A swelling under the knee is an occasion to immediately seek help from your doctor. This is due to the fact that the knee joints perform the function of support while walking, running or jumping. It is thanks to the lower extremities that a person has the opportunity to walk, so any violations in the condition of the knee joints require timely treatment.
How to recognize a knee tumor yourself?
There are many reasons for the formation of a tumor under the knee, but regardless of them, a person can immediately detect a pathology, since an increase in the knee joint is observed, which interferes with walking. In order to confirm violations, you can compare both legs.
If a swelling has formed under the knee, then you must immediately consult a specialist who, after identifying the causes of this condition, will select a high-quality treatment regimen.
Causes of swelling
The most common cause of swelling under the knee is considered to be the regular exercise that affects the lower limbs. That is why doctors are forbidden to squat a lot.
But there are other causes of swelling under the knee:
- congenital ligament defect and knee injury;
- inflammatory processes in the body;
- Baker's cyst;
- Goff's disease;
- osteoporosis causing bone fractures.
In all these cases, swelling is accompanied by pain and an increase in the size of the knee joint.
Symptoms of the disease
Regardless of the cause that caused the swelling under the knee, the pathology is accompanied by sharp painful sensations. Pain can occur during the usual actions: when performing exercises, during sleep or rest. It can be either weak or strong, it all depends on the cause of the pathology and the stage of its development.
Due to Baker's cyst, problems with knee flexion are observed, as the tumor grows, an increase in painful sensations is observed. If you turn to the doctor at the initial stages of the formation of pathology, then it will be enough to take analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs. If you drag out with treatment, then you can not do without surgical intervention.
The symptoms of Goff's disease are the same as those of Baker's cyst, however, there is one significant difference. The pain does not increase, but remains in its original state, painful sensations can be pulling in nature, and in some situations, in general, disappear. In this embodiment, the tumor resembles a large lump, so confusing the disease is quite difficult. The swelling is rather dense to the touch.
When is it best to consult your doctor?
If the first symptoms of a tumor occur, you should immediately go to the clinic to determine the possible causes. There are a number of situations where delaying going to the doctor can provoke the development of serious complications:
- pain does not go away for five days;
- with the occurrence of temperature and an increase in pain in the lower extremities;
- when discomfort occurs while walking;
- in the case of a rapid increase in the tumor;
- severe pulling pain develops, which gradually intensifies.
If there is a swelling under the knee, you should consult a doctor to diagnose the cause. Do not delay if, in addition to the indicated symptoms, there is also an increase in temperature.
Stages of diagnosis of the disease
Before the doctor selects the appropriate treatment for the patient, the latter must go through several stages of diagnosing the cause of the pathology:
- Visual examination of the patient by a specialist. The doctor will familiarize himself with the general condition of the patient and prescribe the necessary diagnostic procedures. At this point, the specialist may prescribe pain medication.
- It turns out the type of professional activity. A person’s work can cause a pathology, since during physical exertion the lower limbs are often injured.
- The swelling under the knee from the inside can manifest itself in different ways, therefore, the specialist must initially identify the strength of the patient's painful sensations.
- The quality of knee flexion and extension is analyzed. Thus, the doctor can identify the level of pain.
- The necessary tests and procedures for the diagnosis are made.
Study study
After a visual examination, the doctor can only assume the presence of a particular diagnosis, but an accurate statement of the cause of the pathology is impossible. That is why, if the knee is swollen and sore, it is necessary to undergo a series of studies to detect the causes of the disease.
The number of diagnostic procedures that are mandatory in the presence of a tumor in the knee include the following:
- X-ray
- Magnetic resonance imaging;
- Ultrasound
- puncture of the cyst with the delivery of possible tests and their study.
After passing the procedures, you will need to wait for the decoding of the results and go to the attending physician with them. After reviewing the results of the study, the doctor can make a diagnosis. After identifying the cause that provoked the development of pathology, the doctor can choose the appropriate treatment regimen.
Swelling treatment
Treatment of pathology will vary depending on the cause that provoked its development. But there are a number of factors that are included in the treatment regimen for swelling under the knee, regardless of the cause:
- it is necessary to limit movements to the maximum, most preferably, provide the patient with bed rest;
- if the swelling under the knee is accompanied by a slight swelling, then the treatment can consist only of the use of special ointments;
- after identifying the cause of tumor formation, special medications are prescribed to reduce pain and swelling;
- when the condition worsens, a knee puncture is performed with the removal of the formed liquid:
- if for a long time delayed with therapy, then doctors prescribe surgery.
After getting rid of the swelling as a prevention of relapse, massage of the knee joint is prescribed.
To restore damaged tissue, improve blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, accelerate healing and relieve swelling, physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed, including UHF and magnetotherapy.
Back knee damage
If a tumor is found behind the knee, then the lack of timely treatment provokes a deterioration in blood circulation in the joints and impaired functioning of the musculoskeletal system.
There may be several causes of swelling under the knee behind, but the most common of them are the following:
- trauma to bones and cartilage;
- bone fractures;
- infringement of nerve joints in the lumbar region;
- circulatory problems.
Front knee damage
A swelling under the knee in front can be detected visually. Just look at the other leg and compare their condition. A swelling forms in the form of a lump.
To obtain more detailed information about the tumor, it is required to undergo diagnostic procedures consisting of ultrasound, MRI, and biopsy. Only after obtaining the results of the study, it is possible to identify the cause that provoked the development of such a condition.
When a swelling appears under the knee behind, the person feels a certain discomfort while walking. When a tumor is formed in front, painful sensations may not develop, and swelling does not bring a person any discomfort.
However, even if the tumor does not manifest itself in any way, after its detection, you should immediately consult a doctor, since a gradual increase in the size of the tumor can cause surgery.
Prevention
It is much easier to prevent the occurrence of swelling in the knee than to cure it, which is why you should not forget about preventive measures. In addition, after the treatment of pathology, it is necessary to carefully monitor your own health in order to prevent the development of relapse.
If there is a swelling and pain under the knee behind, then as a therapy, medicines are prescribed in the form of tablets and pain-soothing ointments. You can avoid taking these medications if, as a preventative measure, do foot massage daily. To maintain the health of the knee joint, it is necessary to engage in special physical education, which is also prescribed by the attending physician.
Exercise prescribed by a specialist should be appropriate for the patient. Usually it is recommended to use a bicycle, because it forces to bend and unbend the knee.
When performing physical exercises, it is recommended to use protective equipment in the form of knee pads, bandages, fixatives. If there is excess weight, an increased load on the knee joints is provided, therefore, it is recommended to take measures aimed at getting rid of unnecessary kilograms.
Be sure to balance the diet. The daily menu should contain a large number of vegetables and fruits, cereals, nuts and meat. You should try to abandon the use of fried and fatty foods.
How many live with knee damage?
Damage to the knee joint is not a fatal disease, since the pathology is easily treatable. However, with complication of the disease, an operation may be necessary that carries a number of risks.
After treatment, various complications may develop, therefore, a number of rules are required. At first, it is necessary to limit physical activity so as not to renew damage to the knee joint.
With the reappearance of swelling, difficulties may arise during walking and if treatment is not started in a timely manner, then even disability is possible. To get rid of the pathology, it is necessary to follow all the advice of specialists, since when deciding to do the treatment yourself, you can only cause serious complications.
Medication
With the formation of swelling under the knee, the following drugs are often prescribed:
- Benemid
- Antoran
- Amplivix;
- "Flexen".
Even a small tumor under the knee requires the intervention of a doctor, so you should not delay with trips to the clinic.