The knee is one of the most important joints in the human body. It performs a number of functions without which normal human movement would be impossible. In addition, the knee joint is quite fragile and is subject to constant heavy loads. As a result, he may be susceptible to various diseases. If the patient has pain in the knee when bending, then it is advisable to consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Such sensations can mean not only overwork, but also the presence of destructive or inflammatory processes in the patient’s body. Pain in the knee when bending can appear as a symptom of various viral and infectious diseases. The knee joint is also susceptible to numerous injuries, which can lead to pain. Pain syndrome can be only one sign of the development of a serious illness.
Knee pain when bending can be caused by rheumatoid arthritis. This disease completely or partially affects the connective tissues in the joints and cartilage. The disease has 2 forms: chronic and acute. The painful symptom manifests itself in both the first and second forms. Unpleasant sensations in the knee when bending arise as a result of destructive processes inside the damaged knee.
In most cases, the cause of rheumatoid arthritis remains unknown. But in some patients, this disease develops against the background of a viral infection. Quite often, this disease affects patients with a genetic predisposition to the development of this virus. The patient experiences discomfort when bending the knee already at stage 1 of arthritis. At this time, painful sensations bother the patient exclusively during movement. When the knee joint remains at rest, the painful symptom goes away. In addition to knee pain, the patient suffers from a number of other symptoms:
Quite often, after sleep, patients feel prolonged pain under the knee when bending. In rheumatoid arthritis, a person's muscle fibers, joints and cartilage are affected, which leads to the spread of inflammation.
In this case, if a person has pain in the knee when bending, this may indicate that the damage is spreading to the bone tissue. As a result, complete or partial deformation of the knee joint may occur.
If the patient does not bend the knee, this may be caused by the presence of gout. This disease primarily affects the joint capsule and periarticular tissues. The amount of uric acid in the patient’s blood increases, which provokes the deposition of its salts. As a result, the joints harden, become less mobile and practically cannot bend.
Gouty arthritis occurs as a result of a violation of the process of excretion of uric acid. Pain in the knee joint is the first clear sign of the disease. It appears at the initial stage of gout development and intensifies as the disease progresses. Pain may appear behind or in front of the affected area. Most often, it intensifies with any manipulation. The knee and elbow joints are rarely affected by this disease, and most often gout affects the joints of the feet.
Knee pain lasts relatively short time. If the patient begins to treat gout on time, then within a week the painful symptom partially goes away and the patient becomes much easier to move around. But if treatment for gouty arthritis is not started in time, this can lead to transformation of the disease into a chronic form.
As a result, the pain under the knee will only intensify, and it will be almost impossible to bend the leg. The joint will become harder and harder, and the patient's movements will become more constrained.
At first, it will be difficult for the patient to simply bend the leg at the knee, but over time, stiffness will appear in the entire leg. This is provoked by the deposition of salts not only in the joint capsule, but also in soft tissues.
Often the patient experiences pain under the knee when bending due to the presence of one of the forms of arthrosis. Deforming osteoarthritis primarily affects the knee joint. The patient develops inflammation in the joint box. As a result, the knee may have difficulty bending. The patient experiences joint deformation, which can subsequently cause curvature of the legs and even damage to the spine (posture).
Pain under the knee with deforming osteoarthritis is most often mechanical in nature. This means that if the leg is at rest, the patient does not experience pain. But it is enough to start performing the simplest manipulations and put a slight load on the legs, and the patient begins to experience pain when bending. If the disease begins to progress, then painful sensations appear not only during exercise, but also at rest. The patient cannot fully straighten the knee at any time of the day. The disease has a number of other symptoms:
Deforming arthrosis is also called gonatrosis. In addition to the fact that the patient experiences discomfort when bending the leg, he feels intense heat in the affected area. In rare cases, the temperature of the whole body rises.
Treatment should occur as quickly as possible. At the first signs of illness, you should consult a doctor. Only he can prescribe the correct comprehensive treatment.
If a patient experiences severe, frequent knee pain, it may be caused by tendonitis or bursitis. Tendinitis affects the ligaments of the knee joint. Professional athletes or people who are forced to constantly experience intense physical activity are most susceptible to this disease.
The patient has difficulty bending the knee, feels severe pain when walking and has difficulty performing simple manipulations. Painful sensations occur only during active physical activity, and the pain is localized not at the back, but at the front. When the synovial bursa becomes inflamed, a person develops bursitis. It has a number of pronounced symptoms, but first of all the patient experiences acute pain under the knee. There are several reasons for the appearance of the disease:
Pain under the knee begins to appear most often with regular exercise. In addition, bursitis is accompanied by swelling, redness of the inflamed area, and increased temperature. When bending the leg, the patient experiences severe cutting pain, which may bother you for some time. The patient's joint is greatly enlarged and the leg often does not bend completely.
