Why do my knees hurt on the inside? What to do and how to treat knee pain. Causes and treatment of pain in the knee on the side from the inside

In the joints, pain of a different nature can occur. Any pain is a signal of the body that warns of the development of the pathological process. Let's figure out what the pain in the knee joint from the inside says, and what measures should be taken after such a signal.

Causes

Soreness from the inner articular side are of varying intensity. Pain often disturbs at night, or occurs only after high loads on the knee area. If you do not pay attention to such a symptom, then the pain syndrome will become permanent. Therefore, it is necessary to find out the cause of pain of this nature of the knee joint, and immediately begin treatment.

The following causes are distinguished, as a result of which a symptom appears in the form of pain on the back of the knee:

limb injuries of a different nature (bruises, sprains, rupture of the meniscus or muscle tissue, fractures). At the time of injury, a crunch or click is heard and severe pain on the back of the knee;
inflammation of the tendons(tendinitis);
articular arthrosis, causing structural changes in cartilage tissue;
gonarthrosis(a type of arthrosis) develops against the background of injuries to the knee joint. The course of the pathology is accompanied by aching pain in the knee on the reverse side;
arthritis, the symptoms of which are pain on the back of the limb, and local temperature damage;
rheumatoid arthritis affects the connective articular tissues, and is accompanied by pain on the back of the limb;
rheumatism develops after an infectious disease;
cyst knee area can form after damage to the joint. Disturbed by pain under the knee. Because it is in this part of the limb that the joint fluid begins to accumulate;
blood flow disorder can cause congestion, pain in the knee on the back;
periarthritis(inflammation of the periarticular tissues);
bursitis, in which the tissues of the articular bag become inflamed.

There are many causes of pain on the inside of the knee, and malignant tumors are considered the most dangerous cause. It is important not to miss the signals of the body in order to diagnose the pathology in a timely manner.

Treatment

If pain occurs that manifests itself on the back of the knee, after the diagnosis is established, the following complex treatment is prescribed:

painkillers are prescribed to relieve pain;
to eliminate inflammation, external agents (ointments, gels) are prescribed;
if the pain is combined with fever, then antipyretic drugs are taken;
if pain from the inside of the knee arose due to the destruction of cartilaginous tissues, then chondoprotectors are prescribed;
a course of vitamins;
in some cases, intra-articular injections are given;
antibiotics in case of inflammation and suppuration.

In addition to drug therapy, additional procedures are used. If the knee is bruised, then cooling compresses can be applied. During the treatment of arthritis and arthrosis, it is recommended to fix the problem knee with an elastic bandage.

Advanced stages of diseases of the knee joint are treated by surgery.

You can eliminate pain on the back of the knee if you monitor your weight, wear comfortable shoes, and correctly distribute the load on the joints. If you feel tired after physical activity, you can make foot baths, and then massage your limbs a little.

It is important to consult a doctor in a timely manner if you are concerned about pain on the inside of the knee. Thus, it is possible to prevent the development of serious pathologies, and to avoid further articular deformity.

How to forget about joint pain forever?

Have you ever experienced unbearable joint pain or constant back pain? Judging by the fact that you are reading this article, you already know them personally. And, of course, you know firsthand what it is:

constant aching and sharp pains;
inability to move comfortably and easily;
constant tension of the back muscles;
unpleasant crunching and clicking in the joints;
sharp shooting in the spine or causeless pain in the joints;
inability to sit in one position for a long time.

Now answer the question: does it suit you? Can such pain be endured? And how much money have you already spent on ineffective treatment? That's right - it's time to end this! Do you agree? That is why we decided to publish, which reveals the secrets of getting rid of pain in the joints and back.

A rather uncomfortable feeling causes pain in the knee joint. When it occurs, a person is forced to limit himself in motor activity, which puts less stress on the joint. These are not entirely correct actions, immobilization can lead to serious consequences, accompanied by surgical intervention. Pain in the knee joint often arises when playing sports, performing various household chores.

The structure of the knee joint

The knee joint is considered one of the largest in the human anatomy. Between the upper and lower parts of it are discs, they are also called menisci. Tendons, muscles, ligaments serve as a connection between the fibula and tibia. From the inside, the knee joint is covered with cartilage, which restrains blows, provides soft movement, sliding of surfaces.

