The knee joint is one of the largest and most complex human joints, which withstands enormous loads every day. At the same time, the knee is a rather vulnerable formation that is susceptible to various diseases and injuries. The following factors increase the risk of knee joint pathology:
Many diseases of the knee joint have similar symptoms, so their diagnosis is somewhat difficult and requires additional examination methods. It is important to establish the cause of the pathology, since treatment directly depends on it and differs in each case.
The knee joint is very complex, and each of these structures can be damaged
Let's look at the most common diseases of the knee joints.
Arthrosis of the knee joint is the most common pathology of this localization. It is a degenerative-dystrophic process during which the intra-articular cartilage of the knee is gradually destroyed, which causes instability of the joint and secondary changes in the form of the proliferation of osteophytes. Such changes subsequently lead to joint deformation, loss of limb function, in some cases the joint space completely disappears, and the joint itself ceases to function (ankylosis).
Most often, arthrosis occurs in older and older people as one of the manifestations of age-related changes, but it often occurs in middle-aged and even young people. As a rule, such patients have the risk factors described above.
Arthrosis develops gradually, in several stages. At the very beginning, people do not notice the problem, attributing symptoms to fatigue or changing weather. They are concerned about the feeling of discomfort or mild pain that appears after heavy and excessive exercise. After rest, the symptoms completely disappear.
In the second stage, painful sensations in the knees appear when performing everyday work. This forces patients to take painkillers. At this stage, a crunch appears when moving, periodic buckling in the knees, and a limitation in the range of motion in the joint begins to appear.
In the last stage, the cartilage tissue of the joint is completely destroyed, which leads to severe and chronic pain, deformation and loss of limb function. As a rule, at this stage, conservative treatment has no effect, and only surgery can restore the person’s ability to move.
Changes in the joint with arthrosis
Arthritis is an inflammatory lesion of a joint, and inflammation can have an infectious, allergic or autoimmune etiology. The list of diseases that come under the general name “arthritis” is very long. In some cases, inflammation of the knee is a separate pathology, for example, purulent arthritis, but most often arthritis of the knee joint is one of the signs of a general disease of the body, for example, rheumatoid, reactive, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, systemic lupus erythematosus and other connective tissue diseases.
The symptoms of arthritis are almost the same, regardless of the cause. Patients complain about:
A detailed diagnosis, determining the type and cause of arthritis, is needed in each case, since their treatment is very different. Therefore, if you have symptoms of knee inflammation, be sure to seek specialized medical help.
In addition to arthritis, there are several other inflammatory diseases of the knee joints.
The capsule of the knee joint forms many folds and pockets (bursae, or bursa), which are necessary for the normal functioning of the joint. They perform protective and shock-absorbing functions. But in some cases, these formations can become inflamed, fluid accumulates in them and bursitis develops.
Inflammation of the joint capsules can be infectious or non-infectious in nature. Pathological microorganisms can penetrate inside through the bloodstream, directly from the external environment during an open wound, from foci of infection located near the knee joint. Among non-traumatic causes, bursitis is caused by mechanical trauma, systemic rheumatological diseases, etc.
With bursitis, the pain in the knee is intense and persists at rest. The function of the joint suffers significantly, it swells, and the skin over it turns red. In some cases, you can see or feel a tumor-like protrusion (inflamed bursa with secretion inside). Treatment is usually conservative, but in severe cases surgical debridement may be necessary.
Bursitis of the left knee joint
The knee joints are strengthened by a large number of ligaments, each of which can become inflamed. This lesion is called tendinitis. As a rule, it occurs due to constant microtrauma of the ligamentous elements or their infection.
This disease has virtually no external signs. Pain appears only with certain movements (this depends on the ligament that is affected).
If tendonitis becomes chronic, complications such as ligament rupture may develop, which can only be repaired surgically.
This term combines various pathologies of the intra-articular meniscus of the knee joint. They are 2 cartilage pads (external and internal) that complement the knee joint. Menisci can suffer due to injury (most often) or inflammatory processes.
The most common types of meniscus lesions:
Types of knee meniscus tears
Treatment of meniscopathy depends on the degree of damage to the structure and the individual characteristics of the patient. For example, often a mild injury is not accompanied by symptoms that can affect a person’s normal life, but the situation changes dramatically if the victim is a professional athlete. In the first case, conservative methods of therapy are used or not prescribed at all; the second case requires urgent reconstructive surgical treatment.
