Many people suffer from knee pain when climbing stairs. The causes of this pathology can be different. More details about them will be discussed later. Pain sensations are more often manifested in elderly people. This is due to changes in bones and cartilage. Sometimes unpleasant symptoms occur when walking on a flat surface. This is due to the fact that the thigh muscles are used to operate the knee joint. They strain, and this leads to painful spasms.
The knee joints are under constant stress. They function most of the day. Therefore, do not be surprised that over time disruptions in the body occur. Closely monitor their health should all, without exception. At risk are people with chronic diseases and obesity, as well as those who daily expose themselves to intense physical exertion.
Arthrosis
A common reason why a knee hurts when climbing stairs is arthrosis. This disease is quite insidious, as it may not manifest for a long time. Diagnosing it at an early stage is difficult. As a rule, a person goes to the doctor when pain has already appeared. With arthrosis, there is a violation of the integrity of the cartilage in the joint. In the advanced stage, they can completely collapse. Naturally, such deformation leads to malfunctioning, resulting in pain and restriction in the movement of the knee joint.
In the elderly, idiopathic arthrosis is most often diagnosed. With him, not only pain appears, but also clicks in the knee when walking up the stairs. In reviews, patients describe this sensation as a characteristic crunch. It can occur both during bending and during extension. This pathology spreads immediately to two limbs.
Some types of arthrosis occur against the background of other diseases. Also, a provoking factor can be injuries. Cartilage disorders for these reasons occur in people of different ages.
Features of the development of arthrosis
The first manifestation of arthrosis is pain. Its intensity is weak, therefore, does not affect the quality of life. But over time, it intensifies. With exacerbation, a person can not bend a limb. Without treatment, pain cramps do not stop even at rest. The fact is that with arthrosis, not only cartilage tissues are destroyed, but also other components of the joint. An inflammatory process develops.
There are two types of disease:
- Primary. In this form, mechanical tissue damage occurs.
- Secondary arises due to inflammatory processes of other organs.
Mechanical damage
Pain in the knees when climbing stairs often worries athletes. The fact is that active training is inevitably accompanied by heavy loads. Pain can also occur during running, jumping, squats, and other exercises that involve knee joints.
You can go in for sports only under the supervision of a qualified trainer. His responsibilities include selecting the optimal set of exercises. They should not be of the same type, since their implementation has a strong load on the knees. In the opposite case, there is a high probability of injury, the development of inflammation of muscle tissue, or even rupture of the meniscus.
Sometimes a pain symptom occurs after a fracture of a limb. Also, a bruise can provoke discomfort. But, as a rule, the pain goes away on its own for some time.
If the cause is a trauma, then others will be added to the main symptom. We are talking about swelling, bruising and redness of the skin. If these signs are absent, then most likely a person develops a disease that affects the joints. In order to accurately understand the reasons, it is recommended to pay attention to the following:
- Is the occurrence of pain associated with the load.
- Is there a swelling on the knees.
- Do joints hurt at rest?
Bursitis
Another reason when knee pain can occur when climbing stairs is inflammation in the synovial bag. This disease is called bursitis. The inflammatory process is accompanied by a accumulation of exudate in the bag. This is what causes pain. However, this does not limit the functionality of the limb, for example, as with arthritis.
Meniscus tear
From injuries that cause knee pain when climbing stairs, no one is safe. Both a child and an elderly person can get them. Most often, they are injured accidentally, for example, when hitting a hard surface. Also, meniscus rupture can be in athletes. Leads and squats lead to him, performed quite actively and in large numbers.
You can diagnose such an injury yourself. If you bend the leg at the knee, then a characteristic sound will appear in the joint. After the crunch, acute pain will immediately appear. It is these symptoms that meniscus rupture is characterized.
Other reasons
Pain in the knees when climbing stairs can be caused by various factors. The reasons described above are not the only ones. This pathology can be observed in overweight people. They, regardless of age, are at risk. The fact is that because of the large weight, the knee joints are constantly in tension. Moreover, it is not necessary to perform any physical activity. In order for the pain to appear, just go a few steps.
Often, older people suffer from discomfort. This is due to age-related changes. They are, of course, irreversible. In this case, it is recommended to simply maintain normal health and be examined regularly in order to avoid the occurrence of serious diseases.
Those who have impaired blood circulation can also suffer from knee pain. Also, inflammatory processes in the joints and tendons are accompanied by spasms during exacerbations. There are a number of diseases in which this symptomatology may occur. These include spinal pathologies, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, oncological ailments and lupus erythematosus. It is worth noting that this is not the whole list. Only a qualified specialist can determine the exact cause of the pain. To make a diagnosis, an examination is mandatory.
