Why does knee joint pain occur?

The information in this section is not intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. In the event of pain or other worsening of the condition, diagnostic tests should only be performed by the attending physician. In order to make a diagnosis and properly prescribe treatment, you should contact your doctor.

When we experience knee discomfort, we rarely think about joint damage. Once you're over forty, there seems to be nothing to worry about: at this age, joint pain is inevitable. In fact, it is important to detect it in timeWhy do knee joints hurt?: This can be a sign of injury, illness, or even neurological problems.

What injuries are possible to the knee?

The knee is one of the largest joints in the human body. it includes:

• United,
• the ends of the femur and tibia,
• muscle,
• vessel,
• nerve
• ligament,
• patella,
• meniscus,
• joint capsule.

All of these parts can be damaged, although not all of them are injured: There are no nerve endings in the bones.

Knee pain can be caused by damage to the femur and tibia and nearby muscles.

Some injuries, such as a dislocated joint, a torn or torn meniscus, can reduce mobility. Damage to even small blood vessels can lead to hematoma and inflammation, which can cause discomfort when trying to move the leg. The joint capsule is an excellent environment for infection: following viral and bacterial infections, patients often complain of complications and pain in their joints. And if you have a neurological disease, you may feel a sharp stabbing pain in your knee, even if your joint is perfectly healthy.

Knee pain due to injury

Injury is one of the most common causes of pain. An unfortunate fall, exercise, or sudden movement can damage your knees; even uncomfortable shoes can cause complications.

• bruised knee- Fairly weak and very frequent damage. With it, the knee will swell and become red, and the joint temperature may increase slightly. If bruising occurs, a knee massage may be needed;
• Ligament ruptureThis condition occurs when the leg or thigh twists too much in an unnatural direction. A complete ligament rupture can cause severe pain and joint hypermobility;
• meniscus tearIt can be caused by high loads, an unnatural position, a blow to the leg, or a twisted tibia. This is a common and difficult-to-diagnose injury that interferes with normal movement of the leg;
• Broken knee, leg, or hipThis, combined with soft tissue damage, results in excruciating pain, hypermobility, and knee deformity.

This type of injury can be diagnosed by a surgeon or traumatologist. A visual inspection is usually sufficient, but if your doctor suspects ligament or meniscus damage, you may be asked to have an X-ray (if a fracture or dislocation is suspected) or a tomography scan.

What joint conditions cause pain?

Any damage to a joint, whether it's cartilage destruction, joint capsule infection, or bone inflammation, can lead to pain and reduced mobility. The disease is not always limited to the knees: general joint disease can affect the entire body. Knees deteriorate faster due to high loads.

• arthritis— Joint inflammation, which can occur after injury, infection, or metabolic problems;
• Bursitis- Inflammation of the joint capsule, causing severe discomfort when trying to move the joint;
• existperiarthritisInflammation of the tendons, muscles, and ligaments around the knee joint. Pain occurs when the load on the bent leg is increased, such as when descending stairs;
• rickets— Gradually destroys the cartilage surrounding joints and softens friction and impact;
• tumorThey can compress blood vessels and deform the joint capsule, causing pain and limiting mobility;
• existosteoporosisCalcium is gradually washed away from bones and joints, and the tissues become brittle. The disease is associated with pain and an increased risk of injury;
• osteomyelitis- Inflammation of bone tissue. Significant swelling of the affected area, increased body temperature, and severe acute pain;
• diseaseIllnesses of various natures, such as influenza and tuberculosis, may cause complications due to infection entering the joint capsule. In these conditions, increased body temperature, weakness, and pain occur simultaneously in multiple joints.

To diagnose these disorders, X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging, or computed tomography scans are needed to show all parts of the affected joint. If inflammation is suspected, your doctor will recommend general and biochemical blood tests and a synovial fluid puncture. To rule out infectious diseases, you may be referred for additional tests and fluoroscopy.

Knee pain due to nerve damage

Knee pain is much less common due to disorders of the nerve tissue. It is accompanied by severe stinging, and numbness and tingling may occur in the legs.

• neuritis- Neuroinflammation in one or more areas. With it, patients experience throbbing pain and loss of sensitivity, their mobility may decrease, and their legs begin to shrink involuntarily at the knees;
• pinch nerve- Common consequences of inflammation, tumors and injury. Due to physical pressure on the nerve roots of the knee joint, symptoms such as burning pain, numbness, difficulty moving, and even paralysis may occur.

To diagnose neurological diseases, MRI or CT is used depending on the patient's contraindications. If the pain is caused by pinched nerves, blood and synovial fluid tests may be needed to determine the cause of the joint deformity.

Can the cause of knee pain be determined from the symptoms?

The exact cause of pain can only be known by a specialist and after proper testing. However, the affected area can be at least roughly determined:

• If you feel numbness or tingling in addition to pain,nerve damage;
• Increased temperature and swelling of the knee -signs of inflammation;
• General weakness, fever and poor health -Post-disease joint disease;
• Pain can occur not only in the knees but also in other joints, such as shoulders or fingers: it may look likeosteoporosis, and the consequencesinfectious disease;
• The joints will hurt violently when trying to bend or straighten the legs, and they will be very weak at rest.Bursitis or advanced rickets;
• Impaired range of motion but no loss of sensitivityJoint destruction, tumors or arthritis;
• Broken bones, dislocations, and bruises are preceded by a blow or fall that you can't possibly ignore. inJoint dislocation, ligament and meniscal injuriesWith knee hypermobility.

Once you have roughly determined the cause of your pain, you can prepare to see your doctor and get the necessary tests and photos taken. This will reduce diagnosis time and speed recovery. Don't try to treat knee soreness on your own, as you may misunderstand the cause of the condition and make it worse. Severe pain can be relieved with painkillers, and it's best to talk to your doctor about anti-inflammatories, cartilage protectants, bandages, and physical therapy.