Chondropathy, or osteochondropathy, is a disease of the knee joint, which is based on degenerative processes due to malnutrition of certain areas of bone tissue (growth areas, places of attachment of ligaments, end sections of long tubular bones). As a rule, they occur in adolescents and children during periods of active growth. Risk factors include excessive exercise and constant trauma to certain areas of the joint.
In most cases, these diseases progress favorably. But sometimes they can be complicated by the separation of part of the bone tissue, ligaments that are attached to the bones. This situation requires surgical correction of the defect.
The most common osteochondropathy of the knee joint:
Anyone can get a knee injury. There are many types of such damage. Knee injuries are often combined. The following types can be distinguished:
Only a traumatologist can determine the type of injury after a thorough examination and all necessary additional studies (radiography, MRI, CT, ultrasound of the joint).
Among the diseases of the knee joint, there are also more rare ones.
This is a chronic inflammation of Hoffa's fatty bodies (accumulations of fatty tissue in the area of the pterygoid folds of the joint capsule) with their subsequent degeneration. It occurs due to constant trauma to these formations and their pinching between the bones.
In addition to chronic pain, Hoffa's disease negatively affects the health of the entire joint, because fiber performs a protective and shock-absorbing function.
Among the symptoms that may suggest pathology are:
The danger of this pathology is that it is a serious risk factor for secondary degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the knee joint.
A Becker cyst, or hygroma of the knee joint, is a benign cystic formation that has a dense connective tissue membrane and is filled with jelly-like content inside. Anatomically, this formation is associated with the joint capsule or tendon sheath, and therefore is located near the knee (most often in the popliteal fossa).
The protrusion appears gradually, at first it does not hurt, but as it grows, painful sensations may appear. This formation is benign and never degenerates into a cancerous tumor.
The only way to effectively remove a cyst is through surgery. Indications for such an operation are infection of the formation, its large size, which limits movement in the knee, and a cosmetic defect.
In conclusion, it should be noted that there are many diseases that affect the knee joints. The symptoms of most of them are very similar, so careful diagnosis and identification of risk factors is necessary. This will allow you to effectively treat the pathology and prevent its re-development.
Knee diseases list
The knee joint is an important component of the musculoskeletal system, which has a rather complex structure. If pain occurs in the knee area, it may indicate the presence of a certain disease, which can lead to very serious consequences. In this regard, it is worth considering a list of knee joint diseases, as well as the reasons for their development, features of manifestation and treatment.
Before considering all the existing diseases that can affect the knee joint, it is necessary to determine the main causes of their development in order to be able to avoid the occurrence of ailments. All the reasons can be collected in the following list:
Inflammation is the cause of most knee diseases
First of all, we will highlight the main diseases of the knee joint, and also consider all their features:
meniscopathy - the disease affects the menisci of the joint. It is accompanied by the formation of tumors in tissues close to the joint. The disease also provokes deformation of the knee joint itself;
This list contains the main diseases of the knee joint that are more common than others. But the list can be supplemented with more rare ailments, which also occur in medical practice. It is also worth noting that all diseases of the knee joint manifest themselves almost identically.
If we consider the symptoms of diseases, they can be combined into a small list:
Swelling is the main symptom of knee diseases
It was mentioned above that among the numerous ailments of the knee joint, arthritis must be highlighted. This disease occurs in people of all ages and is divided into many varieties:
As for diagnosis, arthritis, like any other disease of the knee joint, is confirmed by a doctor after a thorough examination. The first step is to collect an anamnesis, where all the patient’s symptoms and complaints are recorded. Next, radiography is performed, which allows you to see all changes in the structure of the joint and diagnose its deformation. Thanks to a blood test, a conclusion can be made about the inflammatory process in the body, in particular, the knee joint.
X-ray is an informative way to diagnose diseases of the knee joint
If we talk about the treatment of arthritis and other diseases of the knee joint, there are several general methods and directions. First of all, this is medicinal treatment aimed at pain relief in the joint and relieving inflammation. Here, drugs from the NSAID category are most often used; sometimes doctors can prescribe hormonal anti-inflammatory ointments. In some cases, the patient is indicated for pain-relieving injections. Chondroprotective drugs should also be prescribed that can artificially increase the content of chondroitin in cartilage.
