One of the most common complaints people have is pain in the back. There can be many reasons, because the heaviest load falls on the knees.
Content:

Causes of pain

Sometimes a person feels pain behind the knee, in both legs. Most often, this phenomenon is associated with muscle overload, especially after training.

An unpleasant sensation appears only the next day after classes. And reaches its peak every other day. But this is the most harmless reason why there may be pain behind the knee.

If we talk about more serious reasons that can provoke severe pain, these include:

• Trauma. Those people who constantly play sports, and do not limit themselves to physical activity, often have pain in their knees due to the fact that even more stress is placed on them. As a rule, constant long-term stress, especially in overweight people, can cause inflammation of the periarticular bursa. In addition, as a result of awkward movement, injuries can stretch or tear the tendon, which is also very dangerous and causes severe pain
• Joint damage, which can happen to anyone, at any time. Quite often behavior knee joint found not only in athletes, but also in ordinary people during the imin period of time, especially during icy conditions. First of all, when slipping, a person lands on his knees, and if the impact was strong, then due to calcium deficiency or other existing injuries, the joint may also suffer
• Nerve inflammation. If a person has an inflamed nerve, this will be accompanied not only by severe but also unbearable pain, which is quite difficult to relieve.
• Diseases in which an aneurysm can form, pressing on the nerves. And besides, the danger of an aneurysm is that it can rupture at any moment
• Inflammation lymph nodes, or as it is scientifically called, lymphadenitis. With lymphadenitis, the nodes become inflamed and cause pain, and it constrains the muscles. And if you try to somehow rub your knee, it will only get worse. The main thing is to determine the source of infection, which is why the nodes become inflamed

The causes of pain in the knee joint are many, but the main problem The problem is that doctors are not always able to determine it accurately and begin treatment quickly. This can often take more than two weeks.

Diseases accompanied by pain

And if more general causes of pain in the knee joint were described above, then it is necessary to dwell in more detail on the diseases that provoke sharp and severe pain. The main diseases include:

• Baker's cyst, in which the synovium becomes inflamed
• meniscus, in which a sac of fluid appears in the knee, interfering with normal walking
• Meniscus tears, during which the pain can be unbearable
• Wounds with infections
• Diseases of the nerves and blood vessels of the popliteal fossa

Depending on what caused the pain, further treatment will depend, which should take place exclusively under the guidance of a specialist. Under no circumstances should you self-medicate, because this can only lead to aggravation of the problem.

Baker's cyst

Baker's cyst is one of the most common causes of pain at the back of the knee. Most often, this diagnosis is made to people over 40 years of age who have experienced heavy loads on their legs throughout their lives, that is, they have been engaged in athletics, walked a lot, etc.

The pain occurs due to the fact that the synovial membrane becomes inflamed.

The main causes of Baker's disease include:

• Knee injury. This can be either an injury to the joint itself or to the meniscus, resulting in an inflammatory process.
• Rheumatoid, which often provokes other diseases
• Gonarthrosis, when cartilage tissue is destroyed, and deformation of the joint itself also occurs

Due to the fact that all of the above diseases are accompanied by an inflammatory process, and often with the formation of fluid, the synovial membrane breaks through at the weakest point, and therefore a cyst forms.

As the cyst grows and begins to put pressure on the nerve endings, symptoms will occur. At the very beginning, a person will simply feel a slight squeeze, which will not cause much discomfort. But then = pain will appear, which will be accompanied by several more symptoms:

• Numbness and slight tingling in the foot area. Not everyone associates this phenomenon with the knee, because they believe that if there is a problem there, then the symptoms will all appear in the knee. But in fact, nerves and blood vessels are interconnected, and most often this is how a cyst manifests itself
• Difficulty bending your toes. This happens because the cyst puts pressure on the nerve endings and nerve impulses no longer arrive as before.
• Swelling under the knee joint, which may also be accompanied by a small tumor. If you press on this area, the pain will be severe
• Basically, the diagnosis of “Baker's cyst” is made at the very late stage, when fluid, as a result of a severe inflammatory process, is produced even more and accumulates in the bag, which causes it. At an early stage, a cyst may be discovered by chance.
• As for treatment, it depends on how long ago the cyst formed. If this happened recently, and the symptoms have just appeared, then conservative treatment can have a positive effect. To do this, they first take a puncture, during which the accumulated fluid is pumped out and an anti-inflammatory drug is pumped in (mostly corticosteroids). After this, the knee joint is tightly wrapped with an elastic band to reduce its mobility. In parallel with this, doctors need to find out the cause of the inflammatory process in the synovium and begin to treat the cause itself so that the problem does not return in the future.

If the patient comes with an advanced case, then an operation will be performed, during which the cyst will be removed.

