Pain in the knee joint is one of the most common unpleasant sensations that every person has experienced at least once.The progression of diseases that can cause pain is due to the fact that the human knee consists of many structures, and every day they are all subjected to enormous loads.The damage may affect one of the ligaments or tendons, or specific sacs that fill with fluid, as well as cartilage tissue.This symptom can be a signal of diseases not only related to the knee, but also general diseases of the body or systems.
It is also necessary to distinguish during which movements pain occurs, for example, pain in the knee when bending is characteristic of people leading an active lifestyle, and often indicates a violation of the structure of joints and bones.Such spasms mainly appear in the later stages of the disease, when treatment with surgical intervention is unavoidable.Knees often hurt and crack when squatting, this may indicate that the cartilage tissue is worn away (mainly observed in athletes due to constant running).Pain on the inside occurs due to various pathologies of the joint or the occurrence of neoplasms.The appearance of pain after childbirth is due to the fact that during pregnancy the female body underwent many changes, due to which some diseases could develop.
It is important to determine why pain in the knee joint is expressed, because some diseases can only be cured with the help of surgical intervention, and for some it will be enough to use traditional medicine.
Etiology
As mentioned above, there are many reasons why knees hurt, and they are not always directly related to injuries, diseases and bruises of the knee joint.The first group of factors consists of disorders that directly affect the knee joint, among which are:
- gonarthrosis is a disorder that most often affects people over forty years of age.The pathology usually affects both knees.The main symptom is pain and crunching during extension and squatting.The spasms are sharp and sharp.The intensity level decreases when lying down;
- blood entering the joint cavity;
- Meniscus damage can occur at any age, regardless of gender.Often only one knee is affected.This disease is characterized by severe crunching and pain in the knee when bending or after running.In addition, the person loses the ability to move because he experiences unbearable pain at the slightest movement of his leg;
- arthritis - the disorder develops very quickly, the inflammatory process spreads to the knee joints of both legs.It is best to start treatment as early as possible, since the disease spreads to other joints;
- violation of the integrity of the ligaments due to a rupture, most often the internal ligament is susceptible to this, much less common on the lateral ligament.In this case, swelling and limitation of motor functions are observed;
- various inflammations of the tendons - the appearance of which has many causes, for example, infectious diseases or the influence of bacteria, injuries or bruises, allergies to medications or abnormalities in the structure of the body.With such disorders, pain in the knee is expressed on the inside;
- displacement or dislocation of the kneecap - occurs very rarely and mainly in children or athletes, after intense exercise or running;
- inflammatory process in the joint capsule.If treatment is not done in a timely manner, complications may arise that will only have to be treated with medical intervention;
- pathological processes in the synovial membrane that covers the joint;
- the appearance of a cyst on the inside of the knee joint leads to pain behind the knee;
- destruction of the integrity of the adipose tissue covering the joint.Externally, this manifests itself in the form of swelling of the injured knee;
- osteoarthritis, in which cartilage tissue becomes thinner;
- various infectious diseases, the course of which can lead to arthritis.Knee pain occurs when walking, as well as after squats;
- bone tuberculosis;
- pathologies of the spine cause the feeling that the knee hurts when walking;
- Metabolic disorders or salt deposits in the knee often lead to knee pain when squatting.
The second group of reasons consists of other influences that cause pain in the knee joint:
- excessively high body weight;
- external injuries or bruises of the knee joint;
- working conditions that require a person to be on their feet for several hours at a time;
- intense physical activity - this is why this disorder is most often observed in professional athletes, for example, after running;
- incorrect posture while working;
- wearing uncomfortable high-heeled shoes.
There are several reasons why a woman’s knees hurt during pregnancy:
- increase in body weight (in some cases up to twenty kilograms);
- lack of calcium and other minerals in the body;
- the production of a specific hormone that softens ligament tissue.