Such a disease is dangerous due to the fact that it affects not only one knee joint locally, but also spreads to the entire tibia. This disease is one of the types of osteochondrosis. Pain under the knee is the first symptom of the disease. Subsequently, the painful sensations spread to the entire limb. The disease most often manifests itself in young men during adolescence. Pain when bending the knee may appear after intense physical activity (in particular, running). Subsequently, the patient has difficulty climbing stairs, walking, and squatting. The symptom only goes away when the leg is at rest.
Treatment of the disease should be under the supervision of a doctor. The patient must be ensured complete rest of the damaged joint and leg as a whole. Most often, special bandages are used for this, which secure the leg in front and behind. If the pain does not go away, the patient is prescribed special medications and procedures, for example, electrophoresis.
Treatment of the disease with folk remedies is carried out with the permission of the doctor. Most often these are heating, baths, special compresses based on decoctions and infusions. Mud compresses help effectively.
Why does the joint hurt? The cause may be a sprained ligament in the knee joint. Such damage is accompanied by a painful sensation in the back of the knee. This damage can manifest itself through the same symptoms as injury to muscle fibers or tendons. The cause of ligament injury can be severe physical exertion or sudden unnatural movement. Often pain in the back of the knee can occur as a result of awkward movement of the leg, which leads to a sprain.
Patients experience pain both during activity and at rest. If you do not consult a doctor in a timely manner and begin treatment, the pain will become increasingly stronger. The damaged area of the leg quickly swells, redness forms, and the skin becomes stretched. In some patients, the skin around the affected area becomes hot. In some cases, the patient may experience bruising around the injured joint. This indicates that the injury is serious and treatment must begin immediately. In order to prevent further progression of the disease, it is necessary to seek advice from a traumatologist.
Depending on what caused the inflammation and injury to the joint, there are various treatment methods. First of all, you need to see a doctor. He will be able to accurately determine the cause of the pain and prescribe a course of treatment. What to do if the pain was caused by an injury? First you need to relieve pain and eliminate swelling. This must be done so that the inflammation does not continue to progress.
What to do when a patient complains: I can’t straighten my leg after a severe bruise? In this case, it is necessary to avoid physical activity. Severe fatigue will negatively affect the entire treatment process and the patient’s condition. Let the leg rest for as long as possible. Sometimes a few days are not enough for complete recovery, so it is necessary to remain in bed for exactly as long as the doctor prescribes.
When the knee joint is damaged, the patient is most often prescribed to wear a special bandage. Its type will depend on the complexity of the injury. In case of mild sprain, the patient is given a light elastic bandage. If the patient has bursitis or a severe injury, he will be prescribed a thick bandage that will support the joint both in front and behind.
It is very important not to allow the joint to be constantly in motion and to fix it well. Be careful not to allow fluid to collect in your knee. To do this, it is necessary to raise the injured limb as high as possible. This is best done in a lying position. If you are in a sitting position, always raise your leg on the chair.
The causes of pain may vary, but they are all accompanied by severe swelling, swelling and high fever. In order to cool the affected area and prevent the formation (development) of a tumor, it is necessary to apply cold compresses. The duration of the procedure should not exceed 20 minutes. If you keep the compress for too long, it can cause frostbite. This treatment method usually lasts no more than 3 days. After this, the doctor prescribes warming up, which can improve blood circulation and relax the muscles.
I can’t bend my leg - what will help? In most cases, the doctor prescribes physical therapy for patients. It has an anti-inflammatory effect and helps cope with painful symptoms. In addition, the joint regains its mobility, firmness and elasticity. Treatment of damaged joints with therapeutic exercises helps most patients. This method is harmless and brings good results. Initially, a set of exercises must be performed under the supervision of a trainer. Once you are able to perform all the elements yourself, classes can be done at home.
Exercises should be done regularly. The main thing is to perform all the elements correctly, but not to put too much stress on the injured limbs. If performing certain elements causes pain, then it is better to exclude them from the course. Heavy stress can cause the injury to recur.
The doctor may suggest surgery to the patient. Basically, this type of treatment is used only if the patient has a serious enough disease that it cannot be cured in any other way. There are 3 types of knee surgery:
Arthroscopy involves making several small incisions in the knee area. Through them, the surgeon removes loose bodies from the joint. This is done so that it is convenient to restore damaged cartilage tissue or injured ligaments. The operation is quite simple, and the recovery period does not exceed 14 days.
Replacement of certain components of the knee is carried out if drug treatment and physical therapy are not able to prevent the destruction of cartilage tissue in the knee. With this type of surgery, the doctor first removes damaged tissue and replaces it with prosthetics. Surgery can be performed only if there is local damage to small areas of the knee. If the patient has damage not only to the joint, but also to the bone, and the affected area is quite extensive, then the doctor suggests a complete knee replacement. This operation is necessary if the patient begins to die of tissue.