A mandatory component of the treatment of diseases of the knee joint should be diet. In this case, the patient should limit and, if possible, eliminate the consumption of salt, fatty, spicy foods, and smoked foods.
Diet is very important in the treatment of joint diseases
In combination with drug therapy, physical procedures are required, which also help relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and also contribute to a faster recovery. The patient may be prescribed paraffin therapy, UHF, electrophoresis.
Exercise therapy cannot be ruled out; such exercises are highly effective not only for arthritis, but also for other diseases of the knee joint. The main thing is to perform exercise therapy only under the supervision of a specialist and strictly follow his recommendations. Give loads gradually. You can start exercise therapy at the beginning of the rehabilitation period, when treatment is carried out; on the contrary, the patient is recommended to rest and reduce the load on the diseased joint. For this purpose, you can use crutches when walking.
If treatment and rehabilitation are carried out correctly, the patient will soon be able to return to a full life. But, from now on, you need to be more attentive to the health of your joints. It is also worth reconsidering your lifestyle, including sports and wellness treatments. Be sure to eat a nutritious diet.
Structure of the knee joint
Human joints have always carried and continue to bear a heavy load. They are complex, vulnerable, suffer from injuries and diseases. Everyone, having experienced knee pain, wants to get rid of it quickly, because limited leg movements interfere with leading a normal active lifestyle. Diseases of the knee joint still have different causes.
Our daily activities can, to some extent, provoke and develop many changes in the joints. Only a qualified specialist will make a diagnosis and take measures for a speedy recovery, prescribe effective treatment and prevention methods.
Injuries, bruises, sprains and other diseases of the knee joints, the list of which goes on, have been observed in each of us. One awkward movement when cleaning the house or doing work in the countryside - and, as a result, acute, incessant pain. Who doesn’t remember “broken knees syndrome” from childhood? Often, not paying attention to falls, we learn about the consequences in the form of sudden illnesses. They entail changes in joint tissues, metabolic disorders, and infectious inflammation.
Blood circulation in the knee joint may be impaired due to uneven growth of blood vessels, especially during adolescence. The growth of the body does not keep pace with the growth of systems and organs. The resulting imbalance can cause problems in the functioning of the knee joint.
Acute or chronic diseases of the hip, elbow and other joints can spread to the knee. A mandatory consultation with a doctor is required. Otherwise, the condition may lead to disability.
The most dangerous cause is infections that occur unnoticed in the human body. He does not feel discomfort, and when the inflammatory process manifests itself, it is already too late. Only a very careful attitude towards your joints will save you from a long-term and not always effective treatment process.
Patients sometimes go to two types of extremes in relation to their health. Some run to see a doctor after a minor scratch on their knee joints, fearing illness and being nervous. Others endure pain for a long time, and are already taken to the clinic due to the inability to move independently. Based on the above, experts dwell on the most common symptoms of joint diseases, and if they are found, you should immediately consult a doctor. These include:
The variety of knee symptoms is caused by the complexity and number of structures that connect in the knee joint.
If your leg gives way at the knee, your shin slips out when walking, clicks occur accompanied by pain, swelling appears, constant pain appears, and you begin to limp, then these are symptoms of a disease of the knee joint called osteochondritis dissecans. The causes of this disease have not yet been studied, but it affects quite young people. Don't delay going to the doctor.
A tumor disease detected upon palpation is defined by specialists as a Becker cyst. The capsule of the knee joint weakens, resulting in swelling of the bursa. The lesion is present on the back of the knee. Sometimes this disease has another name - bursitis or popliteal hernia.
Crunching while walking, swelling, severe cutting pain during physical activity and its absence at rest are symptoms of a disease of the knee joints, which is listed as gonarthrosis. As a result of this disease, degenerative-dystrophic changes occur in the articular surface of cartilage tissue.
The most common chronic knee disease is arthritis. It can be a harbinger of rheumatism and exist as an independent pathology. Increasing pain during movement, redness, and swelling signal an immediate visit to a doctor.
Some knee diseases only affect a certain category of patients, such as teenagers. They develop osteochondrosis of the tibia, in other words, Schlatter's disease. Pain and swelling are worse when jumping or running and are relieved by rest. The risk group includes teenagers involved in football, basketball, volleyball, hockey, figure skating, gymnastics, and ballet. In Schlatter's disease, usually only one knee joint is affected. A painful lump appears, localized below the kneecap.