After childbirth, all unpleasant sensations should go away on their own, but if this does not happen, you should consult a doctor, as this may be a sign of the diseases described above.After childbirth, a woman may experience pain in her knees when squatting, standing, and straightening.This is caused by the following reasons:
- intense muscle work during childbirth;
- involuntary sudden movement during the birth of a baby can cause dislocation;
- if a woman had various ailments of the musculoskeletal system before childbirth;
- When breastfeeding a child, fluid accumulates in the female body, which has a detrimental effect on the joints, which is why pain is felt when standing up and straightening the knees.
Symptoms
In addition to pronounced signs - pain of varying intensity and crunching when squatting, this manifestation has additional symptoms characteristic of the disease that caused the knee to hurt when walking or other leg movements:
- sleep disorders;
- increased body temperature;
- decreased or complete lack of appetite;
- stiffness of movements;
- increasing pain when walking.There is a noticeable improvement in a sitting or lying position;
- noticeable swelling of the injured knee - can be observed from the inside;
- inability to shift weight on the affected limb;
- deformation of the kneecap;
- change in skin color on the knee;
- fever.
When the first signs appear, you must immediately contact a medical facility for diagnosis and effective treatment.
Diagnostics
Since many disorders are caused by knee pain when walking, after running, when squatting and standing up, diagnosis should consist of:
- a detailed survey of the patient regarding the appearance of the first symptoms, the intensity of pain, the location of its appearance (from the outside or inside), possible causes (for example, when walking, after running or childbirth), which causes pain;
- palpation of the knee by the attending physician to find out a more complete picture of the localization of pain, as well as to identify swelling;
- patient's blood analysis for general and biochemical studies;
- radiography - in which any pathologies in the structure of the knee will be clearly visible;
- fluid collection using a puncture - carried out if the attending physician suspects bone tuberculosis;
- puncture of fluid from the knee joint;
- arthroscopy - performed in cases of meniscus injury, which causes pain in the knee on the inside.This method is carried out not only for diagnosis, but also during treatment;
- bone tissue density measurements;
- Ultrasound of the knee;
- patient examinations using MRI and CT.
Treatment
There is no one way to cure all diseases and disorders.The treatment method for each patient is prescribed individually and depends on the cause and degree of intensity of the spasms, if the knee hurts when walking, after running, when squatting or standing up.Treatment methods that are prescribed to all patients without exception, including women after childbirth:
- reducing the load on the lower limbs so that not the slightest symptoms arise;
- applying a fixing bandage to the damaged knee;
- warming the knee with warming ointments or compresses.As prescribed by the doctor, use cold compresses, but no more than fifteen minutes a day;
- anti-inflammatory medications.
If necessary, treatment is carried out with surgical intervention.
In addition, there are folk remedies that can reduce the symptoms, but they can only be used after consulting a doctor.Such pain treatments include:
- iodine network;
- compress from your own urine;
- a mixture of raw potatoes with kerosene;
- lotions made from apple cider vinegar mixed with egg yolk;
- ointment made from crushed potatoes with horseradish;
- onion compress, for this you need to cut it in half and apply half on the outer and inner sides of the knee;
- a solution of cologne and dandelion;
- tinctures of elecampane root and alcohol;
- compress made from black elderberry, chamomile and pine;
- calendula lotion;
- a mixture of mustard and honey.
Folk remedies are not recommended for use by women during pregnancy and after childbirth, when the baby is breastfeeding.
Prevention
To avoid knee pain when walking, after running or squatting, you must:
- adhere to a healthy lifestyle;
- always watch your posture;
- maintain normal body weight;
- warm up the muscles before training to avoid knee spasms after running and exercise;
- wear only comfortable shoes;
- promptly treat all diseases that can lead to this disorder;
- undergo a preventive examination at the clinic several times a year;
- perform gymnastics if a person’s lifestyle or working conditions are in a standing or sitting position;
- avoid hypothermia;
- At the first symptoms, especially after childbirth or running, consult a doctor.