If the knee does not bend completely, this indicates that there are pathologies in the tendon and ligamentous apparatus. You can suspect arthrosis, ligament rupture, or arthritis if your knee not only does not bend, but also causes severe pain when moving.
To completely differentiate the pathology, you need to undergo a series of laboratory tests. To rule out injury, fluoroscopy is prescribed. After this, it is important to limit the mobility of the knee joint.
Typically, these restrictions in the knees are associated with the formation of contractures. This is a characteristic loss of flexibility of ligaments and tendons, which makes full movements difficult. Let's consider further what to do in this situation.
Pain zone
One of the most important joints of the human body is the knee. It relies on a number of functions, without which normal human movement is impossible. The knee joint is susceptible to constant heavy loads because it is quite fragile. As a result, they may be susceptible to various diseases.
A doctor can determine the specific cause of pain, and going to him cannot be debugged.
The first and most common discomfort of such pain is:
It is impossible to bend the knees not only from overwork, but also from inflammatory and destructive processes in the human body. Also from viral and infectious diseases. Sources of discomfort can also be:
People of all ages experience pain in the knee area due to overload. This happens unnoticed, the cartilage is destroyed, it hurts unbearably and inflammatory processes begin in them.
Symptoms: pain when running or doing gymnastics, when squatting. Improper exercise leads to dislocations, meniscus damage, sprains and ligament tears. Other reasons could be: a fall, impacts, or an unsuccessful turn of the leg.
Poor circulation in joints and tissues accounts for 10% of the disease. Most often, this worries teenagers, because the skeleton develops faster than a young body and the blood vessels supply blood to the joints in insufficient quantities. But this should go away with age.
Symptoms of the disease intensify with changing weather, as well as with physical activity, colds and exposure to the cold.
Usually, with long-term bursitis, a displaced kneecap and old injuries, the knee does not bend. What to do in this case?
The cause of joint bursitis must be eliminated. This can be done surgically or using manual therapy methods. Any surgical intervention can lead to the development of septic necrosis, and the use of manual therapy techniques will take a long period of rehabilitation, but the result will be positively predicted.
Only a doctor can make a diagnosis; at home, it is impossible to determine the reason why the knee does not bend. But a number of distinctive features will help you distinguish one condition from another. Under no circumstances is it recommended to self-medicate, since pathologies can lead to your loss of ability to work.
Development of the disease against the background of a viral infection. Already at stage 1 of arthritis there is discomfort when bending. Symptoms: redness of the skin around the joint, impaired mobility, swelling.
When arthritis occurs in humans, the following are affected: joints, cartilage, muscle fibers, which leads to inflammation.
Appears as a result of the development of gout and intensifies as the disease spreads. Pain in the back and front of the affected area. If treatment is not started in time, the joint will become harder and movement will be constrained.
An inflammatory process forms in the joint box. As a result, the knee may have difficulty bending. Symptoms: decreased joint space, the joint hardens and the skin around it becomes tight, pain in the thigh, intense heat in the affected area.
It is necessary to start a special rehabilitation course as soon as possible. This could be: massages, acupuncture, physical therapy, manual therapy.
Physiotherapeutic procedures are a very efficient and effective treatment process for joints, helping to restore mobility, restore elasticity and flexibility of the joints.
After examining and establishing an accurate diagnosis, the doctor may prescribe bed rest. Gradual development of the joint, walking with a cane. Women should forget about walking in heels; shoes should be soft and comfortable to wear. Recovery and rehabilitation must be carried out under the supervision of doctors; self-medication will only aggravate the problem.
A healthy lifestyle will help you recover quickly. Giving up bad habits, nutritious nutrition, moderate physical activity.
Set of exercises for rehabilitation:
A complaint that the knee does not fully straighten may indicate to an experienced doctor that there is a pathology in the ligament and tendon apparatus. If your knee not only does not bend, but also movements cause pain, then you can suspect arthritis, arthrosis, bursitis or ligament rupture. In order to differentiate the pathology and prescribe appropriate treatment, the doctor must conduct a series of laboratory tests. First of all, fluoroscopy is prescribed to exclude injury and deformation of bone tissue. After this, it is important to exclude the rheumatoid nature of the pain and limitation of mobility of the knee joint. To do this, a general and biochemical blood test is performed to determine C-reactive protein.
Usually painless limitation of mobility is associated with the formation of contractures. This condition is characterized by loss of elasticity of ligaments and tendons, shortening of muscle fibers and the formation of connective tissue bands that prevent full movement. What to do in this case - we will consider further.
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So, you have a situation in which your leg does not bend at the knee and you do not experience pain when walking and squatting. In such a situation, it is easy to assume that there is contracture in the knee joint. What to do if the knee does not bend and this causes visible inconvenience, deforming gait and posture? First of all, the cause of this pathology should be clarified.
