Gonalgia is pain in the knee. Originally, a trauma, a mechanical or inflammatory problem. All the elements of the knee joint (cartilage, meniscus, ligament…) can cause knee pain.

Gonalgia refers to pain located in the knee. They can occur as a result of trauma or they can appear more gradually. In this case, their origin is mechanical or inflammatory.

Remember that the knee is a complex joint located between the tibia and the femur. There are many elements that make up this joint:

• cartilage, which allows the femur and tibia to slide over each other;
• the menisci, crescent-shaped, which absorb shocks and stabilize the joint;
• the capsule, which is a fibrous envelope that completely covers the joint. Inside, it is lined with the synovial membrane which produces the synovial fluid;
• the synovial bursae, which are membranous pockets filled with this synovial fluid;
• the lateral ligaments which help maintain stability in the knee;
• the muscles that fit over the bones and the capsule;
• bones (tibia, femur, kneecap);
• tendons.

Each of the elements that make up the knee joint can be the cause of pain.

Some symptoms can accompany knee pain, such as:

• swelling
• stiffness;
• redness;
• or even heat in the knee.

At the origin of gonalgia, there are many factors:

• a trauma:
  • a fracture of one of the bones of the knee joint (tibia, femur, kneecap);
  • sprain, strain, rupture of ligaments;
  • a rupture or crack in the menisci;
• a mechanical origin:
• osteoarthritis of the knee;
• age-related wear of the menisci;
• spontaneous fractures (which can occur in athletes);
• or pain in the hip which can affect the knee;
• rheumatoid arthritis;
• accumulation of crystals in the knee joint, such as gout (the formation of uric acid crystals in joint fluid) or chondrocalcinosis (a deposit of calcium on joint cartilages and menisci);
• tendonitis;
• infectious arthritis;
• or else a benign or malignant tumor (and therefore cancer) which may concern one of the elements of the joint.
• an inflammatory origin:

If they are not taken care of, certain knee injuries or certain medical conditions can cause more intense pain, lesions in the joint, immobilization …

In addition, damage to the knee increases the risk of having it in the future.

The management of gonalgia depends on their origin. Some of the treatments include:

• taking anti-inflammatory drugs;
• infiltration;
• a surgical intervention ;
• wearing a prosthesis or orthopedic insole;
• taking antibiotics
• or even more simply rest and / or immobilization of the knee.

Note that overweight, the practice of certain sports, frequent wearing of heels, but also the lack of flexibility can facilitate the occurrence of knee pain.