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Pain in the knees and under the knee in most cases is a consequence of injuries, rheumatic diseases of the joints and is often noted in the presence of excess weight in a person due to the main part of the physical load falling on the knee joint.
Causes of pain in the knees and under the knee
The first place among the causes of pain in the knees and under the knee are various knee injuries – stretching of the tendons, cartilage, periarticular bags or meniscal injuries, fracture of the patella, damage to the patella itself. The knee is subjected to the strongest physical load of the entire musculoskeletal system due to its anatomical location and functions, it most often suffers as a result of blows, jerks.
There is a meteorological dependence of pain in the knees on temperature changes and weather conditions, this is especially characteristic of diseases of the joints of a rheumatic nature. Often, pain can appear during active sports, with excessive stress on the tendons and ligaments. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system are also the cause of pain in the knees and under the knee, often they develop as post-traumatic complications.
Clinical manifestations of pain in the knees and under the knee
With a direct knee injury as a result of a blow, fall or dislocation, pain appears instantly and has a pronounced character, severe swelling and bruising immediately appear at the site of injury. The nerve roots and blood vessels are compressed, resulting in a feeling of numbness or tingling in the knee, weakness, and a feeling of cold under the knee.
Pain syndrome, as a rule, is accompanied by discomfort and discomfort during movement. Together with its appearance, the mobility of the knee joint is significantly reduced, it becomes as if stiff and the flexion function of the knee is disturbed.
Excess weight causes an additional load on the knee joint, which can cause frequent injury and, as a result, leads to pain in the knees and under the knee. But not always the cause of the pain syndrome is trauma or overload, sometimes it can be the result of diseases of a rheumatic or neurological nature. Quite often, osteoarthritis develops at the place where the injury once was. It is characterized by the manifestation of severe pain in the first half of the day and their gradual subsidence in the evening.
Pathological disorders on the anterior surface of the knee as a result of physical overload, or Osgood-Shutter disease, leads to swelling and swelling of the knee, severe pain in the area of the patella. Pain under the knee often indicates the presence of a popliteal cyst. Clinically, this manifests itself in constant pain under the knee, mainly in the back, and leads to swelling of this area. When pinching the hip nerve or other nerves that innervate the area of the knee joint, pain also occurs.
In the patient’s condition, when pain in the knee is accompanied by a decrease in mobility, redness and swelling of the joint, hyperthermia in the knee area, then it is worth suggesting the development of arthritis of the knee joint. It is also worth remembering that one of the likely causes of such pain may be a side effect of drugs used to treat pancreatitis.
Diagnosis of pain in the knees and under the knee
Finding out the cause of pain in the knees or under the knee is possible only with the help of a medical examination and a thorough questioning of the patient. Much attention in the diagnosis is given to constant physical activity, sports and the presence of chronic injuries. If pain in the knees is not the result of injuries or overexertion, a comprehensive medical examination is performed.
Treatment of pain in the knees and under the knee
The choice of treatment depends on the cause of the pain. There is no one way, but there are general recommendations to ease or prevent the onset of pain. In case of excessive load on the knee, it is advisable to try to reduce it to the possible limits so that no discomfort is felt. An elastic bandage stabilizes the mobility of the joint and allows you to alleviate the condition.
Strictly according to the doctor’s prescription and strictly under certain conditions, hot compresses are used to warm the knee. For the same purpose, warming ointments are prescribed.
A cold compress can only be used in the first two days after the injury and it should be applied for no more than 15 minutes, after which an hour-long break should be taken to normalize blood circulation. According to the indications, anti-inflammatory drugs are added to the treatment.
For those involved in active sports, it is recommended, for the purpose of prevention, to do a thorough warm-up before starting a workout and gradually increase the load, starting from the minimum.