If you have destruction of the cartilage tissue of the lower spine with periodic exacerbations of osteochondrosis in the form of radiculopathy and ischalgia, then treatment should begin with this disease. It is worth understanding that for the formation of a contracture joint, a temporary restriction of limb mobility due to pain is sufficient. When the sciatic nerve is pinched, the pain syndrome spreads along the outer and inner sides of the thigh, any movements cause increased pain. If this condition is not treated for a long time, then the innervation of muscle fibers is inevitably disrupted and the blood supply to the affected limb deteriorates. Prerequisites arise for the development of muscle tissue dystrophy and limitation of the range of mobility in the knee and ankle joints.
The second group of reasons for limited mobility lies in traumatic lesions of the tendons and ligaments. These are various sprains, microscopic tears, subluxations and complete dislocations with deformation of the joint capsule, impacts and much more. With such pathologies, a temporary restriction of mobility is required, after which a properly conducted rehabilitation period is important. You should pay attention to the “development” of the injured limb with the help of therapeutic massage and physical education under the guidance of an experienced instructor. These tips are especially relevant for those patients who are forced to wear a cast for a long time due to fractures of the femur and tibia.
And if the knee does not bend due to bursitis: what to do in this case, which specialist should I contact? First of all, it is necessary to eliminate the cause of knee bursitis. This can be done using manual therapy techniques or surgically using an arthroscope. The second method has a long rehabilitation period, and when using manual therapy techniques, you should prepare for long and persistent treatment. However, the result in this case is more predictable, since any surgical intervention in the joint cavities leaves a risk of developing septic necrosis and, as a consequence, human disability.
The knee does not straighten completely usually with long-term bursitis, old ligament injuries and displacement of the patella. Deforming osteoarthritis can cause a similar symptom only in the later stages, when tissue deformation is clearly visible and a complex of inflammatory reactions is present. Therefore, it is quite difficult to confuse gonarthrosis with a traumatic lesion and bursitis, especially if it is possible to take an x-ray.
At home, it is definitely impossible to determine the reason why your knee does not fully straighten, since an experienced doctor can even make a preliminary diagnosis based on the data obtained during the examination. But there are a number of distinctive signs that will help you distinguish one condition from another. We strongly do not recommend that you engage in independent treatment, since in advanced cases these pathologies can lead to partial or complete loss of your ability to work.
With gonathrosis, the knee does not fully extend only when there is an increased load on the joint. Movements are accompanied by pain. The area around the knee joint may be swollen, hyperemic, and hot to the touch.
Sprains of the ligaments of the knee joint, as well as microscopic ruptures of tendons and muscle fibers, are signaled by a sharp sharp pain that occurs suddenly after an awkward movement or a sudden rise to the feet. The pain persists even at rest; when trying to straighten the leg, the pain intensifies and becomes unbearable. Swelling of the soft tissues around the damaged joint quickly occurs. Bruising may occur, indicating a severe injury. The help of a traumatologist is needed. It is important to begin rehabilitation as early as possible using manual therapy methods in order to prevent the development of contracture.
Bursitis can also manifest as decreased range of motion in the knee joint. This disease is characterized by an inflammatory process in one of the periarticular bursae - the bursa. The most commonly affected area is the external patella bursa, which is located just below the kneecap. The main difference is palpation of a limited cavity filled with fluid. Palpation may be painful. The knee does not straighten completely and a dull nagging pain occurs.
It is not difficult to completely restore JOINTS! The most important thing is to rub this into the sore spot 2-3 times a day.
When doctors and patients talk about the knee, they mean the knee joint, which consists of several structural elements: two bones, the muscles of the thigh and leg, the meniscus, ligaments and synovial fluid.
If pain appears when you try to bend your knee, it means that something is interfering with the bend or a pathological process has appeared there. In a healthy person, the knees bend and straighten absolutely painlessly, and there should be no additional noise or crunching.
Let's look at the main reasons why knees may hurt when bending.
At the initial stage, the pain bothers you when squatting or walking, disappearing at rest. Later, the discomfort manifests itself constantly, and intensifies when bending the joint.
With inflammation of the ligaments (tendinitis), discomfort is felt on the front side of the leg, and with bursitis - on the back.
Movement of the knee is limited, and stiffness may appear in the morning. Redness and swelling appear under the kneecap.
When bending and straightening, severe pain appears in the knee. In this case, symptomatic treatment does not help. It is necessary to take medications that normalize metabolism.
As the disease progresses, pain worries not only when walking, but also at rest. The knee does not fully straighten and is accompanied by pain in the thigh or the appearance of cysts. In the affected area, the local temperature rises, and in severe cases, the general well-being of the patient is disrupted.
