Our knee is the biggest joint of our body which exposes to trauma at most. In the diseases of muscle-skeleton system, the primary complaints which cause the patients to consult an ortopedist are because of the knee. Orthopedy and Traumatology Specialist Opr. Dr. Safak Onbasioglu says the active life style of our modern age increases the frequency of knee discomforts. As for the statistics, they say that the frequency of knee discomforts in society is around %20, namely it indicates that one of each five persons exposes to this problem at a stage of his life. Even if this rate increases significantly along with the getting older, it develops four times more in adults compared to the children, it develops in women frequently more than the men.

THERE ARE A THOUSAND KINDS OF REASONS OF IT

Even if there are many reasons which cause knee pains; the meniscus and connective tissue tears depending on trauma in young and active persons, the joint arthritis depending on attrition in old age persons are primary two reasons of the pains which are confronted at most. The reasons of the pains which are seen less often are due to the emergence of the pain suddenly, fractures depending on trauma, tendon tears and dislocations of knee-cap. The reasons of the pains which emerge chronically are due to the diseases such as softening of the cartilage, plica syndrome, sinovitis, bursitis, tendinit, joint infections, gout and romatoid arthritis, sciatic and the pains resembling to it, cyst and tumors. The reasons of the pains in children are due to the pains depending on growing, meniscus abnormals, connective tissue tears, knee-cap dislocations.

THE AGE IS IMPORTANT

Opr. Dr Onbasioglu says that the points such as the place of the pain, the age of the patient, how the pain started, when and by which actions it emerges, swelling which follows the pain, lock and stuck on the knee, feeling the emptiness on knee, coming sound from the knee are evaluated as important factors while diagnosing the patients. The emergence of the pains in further ages develop depending on the calcification and meniscus tears; the emergence of the pains which are seen in young and active ages develop depending on the trauma, meniscus connective tissue tear and softening of cartilage. Onbasioglu also says that the pains which emerge slowly and gradually increase, develop depending on the softening of the cartilage and calcification, as for the pains which emerge suddenly they develop depending on the meniscus or connective tissue tears.

WHERE IS THE PAIN ON YOUR KNEE?

Opr. Dr Onbasioglu states that the pains in front side of the knee are sourced from the softening of cartilage on knee-cap; the pains which are available at  two inner sides of the knees overlooking each other are sourced from inner meniscus tears, inner side connective tissue tears and joint calcification. She keeps on saying that the reason of the pain which is available outside parts of the knee is due to the outside meniscus, outside connective tissue tears, calcification and tendon damage. The pains which emerge at the abck side of the knee are frequently due to the baker cysts. The pain which starts with first steps and relatively decreases by the means of walking is the symptom of calcification. The pain which is felt while going down the stairs is the symptom of meniscus tears probably, the pain which is felt while going up the stairs is the sypmtom of softening of cartilage.

NOTICE TO SOUND AND SWELLINGS!

Onbasioglu who emphasizes that the sounds coming from the knee-joint are insignificant as long as they do not hurt, also says that “the intense sound which can be heard from outside and emerges along with the pain develop in the connective tissue tears generally; the sounds which are likely to be crackling depending on the friction, emerge in the cases of the softening of cartilage and calcification. In the situation of not being able to bend and straighten the knee, one should be suspected about meniscus tears; the feeling of emptiness on the knee reminds us cross connective tissue tear at front side. Common swellings which can develop with trauma suddenly indicate cross connective tissue tear in front, the swellings which can develop after a few days indicate meniscus tear. The swellings which suddenly emerge without a certain trauma remind us infection, the ones which develop gradually remind us knee joint calcification more. As for local swellings they put us in mind of the bursitis and cysts.

If the following symptoms are available, you should go to the doctor directly!

- If you have knee pains for a period more than a few days.
- If you have got the pains which emerge at night and during the rest.
- If you have problems such as stuck and lock on the knee, not being able to bend and straighten the knee, if you have difficulty in walking.
- If you feel emptiness or lack of confidence for your knee while walking.
- If it is available evident deformities on your knee.
- If you have complaints such as high temperature, erythema and swelling, you should go to the doctor.

Source: HABERTURK