Why does the knee hurt during flexion: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, prescribed treatment, recovery period and medical advice

In the article, we will understand why the knee hurts when bending.

Painful sensations in the knee joint that occur when the knee is bent or extended can indicate localized inflammatory processes in it that require therapy. Significant work is assigned to the knee joints during movement, so they are constantly exposed to a variety of intense loads.

So why do knees hurt when bent?

Causes of the development of the inflammatory process in the knee joint

The inflammatory process in the joint may be the result of improper treatment of traumatic lesions. Painful sensations that occur during knee extension can occur for a variety of reasons:

1. A cut.
2. Allergy.
3. Bite.
4. Various origins of injury.
5. Infectious lesions.
6. Hypothermia.

If an open wound exists in the area of ​​the knee, then infectious pathogens can enter through the knee joint, resulting in inflammation. In this regard, even a scratch should be immediately treated with special antiseptics, otherwise pain may occur during bending.

Many people wonder why the knee hurts when bending. What are the symptoms?

Symptoms

The main symptoms of malaise include:

1. Painful sensation in the knee that occurs when it is bent.
2. The appearance of puffiness.
3. Hyperthermic state.

Extension pain in the knee can cause weakness and limited movement. Some older people experience increased pain due to changing weather conditions.

Causes of swelling

Swelling of the knee can develop for a number of reasons. If the pain in the knee is accompanied by swelling, this can serve as a sign of not only damage from the outside, but also that there are certain diseases in the body. Only a specialist is able to correctly determine the cause and choose the right treatment.

Also, the knee can swell due to an allergic reaction that develops after an insect bite. They are capable of transmitting an infection that causes erysipelas.

Many people wonder why the knee hurts when bending. Psychologically, people may experience severe discomfort, as their normal life is difficult. Each movement is accompanied by pain.

If the cause of the edema is difficult to determine, a puncture may be required. This procedure is rather difficult and unpleasant, however, it will allow you to accurately determine the cause of the ailment.

We continue to understand why the knee hurts when bending.

Soreness due to knee disease

Painful sensations in the knee joint can develop against the background of lesions of the joint with various diseases, including:

1. Osteoarthritis.
2. Arthritis of a post-traumatic nature.
3. Rheumatoid arthritis.
4. Arthrosis is under development.
5. Chondromalacia, pathological disorders in the development of patellar cartilage.
6. Excessive exercise or damage.

In adolescents under 15 years of age, during their active growth, more often in boys, after physical education lessons, knee pain appears. This may indicate the presence of Osgood-Schlatter disease.

Why do knees hurt when bent in women?

Arthrosis

The beginning of the development of arthrosis can be indicated by inconvenience during movement, pain in the knee joint. Symptoms of arthrosis manifest themselves while walking. It is worth noting that they disappear after performing physical exercises. Later, stiffness during movement appears, knee bending is accompanied by severe pain, the loss of walking ability is not excluded.

Bursitis

And why do knees hurt during flexion in men? One of the possible causes of pain can be bursitis. Bursitis is an inflammatory process that affects the synovial bag. This disease is often accompanied by a decrease in joint mobility, swelling of the inflamed area.

Most often, bursitis develops in people who are overweight or incorrectly selected shoes.

Why does it hurt under the knee at the back when bending?

Baker's cysts are accompanied by signs such as swelling in the middle of the popliteal fossa and pain in the knee. With Baker's cysts, the amount of synovial fluid secreted increases, the excess of which begins to pour out beyond the joint, leading to bulging in the back. When the leg is bent, bulging disappears, when it is bent, it appears. After pressing the bulge, the protruding tubercle decreases, since the liquid spreads under the skin, and then gathers again.

With chondromalacia and pathological abnormalities in the development of the patella cartilage, sharp pain manifests itself at a time when a person descends the stairs. If a person stays in one position for a long time, the pain becomes aching, and the movements are accompanied by a characteristic crunch of the knee.

Why does the knee hurt when flexing with rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis can provoke the development of other painful symptoms, among which:

1. Fever.
2. Hyperthermia of an inflamed place.
3. Swelling and swelling of the joint.
4. Difficulty knee extension.
5. Pain during flexion of the lumbar (with bending).

This disease has a destructive effect on the knee joint. Rheumatoid arthritis can affect both adult patients and pediatric patients. Both knee joints or one of them can be affected immediately.

Why does the leg in the knee hurt when bending?

Post-traumatic arthritis

By post-traumatic arthritis is understood the defeat of the knee joint that occurs as a result of trauma. This disease proceeds without obvious symptoms, but after a long time the disease manifests itself as soreness in the knee.

Soreness can also occur with osteoarthritis. The disease destructively affects the cartilage, as a result of which the cartilage of the knee joint becomes thinner.

We found out why knees hurt when bent. How to deal with such pain?

Fighting Knee Pain

If a painful sensation occurs when the knee is bent, therapy should not be postponed. Regardless of the cause of the pain, it is important to consult a doctor on time. If pain occurs during movement in the knee, first of all:

1. Reduce physical activity on the knee joints.
2. If the disease takes the form of an exacerbation, it is recommended to prefer bed rest, after which the joint should be developed gradually.
3. If there is no possibility to immobilize the knee, it is recommended to use crutches or canes when walking.
4. If there is a problem with the knee, the patient should use comfortable and soft shoes. The best option is to use orthopedic insoles.

With the appearance of pain in the knee joint, therapy is directed to reducing painful symptoms and increasing motor functionality of the lower extremities.