Diseases of the knee joints, which rarely occur, will join the list of more well-known ones. These include:
Schlatter's disease progresses during puberty due to the rapid development of the child. Most often, boys over 13 years of age and girls over 11 years of age are affected. Very rarely there is a residual deformity that resembles bumps of the knee joint, and symptoms of rheumatic reactions appear during periods of weather changes. During the period of exacerbation of Schlatter's symptom, the tendons of the hamstrings move away from the powerful muscles of the anterior thigh, resulting in pulling pressure.
Treatment of Schlatter's disease is long, but the prognosis is comforting: the disease recedes with age.
The modern world is full of information about the most bizarre ways to get rid of Schlatter’s disease, arthritis, bursitis, about treatment with little-known, but very effective (according to various unverified recommendations) herbs, berries, and extracts. Use this information carefully and do not experiment on your health.
The main direction in the fight against joint ailments consists of treatment methods to eliminate pain and, most importantly, its cause, as well as to restore the functions and structure of joint tissues, to prevent complications of a disease of the knee joint, the symptoms of which have been discovered. Local treatment does not always eliminate the underlying cause that provokes it. Therapy includes anti-inflammatory medications, chondroprotectors, as well as drugs that restore immunity, therapeutic diets, physiotherapeutic procedures, manual therapy, physical therapy, and massage sessions.
The knee joints experience the greatest stress every day. They support the weight of our body and actively participate in movements. Therefore, overweight people most often suffer from knee diseases. Patients are prescribed a special diet, which contains a list of prohibited foods such as flour, sweet, hot, spicy and salty foods. As soon as the weight is reduced, the knee pain goes away.
During the rehabilitation period of the knee joints, therapeutic exercises are very important. Exercises in water have a special effect: swimming and water aerobics. The comprehensive effect on the muscles improves blood circulation in the cartilage tissue of the joints. Sports should be continued after recovery for preventive purposes.
Often, treatment of arthritis, gonarthrosis, osteoarthritis, and Schlatter's disease provides recommendations for the use of various compresses. They have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Healers advise making compresses from various medicinal herbs and plants familiar to everyone.
Freshly dug horseradish roots need to be peeled and grated to a paste, then placed in a saucepan, add water and simmer over low heat for about 30 minutes. Place the cooled mass on gauze folded several times and apply to the sore area. Carry out treatment during the period of exacerbation of tendinitis, bursitis, Schlatter's disease with severe pain. After some time, a burning sensation may occur. This is a signal to stop the procedure. The pain will pass and the condition will improve.
An onion compress has a similar effect and treatment. It is very useful for rheumatoid arthritis, Schlatter's syndrome. Medium-sized bulbs need to be grated, and the resulting mass should be applied to the sore knee, after placing it on gauze. Since onions tend to cause burns, you should hold them only until a burning sensation occurs. Horseradish and onion compresses can be alternated for a week, treating once a day.
Honey, propolis, medical bile are an indispensable means of getting rid of the symptoms of knee disease (Schlatter) in the form of compresses. Soda lotions will also dissolve and remove salts from joints. One tablespoon of baking soda is dissolved in a liter of water. Gauze, folded in four, is moistened in this solution and applied to the sore knee. Treatment is carried out daily, for 10 minutes, until the pain completely disappears.
Taking 2-3 tablespoons of black radish juice per day will speed up the process of removing salt. Herbal bath treatments are also popular. They are prepared from a decoction of straw, hops, St. John's wort, chamomile, and rowan bark.
In order not to harm yourself, before using medicines and folk remedies, you must always coordinate your actions with your doctor. The specialist will take into account the general condition of the patient and individual intolerance to certain drugs.
Many diseases of the knee joint in our time are observed at a relatively young age. This is due to the ecology of the environment, eating low-quality foods, and spending many hours near the computer. A frivolous attitude towards joint diseases leads to a late visit to the doctor, which turns them into a chronic form. Victory over the disease in such cases is reduced to zero. A serious and timely examination will ensure your good health and establish the true cause of knee joint disease.
