Chronic knee pain

The knee joint is one of the largest in the body. As a result, the knee joint takes on a tremendous burden and is most often injured. Over time, degenerative changes occur in it. Thus, knee pain is a sign of severe pathology. Besides, it restricts movement, causes physical and psychological distress, and can lead to disability.

What is knee pain? Acute knee pain occurs abruptly and is most often caused by external influences (trauma) or an acute inflammatory process. It can be cutting, stabbing, or bursting, depending on the cause and mechanism of the lesion.

Chronic knee pain develops gradually and persists for more than three months. The cause is most often degenerative-dystrophic diseases or chronic inflammatory processes. The pain can be aching or bursting. During exercise, the pain increases. In some diseases, pain occurs at the first steps, then gradually subsides.

Knee pain may be accompanied by:

• joint swelling
• redness
• crunch
• limited mobility
• joint deformation.

There are different types of knee pain:

• How does it hurt? Depending on the cause of the occurrence, knee pain makes itself felt in different ways. Outwardly, bruising, redness, swelling, fever, and limited mobility are common. Moreover, knee pains can be pulling, stitching, pressing, and continuous dull or convulsive.
• Where does it hurt? It is also crucial exactly where in the knee the main source of pain is located. Is it inside or outside, on the front or back of the knee, or in the entire knee region?
• When does it hurt? In many cases, chronic knee pain in the knees begins when running or climbing stairs. Sometimes symptoms appear only after heavy or prolonged exertion. Some knee disorders are characterized by pain even at rest or in a sitting position. Knee pain from a prolonged sitting position may be a sign of damage to the cartilage under the patella, which, the sooner it is detected, the more effectively it can be treated.

The frequent cracking of the knee can also signal joint damage, although it is usually not painful. In the same way,the feeling of instability in the knee can occur with cruciate ligament injuries.

Why do knees hurt?

The most common cause of acute knee pain is on one side of the injury. Damage can occur when playing sports and from unsuccessful falls and sudden movements. Common types of knee injuries:

• the bruise is accompanied by pain, increase in size, bruising
• rupture of ligaments with a sharp eversion of the lower leg or hip
• meniscus rupture occurs under heavy loads, impacts, falls
• fractures are accompanied by unbearable pain and pathological joint mobility
• dislocations of the knee joint and patella
• damage to the cartilage A torn-off piece of tissue in the joint cavity causes severe pain.

An experienced orthopedist diagnoses some types of injuries by the appearance of the joints.

Another common cause of chronic knee pain disease of the joints and periarticular tissues:

• arthritis inflammation of the joint can be infectious, post-traumatic, autoimmune, metabolic
• bursitis inflammation of the joint capsule, sometimes with the accumulation of fluid in it
• periarthritis damage to muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the joint area
• osteomyelitis bone inflammation
• chondropathies degenerative diseases of the articular cartilage
• tumors and cysts compress adjacent tissues, causing pain and dysfunction
• osteoporosis is a violation of metabolic processes in which calcium is washed out of the bone tissue.

Knee pain can be a sign of a neurological disorder:

• neuritis an inflammatory disease of the peripheral nerves
• entrapment of nerves can occur against the background of injury, compression by a tumor.

Depression and other psychological problems (called psychosomatic disorders) can be one of the causes of joint pain.

Symptoms and diagnosis of knee pain

The concomitant symptoms and medically reviewed will help determine the approximate mechanism of the lesion and establish a preliminary diagnosis. These symptoms combination may be characteristic of a particular disease or group of diseases:

• Inflammatory processes are accompanied by edema, redness of the joint, and an increase in local temperature.
• Increased pain when moving, crunching in the joints, limitation of mobility speak in favor of chronic degenerative diseases.
• Impaired mobility with preserved tissue sensitivity is characteristic of tumors, cysts, and arthropathy.
• With injuries, joint deformity, pathological mobility, accumulation of blood in the joint cavity or soft tissues are observed.

Systemic diseases (osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout) cause pain in the knee and other joints. Arthritis, which arose against a general disease’s background, is accompanied by malaise, fatigue, weakness, and fever.

An accurate diagnosis can only be made by a physician medically reviewed, taking into account the symptoms and examination results.

Knee pain is diagnosed and treated by orthopedic surgeons. Then, according to the indications, a consultation with a neurologist, vascular surgeon, rheumatologist, and other specialists can be prescribed. When a psychosomatic disorder is identified, work with a psychologist is required.

The first stage of diagnosis is the patient’s questioning, a thorough discussion of complaints and anamnesis. Further, the doctor conducts a medical review, examines the affected area, makes a presumptive diagnosis, and does laboratory and instrumental research. It includes:

• X-ray of the joint in several projections allows detecting injuries, degenerative-dystrophic processes of the joint
• X-ray of the lumbar spine or hip joints (if a lesion in this area causes the pain)
• Ultrasound of the knee joint is an effective method for inflammatory and degenerative processes, soft tissue lesions
• MRI allows you to detect changes that are not visible on the roentgenogram
• densitometry X-ray method for diagnosing osteoporosis
• general and biochemical blood tests are relevant for inflammatory, metabolic, and autoimmune diseases

The sooner the patient turns to specialists for help, the easier it will be to diagnose and the more effective treatment.

Knee pain treatment methods

The treatment plan depends on the nature of the lesion and the general condition of the patient. To combat pain in the knee joint, use:

• medical methods, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, chondroprotectors, anti-gout, antibacterial, etc.
• a blockade is an injection method of injecting drugs into the lesion site, local anesthetics, corticosteroids, chondroprotectors, vitamins are used
• physiotherapy massage, acupuncture, hardware treatment
• wearing a special jersey and orthopedic shoes
• in the case of the development of a psychosomatic illness, psychological correction is indicated.

Surgical treatment methods are used when conservative ones are ineffective and only for severe injuries (complex fractures, meniscus ruptures, etc.). Arthroscopic surgeries are widely used in medical centers; this is a low-traumatic intervention using microsurgical equipment. All manipulations are carried out through small incisions under the control of a miniature video camera.

Regardless of the reasons for chronic knee pain, it is not worth delaying the visit to the doctor. Trying to heal yourself at home can be useless and lead to loss of time and worsening of the condition. You can use folk recipes only with the permission of a doctor and under his supervision.

How to protect the knee joint? Prevention of knee pain consists of a comprehensive improvement of the body and a careful attitude towards one’s health. Important:

• treat injuries and infectious diseases strictly under the supervision of a specialized doctor
• not neglect the treatment of chronic and congenital diseases (diabetes, gout, tonsillitis, dysplasia)
• monitor weight and diet, prevent obesity, excess salt, sugar in food, limit alcohol consumption
• maintain daily physical activity without overload
• drink chondroprotectors annually in courses with a predisposition to joint diseases
• 1-2 times a year to undergo a preventive examination by a rheumatologist
• follow a healthy regimen, treat insomnia
• drink enough water
• do not overcool
• wear comfortable, not too tight underwear, clothes, and shoes
• pick up comfortable furniture and not sit cross-legged.

At the first knee pain, do not postpone or delay, immediately go to the doctor.