In most cases, a swollen knee joint indicates that excess fluid has accumulated in its soft tissues. Such a symptom indicates the development of a degenerative-dystrophic pathology or inflammatory process. If swelling of the joint occurs together with acute pain during extension or flexion, as well as while walking, you should immediately contact a specialist.
The most common causes
If the knee hurts and swells without bruising, then why do such symptoms occur? Doctors will help to identify the factor that provoked such a pathology. In some cases, specialists complain about the allergic component. As practice shows, often the knee hurts and swells (without injury) after taking any medications, as well as consuming new products. Unpleasant sensations in such cases arise due to compression of the nerve endings by the accumulated fluid. To get rid of pain and swelling, doctors recommend that you adhere to the usual way of eating or take less toxic drugs (or adjust their dosage regimen).
If the knee hurts and swells without bruising in previously untrained people, then increased physical activity may be the cause. Typically, this condition occurs if a person has not been involved in sports for a long time, and suddenly he sharply decided to go for a run, pump up, etc. In such situations, pain and swelling can be eliminated with a long rest, as well as using a cold compress .
If the knee hurts and swells without injury for several weeks, then you should consult a doctor, as this indicates a sluggish inflammatory process, provoked by infection of the joint, impaired immune system or destruction of hyaline cartilage.
Other causes
Why did my knee swell without a bruise? The causes of this condition can be several diseases, the symptoms of which are joint pain and severe swelling. Let's consider their features further.
Osteoarthrosis and its main symptoms
This is a degenerative-dystrophic pathology, dangerous for its recurrent course. As the disease progresses, the cartilaginous tissues that line the bone heads and ensure their smoothness and glide are destroyed. In order to stabilize the joint, bone plates begin to grow pathologically, as a result of which osteophytes form. They compress the ligaments, tendons and other soft tissues, thereby triggering the inflammatory process. To alleviate the condition of the patient, it is imperative to undergo a full examination and conduct treatment.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee are:
- morning swelling;
- pain, which increases with weight lifting;
- stiffness of movements;
- crunch and clicks in the knees, observed when walking.
Osteoarthrosis Treatment
Conservative therapy of such a disease involves the use of NSAIDs, chondroprotective drugs and glucocorticosteroids, as well as proper nutrition, physiotherapy, therapeutic exercises and massage.
Non-steroid drugs such as acetylsalicylic acid, Diclofenac, Indomethacin, Acyclofenac, Movalis, Ketorol, Nabumeton and Ketoprofen will help eliminate pain and reduce soft tissue inflammation.
To hormonal drugs (glucocorticosteroids) include: "Diprospan", "Kenalog", "Hydrocortisone" and "Celeston". And the most effective chondroprotectors are: Structum, Don, Chondroitin, Arthra and Chondrolon.
With osteoarthritis, it is advisable to combine the oral administration of drugs and the use of funds for external application. The latter include: "Menovazin", "Voltaren Emulgel", "Fastum gel", "Dolgit cream" and "Revmagel".
Also, with the disease in question, diet is of great importance. Experts recommend replacing red meat with fish or chicken. It is necessary to consume more dairy products, fruits and vegetables, but sausages and pastries should be excluded.
For osteoarthritis, the following FT procedures are recommended: electrophoresis with Dimexidum solution, EHF-therapy, laser therapy and magnetotherapy.
What is arthritis?
Such a disease can be gouty, rheumatoid and psoriatic. Juvenile arthritis, which affects the joints of adolescents and children, is also very rare.
The pathology under consideration is systemic in nature, that is, not only the knees, but also other joints can hurt and swell. Such a disease progresses very quickly, and also spreads to healthy bone and cartilage tissues. In remission, the patient suffers from constant swelling of the joints, restricting movement. With relapses, piercing acute pains develop.
Synovitis
What to do if the knee hurts and swells without injury? How to treat this condition? In this case, it is better to consult a doctor, since self-treatment can worsen the patient's condition. For example, a disease such as synovitis (inflammation of the synovial membrane of the knee) requires the mandatory use of glucocorticosteroids or the course of antibiotics. Such a pathology is characterized by the accumulation of pathological exudate, which provokes joint edema, pain during walking and at rest.