Pain syndrome symptoms

Speaking of symptoms, it should be noted their different way of manifestation:

Extensive.
Local.
Local character under the cup.
Swelling of soft tissue.
High body temperature.
Limited movement.

Causes of pain

Provoking pain in the knee joint, the reasons are very different.

Types of pain

By the nature of painful feelings:

sharp;
aching;
sharp.

Pain sensations of a sharp nature are manifested during bruises, damage to the disc, impact, any, even minor, injury.

Aching pain occurs during the onset of arthrosis. It doesn't go away at night.

A painful sensation of an acute nature arises with arthritis, damage to the discs. Tight shoes can provoke it.

Pain during movement

Pain in the knee joint when walking can be acute or chronic. It is able to increase and persist or weaken and disappear.

Running, long walks, carrying heavy loads lead to permanent injury to the joint. As a result, the process of inflammation and irritation of the joint can be provoked:

Bursitis.
Tendovaginitis.
Thickening of the ligaments.

It is possible to hurt the knee while walking with cellulite, osteomyelitis, arthritis, impaired blood supply, heavy load, pinched nerves.

Pain in the knee from the inside

Painful feeling manifests itself more strongly from the inside. Associate this with the load received during movement. Patients complain of pain in the knee joint from the inside, and a crunch under the knee. There are a lot of reasons that provoke such a painful sensation:

infections;
trauma;
arthrosis of varying degrees;
birth defects;
rickets;
cartilage wear.

Factors that exacerbate pain in the knee joint are overweight, flat feet, varicose veins.

Methods for preventing the development of the disease

It should not be forgotten that any disease is easier to prevent than to treat. Therefore, the following measures to prevent the development of the disease are distinguished:

Bringing body weight back to normal by switching to a sparing diet.
Surgical intervention that eliminates the expansion of the veins.
Reducing the load on the knee joint by using shoe arch supports.
Performing special exercises that maintain muscle tone.

Massage, self-massage. In this case, the impact should go to the muscles of the hips, feet, back, but not to the knee itself.
Gymnastics of a therapeutic nature for the legs. It is done in the supine position.
Walks in the fresh air, healthy sleep, coniferous baths, warming compresses.
Refusal of bad habits, such as smoking, alcohol.

Therapeutic measures

A visit to the doctor should not be postponed if pain occurs. Only he knows how to treat pain in the knee joint and can prescribe the right course of therapy after the examination, prescribe painkillers. You can eliminate pain by finding out its causes.

If the pain sensation originated as a result of the inflammation process, the doctor will prescribe drugs that reduce it.
If a painful feeling arose as a result of an injury, physiotherapy exercises are prescribed.
If the pain sensation has generated an excessive load, it must be immediately reduced.

As you can see, the treatment of the disease is individual.

A strong analgesic effect is given by ibuprofen, aspirin. They successfully relieve swelling, strong painful feelings.

You can successfully treat pain with heat. In such cases, a bottle filled with hot liquid, a damp warm towel, a napkin are applied to the knee, they take warm baths, hydromassage.

People often have questions: the knee joint, its pain, how to treat it, reviews of other patients about traditional and alternative methods of treatment. Successful treatment depends on the effect of anesthesia. Many recipes can be prepared at home.

Traditional medicine methods

Recipe one. It is necessary to mix salt, soda, taken in the amount of a teaspoon. Add 7 drops of iodine. Steam the knee, then apply this mixture to it, carefully cover, creating heat. Repeat the procedure 5-6 times, only then there will be a noticeable improvement.

Recipe two. Buy in a pharmacy infusion of a golden mustache. Rub them on the knee at night before going to bed.

Recipe three. Apply birch, burdock, horseradish leaves to the knee. They will take the pain away.

Hot pepper infusion helps a lot. It should be cut, put in a bowl and half filled with liquid. Fill the rest of the container with vodka. Leave to infuse for a week. Then rub the sore spot until the pain symptoms are completely relieved.

A positive review is a recipe of 100 grams of camphor oil and the same mass of dry mustard. They are mixed and 2 beaten egg whites are added there. Lubricate the knee with this mixture at night, wrapping it in a warm scarf, preferably woolen.