When a ligament is injured, a person feels a sharp pain, so he understands why the knee hurts.
Many people try to get rid of pain by taking painkillers.
However, the use of only symptomatic therapy for joint diseases is ineffective.
To alleviate the patient’s condition, you need to correctly diagnose the cause, and then decide how to treat it.
The doctor makes an accurate diagnosis after examining the patient and describing the pain (aching, cutting, burning, sharp, dull). Additionally, X-ray diagnostics, arthroscopy and other research methods can be used.
Which doctor should you contact when knee pain appears?
If you have any pain in your knee, you should consult a therapist, orthopedist or traumatologist.
They will tell you what to do if you have an injury or inflammation. Treatment for similar symptoms can vary dramatically depending on their cause, so it is not recommended to take any measures on your own.
Treatment of joint diseases is usually carried out comprehensively. Along with drug therapy, the patient undergoes physiotherapy or uses folk remedies. Impact on the joint using various methods restores its mobility, elasticity and accelerates metabolic processes.
Therapy focuses on three main areas:
If discomfort appears after a person hits his knee or falls, at first it is necessary to limit the load on the joint. Providing rest for a few days will help the body recover on its own.
Your doctor may recommend wearing a special bandage or elastic bandage that will support the joint in the correct position. To avoid swelling, the injured leg should be placed on an elevated position.
Inflammatory diseases are treated with medication. The correct treatment regimen is prescribed by the doctor.
If the doctor gave practical advice and showed exercises for therapeutic gymnastics, they should be performed regularly, otherwise the desired result will not be achieved.
If your knee hurts and doesn’t fully straighten after sitting in one place for a long time, you can suspect a problem with the joint’s nutrition and blood circulation. In such cases, gymnastic exercises and a more active lifestyle will be especially useful.
If the bone flies out of the joint, severe injury occurs, the knee does not bend completely or, conversely, cannot straighten from a bent state, emergency medical attention is required.
Your doctor may recommend surgery. The operations can be very simple and quick or involve a complete joint replacement.
When the acute period of the disease has been stopped, all the patient’s actions should be aimed at preventing relapses. This mainly concerns chronic pathologies, but it is recommended to take care of your knees for all categories of patients, both elderly pensioners and young athletes.
In order to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the correct treatment, the doctor will have to examine the patient. First, he will conduct a full examination in order to identify possible damage to the bone tissue. The patient will be given an x-ray. Next, to exclude the rheumatic factor, biochemical blood tests will be performed for the presence of C-reactive protein, which indicates an inflammatory process in the joint.
If the patient complains of limited mobility of the knee (does not bend or straighten) without the appearance of discomfort, then most likely the causes of the symptoms are the formation of contracture. This disorder occurs as a result of the loss of elasticity of the ligamentous apparatus and tendons with shortening of the longitudinal muscles and the formation of “pseudo ligaments” that interfere with the full functioning of the joint.
The knee does not bend or straighten completely, and the leg hurts when exercising and walking? What diagnosis does the orthopedist make when seeing such symptoms? Most often, in such patients, contracture in the knee joint is assumed. What to do if you have been diagnosed with this? First you need to understand and determine the reasons that led to this pathology.
Often, during an examination, the doctor notes that the knee is swollen and there is stiffness and pain when flexing and extending the leg . In this case, the patient needs arthroscopy, which is necessary to identify inflammatory processes in the joint. This is evidenced by abrasions of the cartilage tissue.
If the examination revealed chronic arthritis, then the doctor has reason to believe that problems with flexion are caused by contracture, which appears quite quickly when the muscles and ligaments are not under stress for a long time.
That is, the patient tries to bend the leg less, or not to straighten it completely, so as not to cause pain, but as a result, the ligamentous apparatus begins to atrophy little by little and contracture appears. If the disease is neglected, it is no longer possible to do without surgery, but if the disease is detected on time, it can be successfully treated.
Osteochondrosis also causes similar problems, as it is characterized by pinching of the sciatic nerve , which first causes pain in the femoral region, and over time in the knee. If you do not pay attention to the disease, it goes into a chronic stage, the innervation of the muscular system of the limb is disrupted and, accordingly, blood circulation worsens.
As a result, all this leads to complete muscle dystrophy, which provokes stiffness and limited mobility of the knee joint. And again, an advanced disease can no longer be cured without surgery and long-term recovery in the future.
Another reason for the appearance of unpleasant symptoms may be injuries that affect the ligaments and tendons. When sprained, hit, dislocated or microscopically torn, the patient complains that the knee is swollen and that it hurts greatly when bending.
In this case, the limb must be fixed and immediately sent to the hospital for further treatment. If the doctor has not identified serious injuries and the patient does not need surgery or arthroscopy, he is sent home, prescribed the necessary medications, and then massage and exercise therapy.
