pain due to injury
Injuries are among the most common causes of pain. Knees can be damaged by an unfortunate fall, sport, or sudden movements; even uncomfortable shoes can lead to complications.
- Knee bruise- fairly weak and very common damage. This causes the knee to swell, become red, and the temperature of the joint may rise slightly. If a bruise occurs, knee massage may be necessary;
- Torn ligamentsoccurs when the leg or thigh is twisted too much in an unnatural direction. A complete ligament tear causes severe pain and excessive joint mobility;
- Meniscus tearcan be caused by high stress, unnatural posture, a blow to the leg, or twisting of the shin. This is a common and difficult to diagnose injury that affects normal leg movement.
- Fractures of the knee, leg or hipcombined with soft tissue damage, resulting in unbearable pain, excessive mobility and deformation of the knee.
Such injuries can be diagnosed by a surgeon or traumatologist. A visual examination is often sufficient, but you may be sent for an X-ray (if a fracture or dislocation is suspected) or a tomography if the doctor suspects ligament or meniscus damage.
Which joint diseases can cause pain?
Any damage to the joint, be it destruction of the cartilage, infection of the joint capsule or inflammation of the bones, leads to aching pain and limited mobility. The disease is not always specifically localized in the knee: general joint diseases affect the entire body. The high load causes the knees to become damaged more quickly.
- arthritis- joint inflammation that can occur after injury, infection or metabolic disorders;
- Bursitis- Inflammation of the joint capsule, causing severe discomfort when trying to move the joint;
- AtPeriarthritisThe tendons, muscles, and ligaments surrounding the knee joint become inflamed. Pain occurs when there is increased strain on the bent leg, for example when climbing stairs;
- Chondropathy— gradual destruction of the cartilage that surrounds the joint and softens friction and shock;
- neoplasmsThey compress the vessels and can deform the joint capsule, causing pain and limiting mobility.
- AtosteoporosisCalcium is gradually washed out of bones and joints, and the tissue becomes weak and brittle. The disease is associated with aching 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 feels severe acute pain;
- DiseasesDiseases of various kinds - for example, influenza and tuberculosis - can cause complications due to an infection that has penetrated the joint capsule. In these cases, there is an increase in temperature, a feeling of weakness and pain in several joints at the same time.
To diagnose these diseases, an X-ray, magnetic resonance or computed tomography 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 as well as a puncture of the synovial fluid. To rule out infectious diseases, you may be referred for additional tests and fluorography.
Knee pain due to nerve damage
Knee pain occurs much more rarely due to a disorder of the nerve tissue. It is accompanied by sharp, stabbing pain and may cause numbness and tingling in the leg.
- neuritis- Inflammation of the nerve in one or more areas. The patient feels throbbing pain and loses sensitivity, mobility may decrease, the leg begins to contract involuntarily at the knee;
- Pinched nerve- a common consequence of inflammation, neoplasia and injury. The physical pressure on the nerve roots in the knee causes burning pain, numbness, loss of mobility and even paralysis.
To diagnose nerve diseases, MRI or CT are 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 why pain occurs in the knee joint based on the symptom?
The exact cause of the pain can only be clarified by a specialist and after appropriate examinations. However, it is quite possible to at least roughly determine the affected area:
- If you experience numbness or tingling in addition to the 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 may be thatosteoporosis, and the consequencesinfectious disease;
- Stitching pain in the joint when trying to bend or straighten the leg, very weak at rest.Bursitis or advanced chondropathy;
- There is limited mobility in a joint without loss of sensitivityJoint destruction, new formation or arthritis;
- Fractures, dislocations and bruises are preceded by a blow or fall that you are unlikely to ignore. IncludedJoint dislocation, ligament and meniscus damageaccompanied by excessive mobility in the knee.
After you have roughly determined the cause of the pain, you can prepare for a visit to the doctor and take the necessary examinations and photos. This shortens diagnosis time and speeds recovery. Don't try to treat a sore knee yourself, otherwise you could mistake the cause of the condition and make the condition worse. Severe pain can be relieved with analgesics, and regarding anti-inflammatory drugs, chondroprotectors, bandages and physiotherapy, it is better to consult a doctor.