Joint diseases are varied. A tumor on the back wall of the knee joint, formed by accumulated fluid, is known to many people engaged in heavy physical labor. A knee cyst can be noticed as a small swelling, similar to a hernia, in the area of the popliteal fossa. Single or multiple formations can reach sizes up to 1 cm.
Knee cysts are considered complications of various types of arthrosis. It may not appear for a long time or becomes noticeable periodically. It is necessary to consult a doctor if:
A ruptured cyst under the knee can cause severe pain and redness of the skin.
The main cause of cysts is knee injuries.
Fluid accumulation can be caused by a torn meniscus or bruised kneecap. For a long time it was believed that knee cysts were a disease of professional athletes. But during the study it turned out that there are frequent cases of the disease occurring as a concomitant disease with arthritis, arthrosis and periarthritis. Processes that disrupt the structure of cartilage, ligaments and bone tissue can cause tumor formations.
Cavities can fill with fluid due to inflammation in the body. Even flu or prolonged bronchitis suffered without proper treatment can contribute to the development of a tumor.
Depending on the location of the tumor, it is divided into several types. Each type of knee cyst is accompanied by unique symptoms. Let's consider what types of knee joint cysts exist.
The most common is the occurrence of a tumor in the popliteal fossa. A soft and elastic neoplasm appears in the form of a small lump. This creates discomfort when moving. The gradual destruction occurring inside the capsule leads to an increase in tumor and severe pain.
This type of tumor is more common in women. Disruption of metabolic processes in the female body, frequent inflammation and physical activity lead to the formation of a complex cyst. Outwardly, it resembles elastic hard balls, which consist of a duct, a tendon sheath and a joint capsule, which is filled with a viscous fluid. The tumor is called a hygroma and is often the cause of knee pain. The growing ganglion can put pressure on nearby vessels. This is one of the causes of varicose veins in the legs.
The purpose of the meniscus is to absorb the work of the joint. With the formation of a viscous mucous fluid inside it, the meniscal tissue stretches and a cyst forms. At first, a meniscal cyst of the knee joint is determined only by histological examination. But gradual development leads to the fact that it becomes noticeable during palpation and visible visually.
Without proper treatment, a cyst on the knee joint grows and can cause changes not only in the capsule, but also in the ligaments. There are several types of meniscus cyst. It can be both internal and external. The advanced form of the disease often develops into a parameniscal cyst of the knee joint, the treatment of which requires a special approach.
Hypertrophy of the synovial membrane leads to the appearance of a cyst. This type of tumor has not been sufficiently studied. Research is ongoing to explain the cause of the disease and determine methods of treating cysts on the knee joint. Until now, conservative methods have failed to cope with this complex tumor. In the vast majority of cases, the synovial cyst is removed surgically.
Modern methods of studying various diseases quite accurately determine the location, shape and composition of the fluid filling the cyst. The most common is a puncture taken from the internal cavity of the cyst under the knee. The qualitative composition of the liquid allows you to determine the cause and possible methods of treatment.
MRI and ultrasound provide fairly accurate results. Hardware studies make it possible to accurately determine the size and location of the cyst in the internal cavities and describe destructive changes in bone tissue and cartilage. Based on the results, you can determine how to treat the disease.
In particularly difficult cases, a research technique called arthroscopy is used. A tube is inserted through a minimal incision and the joint cavity is examined from the inside.
Routine blood and urine tests for the presence of inflammatory processes in the body and pathogenic infections make it possible to reduce the risk of the occurrence and development of cysts.
Depending on the type of tumor and its location, the doctor decides how to treat the joint. Drug treatment can only relieve pain and stop the inflammatory process. Therefore, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used at the preparatory stage of surgery or after it.
The most successful treatment for a cyst under the knee is surgical removal of the tumor. It takes quite a long period to restore the motor abilities of the joint.
The most gentle way to treat a cyst is puncture. A special needle is inserted into the tumor and the liquid is pumped out. Modern anesthetics make this procedure virtually painless. The recovery period does not take much time.
The doctor decides how to treat a cyst of the knee joint, and what means to use to restore function, based on the general indicators of a person’s health.
Timely seeking medical help helps to diagnose the disease in the early stages of development and guarantees the restoration of joint health.
Traditional medicine offers a wide range of ways to treat joints. Medicinal herbs, lotions, compresses and baths give positive results at the first signs of the disease. You should not use home remedies without establishing an accurate diagnosis and consulting a specialist.
