"My knees haven't been feeling well lately."
"I feel discomfort behind my knee"
"I feel difficulty walking"
Do you have any such concerns?
The knee joint is made up of the thighbone (femur), the tibia at the shin, the fibula that supports the tibia, and the patella, commonly known as the kneecap, all of which are covered by a joint capsule
The knee is a joint that not only supports the body's weight but also performs vigorous and complex movements such as sitting and running
Also, because the bones in the knee joint are not joined properly, the meniscus, ligaments, and surrounding muscles provide stable movement
We probably don't usually pay much attention to the movement of our knees, but if your knee is injured, it can have a variety of effects on your daily life
As you can see, the knees play a very important role in our daily lives
In this article, we will look at specific diseases and explain the causes of pain behind the knee
I hope that you can find some relief by understanding the cause of your knee pain
table of contents
Conditions that cause pain behind the knee
knee osteoarthritis
One of the most common causes of knee pain is osteoarthritis
This is a disease in which the articular cartilage, which acts as a cushion to absorb shock to the knee joint, wears away and the synovial membrane inside the knee joint becomes inflamed
The majority of causes are deterioration of joint tissues due to aging, but there are also various other triggers and factors that can lead to the onset of the condition, such as obesity, past trauma, and bacterial invasion
Knee osteoarthritis is a disease in which symptoms worsen gradually over a long period of time, rather than suddenly worsening
"There's something strange about it."
"I feel like I'm less mobile than before."
The key to preventing the condition from getting worse is to deal with such an issue rather than leaving it as it is
Knee sprain
A knee sprain is an injury that occurs when a large force is applied to the knee joint, causing the bones to move beyond their normal range, and is an injury to the joint that does not show any abnormalities on an X-ray
The main symptoms are swelling and pain in the joints
Sometimes parts of the body that are less sensitive to pain may be damaged, so it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible even if you do not have many symptoms
Knee sprains are a condition that can occur when stress is placed on the knee joint, not just in sports.
One of the important points from a prevention perspective is to be careful of injuries on a daily basis and to know how to deal with contact if it occurs
ligament injury
Ligament injuries occur when a large force is applied to the ligaments in the knee, such as in a traffic accident or during sports
The ligaments of the knee are divided into the medial collateral ligament, lateral collateral ligament, anterior cruciate ligament, and posterior cruciate ligament
Putting undue stress on each ligament can cause injury
Initial symptoms may include pain in the knee, difficulty moving the knee, and swelling
If you are exposed to strong external stimuli such as in a traffic accident or playing sports, it is important to check for knee pain
Symptoms may appear later, so it is important to pay attention to early symptoms and take prompt action
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is not a disease caused by aging or obesity like osteoarthritis of the knee, but is a disease related to abnormalities in the immune system
The immune system is a system that attacks and eliminates harmful foreign substances such as bacteria and viruses that enter the body
In rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system mistakes the body's own normal cells for foreign ones and attacks them, causing inflammation in the joints. Because this misidentification continues, the inflammation continues for a long period of time
Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that affects not only the knees but also joints throughout the body
Symptoms begin in relatively small joints such as the fingers, wrists, and elbows, and gradually spread to the entire body
Symptoms then appear in large joints such as the knees
Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that progresses gradually even before symptoms appear
It is often difficult to notice the early symptoms, but the key to identifying the symptoms is the stiffness and difficulty moving your fingers when you wake up in the morning
Summary: When the back of your knee hurts
This time we explained the diseases that can cause pain behind the knee
The knee is an essential part of our body that we need to function in our daily lives
"Standing," "Walking," "Crouching," "Sitting," "Running"
Our knees are always used in the everyday movements we carry out
In other words, knee problems can threaten our daily lives
The knees play an essential role in our daily lives
If you experience pain or discomfort, it is important to address it as soon as you notice it, rather than leaving it untreated
It is also known that treating any disease at an early stage can improve the effectiveness of treatment
If you have any concerns, even if they seem minor, please do not hesitate to consult a medical institution
I hope this article will be helpful to you in living a richer and healthier life
[References]
Hiroshi Mitsui (2011) "Latest Treatments for Knee, Back, and Shoulder Pain" Shufunotomosha
Shigeru Yanagimoto (2012) "Relieving Back and Knee Pain" Hoken
Masahiro Kimura (2022) "Knee ligament injury"
https://doctorsfile.jp/medication/256/ (Accessed October 28, 2022)
Supervision: Dr. Yasushi Tsuda