Knee joints are a very important element in the musculoskeletal system of a person, therefore they should be treated with extreme care and attention. For example, if you notice that you have a bump under your knee, be sure to find out the causes of this phenomenon and take appropriate measures. The most common factors that cause pain and cause compaction are discussed below.
Cyst Becker
This disease can be diagnosed by acute pain localized in the popliteal cavity, and slight swelling, in the place of which a bump under the knee may appear. The fact is that the inner surface of human joints is covered with a membrane that produces synovial fluid. The latter plays the role of a lubricant. With inflammation of the membrane, fluid production increases. It is its excess that leads to compression of the membrane and its swelling, which explains the unpleasant sensations and the formation of a formation that is soft to the touch and responds with pain at every touch. At the initial stage, the cyst resembles a pea, but it quickly increases and becomes clearly visible. You can get rid of it through conservative treatment (taking anti-inflammatory drugs) or pumping fluid with a thick needle.
Purulent-inflammatory process
A bump under the knee may indicate a running inflammatory process. Most likely, the patient in the past had infected wounds in the ankle: the infection penetrated the popliteal lymph nodes, which increased in size. In medicine, this condition is referred to as purulent lymphadenitis. It can lead to an abscess of the popliteal fossa. To avoid such complications, it is necessary to consult a surgeon as soon as possible, he will open the abscess and clean it.
Vascular problems
Quite often, a bump under the knee is a sign that the tibial nerve passing along the bottom of the popliteal fossa is inflamed. Inflammation can be identified by a small swelling and acute pain that occurs during walking and intensifies when the legs are bent. In advanced cases, it spreads throughout the limb up to the foot. Tendon reflexes in this case change, muscle tone deteriorates. Only surgery can help the patient.
Aneurysm
A bump under the knee at the back, which pulsates and “pulls” the leg, indicates aneurysm of the corresponding artery. This is explained by the fact that the walls of the artery gradually delaminate, and it protrudes outward. If measures are not taken, the patient may begin to bleed extensively.
Thrombosis
Does the leg hurt under the knee in the back? It is likely that the reason lies in the popliteal vein thrombosis. It should be noted that this diagnosis is extremely rare and is recognized by doctors with great difficulty. In most cases, it can be fixed only after serious complications, such as thromboembolism. Detect the presence of blood clots using ultrasound examination of blood vessels. Depending on their size, doctors prescribe conservative or surgical treatment.