Massage and exercise therapy can also help. They will improve blood circulation, relieve slowness of movements, their stiffness. Exercises should be performed slowly, smoothly, then they will relax the muscles, reduce pain.

Dieting is very important. You should eat foods rich in vitamins, fish and seafood, which will restore articular cartilage.

These methods are suitable to relieve pain or reduce it. After that, you still need to go to the doctor.

Joint pain can be blurry, unclear, when a person cannot accurately determine its localization. Such sensations can cause degenerative processes (arthrosis), or inflammatory diseases of an autoimmune, infectious, reactive and allergenic nature, which are grouped under the general name "arthritis". But sometimes the location of the culprit of our suffering is precisely known, it is enough just, armed with anatomy and modern diagnostics, to pull him into the light of day.

Sometimes there are local pains in the knee: from the inside, the outside; above and below the knee; in the kneecap. What can these symptoms indicate?

Unless the cause of this phenomenon is trauma, the localization of constant pain in such a place is quite rare.

Bursitis "crow's feet" deep

Side knee pain on the inside may be due to deep crow's foot bursitis (synonym: anserine bursitis). Bursitis got its name because of the branching of the tendon of the semimembranosus muscle attached to the medial condyle of the tibia:

one branch is connected with the oblique popliteal ligament, the other with the fascia of the popliteal muscle.

The essence of bursitis is the accumulation of fluid in the inflamed bag of the tendon of the semimembranosus muscle.

Tendon bursitis often complements the overall clinical picture in osteoarthritis or infectious arthritis. It can also be the result of overuse or injury.
The appearance of crow's foot bursitis occurs more often in older women, or in overweight people.

If the knee hurts on the inside of a pregnant woman at a later date, then the reason here, perhaps, is precisely in the deep goose foot bursitis.

Other possible causes of crow's feet bursitis include:

flat feet;
meniscus injury or degenerative age-related meniscus tear;
tendonitis of the tendons;
weakness of ligaments and tendons;
diabetes.

Main symptoms:

The appearance of a slight swelling on the inside of the knee.
Pain in the knee on the inside when walking, with an increase in the descent / ascent;
When pressing on the gap near the medial condyle, pain occurs, which can radiate to the posterior popliteal region.

rest mode;
ice compresses;
anesthesia with NSAIDs and corticosteroids (for acute pain and severe swelling).

Damage to the medial meniscus

Pain from the inside of the knee with its traumatic lesion most often indicates a rupture of the medial meniscus. Symptoms in this case may not be very pronounced if there is a slight internal tear:

Pain in the inner part of the knee only at the moments of walking up the stairs or with a deep rotation of the lower leg outward (Fuche's symptom).
There may be no swelling on the side of the knee.

With significant damage in the region of the outer edge of the meniscus:

The knee hurts from the side on the inside so that it is difficult to even step confidently on the leg.
Swelling in the knee is pronounced.
When puncturing the knee joint, blood is found in the exudate.
When a part of the cartilage lining is torn off, mobility in the joint may be limited, up to a complete blockage.

Treatment should be carried out by an orthopedic traumatologist with the whole complex of necessary research (X-ray, arthroscopy, synovial analysis, etc.).

Pain in the side of the knee from the outside

The most common causes of this pain are:

injury or degeneration of the lateral meniscus;
discoid meniscus;
bursitis of the superficial crow's foot;
enthesitis of the tibial tuberosity.

Damage to the lateral meniscus

When the lateral meniscus is damaged, the pain symptoms are the same as when the medial internal is damaged. However, there is already external pain localization, and a functional test reveals pain in the knee from the outside of the knee during deep rotation of the lower leg inward.

Lateral discoid meniscus

A discoid meniscus is an age-related or congenital change in the shape of the cartilage lining of the knee (according to three types), in which it begins to cover the entire articular surface. This transformation is mainly affected by the lateral outer menisci.

Symptoms of a lateral discoid meniscus:

pain and crepitus in the knee during walking, flexion and extension;
difficulty in certain movements;
periodic jamming of the knee joint.

A discoid meniscus is almost always combined with other deformities and anomalies of the bones of the lower extremities.

After an accurate diagnosis (MRI) - correction of the meniscus with the help of plastic surgery.