Usually the knee joint does not fully extend after an old injury, chronic bursitis or
displacement of the kneecap. Deforming osteoarthritis also prevents the knee from straightening. In the case of an inflammatory process and obvious tissue deformation, it allows us to say with an accuracy of eighty percent that the patient has gonarthrosis. It can also be confirmed after arthroscopy.
Unfortunately, at home, it is impossible to determine the causes of the disease . For this reason, experts strongly advise those who like self-medication to visit an experienced specialist so that he can make the correct diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate treatment. I repeat, if your joint does not fully extend or does not bend, this could be a serious problem, consult a doctor immediately!
If you do not consult a doctor after a knee injury or an inflammatory process, you may become disabled, or the disease will develop to a dangerous stage, at which it will no longer be possible to do without surgery.
But be that as it may, there are some signs that allow you to determine the causes of the disease yourself, thus excluding
Sometimes, after injuries or complications due to osteochondrosis, a contracture is formed that prevents the knee joint from straightening. The limb can bend, but its extension leads to the fact that the leg hurts and a feeling of tightness appears. At the initial stage of the disease, it can be dealt with through special rehabilitation measures and exercises, which are usually prescribed by a chiropractor.
It should be taken into account that if the contracture has not become a chronic condition, then it is reversible and can be corrected, but you will have to spend more than one month on treatment. If the condition is advanced and damage to the ligamentous apparatus and tendons is irreversible, surgical intervention is prescribed, and after the operation the patient can expect a long recovery period.
Video - Rehabilitation after injury
Almost everyone knows what a knee injury is. We have all encountered bruises, sprains and other injuries that cause discomfort and sometimes even unbearable pain.
Let's figure out why this happens and what to do if you have a knee injury ? Most often we have to deal with bruises, from which the joint swells and bruises appear. Such symptoms go away without treatment, but this requires that the limb be at rest for some time. If upon palpation there is algia and a hematoma is visible, you should immediately go to a traumatologist. After examining your leg, the doctor will order an x-ray, which will help you understand how serious the problem is.
Much less common are injuries to the meniscus, which forms the cartilage pad in the joint. Its rupture or separation causes swelling, pain and limited mobility of the leg.
But if the damage is serous, then the deformed part of the cartilage pad moves inside the joint capsule, jamming the joint . The leg stops bending and sometimes straightening, but over time this condition may go away on its own. Such an amazing relief from the disease occurs as a result of the fact that the meniscus tends to return to its place on its own, but its integrity is not restored.
The patient believes that the problem has gone away by itself and nothing needs to be done, but literally after the first unsuccessful squat, the cartilage pad shifts again and everything starts all over again. If this happens, then surgical intervention cannot be avoided, otherwise the problem threatens to develop into disability.
Almost all injuries to the knee joint are accompanied by swelling, which occurs quite quickly. This is a sign that soft tissue is affected. Algia and limited mobility may appear later or not at all. But be that as it may, only a doctor can give you a diagnosis.
When a knee injury occurs, it is necessary to assess how serious it is. To do this, the injured limb must be carefully examined and compared with a healthy one. It is recommended to pay special attention to the correct axis of the limb and the shape of the knee.
After receiving the injury and determining the degree of its severity, it is necessary to provide the leg with complete rest and the opportunity to apply a splint or fix it with an elastic bandage. To move around you must use crutches or a stick.
If an inflammatory process is detected during an examination by a doctor, you need to take pills that relieve inflammation. A heating pad filled with ice can relieve pain and swelling. Well, the most important thing is that you should not let the problem take its course, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible, since you are unlikely to be able to cope with the disease on your own.
First of all, consult a surgeon, since only he should do the initial examination in case of injury. Unfortunately, not all injuries can be eliminated with drug treatment; many require surgical intervention.
If you have injured your knee joint and begin to notice that it does not bend or straighten completely, do not hesitate to make an appointment with a doctor. Do not risk your health and seek help only from specialists.
When a person asks himself the question “why can’t I straighten my joint,” he understands that only a doctor can give him the answer. If sharp pain occurs when bending the knee, this indicates a change in the contour of the joint. Typically, pain occurs during walking and squatting. What should be done in this case? The first step is to understand why the pathology developed. There can be many reasons.
With bursitis, which occurs frequently and lasts a long time, the knee joint is often impossible to straighten. In the same way, ligament injuries that were received a long time ago make themselves felt. Deforming osteoarthritis can also cause this symptom in the early stages of the disease. In this case, spreading deformation of the tissues on the legs is clearly visible. The kneecap does not fully extend with gonarthosis, which is accompanied by a traumatic lesion.
A person at home will not be able to understand why the knee does not want to straighten. And even an experienced doctor will not immediately make an accurate diagnosis. However, there are a number of distinctive signs of the disease. But in this case, you should not treat yourself.
