Many people experience inflammation of the tendon that connects the tibia and patella. This indicates tendinitis of the patellar ligament. The person is feeling stiff during flexion and extension of the leg. It will be difficult to play football, ride a bike and just walk. It will be possible to get rid of the disease through the timely identification and adoption of effective measures.
The concept
Tendenitis of the patellar ligament - what is it? This is a common ailment among athletes. It is more often observed in those sports where you need to run and jump, since they have an eccentric load on the ligament of the patella.
In the appearance of the disease, not only the sport, but also the age of the person matters. Chronic tendonitis appears due to various reasons, including from overload syndrome, multiple minor injuries, secondary sprains, age-related changes and poor circulation.
According to the international classification of diseases ICD-10, tendonitis of the patellar ligament of its own has a code M76.5. Designations are used in the medical field of the whole world. The ICD-10 patellar tendonitis tendonitis code is used to fill out the documentation.
Causes
Doctors consider injuries and age to be the main factor in the appearance of tendonitis of their own ligament of the patella. Ligaments become inflamed with regular microtrauma, which usually happens in athletes and people engaged in complex physical labor, which loads the knees. Due to sprains, bruises, dislocations, inflammation appears on the leg, which leads to tendonitis of the patellar ligament.
Deformation and destruction of the patellar ligament occurs over time. With age, the body becomes weak and unable to independently eliminate inflammation. The appearance of a tendon disease with weak immunity occurs in pregnant women.
Signs
It will be possible to identify the ailment with the help of pronounced symptoms. The tendonitis of the patellar ligament manifests itself in the form of pain in the knee area, which usually increases if the load on the legs increases. In order not to confuse the symptoms with the manifestation of other diseases, you need to know how the leg hurts when the anterior or posterior collateral ligament is damaged .
Discomfort is felt when bending and unbending the legs. Movement to straighten the lower leg will be painful in the evening at the 1st stage of the disease, this disappears after rest. When ligament degeneration develops, the pains become intensified and have a permanent character. It is difficult to perform knee flexion and extension during a chronic disease. With this ailment, the temperature does not increase. In the area of tendon inflammation, redness and slight swelling may occur.
Degrees
In the development of the disease, 4 stages are distinguished:
- Pain occurs only after heavy exertion.
- Dull pain in the form of seizures appears in the case of standard and light loads after training or physical work.
- Intense pain occurs during rest.
- The progression of the pathology is the cause of rupture of the patellar ligaments.
Diagnostics
The presence of tendonitis of the own patellar ligament is established after examining the knee, probing the medial and lateral ligaments. If the diagnosis is in doubt, hardware diagnostics are used - MRI and radiography.
It is advisable to take a blood test to detect inflammation. Self-diagnosis is often erroneous and can aggravate the disease, therefore, with the first symptoms, it is advisable to consult a doctor immediately.
Treatment methods
The stage of the disease affects the treatment. Symptoms of tendonitis of the patellar ligament can be eliminated by surgery, but it is performed in extreme cases. It is carried out only when the disease has become chronic, when there is a risk of disability. Conservative methods are used in the initial stages of the disease, they involve a combination of the use of medicines with physiotherapy and gymnastics.
Conservative method
The treatment of tendonitis of the patellar ligaments of their own in the traditional way is performed without the use of heavy medications. It is effective in the initial stages of the disease, when degenerative processes are still considered reversible.
It will be possible to get rid of cruciate ligament microtraumas with the help of rest and the use of special supports - tape tapes and elastic bandages. Deep heating and tissue repair is performed with ointments with comfrey, mineral mud. At the advanced stage, UHF and knee electrophoresis, magnetotherapy are prescribed by a specialist. When identifying an ailment at any stage, except for the chronic, it is necessary to adhere to the following rules:
- reduce the load on the knee, reduce the intensity of training;
- perform compresses with dry ice to relieve pain and swelling;
- use anti-inflammatory ointments, pills that restore immunity;
- perform exercises of physiotherapy exercises, do yoga, Pilates;
- wear supportive knee pads, bandages, use taping of ligaments.
Surgical intervention
Surgical intervention is performed as a conventional, open method, and an arthroscope. Therapy involves the removal of damaged tissue at the site of the patella head. The doctor performs the choice of the method of surgical intervention based on the area and nature of the degenerative processes in the ligaments. Osteophytes are eliminated arthroscopically, but if there is a cyst in the knee pad, the classic open surgical method is used.
After the operation, it is necessary to observe peace and undergo rehabilitation, which consists of therapeutic exercises for the development of the knee, physiotherapy, and the use of medications. Recovery lasts 1-3 months. During this period, the leg should have additional support in the form of a knee brace, taping. Walking is necessary with the support of a cane.
Other methods
The most popular methods of therapy include spa treatment. It involves mud and balneological treatment. Azov and Black Sea estuary muds, radon and hydrogen sulfide baths are effective.
At home, they use laser-ion and vibro-acoustic devices, for example, “Vitafon”. It will be possible to cure microtraumas with the help of ointments and gels for athletes who eliminate muscle spasm, provide nutrition for joints and tendons.
ethnoscience
Some people choose alternative treatment. With tendonitis, recipes do not eliminate the cause, but will alleviate the condition, especially at the initial stage. But before using traditional medicine, you need to consult a doctor.
At home, various tinctures and herbal teas are used. For oral administration, it is necessary to use the infusion of walnut partitions. But this tool is prepared in advance, since it is infused for 18 days. Because of this, it is rarely used for acute tendonitis. And in a chronic form, take tincture of vodka for 1 tbsp. l 3 times a day. The tool must not be used by car drivers.
Tea based on dried cherry berries is also offered. This drink is presented in the form of a decoction prepared in a water bath. 1 cup boiling water should take 1 tbsp. l berries. During treatment of the disease, turmeric must be consumed more, since its main component relieves pain and inflammation.
Treatment can be carried out with the help of compresses from aloe juice. It is obtained from cut leaves of a plant, which must lie in the refrigerator for a day. On the 1st day after injury, 5-6 procedures should be performed, and then 1 time per night is required.
Using a nourishing cream, make an arnica ointment. This relieves inflammation and relieves swelling. The cream should be applied 3 times a day. The pharmacy has ready-made ointments with this plant. An excellent result is provided by lotions based on crushed ginger root (2 cups of boiling water is added to 2 tbsp. Of raw material). Insisting is carried out 30 minutes. Lotions should be performed 3 times a day for 10 minutes.
Compresses and contrasting procedures are effective, but they can be used only in the absence of redness of the skin and elevated body temperature over the affected joint. These procedures consist in alternating a light massage of ice cubes with heating using wheat grits heated in a pan (it is poured into a linen bag or sock). Such sessions improve blood circulation and restore tissue.
Prevention
To avoid tendonitis, do not allow hyperloads on the knee joint and ligaments. Bruises, dislocations or sprains should be healed to the end, do not give up therapy after the pain has been eliminated, otherwise the inflammation will remain deep in the tissues. As a prophylaxis, a bath is used, you can take baths with eucalyptus, salt and make an imposition of mud.
Exercise should be increased and decreased gradually. Before exercise, you need to warm up the joints and ligaments. It is important to choose the right places for sports and effective training methods. Equally important is the correct mode of work and rest. The load on all joints should be harmonious. Thanks to prevention, the risk of knee diseases is reduced.