In most cases, home remedies relieve pain but do not cure the problem. There is a delay in seeing a doctor, which is strictly not recommended. It is better to use herbal tinctures as compresses and lotions after surgery as an additional means of recovery.
According to reviews, tincture of golden mustache is suitable for the treatment of joint pain. Parts of the plant are infused in alcohol for 3-4 weeks and rubbed into the sore spot overnight. Burdock or cabbage leaves, smeared with honey, are applied as a compress. Healers attribute a resolving effect to this remedy.
Clay applications on the knee relieve inflammation and reduce pain. The clay is diluted with water or herbal decoction and coated with a sore spot. The procedure can be performed every day before bed for about half an hour.
If you are prone to developing joint diseases, it is necessary to balance physical activity to protect against exacerbation of the disease.
One of the causes of joint diseases is increased body weight. Therefore, a balanced healthy diet aimed at weight loss will help prevent exacerbation.
The developed method of physical therapy under the guidance of an experienced instructor will help strengthen the ligaments of the knee joints and reduce the load.
Additional medications recommended for restoring the structure of bone tissue and joint cartilage can only be used after consulting a specialist. Most of the drugs have contraindications and side effects.
The knee is one of the largest and most complex joints in the human body, which constantly bears a heavy load. And at the same time, he is very vulnerable: he often suffers from injuries and various diseases. Almost every person is familiar with knee pain, and each of us can imagine how painful it is to experience the feeling of limited mobility in the legs and difficulty walking. Many diseases of the knee joint have similar symptoms, but the causes of development for each pathology are different. And besides common diseases, there are little-known ones that only a qualified specialist can correctly recognize.
Knee pain may indicate the onset of a variety of diseases.
Any joint disease can be of the following nature:
inflammatory (infectious and non-infectious inflammation);
dystrophic (disturbance of metabolic processes in articular or periarticular tissues);
traumatic (acute or chronic injury).
Various combinations of the above processes are possible. For example, an inflammatory process caused dystrophic disorders, or a disease of a dystrophic nature was complicated by inflammation. In such cases, it is not always easy to determine what exactly caused the disease, but the success of treatment largely depends on the correct identification of the cause.
The vast majority of knee joint diseases belong to one of two groups:
The following pathologies are more rarely diagnosed:
Do not delay a visit to a traumatologist if you experience lingering pain, painful clicking, swelling or limited movement
Inflammatory, dystrophic and traumatic lesions of the knee joint have many common manifestations: long-lasting pain that intensifies when bending the leg, clicking, difficulty walking and supporting the affected limb, and sometimes visible swelling or deformation of the knee.
Inflammatory diseases (arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, etc.) are most often characterized by swelling of the knee: either the entire knee or some particular part of it. With severe inflammation, there is usually a high body temperature and other symptoms characteristic of inflammatory processes. In addition, signs of the inflammatory process are determined by a general blood test. Such pathologies often begin acutely, against the background of a healthy state of the body.
Dystrophic lesions (arthrosis, osteoarthrosis, meniscopathies, tendinopathy, etc.) usually have hereditary or congenital prerequisites (defects in the development of the joint, disturbances in the structure of cartilage tissue, tendons, etc.) and always develop gradually. Sometimes they occur against the background of a general metabolic disorder or chronic joint pathologies. Often occur due to the fact that the knee bears too much load, disproportionate to its capabilities.
Dystrophic diseases of the knee joints tend to be chronic with increasing symptoms. They last for years with periods of exacerbations and remissions. If dystrophic disease of the knee joints is diagnosed, long-term and most likely permanent treatment will be required.
Post-traumatic diseases can also be inflammatory or dystrophic in nature, but always arise as a result of injuries: either acute or chronic (small and often repeated injuries).
In every third case, knee pain is a symptom of gonarthrosis
We have already talked about the most common diseases, arthrosis and arthritis, on our website. You can read the articles:
Today we will take a closer look at other, less common pathologies.
These names include inflammation of the joint or tendon capsule (bursitis), as well as inflammation of the tendons and ligaments themselves (tendinitis). These diseases often occur due to injuries or other damage to the musculoskeletal system. Tendinitis can develop due to improper formation of the knee tendons, as well as due to their weakness. Middle-aged men are more likely to suffer from bursitis and tendinitis.