Important points
Does it hurt or click in the knee while walking? What to treat, only a doctor can tell. It is not recommended to delay a visit to a specialist. However, the patient should be prepared for the examination. What does this mean? The doctor will certainly be interested in the nature of painful spasms. They can be blunt, sharp, aching, cutting, and so on. Also, to make a diagnosis (even preliminary), he will need to tell when the pain occurs, what provokes it, whether it subsides at rest. Importantly, the patient should describe as accurately as possible all the sensations that he experiences.
In addition to these points, it is worth paying attention to how long the spasm lasts. It can be short or long.
Diagnostics
In order for the doctor to diagnose, it is necessary to undergo an examination. The first is a blood test. According to its results, the presence of an inflammatory process in the body is determined. Also, the doctor should be aware of chronic diseases, if any.
After examining and finding out all the information, the doctor gives an x-ray. Such a study allows you to determine the pathology. If even after this it is impossible to make an accurate diagnosis, then it will be necessary to do an ultrasound.
The treatment technique for the patient is developed individually. For treatment, it is necessary not only to determine the disease, but also to take into account age, lifestyle.
Knee pain when climbing stairs: treatment
In most cases, treatment consists of taking medication. The course consists of anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs. Often patients need rehabilitation therapy.
In conjunction with drug treatment, it is also necessary to adhere to proper nutrition. This is true not only for those who are overweight. The body should receive vitamins and nutrients (minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, etc.) in sufficient quantities. For those who are diagnosed with obesity, a diet is mandatory. Until the weight drops, the knee pains will not go away.
In addition to these recommendations, the patient should avoid heavy loads. The fact is that because of them, the condition can worsen, an exacerbation begins or inflammation develops. Naturally, this will lead to complications.
Treatment with folk remedies
Does it click in the knee when walking up the stairs or does pain appear? Then you can try folk remedies to alleviate the condition. Many people recommend using onions for this pathology. The reviews say that it really helps. To remove unpleasant sensations, you need to take the bulb. Without peeling off the husks, finely chop it, lightly fry in a pan. After transferring to a saucepan or pan, pour 0.5 l of boiling water and simmer for 15 minutes over low heat. The resulting broth is filtered. Take twice a day. This should help if the knee hurts when climbing stairs.
Treatment with folk remedies should not replace drug therapy. Many people refuse to take medicine and make a mistake. Onions will not be able to cure pathology, but it helps strengthen bones, as well as immunity.
If the cause of painful spasms in the knee is the deposition of salts, it is recommended to eat black radish. Also in the comments it is advised to use grated pulp in the form of a compress. This should be done every day, applying to a sore spot for five minutes.
Honey is a universal remedy. It is not only eaten, but also used as a compress. It is recommended to grease a sick layer with a thick layer. Cover with a napkin or paper towel in several layers. Next, put the mustard plaster soaked in hot water. The knee is wrapped with a film or cellophane. Be sure to insulate. A down scarf or any wool scarf is perfect for this. The compress is applied all night.
Herbal preparations for home treatment are also great. Pain in the knees when climbing the stairs will pass, if you use tincture of dandelion, lilac flowers and chestnut leaves. It is preparing simply. Collecting herbs is poured into a jar, filled with vodka and put in a dark place. It is necessary to insist within 14 days. Compress is done at night. The place must be wrapped up. Relief occurs after two procedures.
Features of herbal treatment
It is allowed to supplement the basic drug therapy with herbs if the knee hurts when climbing stairs. Treatment must be agreed with your doctor. The fact is that some herbs can cause severe allergies. It is also important to ask a specialist for the duration of the course. Even alternative drugs can not be taken uncontrollably. Since they have a cumulative property, there are certain periods after which a break is necessary. If any component is more than expected, then there is a greater likelihood of intoxication.
Doctors recommend that older people be careful with herbs. Most often, they have other pathologies that may worsen. It is also important to consider that with inflammatory processes it is impossible to heat a sore spot. This will only aggravate the condition of the patient.
When are clicks in the knee normal?
It clicks in the knee when climbing the stairs, but there is no pain - this does not mean that pathology is developing. This may occur due to physiological characteristics. Most often, such sensations appear in adolescents, less often in adults. In such cases, the clicks are not accompanied by pain or swelling. Let's look at the causes of this phenomenon:
- Excessive stress. Crunch and clicks occur on their own if the joints are given rest.
- Sedentary lifestyle. Without movement in the joints, stagnant processes begin. In order to get rid of clicks, you need to perform simple exercises.
- Congenital feature. Most often inherited.
- The formation of air bubbles in the synovial fluid. It occurs in adolescents.
Prevention
What should be done to avoid the appearance of pain in the knees? First of all, walk more, monitor your weight and nutrition. It is advisable to do gymnastic exercises several times a week. If possible, ride a bicycle, for example, to a country house or work. And if unpleasant sensations have already appeared, then do not delay the visit to the doctor. The sooner treatment is started, the more likely it is to cope with the pathology.