Inflammation of the knee is one of the most common diseases of the musculoskeletal system. A large number of cases of knee inflammation is due to increased stress on the joint during the entire period of life. The knee joint is surrounded by organic tissue, which encloses the knee bones in a kind of "corset" of tendons and ligaments. Therefore, pain in the knee can be caused not only by the joint problem, but also by the inflammation of ligaments, tendons or meniscus.
Causes and common symptoms of inflammation
Inflammation of the knee joint is called gonarthrosis and can be provoked by various causes:
- injuries;
- age-related degradation;
- weakening of muscles;
- disorders in the locomotor apparatus;
- infection with microorganisms.
The process of the development of the disease is stretched in time and the symptoms are manifested gradually. Periodic unpleasant pain in the beginning of the disease over time become permanent and aching. In parallel, other signs develop:
- increased temperature and redness in the lesion;
- swelling of the joint;
- limitation of mobility.
Inflammation of ligaments of the knee joint
This inflammatory process affects not so much the joint itself, as the ligaments surrounding it. The knee joint is surrounded by 4 ligaments: two internal and two external. Sometimes injury and inflammation can affect the patellar ligament. In general, the inflammation of the ligaments of the knee joint is a consequence of trauma or manifestation of age-related degenerative changes in the body. Inflammation of the ligaments accompanies pain and swelling, which reduces the motor activity of the joint.
Inflammation of the tendon of the knee joint
This type of inflammation in the knee arises, basically, directly at the place of attachment of the quadriceps femoris muscle to the anterior part of the tibia. Inflammation of the tendon of the knee joint from inflammation of the ligaments is distinguished by the fact that ligament damage arises locally and simultaneously, and inflammation of the tendon is a regular process of the appearance of microtraumas. Thus, during the inflammation of the ligament of the knee joint, which is accompanied by acute severe pain, the person must control and limit the activity of the joint, while in the inflammation of the tendon the pain is blunt and permanent, the load does not decrease and the disease goes to the chronic stage. Inflammation of the tendon of the knee joint is called tendinitis .
Inflammation of the knee joint meniscus
This kind of inflammation of the knee joint is perhaps the most painful. Meniscus - a kind of gasket from the cartilaginous tissue in the joint of the knee, which has an amortization function. Symptom of inflammation of the knee joint meniscus is a sharp pain, in the place of its localization, it is possible to determine the affected meniscus:
- medial (located on the inside of the knee joint);
- Lateral (located outside the knee joint).
Most often the medial meniscus is injured. If the meniscus is damaged, severe pain prevents the leg from unbending, and the treatment takes a long time.
Treatment of inflammation of the knee joint
In the treatment of inflammation of the knee joint, it is necessary to provide peace and reduce the burden on the injured leg with the help of special bandages or elastic bandage. Also used is drug therapy, which includes taking medications that help reduce swelling and repair tissues:
- Diclofenac;
- Ibuprofen;
- Chondroitin, etc.
For topical external use, anti-inflammatory ointments are recommended:
- Troquevazine;
- Fastum-gel;
- Indovazin;
- Voltaren;
- Collagen-Ultra.
In the acute course of the inflammatory process, injections into the joint can be recommended.
After the removal of acute pain physiotherapy procedures are connected:
- magnetotherapy;
- electrophoresis;
- laser treatment;
- massage.
All this makes it possible to intensify the impact of therapeutic drugs and accelerate the rehabilitation period.
In particularly difficult cases, surgical intervention with joint replacement is possible.