Superficial crow's foot bursitis

Pain in the knee from the outside also occurs due to crow's foot bursitis, but not deep, but superficial. This is an inflammation of the bursa of the semitendinosus muscle, which passes through the back of the thigh. This muscle is attached to the external tubercle of the tibia (we will sometimes call it simply a white bone). Superficial bursitis is accompanied by:

pain during motor loads, with recoil to the posterior femoral surface;
pronounced swelling in the area of tuberosity of a b/b bone.

All the same symptoms, but without edema - signs of enthesitis of the tubercle of a b / b bone.

Pain under the knee on the back surface

Pain behind the knee is an indicator of inflammatory and other pathologies in the soft tissues of the knee joint and nearby tissues.

It hurts behind the knee for reasons:

Synovitis with effusion in the posterior region of the joint capsule.
Bursitis of the tendons of the calf or popliteal muscles.
Rupture of the posterior horn of the meniscus.
Cyst formation in the posterior horn of the meniscus.
Abscess in the popliteal fossa.
vein thrombosis or arterial aneurysm.

Synovitis, bursitis and Baker's cyst

The result of the accumulation of excess fluid in synovitis or bursitis may be a Baker's cyst - the formation of a pocket on the synovial membrane or bursa, protruding under the knee in the form of a ball.

Symptoms of a popliteal cyst:

pain under the knee at the back when bending;
puffiness;
circulatory disorders in the affected leg.

Symptoms of a ruptured cyst:

a sharp increase in pain and swelling, up to the point that the entire lower leg can swell;
redness, burning under the knee;
temperature increase.

With moderate symptoms, conservative treatment is possible:

non-steroidal and hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs (diclofenac, movalis, ketonal, hydrocortisone, dexamethosone).

Puncture with washing the cavity with antiseptic preparations.
Development of a scheme of anti-infective or anti-inflammatory therapy based on the analysis of synovia.
Laser coagulation of the cyst.

It is necessary to treat the rupture of the Baker's cyst only by surgery, by removing part of the synovial membrane of the knee joint.

Pathology of the meniscus (cyst, rupture)

A cyst or tear located in the posterior horns of the meniscus can lead to severe pain during movement, extension or flexion of the knee.

It is not always necessary to resort to an operation in these cases - you can limit yourself to:

anti-inflammatory therapy during pain attacks;
wearing an elastic bandage during exercise.

The operation must be resorted to:

with a significant restriction of movement or blocking of the joint,
progressive cyst growth;
the presence of a large effusion.

Abscess, aneurysm and thrombosis

An abscess in the popliteal fossa is caused by direct infection from nearby wounds, or by distant infection traveling through the lymphatics and blood vessels.

There is only one way out - the immediate removal of the abscess with the installation of drainage.

Aneurysm and thrombosis may not appear outwardly, which is their danger. With these pathologies, there may be:

pulsation of the popliteal artery;
drawing pain behind the knee;
the shins are very swollen - a symptom of thrombosis of the popliteal vein;
trophic disorders begin on the skin of the legs.

Treatment is surgical.

Anterior knee pain

Woman having leg injury The knee is reinforced in front by the patella and anterior cruciate ligament. In addition, the quadriceps femoris muscle passes here, and there are articular bags:

superficial and deep;
lying under the tendons;
under the kneecap and above it;
in front of the tibia.

Therefore, there are especially many sources of pain in the front of the knee. This is generally the most injured part of the leg.

Pain under the kneecap in front

Pain under the knee in front can appear as a result of a knee injury, with the subsequent development of bursitis of the bag of the pretibial muscle - the gasket between the white bone and the subcutaneous layer. Such blows to the front of the knee are often experienced by football players. Since the bag is located superficially, the edema in the bag always manifests itself outwardly in the form of a tubercle below the patella, approximately at the level of the tubercle of the bone.

Sometimes, with a strong blow to the patella, infrapatellar bursitis of the bursa located under the patella develops:

The edema is located on the floor of the patellar ligament and may not be visible externally.
With severe swelling, it protrudes just below the knee, and when pressed, it goes deep into the fat layer, that is, it seems to float freely in the knee space. This is called fluctuation.

The leg hurts under the knee and when the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is stretched. If the ACL ruptures, then the pain is exacerbated by symptoms of anterior extension of the lower leg, that is, impaired stability of the knee. In this case, a feeling of freedom of the knee joint appears, which quickly passes in the event of a piece of ligament getting between the sliding surfaces of the femur and the white bone.

