Pain in the knee during flexion is one of the most common problems that occur with joints. This is not surprising, because it is the knee joint is one of the largest and most complex in the body and it has the maximum load. Sharp pain in bending the knee can be both a sign of injury, and a variety of diseases.
Pain in knee flexion associated with injuries
Knocks or falls on the knee
With such injuries, pain is often observed not only when bending the knee, but also in a stationary position, often the appearance of swelling, swelling, bruising.
Damage to ligaments
Bunches can be damaged both in the fall, and simply in the case of sudden movement, intense exercise. There is a sharp pain not only when flexing, but also with any movement, the knee can swell.
Inflammation of tendons - tendinitis
Most often is the result of too much motor activity and excessive training. Pain in tendinitis is felt inside and in front of the knee, at first only with sharp bending and intense physical activity, and can subsequently become permanent.
Damage to the meniscus
Meniscus is a cartilaginous lining under the patella which, due to injuries, unsuitable footwear or excessive loads, can thin out, tear. Depending on the type of injury, the treatment can be therapeutic and surgical.
Diseases that cause pain in the knee when flexing
Arthritis
The occurrence of pain in the knees during flexion can affect several forms of the disease. The most common is osteoarthritis. Also, pain in the knee can be caused by rheumatoid arthritis, gout. With pains caused by arthritis, joints can whine on the weather, swell, there is a rise in temperature in the knee area. Pain in flexion can be felt both inside the joint, and in the area above and below the knee.
Bursitis
The disease appears due to inflammation of the mucous synovial bag of the knee joint. Pain manifests itself in moments of stress on the joint: when climbing the stairs, bending the legs in the knee.
Baker's cyst
It is a dense painful formation under the knee, which serves as a source of pain when moving and bending the leg. The appearance of Baker's cyst can be caused by damage to the cartilage, hernia of the knee joint, rupture of the meniscus or synovial capsule of the knee joint. Regardless of the cause, with this disease, when bending the leg, there is a sharp pain behind the knee.
Infectious lesions of the joint and bone tissue
They lead to a restriction of the mobility of the joint and cause pain inside the knee, which increases with flexion.
Other diseases
Irradiating pains from other areas of the body (thighs, back), caused by pinching of the nerve or other pathologies - is also one of the frequent causes of unpleasant sensations.
How to treat pain when bending the knee?
Since the causes of the pain can be very different, the methods of treatment are also very different. Precisely establish the diagnosis and prescribe a course of treatment can only the appropriate doctor. You may need to visit a traumatologist, orthopedist, rheumatologist, neurologist.
But in any case, with the appearance of pain in the knee:
- Load on the foot should be limited.
- Refuse to engage in sports and long walking tours.
- Wear only comfortable orthopedic shoes without heels.
In case of injuries, it is often recommended to apply a fixative bandage on the knee.
With severe pain, anesthetizing and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed. Most often, joint pains use ointments containing diclofenac sodium, such as Voltaren Emulgel, Orthofen, and others.
In most cases, conservative treatment is performed, but with some injuries and neglected diseases, one has to resort to surgery in order to relieve the patient of pain and restore knee mobility.