What should I do if I hurt my knee?

The main function of the knee joint is to ensure normal movement of the lower limbs and achieve a stable position of the trunk. In this case, this part of the body is assigned the most important role - participating in the process of flexion and extension of the limb.Despite the complex structure and adequate strength of this joint, it can be subject to various complications caused by injuries, thermal influences, physical overload, chronic infectious processes, leading to severe inflammatory processes, limited movement and increased possibility of accumulationExudate. To prevent such undesirable phenomena, it is recommended to promptly contact a qualified expert for a thorough diagnosis and an effective treatment plan.

The knee is the most complex and largest joint in the human body.

Every day, the knee joints bear a huge load. It is responsible for the flexion and extension processes of the lower limbs, supporting the person's weight and ensuring their stable position. Knees allow us to walk, jump, run, squat and turn.The ability to perform these operations is ensured by the following components:

• tendon;
• bone;
• cartilage;
• Ligaments and muscles.

This explains why people of any age can experience knee pain. Only after finding out the cause can we talk about effective treatment and complete recovery.

Causes of knee pain

Therefore, the knee joint plays an important role in the human body: it is responsible for the movement of the legs, keeping the body in a stable position and supporting the person's weight. Furthermore, the knee has a complex structure represented by multiple interrelated elements.If a person suffers from knee pain and is trying to find a solution, it is first necessary to identify the factors causing the discomfort. Generally speaking, the causes of disease are the same in all cases.The risk factor is the same in almost all cases: myofascial dysfunction. This causes significant tension, which can lead to compression and destruction of the cartilage. As a result, a person begins to experience unpleasant sensations indicating damage to the knee joint and begins to look for ways to eliminate the pathological process.

Injuried

If you don't know what to do when your knee hurts, be aware—the cause may be hidden in the joint injury. This is an area of the body that is more susceptible to injury than other areas. As a result, joint dysfunction occurs, accompanied by pain.This discomfort may be due to ligament damage. Representatives of professional sports activities are most susceptible to injuries. Additionally, people who don't follow running techniques may develop pain and ligament problems. Typically, knee injuries are caused by being hit by a ball during a football game.It should be noted that such injuries occur frequently. Furthermore, discomfort can occur not only during but also after an exacerbation.If a fracture occurs, multiple bones may be broken at the same time. This condition is more common in older patients and people prone to degenerative diseases than in others.If the joint is severely damaged, surgery, physical therapy, and exercise therapy may be needed.

Bursitis

The main purpose of the joint capsule is to ensure that the ligaments glide easily and to improve the function of the knee joint itself. Chronic injuries and accidental blows can cause damage and cause inflammation.The following symptoms indicate the presence of bursitis: swelling, pain, limited movement, and increased temperature of the knee joint.If you have a serious knee injury, in order to know what to do and how to treat the condition, you should first get a thorough diagnosis. Only with an individualized approach to the problem can you develop the right treatment plan and choose effective medications with anti-inflammatory properties. You should also adhere to a rest regime for your knees.For advanced forms of bursitis, they take more serious measures - perform surgical intervention and special injections.

Dislocation

We are talking about a displacement of the kneecap from its normal position, which is also accompanied by pain of increased intensity. In this case, only an experienced specialist can answer the question of what to do about pain under the knee after a thorough diagnosis and examination.To identify fractures and develop the correct treatment plan, they turn to X-rays. In advanced cases, surgical intervention is performed.Often knee dislocation causes pain. This is a fairly serious injury that occurs after a strong blow.

degenerative diseases

One of the common pathologies associated with degenerative changes in tissue is osteoarthritis. In this condition, the cartilage is reduced in size, accompanied by impaired joint movement and pain. In general, this pathological process is caused by age-related physical changes that occur in people aged 55-65 years.Although degenerative changes are irreversible, there are treatments that can cope with discomfort and help improve quality of life. In advanced forms of the disease, implants need to be installed surgically.

autoimmune disease

We are talking about the inflammatory process that affects the joints. They are characterized by a malfunction of the immune system, so that the immune system begins to treat one's own tissues as foreign and destroy them.This process is accompanied by the following adverse manifestations: joint swelling, pain and degenerative changes, and erosive lesions of bone tissue.Taking into account the clinical situation, experts will tell you exactly what you need to do when you injure your knee. Usually, patients are advised to take the following medications:

• anti-inflammatory drugs;
• Steroids;
• antirheumatic drugs and biologics;
• Painkillers etc.