With gonarthrosis, the knee does not straighten and any movements are accompanied by severe pain. Swelling may occur and the affected area becomes hot.
A sprain is often accompanied by stiffness of movement, which is caused by the presence of small tears in the tendons. All this can be accompanied by sharp acute pain. It occurs suddenly, even at rest. Swelling of the soft tissues around the lesion may occur, and bruising is possible. It is also necessary to understand why the limb clicks.
If a person cannot straighten their knee, this most likely indicates a serious injury. You need the help of a traumatologist immediately; he will prescribe the correct treatment and rehabilitation. Typically, all treatment complexes include the use of manual therapy. This process allows you to avoid the development of contracture in the future.
Bursitis does not allow the knee to fully straighten, which brings a lot of inconvenience. The disease is characterized by the presence of an inflammatory process. It occurs in one of the periarticular bursae. The knee bursa may be affected.
After an injury, a contracture may form, which will not allow the limb to straighten. In this case, immediate intervention by a specialist is required, and a special rehabilitation course is prescribed. Some doctors assure the patient that the process is irreversible. In fact, everything can be corrected with the help of manual therapy. An injured leg can recover quickly if you work hard at it.
Work is needed that will be aimed at developing muscle structure. In this case, the leg will recover quickly, the main thing is to perform the exercises correctly. Improving metabolic processes and blood supply will make a huge contribution to the restoration of the damaged area. A therapeutic massage will help restore mobility to your leg. It is important that the program to restore knee function is selected for the patient individually.
If you have pain in your knee, you should immediately consult a doctor, because it can occur either as a result of an injury or in the presence of certain diseases. It is better to restore leg mobility using gentle methods than to resort to surgery.
If it hurts to bend your leg, the cause of this phenomenon may be rheumatoid arthritis. With this pathology, the cartilage tissues of the joint are damaged; if they are completely destroyed, the knee becomes deformed and loses mobility. The knee hurts, because with degenerative-dystrophic changes in its tissues, blood vessels and nerve endings can suffer.
Rheumatoid arthritis affecting the knees can be acute or chronic. Why this pathology begins to develop has not yet been precisely established.
But the connection between past viral infections and the occurrence of this disease has been confirmed. Heredity also plays a role - rheumatoid arthritis is more common in those people whose relatives have a history of joint diseases.
The disease has different degrees of severity. The knee hurts when bending already at the first stage of the disease. Unpleasant sensations occur only when the joint is under load. If the limb is not disturbed, it does not hurt. In addition, the following symptoms indicate the development of rheumatoid arthritis of the knee joint:
Pain in the knee when bending often occurs after a long stay in one position or a night's sleep.
If left untreated, the disease can spread to the tissue surrounding the joint.
If the patient has pain in bending his leg at the knee and says, “I can’t sit down,” this may be a symptom of gouty arthritis. With this disease, the knee hurts if you bend it, due to the deposition of uric acid salts in the joint capsule.
The joint elements become ossified, lose elasticity and mobility, which is why a person feels pain in the knee.
Pain when bending the leg is the most typical sign of gout. They can be localized on both the front and back of the knee.
It is worth noting that gout most often affects the small joints of the lower extremities, but sometimes the knee or elbow is affected. Discomfort is felt at the slightest movement if gout of the knee joint is exacerbated.
Gout is a disease in which acute attacks alternate with periods of rest. If the patient undergoes treatment, pain when bending the leg goes away within a week. But if there is no treatment, the disease becomes chronic.
The joint completely loses mobility, becomes hard and causes the patient severe pain with every movement.
The patient may feel pain when bending the knee if he develops deforming osteoarthritis. This disease most often affects the knee joint. As a result, it is impossible to fully bend the leg, its shape and length change, and the patient moves with difficulty.
With deforming arthrosis, the leg does not bother the patient until he tries to bend it or make other movements. But in advanced stages, the patient complains: “I cannot bend my leg at the knee and experience pain even in a state of complete rest.” Deforming arthrosis is usually accompanied by the following symptoms:
If arthrosis deformans affects the knee joint, this disease is also called gonarthrosis. In the acute stage of the disease, the temperature of the whole body may rise.
If a patient comes to the doctor and complains: “I fell or fell, and after that I can’t bend my leg without pain,” the doctor suspects tendonitis or bursitis. Professional athletes and people whose lower limbs are exposed to constant stress are at risk. The pain in this case occurs in the kneecap, and not in the back of the knee joint.
A person feels discomfort only when he tries to perform any manipulations or movements. The causes of the disease can be trauma and overload, as well as infection of the joint capsule and its mechanical damage during surgery. The fact that the limb does not bend at the knee is not the only symptom of the disease. Signs of tendonitis or bursitis include:
Tendonitis is usually acute and rarely becomes chronic.