Pain above the kneecap

Often bruises cause superficial swelling and pain above the kneecap. They are caused by inflammation of the subcutaneous and subfascial bags of the knee. This type of bursitis is called prepatellar.

Prepatellar bursitis is usually not a big problem, unless, due to direct infection, it turns into a purulent form.

More severe inflammation occurs where the quadriceps tendon passes. In the bag located under this tendon, a lot of fluid can accumulate in the suprapatellar torsion. A large, soft swelling appears above the knee, it is painless on palpation, but unpleasant symptoms occur:

The thigh is pulling.
The movements in the knee are constrained.
During periods of exacerbation, the temperature rises.
Possible deposition of calcifications in the tumor and its hardening, if resorption does not occur, and suprapatellar bursitis becomes chronic.

Any knee pain associated with bursitis is usually treated conservatively:

ice and peace in the first days;
NSAIDs;
if there are signs of sepsis, then a puncture with drainage + antibiotics.

Surgery is resorted to with severe pain and lack of slip in the joint.

Patella pain

The kneecap hurts most often, again, because of herbs. The purpose of this largest sesamoid bone is to protect the knee. This is where she suffers the most.

Dislocation of the knee

Among sports and domestic injuries of the knee joint, patella dislocation holds the primacy. It often occurs due to twisting movements and blows to the patella.

The signal about the dislocation is sent to the brain in the form of sudden severe pain. The dislocation itself can be determined:

by displacement of the patella to the level of the lateral condyle or even further;
swelling of the knee;
laxity of the patella (she freely walks back and forth).

Chondromalacia patella

Another cause of knee pain is chondromalacia.

The posterior surface of the patella undergoes a degenerative process:

The cartilage on it is destroyed.
Areas of softening and destructive destruction appear on the surface up to the exposed bone.

Symptoms of chondromalacia patella:

dull pulling pain, aggravated by movement and while maintaining a long bent position in the legs;
the knee joint may swell;
when walking, bending and unbending, a crunch is heard in the patella.

Diagnosis is by arthroscopy, CT, or MRI.

In treatment, at first, they are limited to taking anti-inflammatory drugs and rehabilitation:

Exercises to strengthen the extensor muscles, ligaments of the patella, muscles of the back of the thigh, quadriceps.
The use of bandages, elastic bandages for the knee, etc.

Surgery is resorted to only with severe anatomical articular disorders and significant damage to the cartilage.

Results

Local knee pain most often occurs due to traumatic and post-traumatic degenerative lesions.
Most often, pain from the outer and inner sides of the knee is caused by damage to the menisci.
Pain in the anterior region of the knee is often associated with dislocations of the patella or with its degeneration.
Inflammation of soft tissues (bursitis, synovitis, tendonitis) can cause local pain in all areas of the knee. It is they who, in most cases, provoke exacerbations in the knee joint, causing pain, swelling and even sometimes suppuration in it.

By the way, pain in the knees can cause ... pressure pills:

In a young and healthy body, joints should not hurt. But what if you suddenly feel discomfort?

Below we will look at the causes of pain in the side of the knee from the inside and find out how dangerous they are.

Anatomy of the knee

Many people think that knee pain can only be related to bone problems. However, this is not at all the case.

The knee joint is made up of:

Tibia and femur;
Patella;
articular capsule;
meniscus;
synovial fluid.

The pathology of any of the listed structural elements can provoke pain in the knee joint.

Causes of pain

Pain in the knee on the inside can be caused by the following conditions:

With an injury, a person feels that his knees hurt and notices swelling. Discomfort may increase with flexion and extension of the knee. Stretching of the left lateral ligament provokes characteristic pain on the left side .

Inflammatory diseases. The most common cause of knee pain is arthritis. There are many types of this disease, it can affect one knee or spread symmetrically to both. The patient is concerned about pain, swelling, hyperemia and stiffness in movements.

In the absence of treatment, the functions of the knee joint are significantly impaired.

Degenerative changes, in particular arthrosis. Symptoms develop gradually over a long period of time. Osteoarthritis occurs due to increased stress or untreated injury. The disease progresses rapidly. The patient feels pain inside the knee, has difficulty walking.
Meniscus injury. The meniscus acts as a shock absorber and protects the bones that make up the joint. Problems with the meniscus cause severe swelling under the knee and pain that only gets worse.

