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 because the human knee is made up of many structures, and all of them are under enormous stress every day.The damage can affect one of the ligaments or tendons, or specific sacs that fill with fluid, as well as cartilage tissue.This symptom can be a sign 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 the 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 the joints and bones.These spasms appear mainly in the later stages of the disease, when treatment with surgical intervention is inevitable.Knees often hurt and creak when squatting, this may indicate that the cartilage tissue is worn out (mainly observed in athletes due to constant running).Pain inside arises due to various pathologies of the joint or the appearance of neoplasms.The appearance of pain after childbirth is due to the fact that during pregnancy the female body underwent many changes, which is why 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 in the knee joint.The first group of factors is made up of disorders that directly affect the knee joint, among which are:
- Gonarthrosis is a disorder that most frequently affects people over forty years of age.The pathology usually affects both knees.The main symptom is pain and crunching during extension and squat.The spasms are sharp and sharp.The intensity level decreases when lying down;
- blood entering the joint cavity;
- Damage to the meniscus can occur at any age, regardless of sex.Often only one knee is affected.This disease is characterized by loud cracking and pain in the knee when bending over or after running.Furthermore, the person loses the ability to move because they experience unbearable pain at the slightest movement of their leg;
- Arthritis - the disorder develops very quickly and the inflammatory process spreads to the knee joints of both legs.It is better to start treatment as soon 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, and much less common in 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.In such disorders, pain in the knee is expressed from 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 carried out in time, 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 inside the knee joint causes pain behind the knee;
- destruction of the integrity of the adipose tissue that covers the joint.Externally, this manifests itself in the form of swelling of the injured knee;
- osteoarthritis, in which the cartilage tissue becomes thinner;
- various infectious diseases, the course of which can provoke arthritis.Knee pain occurs when walking, as well as after doing squats;
- bone tuberculosis;
- spinal pathologies cause the sensation that the knee hurts when walking;
- Metabolic disorders or salt deposits in the knee often cause knee pain when squatting.
The second group of reasons is made up of other influences that cause pain in the knee joint:
- excessively high body weight;
- external injuries or bruises on the knee joint;
- working conditions that require a person to stand 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 during work;
- wearing uncomfortable high-heeled shoes.
There are several reasons why a woman's knees hurt during pregnancy:
- increased 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 the 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 due to the following reasons:
- intense muscular 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 pain in the knee when walking or other leg movements:
- sleep disorders;
- increased body temperature;
- decreased or complete lack of appetite;
- rigidity of movements;
- increased pain when walking.There is a noticeable improvement in sitting or lying position;
- noticeable swelling of the injured knee - it can be observed from the inside;
- inability to shift weight on the affected limb;
- deformation of the kneecap;
- change in skin color of the knee;
- fever.
When the first signs appear, you should immediately contact a medical facility for diagnosis and effective treatment.
Diagnosis
Since many disorders are caused by knee pain when walking, after running, squatting, and standing, the diagnosis should consist of:
- a detailed examination of the patient about the appearance of the first symptoms, the intensity of the pain, the place of its appearance (from the outside or inside), the possible causes (for example, when walking, after running or giving birth) causing the pain;
- palpation of the knee by the treating doctor to obtain a more complete picture of the localization of pain, as well as to identify swelling;
- blood analysis of the patient for general and biochemical studies;
- x-ray - in which any pathology in the structure of the knee will be clearly visible;
- collection of fluid by puncture - carried out if the treating doctor suspects bone tuberculosis;
- puncture of fluid from the knee joint;
- arthroscopy: performed in cases of meniscus injury, which causes pain in the knee from the inside.This method is carried out not only for diagnosis, but also during treatment;
- bone tissue density measurements;
- Knee ultrasound;
- Examinations of patients using magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography.
Treatment
There is no single 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, whether the knee hurts when walking, after running, when squatting or standing.Treatment methods that are prescribed to all patients without exception, including women after childbirth:
- reduce the load on the lower extremities so that the slightest symptoms do not arise;
- apply a fixing bandage to the damaged knee;
- Warm the knee with ointments or hot 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.
Additionally, there are home remedies that can reduce 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 with apple cider vinegar mixed with egg yolk;
- ointment made from mashed potatoes and horseradish;
- onion compress, for this you need to cut it in half and apply half to the outer and inner sides of the knee;
- a solution of cologne and dandelion;
- tinctures of elecampane root and alcohol;
- black elderberry, chamomile and pine compress;
- calendula lotion;
- a mixture of mustard and honey.
Women are not recommended to use folk remedies during pregnancy and after childbirth, when the baby is breastfeeding.
Prevention
To avoid knee pain when walking, after running or squatting you should:
- follow a healthy lifestyle;
- always watch your posture;
- maintain a normal body weight;
- warm up your muscles before training to avoid knee spasms after running and exercising;
- wear only comfortable shoes;
- quickly treat all diseases that can cause this disorder;
- undergo a preventive examination in the clinic several times a year;
- perform gymnastics if a person's lifestyle or working conditions are standing or sitting;
- avoid hypothermia;
- At the first symptoms, especially after giving birth or running, consult a doctor.