Salt deposits in joints

This is a metabolic disease associated with the deposition of urate in the tissues of the body. The main symptoms of gout are: severe swelling, limited physical activity, and severe pain. To break down urate crystals, special medications are needed, as well as anti-inflammatory drugs.

infection process

Even minor scratches in the knee area can cause the infection process to spread to nearby tissues and organs, including the joint area.For people with weakened immune systems, this poses a real danger to the body. That is, any damage to the skin can worsen the condition in such patients.

What not to do when your knee hurts?

Whatever the cause of your knee pain, here's what not to do to avoid worsening the condition:

• Avoid knee injuries;
• Avoid foods that cause weight gain (fried and fatty foods, sweets, high-salt foods, potatoes, sweetened carbonated drinks, fast food);
• Avoid any excessive physical activity associated with exercise;
• If your knees hurt and you do not know how to cope with this discomfort, as the reviews indicate, it is better to give up addiction (excessive consumption of alcoholic drinks and smoking);
• Avoid wearing tight shoes and avoid high heels;
• Minimize the likelihood of stressful situations;
• Ensure healthy and adequate sleep;
• Avoid staying in one position for long periods of time.

When do you need to see a doctor?

If pain in the knee area is caused by a minor skin injury, minor injury, or joint deformity, no medical intervention is required. In this case, self-treatment is allowed.For more serious processes, a visit to a specialist is urgently needed. First, this is because the joint capsule may be damaged, which facilitates the penetration of pathogenic bacteria into the body.If the consequences of an injury are not addressed promptly, the function of the joint may be lost. You need to consult a doctor in the following situations:

• Your knee hurts so much that you don’t know what to do, what to do;
• Pain syndrome of increased intensity that does not go away within a few days;
• Swelling, redness, and warmth in the joint area;
• Increased body temperature;
• Decreased motor activity, bruising.

Experienced specialists conduct a thorough diagnosis of knee conditions, develop a detailed treatment plan and select the most effective treatment for even the most advanced pathologies.

Treat knee pain

People often don't know exactly what to do when they injure their knees and they try to deal with the discomfort on their own. Unfortunately, uncontrolled use of medications and the use of special ointments can have the opposite effect.For quick pain relief, a comprehensive approach is needed. Within its framework, not only medications are used, but also physical therapy procedures are performed and special orthopedic equipment is used. These include knee braces and braces to help prevent the possibility of recurrence and ensure a faster recovery period.

using drugs

To relieve pain, doctors prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroid hormones, vasodilators, and chondroprotectants. Specialists are very cautious when prescribing painkillers because they do not allow them to determine the true condition of the knee joint. Next we will discuss in more detail the drugs used:

• NSAIDs.Since elimination of inflammatory processes and pain is a key task in knee discomfort, doctors mainly recommend the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. For this, they resort to the help of special pills and ointments. If the pain becomes painful, the patient will receive an intramuscular injection. If you have a slight pain in the knee, in this case, when asked: "What should I do? ", any doctor will recommend you to use ointments. Typically, when a knee joint is injured, products containing glycosaminoglycans are used. In turn, to reduce swelling, they use dimethyl sulfoxide for compression;
• Chondroprotectant.Whether your knee was injured after running or after a long walk, or in the context of another medical condition, only an experienced doctor can advise on exactly what to do. However, it is generally recommended that all patients take medications containing chondroitin and glucosamine for pain relief. Thanks to their use, it is possible to accelerate the repair process of cartilage tissue, prevent oxidative stress and ensure the growth of healthy cartilage cells. In addition, chondroprotectants help speed recovery after injury, minimize the potential for serious consequences, and cause few side effects. At the same time, experts recommend taking complexes with a high content of minerals and vitamins;
• Antispasmodics and vasodilators.They help improve tissue supply and also help restore connective tissue and eliminate swelling. In the case of a chronic pathological process, for example, if you have knee pain for a whole year and the discomfort returns again and you do not know what to do, additional antimicrobial treatments and immunobiological drugs may be necessary.