Bursitis often occurs as a complication of arthritis, when an infection from the joint cavity penetrates directly into the joint capsule. And sometimes, on the contrary, bursitis becomes the cause of arthritis. The symptoms of bursitis differ from the symptoms of arthritis in that the pain in the knee with bursitis is more pronounced, constant and occurs without movement in the joint, as pus or inflammatory fluid stretches the capsule and affects its nerve endings. The more fluid accumulates, the more pain increases.
Small tendon capsule bursitis is sometimes called a cyst (eg, Becker's cyst). The pain in this case is usually not as severe as with bursitis of the knee joint capsule, but can be acute and occurs at a specific point. A “bump” can be felt under the skin at the site of the lesion.
Tendonitis also involves pain and swelling in a specific area of the knee. Painful sensations are aggravated by contraction of the muscles associated with the affected tendon, as well as by flexion and extension of the knee. The pain usually radiates to the muscles of the thigh or lower leg.
When treating bursitis and tendonitis, general anti-inflammatory therapy is carried out, and the affected limb is provided with rest. To reduce pain, punctures (punctures) of the joint capsule are performed to remove fluid and administer antibiotics. In severe cases and chronic cases, especially if the disease affects the patient’s quality of life, surgery is performed.
For mild or chronic forms of the disease, you can alleviate your condition using traditional medicine. Here are some popular recipes.
This group of diseases includes dystrophic and post-traumatic non-inflammatory lesions of the tissues of the knee joint. They often accompany arthrosis, but can also occur independently. At the initial stages of their development, these pathologies sometimes cause only minor discomfort, and for this reason, patients often first consult a doctor in the later stages of the disease. How do these diseases differ from arthrosis? In fact, in a narrower localization - damage to either cartilage, or the meniscus, or a tendon, ligament or other structure of the joint. Various types of such diseases are often found in athletes.
According to the clinical course, these pathologies are usually accompanied by pain when flexing and extending the leg, when walking, difficulty in other movements, and sometimes joint instability, when when you step on the sore leg, it involuntarily bends. A crunching sound often occurs in the affected joint.
It is usually impossible to make an accurate diagnosis for such pathologies based on clinical manifestations; for clarification, an examination is required: X-ray of the affected area, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, sometimes arthroscopy.
Treatment of knee lesions of a dystrophic nature is aimed, first of all, at eliminating the cause. Therapeutic measures are ineffective in many cases, and in order to restore the patient's ability to walk freely or improve the quality of life, surgery is usually performed. First of all, it is indicated for those who suffer from excruciating pain.
And to help your body recover faster, you can use several proven folk recipes.
The knee is one of the most complex and large joints on the human body, which constantly bears a huge load. And at the same time, the joint is quite vulnerable: it often suffers from various types of diseases and injuries. Everyone can imagine how painful it is to experience difficulty walking and a feeling of limited mobility in the legs. Most knee joint diseases have similar symptoms, but each pathology has its own causes. And in addition to common diseases, there are also little-known ones that only a qualified doctor can correctly identify.
Any disease of the knee joints has the following nature of the disease:
All possible combinations of the above processes are possible. For example, a dystrophic disease is complicated by inflammation, or the inflammation process causes dystrophic disorders. In these situations, it is not always easy to determine what exactly caused the disease, but the success of treatment will significantly depend .
Almost all diseases of the knee joint belong to one of 2 groups:
The following pathologies are diagnosed much less frequently:
Do not delay going to the doctor if you experience painful clicking, lingering pain , limited movement or swelling.
Traumatic, dystrophic and inflammatory lesions of the knee joint have many common manifestations: difficulties and clicks when supporting the affected leg or when walking, long-lasting pain that intensifies when bending the knee, sometimes visible deformation or swelling of the knee joint.
Inflammatory diseases (tendinitis, bursitis, arthritis, etc.) are usually characterized by swelling of the knee: either any particular part of it, or the whole. , increased body temperature and other symptoms that are characteristic of inflammatory processes are most often In addition, signs of the inflammation process can be determined by a blood test. These pathologies very often begin acutely against the background of a healthy and normal state of the body.
Dystrophic diseases (osteoarthrosis, arthrosis, tendinopathy, meniscopathy and others) most often have a congenital or hereditary nature (disorders of the structure of tendons or cartilage tissue, defects in joint development, etc.) and develop gradually all the time. In rare cases, they appear against the background of chronic joint pathologies or general metabolic disorders. They often appear due to the fact that the knee bears a very high load, which is disproportionate to its capabilities.