This disease is very dangerous and can lead to complete loss of limb mobility, as the lesions spread to the entire tibia. The disease belongs to one of the forms of osteochondrosis. Initially, the patient feels pain under the knee, he cannot make flexion movements.
Then the pain spreads to the entire leg, becoming more intense after running, walking or sports training. As the disease progresses, the patient finds it uncomfortable to climb stairs, stand up and squat.
The disease develops mainly in young males.
When a patient states, “I cannot bend my leg, squat, walk, or run without pain,” we can assume a normal joint sprain. With excessive physical exertion or injury, muscle fibers or tendons can also be damaged.
The patient complains of pain in the leg both during movement and at rest.
If a ligament or tendon is sprained, the leg turns red, swells, and the body temperature may rise locally. Sometimes bruises form on the skin in the area of the affected joint. What to do in this case?
You should immediately contact a traumatologist and undergo an examination to determine the cause, nature and extent of damage to the joint tissues.
So, what should you do if your knee hurts, especially when bending, straightening the joint, squatting and climbing stairs? Treatment options will depend on what is causing your knee pain. Only a doctor can carry out a complete diagnosis.
He will determine the cause of the discomfort and indicate what to do to eliminate it. There are a few important points to know:
For minor injuries, a bandage will usually be sufficient. But in case of serious injuries, ruptured ligaments or tendons, you will need a bandage that will fix the knee joint in front and behind.
What else can I do to avoid inflammation in the event of a joint injury, arthritis or osteoarthritis - the answer to this question is necessary for all patients faced with impaired mobility of the knee joint. It is necessary to prevent fluid from accumulating in the joint cavity. You can avoid swelling of the limb if you place it above the level of the body.
The leg should be in a horizontal position; you can place a cushion or pad under it. In the first day after injury, cold or ice compresses have a good effect - they prevent severe swelling and hematoma formation. If the patient is forced to sit, it is advisable to raise the leg on a chair or stool.
For severe pain, you can take analgesics. But this should not be done before visiting a doctor, since then he will not be able to determine the location of the injury and damage, determine their degree and type. It is not recommended to start taking anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs on your own.
On days 2-3 after the injury, you can use ointments with a warming or cooling effect - they help quickly restore leg mobility and get rid of pain and swelling.
Physiotherapeutic procedures help reduce pain, relieve inflammation and prevent its development. Therapeutic gymnastics for joints is very useful and effective; it helps restore their mobility, restore elasticity and flexibility. The instructor selects a set of exercises and ensures that they are performed correctly.
After the patient has completely mastered the gymnastics, it can be performed at home. But from time to time you still need to consult with a coach to monitor the effectiveness of gymnastics. It should not be forceful, the load on the joints is given in doses. But you need to do exercises regularly, otherwise it will be ineffective.
If one of the exercises causes pain or discomfort when performed, it should be removed from the treatment program. Otherwise, gymnastics may cause new injury or increased inflammation.
If the injuries to the knee joint are serious, or irreversible changes have occurred due to joint diseases, doctors may suggest that the patient solve the problem surgically. This method of treatment is radical and is used only in extreme cases. Knee surgery can be performed in the following ways:
Arthroscopy is a modern minimally invasive method of surgical intervention. During this operation, 2-3 small incisions are made in the area of the affected joint, into which special surgical instruments are inserted. One of them contains a camera, which makes it possible to determine the condition of the joint capsule with maximum accuracy and monitor the surgeon’s actions.
Arthroscopy allows you to remove destroyed joint elements and damaged tissue from the articular cavity, but does not solve global problems. If the joint is severely damaged and requires its implantation, you will have to resort to other methods of surgical intervention. But the advantages of such an operation are that the rehabilitation period after it, minimal tissue restoration, lasts on average 14-16 days.
If certain parts of the joint are destroyed or damaged, the doctor replaces them with prostheses. If the lesions have affected the bones adjacent to the joint, doctors recommend complete knee replacement. Such an operation is advisable when the patient begins to die of joint tissue.
Complete or partial prosthetics allows you to restore the functionality of the knee joint and relieve the patient of pain, returning him to the ability to fully work, move and rest. But if the cause of joint destruction is gouty arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, deforming osteoarthritis, the patient must take preventive measures even after surgery.
A healthy lifestyle will help prevent the recurrence of joint diseases - moderate physical activity, a balanced diet and giving up bad habits. If the cause of destruction of the knee joint was an injury, the patient must control the physical load on the joint and not allow it to be exceeded.
During training, it is recommended to wear bandages and bandages, always warm up before training, and, if necessary, use warming ointments and gels. We must not forget that in addition to stress, the joints also need proper rest - then their tissues, even with some damage, will have time to recover naturally.
In conclusion, we invite the reader to familiarize himself with the interesting video in this article, in which knee pain is examined from all sides and a solution to the problem is proposed.