When the knee hurts after flexion, therapy should be comprehensive.

Therapeutic methods to combat knee pain

Methods of therapy, not invasive or invasive, suitable for a particular patient, can only be determined by a doctor after conducting certain laboratory tests and direct examination of the patient.

A non-invasive treatment technique involves minimally traumatic and maximally gentle treatment. Non-invasive techniques include measures that exclude surgical interventions:

1. They suggest the use of medications that can eliminate the inflammatory process, reduce pain. Experts recommend their use for bursitis and gonarthrosis.
2. Eliminate pain in the knee joints allow non-steroidal drugs that stop the inflammatory process.
   

It will be preferable to use selective medications that will not have a destructive effect on the gastric mucosa. After eliminating the painful symptoms, it is allowed to use other types of therapy, for example:

1. Physiotherapy.
2. Swimming.
3. Physiotherapy.
4. Massage.

If the pain in the knee when it is bent is unbearably severe, a specialist can recommend injectable forms of non-steroid medications. Injections in this case should be made directly to the knee. They will eliminate inflammation as quickly as possible.

If the knee is severely sore during flexion and extension, then the use of chondroprotective agents, which can protect and nourish articular cartilage, is not excluded. The result of their application will not be long in coming. Moreover, against the background of their use, unwanted effects rarely develop. Chondroprotective therapy should be continuous. It is important to remember that a single use of such drugs will not work.

In addition, a special dressing should be applied to the knee, which will fix the damaged joint and help eliminate inflammation. The main goal of immobilizing the joint is to limit movement, which will stop the inflammation.

Another therapeutic method for treating joint pain is massage. As a result of knee massage, muscle tone increases, blood flow to the affected areas improves. It is important to remember that local massage can be carried out only if the doctor ruled out the presence of infection and the pain was stopped.

Observing a special diet is also important. It is recommended for the patient to refuse fried and salty, to reduce alcohol consumption to the maximum. Excessive body mass negatively affects the amortization capabilities of the knee joint.

If there is a need to alleviate pain, eliminate the external manifestations of the inflammatory process and at the same time act on the lesions, local therapy is allowed, that is, the use of applications, compresses, special ointments and gels. This type of therapy is characterized by an almost complete absence of negative reactions of the body. Moreover, it should be noted that the effectiveness of compresses is much higher than ointments.

As an emergency, injections of glucocorticoid drugs can be used. Their introduction is carried out in the joint. The hormones in their composition can eliminate inflammation, reduce the pain that occurs with synovitis. If the first injection does not give the expected result, you should immediately replace the drug.

Experts believe that the introduction of medications based on hyaluronate into the joint cavity will be most useful. These drugs are able to form a protective film on the surface of the joint, which prevents possible destruction, improves gliding between the joint surfaces.

Invasive therapy is prescribed to the patient if drug treatment does not give the necessary results. Surgeon manipulations are completely dependent on the nature of the joint damage. Arthroscopic surgery is indicated if it is necessary to resume or improve blood flow, as well as to remove cartilage pieces and growths that occur with osteoarthritis. In addition, arthroscopy can be used to inject drugs into the joint and clarify the diagnosis and the reason why it hurts under the knee when bending.

In the presence of severe injuries, gonarthrosis and diseases that do not allow to save the joint, prosthetics can be prescribed. To avoid endoprosthetics, it is necessary to begin treatment at the earliest stages.

Why a knee hurts when bending, a doctor should identify.

Treatment using alternative methods

If pain in the knee appears, proceed as follows:

1. It is important to completely immobilize the limb.
2. Apply ice to the damaged area. Cooling the joint will prevent bruising and reduce pain.
3. Seek medical attention.

Not really understanding why it hurts under the knee when bending, quite often many patients prefer to use alternative methods of treating knee pain. The most popular folk remedies are:

1. Potato compress. Grate potatoes and mix it with a teaspoon of kerosene. The resulting mixture is applied to the damaged joint for 20 minutes before bedtime. A combination of potatoes with horseradish is allowed. To prepare the mixture, you need to take equal parts of the ingredients, grind them and attach to the knee. After applying the compress, the knee should be wrapped for 40 minutes.
2. Turpentine composition. Unpleasant signs of joint damage will help eliminate the mixture of egg yolk and turpentine. To prepare it, you will need a yolk of one egg and a small amount of turpentine, which are mixed and added to 20 grams of apple vinegar. It is advisable to apply such a compress before bedtime.
3. Elecampane. You can use compresses based on elecampane. It is necessary to pre-pour elecampane in the amount of 100 grams with medical alcohol. The mixture should be infused for three days. Before applying the compress, lubricate the knee with vegetable oil.
4. Horse chestnut. Often there are positive reviews about the use of horse chestnut tinctures. To prepare it, you need 300 grams of horse chestnut fruit and medical alcohol. Pour the chestnut with alcohol and insist for at least two weeks. It is important to constantly shake the tincture. No straining required. The resulting tincture must rub the affected joint.
5. Herbal decoctions. Decoctions of herbs will be useful if applied in parallel with the main treatment. The greatest effectiveness is based on chamomile and elderberry flowers. To prepare the broth, it is necessary to take equal parts of the ingredients, pour them with boiling water and insist for 15 minutes. After this, the herbs must be put in a gauze bag, which is then applied to the affected joint.

In order to prevent joint diseases, experts recommend that you do not wash your legs and hands in cold water, wear warm shoes in cold and damp weather, and if you see the first signs of the disease, consult a doctor immediately.