Most often, patients complain of pain in the knee, but not uncommon and complaints of pain under the knee from behind. Such pains cause considerable discomfort and can seriously limit mobility.
Causes of pain under the knee in the back
Determining the cause of popliteal pains is difficult, because they can be caused by damage to ligaments, tendons, nerve endings, lymph nodes, or cartilage of the knee.
Consider the most common causes that can cause pain under the knee from behind.
Baker's cyst
Such a diagnosis can be made if the patient has severe pain under the knee from behind, accompanied by swelling and palpable palpation of the tumor-like seal under the knee. The joint of the person from the inside is covered with a special synovial membrane, which produces a synovial fluid - a natural lubricant of the joint. In the case of a protracted inflammatory process, fluid production increases, it accumulates in the inter-sucking bag, resulting in a seal called Becker's cyst. At first the patient feels only slight discomfort, which, with the development of the disease, turns into a constant aching pain under the knee from behind.
Menstruation cyst
Unlike Baker's cyst, the meniscus cyst can not be detected by palpation, but requires special examinations. Pain syndrome is particularly pronounced when walking or bending the leg.
Rupture of the Meniscus
It is usually diagnosed when the occurrence of pain under the knee at the back has been associated with sudden movement or trauma, but in some cases may be the result of arthrosis. It often requires surgical treatment.
Diseases of the tendons
Drawing pains under the knee from behind are often the result of inflammatory bursitis and tendinitis. The onset of symptoms is usually preceded by prolonged physical activity.
Injury of ligaments
A fairly frequent phenomenon in sports. The most common is stretching, but more serious injuries are possible. Sprains, usually accompanied by acute pain under the knee from behind with any movement, as well as when pressing on the damaged area.
Popliteal abscess
It occurs as a result of infection through the wound, inflammation and an increase in the size of popliteal lymph nodes.
Inflammation of the tibial nerve
A large nerve that passes through the bottom of the popliteal fossa and can become inflamed for a variety of reasons. In this case, sharp and intense pains under the knee from behind occur when walking, bending the leg, any other load, spreading along the leg up to the foot.
An anerism of the popliteal artery
Quite rare disease, in which there is a constant pulling and throbbing pain. Under the knee, a small pulsating seal can be probed.
Diseases of the spine
Pain caused by pinching or inflammation of the nerves of the lumbosacral spine and giving to the legs.
Treatment of pain under the knee from behind
Since the causes of the pain can be different, then the treatment is largely different:
- Regardless of the cause, it is recommended to reduce the motor load and provide the patient with a gentle sparing regimen.
- In most cases, especially with inflammation and trauma, special orthopedic pads or fixative bandages are used.
- When stretching, external anti-inflammatory ointments and creams are used.
- In the case of Becker's cyst, as well as inflammatory diseases, injections of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and glucocorticosteroids are usually used.
- If necessary, surgical intervention is performed. So, surgery is often necessary for injuries and tears of meniscus. Surgical opening of the popliteal abscess and treatment of nerve inflammation. The surgical intervention with an aneurysm is also mandatory.