Symptoms and treatment of bursitis of the knee joint
For such a disease, as well as for synovitis, the inflammatory process that occurs in the synovial membrane is characteristic. However, with bursitis, the pathological focus is localized and does not extend beyond the joint bag.
Who should I contact with a similar pathology? What are the symptoms of this disease? The following are involved in the treatment of bursitis of the knee: traumatologists, surgeons, orthopedists, arthrology and rheumatologists. As for the signs, then they include:
- minor swelling of the knee;
- pain when walking;
- redness of the skin;
- stiffness of movements.
It is impossible not to say that such a disease has a special specific symptom. When feeling the knee, specialists can detect a seal. When pressed, the movement of the "ball" with the liquid is felt.
It should also be noted that knee bursitis is often accompanied by symptoms of general intoxication. The development of such a disease may be preceded by:
- joint extension due to its overload;
- injuries and injuries of the knee joint;
- a sharp increase in physical activity;
- infectious lesions;
- joint inflammation.
No matter where the pain is localized, the main factors in the fight against it are joint immobility and complete rest.
If the diagnosed bursitis is the reason that the patient has a swollen knee without injury, folk remedies are not recommended. To treat such a disease should be comprehensively with:
- medicines;
- Massage
- physiotherapy.
What are tendonitis and ligamentitis? Symptoms of disease
Such terms are used to refer to inflammatory pathologies that affect the connective tissue structures of the knee joint. With tendonitis, tendons are affected, and with ligamentitis - ligaments.
The causes of such pathologies are metabolic disorders, tissue infection, osteoarthritis and relapse of arthritis. Their knee looks swollen, and the skin around the joint turns red due to rushing blood. Pain sensations intensify when trying to palpate the joint, as well as at rest and during movement.
The neurological disorders such as fatigue, apathy, and weakness often join the physical symptoms of the disease. Also a characteristic feature of tendonitis and ligamentitis is the inability to unbend and bend the affected joint.
How to treat at home
Swollen knee without injury and hurts without stopping? To establish the exact cause of this pathological condition, you should make an appointment with a doctor. At the same time, before consultation, specialists do not recommend patients to take any analgesics, diuretics and NSAIDs, as well as use anti-inflammatory gels and ointments. Otherwise, this will greatly distort the clinical picture and complicate the diagnostic process.
To improve your well-being with acute pain or in the absence of the possibility of going to the doctor, you must adhere to the following rules:
- take a comfortable position;
- avoid dynamic and static loads;
- raise a diseased limb by placing it on a pillow;
- for unbearable pain, take the Nise, Ketorol, or Ibuprofen medicine.
How to remove the swelling yourself?
To get rid of edema at home, you can use cold compresses. To do this, fill the plastic bag with crushed ice, wrap it with dense tissue and apply it to the sore joint for 8-10 minutes. The procedure is repeated every hour until the edema is completely absorbed. Some experts recommend using a bandage for the knee, which should be wrapped around the joint several times. However, it must be remembered that the damaged joint should not be excessively squeezed, as this will increase the severity of edema due to constriction of the vessels.
Prohibited Actions
What can not be done if the knee hurts and swells without injury? Which doctor should I contact for recommendations? In such cases, it is advisable to visit an orthopedist.
Until the exact causes of pain and swelling are established, specialists categorically forbid any warming procedures. You can not use pepper patch, heating pads, transdermal products, mustard plasters, etc. In addition, warming medicines with bee venom, red pepper extract, turpentine, snake venom, and mustard oil are absolutely contraindicated. It must be remembered that all types of edema are formed against the background of tissue inflammation, and under the influence of heat, the swelling can increase, spreading to healthy joints.
Also, before contacting a specialist, it is forbidden:
- try to remove the pain syndrome through exercise;
- massage the knee;
- walk a lot and lift weights.
In addition, you can not use popular folk remedies for joint pain. These include: alcohol tincture from chestnut flowers, black radish juice with honey, etc. It should be borne in mind that under the influence of ethyl alcohol and mustard oil in a diseased joint, the temperature may rise, causing increased swelling and severity of pain.