Arthritis

arthrosis

Inflammation of muscles or tendons. Discomfort increases with exertion. In this case, it is clear that the knee is swollen on the inside .
Rheumatism. This is an inflammatory disease that often occurs after past infections. It is characterized by severe inflammation and pain in the leg, which, if left untreated, lead to more severe consequences.
Rickets. The reduced strength of the bones causes the normal load to be too strong for the joint. Treatment consists of taking vitamin preparations, not eliminating symptoms.

Nerve damage. Pulsation or pain can be caused by pathology in a completely different area, however, unpleasant sensations are transmitted along the nerve fibers to the knee.
Vascular diseases. Thrombosis, aneurysm and other vascular pathologies can provoke pain in the right or left side of the joint. Often, a characteristic bump near the fossa appears on the back (inner) side of the knee. The pain can be intense, it can feel like an artery is pulsing under the skin, but over time, the sensitivity of the tissues is disturbed, weakness appears in the leg and it may become numb.
Inflammation of the lymph nodes. The tumor due to the enlargement of the lymph nodes is well palpable when the knee is extended.

Inflammation of the lymph node

Baker's cyst. A bump appears on the back of the knee at the bend, which is caused by a cyst of the synovial bag.
Stagnation of blood circulation. It can manifest itself as pain in the knee fossa and stagnation of blood lower in the foot.
Oncology. In addition to local symptoms, the patient's general well-being will be disturbed, which makes it possible to detect a malignant tumor in time.

Stagnation of blood circulation

Can pain go away on its own?

In some cases, indeed, the pain goes away after a few days. However, this applies mainly to light bruises on the outside.

If you notice swelling or deformity on the inner, left or right side of the knee, as well as if the mobility of the joint is very difficult, do not delay the visit to the doctor. He will explain to you how dangerous the pathology is and why the knee hurts or bakes.

Treatment

Treatment of pain of any etiology is always complex. The treatment regimen may include several directions, the need for which is determined by the doctor based on the diagnosis. For medical treatment, the doctor may prescribe:

Drug group	Result
Chondroprotectors	Restore the structure of the joint, slow down degenerative changes.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs	Reduce inflammation, pain and swelling.
Hormonal drugs	Effectively eliminate inflammation and swelling, have a stronger effect than non-hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Painkillers	Relieve the patient's condition, block pain.
Antibiotics	Eliminate the cause of pain, if it is an infectious process.

In addition, adequate therapy for diseases of the musculoskeletal system may include:

Exposure to cold or heat. As a rule, in the first days after a bruise, cold should be applied to the site to reduce the hematoma and block the pain. After that, on the contrary, warming compresses or ointments are applied to the injured area to improve blood circulation and speed up regeneration.

The possibility of using certain means is decided by the doctor, depending on the nature of the pathological process in the knee;

If conservative treatment is ineffective, the doctor may suggest a surgical solution, for example, arthroplasty, meniscus resection, cyst removal.

One of the causes of knee pain is varicose veins.You can watch this video:

Some pathological processes cannot be predicted - no category of patients is immune from them. However, you can try to prevent the occurrence of common problems.

Control your weight. Excess body weight not only impairs the functioning of internal organs, but also adds stress to the musculoskeletal system. The knee joint is one of the most mobile, it is also important that it takes part in the movement of a person. Increased pressure in obesity leads to premature erasure of the joint, disruption of its blood circulation and degenerative changes;
Carry out the treatment to the end. Having received an injury of any type, you need to carry out treatment to the end. Do not go to training when the inflammatory process has not yet ended or the ligament has not completely healed;
Moderate sport should always be present in life. Sports loads train muscles, improve blood circulation and accelerate metabolic processes in all tissues of the knee joint;
Wear comfortable and correct shoes. Women are advised to choose a heel that will be physiologically comfortable, and children's shoes must meet the requirements of orthopedics.

Any pain in the knee should be alarming. If the sensations appeared suddenly and are strong enough, most likely the pain is associated with a recent lifestyle - intense training, a bruise. After consulting a doctor and proper treatment, health will quickly recover.