physical therapy procedures

If you're wondering what to do if your knee hurts while walking, or if the discomfort is chronic, any experienced professional will recommend physical therapy. With its help, it is possible to increase the effectiveness of drug use and ensure delivery of drugs to deeper subcutaneous layers.Physical therapy procedures help improve blood flow, eliminate pain and reduce sources of inflammation, as well as normalize motor activity and ensure clearance of purulent exudates.Even if your child's knee hurts and you're trying to figure out what to do, the following physical therapy options will be the most effective:

• The impact of magnetic fields on the human body;
• Laser Treatment;
• Exposure to electrical current in conjunction with drug administration;
• UHF;
• Application of Galvanic Current;
• Use healing mud;
• The therapeutic effects of ultrasound;
• massage therapy;
• paraffin therapy;
• amplified pulse therapy;
• medicinal leech treatment;
• acupuncture;
• cold treatment;
• Dynamic therapy and other similar procedures.

A course of physical therapy usually lasts 7-10 times. However, a prerequisite before taking therapeutic measures is consultation with a specialist.

UVT treats knee pain

UVT methods are widely in demand for the elimination of pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. It is based on short-term exposure of affected joints to low-frequency sound waves.The powerful analgesic effect during shock wave therapy is achieved through the following process:

• Improve blood flow;
• development of new blood vessels;
• Improve metabolism.

It is worth noting that under the influence of shock waves, a reduction in fibrotic processes in the internal tissues of the knee joint was observed.Maximum results are achieved by depositing calcium phosphate crystals in the tendon using the UVT method. The technology is characterized by higher safety and almost no side effects.The UVT specialist will clearly determine the number of treatments and their duration and will also provide valuable advice on the implementation of other restorative procedures.

Whether puncture is required

If swelling is significant, specialists will remove purulent contents that are limiting the normal function and supply of the joint. To drain the exudate, a puncture is performed using a syringe under the influence of anesthetic.If the desired results are not obtained during the course of physical therapy and the use of medications, the doctor will inject hyaluronic acid into the knee joint or perform a periarticular anesthetic blockade. When a purulent inflammatory process is detected, medical treatment is combined with cleaning of the knee joint with medicinal solutions (lavage).Surgical intervention for pain in the knee area is performed in rare cases, most commonly in advanced cases.

Exercise therapy for knee pain

Often, when knee pain occurs, experts recommend therapeutic exercises. By performing simple exercises on a regular basis, patients can quickly regain motion in their joints, relieve pain and provide optimal loading to this part of the body. These beneficial effects are achieved by improving muscle tone. Desirable results can be obtained after 8-10 treatments. It is important to exclude any sudden movements during physical therapy.The following exercises are suitable to do at home:

• The patient assumes a "lying" position and extends the legs forward. Next, he performed alternating flexion and extension of the fingers of the lower limbs;
• When in the "lying" position, you need to straighten your legs. Thereafter, the patient turns his feet in different directions in an attempt to bring them closer to the floor;
• In the "lying" position, with the legs straight, the patient should try to extend the toes toward the knee joint;
• The patient takes the "lying" position. Then he put his hands under his knees and tried to slowly bend the limb. In this case, the knees must be lifted smoothly toward the chest;
• When in the "lying" position, the legs need to make movements similar to riding a bicycle.

Precaution

Questions such as "What should I do if I hurt my nerves in my knee? " or "What should I do if I hurt my knee after a long walk? " will lose their relevance if you take simple precautions. These include:

• The elimination of infectious processes and conditions after knee injuries should be carried out under the supervision of specialized experts;
• Chronic or hereditary pathological processes must be eliminated (gout, diabetes, tonsillitis);
• Maintain a normal weight by eliminating sweet, salty and greasy foods as well as alcoholic beverages from your diet;
• engage in moderate exercise;
• Take chondroprotectants and get checked by a specialist once a year;
• Follow the rules for healthy sleep;
• Drink about 2-3 liters of still water every day;
• Eliminate any possibility of hypothermia;
• Wear only comfortable shoes and clothing;
• Avoid staying in one position for long periods of time.