Dystrophic diseases of the knee joints tend to become chronic with an increase in the number of symptoms. They go away for years with periods of remissions and exacerbations . If dystrophic disease of the knee joints is determined, then long-term and, most likely, permanent treatment will be necessary.
Post-traumatic diseases can also be dystrophic or inflammatory in nature, but always appear as a result of injuries: either chronic or acute (minor but frequently occurring injuries). In every fourth case, pain in the knee joints is caused by gonarthrosis.
These names mean inflammation of the tendon or joint capsule (bursitis), as well as inflammation of the ligaments and tendons themselves (tendinitis). Such diseases often appear due to injuries or other lesions of the musculoskeletal system. Tendinitis can occur due to improper formation of the knee tendons, as well as due to their weakness. Tendinitis and bursitis usually affect middle-aged men.
often appears as a complication of arthritis if an infection from the joint cavity gets directly into its capsule. And often, on the contrary, bursitis is the cause of arthritis. The signs of bursitis differ from the signs of arthritis in that the pain in the knee joint with bursitis is constant, more pronounced and appears without movement of the joint, since the inflammatory fluid or pus stretches the capsule and affects its nerve cells. The more fluid accumulates, the more severe the pain.
Bursitis of the middle tendon capsules is also called a cyst (for example, Becker's cyst). The pain in this case, as a rule, is not as severe as during bursitis of the knee joint capsule, but it can be acute and appears at a specific point. You can feel a “bump” under the body in the affected area .
Tendonitis also causes swelling and pain in a specific area of the knee. Pain sensations are aggravated by muscle contraction associated with the affected tendon, as well as during extension and flexion of the knee. The pain is usually referred to the muscles of the lower leg or thigh.
During the treatment of tendinitis and bursitis, general anti-inflammatory therapy is performed for the affected joint and rest is ensured. To reduce pain, punctures or punctures of the joint capsule are made to remove fluid and administer medications. In chronic cases and in difficult situations, especially when the disease disrupts the patient’s quality of life, surgery is performed.
In chronic or mild forms of the disease, your condition can be alleviated with the help of traditional medicine. Here are the most popular recipes:
This group of diseases includes post-traumatic and dystrophic non-inflammatory infections of the tissues of the knee joint. Most often they occur with arthrosis , but they can also appear on their own. In the first stages of their development, these pathologies usually cause only slight discomfort, and for this reason, patients often turn to a specialist for the first time already in the later stages of the disease. What is the difference between these diseases and arthrosis? By and large, they only have a narrower localization - damage to either the tendon, or the meniscus, or cartilage, ligament or other joint structure. Various types of these diseases can very often be found in athletes.
According to the clinical symptom of these pathologies, pain usually appears during extension and flexion of the leg, while walking, difficulty in other movements, and in rare cases, instability of the joint if the leg involuntarily bends while stepping on the affected limb. A crunching sound often occurs in the infected knee joint.
It is most often impossible to establish an accurate diagnosis for these pathologies based on clinical symptoms - for clarification, an examination is necessary: arthroscopy, magnetic resonance or computed tomography , x-ray of the affected area.
Treatment of a disease of the knee joint of a dystrophic nature is aimed, first of all, at removing the cause. Therapeutic measures, in most cases, are ineffective, and in order to improve a person’s quality of life or restore the ability to walk freely, surgery is usually performed. Moreover, it is necessary for those people who suffer from severe pain.
And to help the body recover faster, you can use several proven folk methods:
An important role is played by timely detection and adequate treatment of various types of anomalies of the musculoskeletal system. Of great preventive importance regarding pathological diseases and changes in the knee joint is the fastest possible treatment for recovery after any knee injury.
For treatment to have a 100% effect, the disease must not be allowed to enter the chronic stage, since in this case it will be much more difficult to treat. Therefore, if symptoms of any joint pathology appear, you should immediately seek help from a doctor .
To summarize, it must be said that there are quite a large number of diseases that affect the knee joints. The symptoms of many of them are quite similar, so careful diagnosis and identification of risk factors are required. This will make it possible to effectively treat the pathology and prevent its re-formation.