If the pain has been bothering you for a long time and is manifested by aching sensations or a burning sensation, you should not delay the diagnosis - you may have a serious pathology.

Pain in the knee joint is a fairly common manifestation of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Moreover, not only elderly patients suffer from such pain, but also young people. At the same time, many note that the knee on the side hurts. Among the reasons for this condition are not only diseases of the knee joint itself, but also the pathology of other anatomical zones.

A bit of anatomy

Before finding out what causes knee pain, we should briefly dwell on the anatomy and physiology of this joint. The knee joint, along with the hip joint, is the largest articulation in the human body. The joint has a complex structure - it is formed by the femur, tibia and patella. The articular surface of the femur is represented by two bone formations - the condyles.

The condyles of the femur, the articular surface of the tibia are covered with cartilage. In order for the surfaces of the femur and tibia to correspond as much as possible to each other, they are equipped with menisci. The menisci are located in the lateral sections of the joint, and play the role of gaskets that increase the contact of the articular surfaces and protect the articular cartilage from wear.

The articular cavities of the knee joint are limited by capsules that produce synovial fluid. The joint itself is strengthened by the patellar ligaments, lateral and cruciate ligaments. The knee joint bears the maximum load when walking, carrying weight, maintaining the body in an upright position. Due to the heavy load, our knees are to a large extent subject to various negative changes.

Gonarthrosis

One of these changes is or gonarthrosis. With gonarthrosis, dystrophic changes in the articular cartilage occur. The cartilage becomes thinner, then the bone tissue of the tibia and the condyles of the femur is involved in the pathology. When the condyles are affected, the knee often hurts on the side when walking. Among the causes of gonarthrosis:

Overweight
Pathology of the gastrointestinal tract
Endocrine diseases - diabetes mellitus, thyrotoxicosis
Irrational nutrition
Burdened heredity
Weak immunity
Congenital anatomical defects of the knee joint

Drives

Another, no less common pathology is inflammation of the knee joint. Knee arthritis is called gonitis. At the heart of the drive, like any other arthritis, is inflammation of the synovial articular membranes - synovitis. This process leads to the accumulation of joint fluid in the joint cavity, sometimes with an admixture of pus or blood.

At the same time, patients are worried about sharp pain, limitation of movements in the knee. The cause of most gonitis is an infection. Infection can enter the joint directly through damaged tissues during injury. And it can be carried by blood flow from other foci in sepsis. Sometimes the introduction of infection leads to an immunological breakdown and subsequent damage to the articular cartilage. This happens with rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis, reactive arthritis.

Injuries

Traumatic injuries are the most common cause of knee pain, especially in young people involved in sports, heavy physical labor. Trauma is not necessarily bone damage. Among the injuries of the knee, the most common injuries of the ligamentous apparatus are ruptures of the lateral, cruciate ligaments. These breaks lead to a sharp soreness, aggravated by bending the knee.

Another common type of knee injury is a torn meniscus. With a strong blow, sometimes when falling, this cartilaginous lining is torn. The detached fragment is freely located in the joint cavity. With the optimal location of the fragment in the articular cavity, the injury may not manifest itself in any way. With strong sharp movements, running, squats, the torn meniscus changes its position, and intense pain immediately begins.

Other reasons

As already mentioned, pain in the knee joint is not necessarily due to damage to the joint. One of the common causes is osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine. With this pathology, due to the displacement of the intervertebral discs, the sensitive roots of the lumbosacral nerve plexus are irritated. In this case, pain from the lower back gives (radiates) to the thigh and knee.

Pain can also radiate from the hip joint when it is inflamed (coxitis). In this case, it often hurts on the outside of the knee. Another cause of knee pain is flat feet. Weak shock-absorbing ability of the foot leads to an increase in the load on the lower limb. Constant muscle tension eventually leads to knee pain. Finally, the vascular component may also be responsible for causing knee pain. Varicose veins of the lower leg are often accompanied by pain. From the vessels, the pain radiates to the knee.

Thus, in order to establish the cause of pain in the knee joint, a complex diagnosis is needed using X-ray, ultrasound and magnetic resonance therapy. And to eliminate pain, treatment should also be complex with the use of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, massage and physiotherapy exercises. And with some types of injuries, for example, with a torn meniscus, surgical intervention is indispensable.