Meniscus cyst

Another very common cause of pain behind the knee is a meniscal cyst, during which a cavity filled with fluid appears. This formation is directly located in the area of ​​the meniscus itself.

Pain in the back appeared when a cyst formed on the posterior horns of the meniscus. As a rule, a meniscal cyst cannot be seen visually, and additional examination is necessary to make a diagnosis.

The main reasons for the appearance of meniscus cysts include, which over time will make themselves felt in this way, as well as poor nutrition of the knee cartilage, which is already associated with impaired blood circulation in this area.

All symptoms that will appear when a meniscus cyst forms can be divided into 3 stages:

1. First stage. As the cyst grows, pain and a feeling of heaviness will appear while walking. Moreover, the pain will be tolerable and will not cause much discomfort to the person.
2. Second stage. The cyst gradually enlarges and a slight swelling appears, which causes pain. But the interesting thing is that when the joint is extended, it disappears
3. Third stage. The pressure becomes greater and greater, so the patient begins to suffer severe pain, especially during movement.

It is easy to diagnose a cyst in the third stage because it becomes visible with naked gas. If we talk about earlier stages, then it will be necessary to carry out the following diagnostic procedures:

• knee joint, during which it will be seen whether there is any formation or whether it is absent
• Computed tomography, which will show the exact location and size of the cyst formed
• Arthroradiography
• MRI of the joint for a more accurate diagnosis

After the doctor has received all the results of the studies, he will be able to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe correct and effective treatment.

As for treatment, there are three methods:

• First method. Medication, during which the main emphasis is on medications, reducing inflammation and reducing pain. Usually, drug treatment is prescribed either before surgery or after it.
• Second method. Physiotherapy, which is carried out when the stage of remission has begun and the positive effect of treatment needs to be consolidated. In addition, with the help of rays you can reduce pain and relieve swelling
• Third method. Operation. Today, doctors can simply pump out the fluid from the cyst, but this method is temporary, and it will appear again. Or you can completely remove it by running surgery on my knee

If the meniscal cyst was detected in time, the recovery period will not be long.

Soft tissue diseases

Pain in the back of the knee can cause inflammation in the tissues that surround the knee joint itself. These include ligaments, tendons, muscles and tendon bursae.

Soft tissues are greatly strained when a person runs, jumps, etc. Particularly strong stress occurs when the loads are systematic and quite serious. Due to the fact that redness and pain may occur.

A person does not always control the load that falls on his knee joints, this is especially true among professional athletes, for whom there are certain standards. At the moment when the tissues become inflamed, they literally pinch themselves, putting pressure on the nerve endings. As a result, the next day after a heavy load a person will feel pain.

Since the main cause of inflammation of the soft tissues is heavy loads, in order to get rid of this, you need to provide complete rest to the leg, namely, apply a bandage that limits both flexion and extension of the knee joint. If the pain is severe, painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed to bring the tissues to their usual and normal state as quickly as possible.

Infectious diseases of the popliteal fossa

If the knee hurts in the back and the patient discovers a wound in the area of ​​the leg or foot, then this may indicate the occurrence of an abscess of the popliteal fossa, which manifests itself in this way. This happens because it is in the popliteal fossa that there is large cluster lymphoid tissue, as well as lymph nodes, which, as is known, are the first to respond to the penetration of any infection, increasing in size. Regional lymph nodes collect all the lymph from those located on the lower extremities.

Therefore, if a wound appears on the leg below the knee and becomes infected, then the lymph nodes will certainly react and increase in size. As a rule, with a serious inflammatory process, they can hurt and even fester.

Most people, when such symptoms appear, may not consult a doctor for a long time for one reason only. Everyone is accustomed to the fact that if the lymph nodes are severely inflamed or enlarged, then the tissues are nearby. But in that case, this will not happen because they are located not on the surface, but deep.

If an abscess is discovered by a doctor, it can only be treated surgically, namely by opening the abscess and draining it.

Diseases of nerves and blood vessels

It just so happens that the majority of the world’s inhabitants believe that problems with blood vessels and nerves in this area cannot arise. This is a big mistake. There are a number of diseases during the development of which a person will feel pain in the back of the knee:

• Tumor of the tibial nerve, in which sharp pain behind the knee. Moreover, the pain spreads all the way to the foot, making it unbearable. It can only be treated surgically, followed by the prescription of anti-inflammatory drugs to avoid suppuration.
• Aneurysm of the artery below the knee. It is very similar to a Baker's cyst, only it differs in that it pulsates when palpated. It can only be treated surgically, since it can rupture when treated with drugs.
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Prevention of knee diseases

In order to keep your knee joints as long as possible good condition, heavy physical exertion should be avoided. Not all people understand this and attach importance to the recommendations of specialists when isolated cases of pain occur. And most often, after the pain goes away, they go in for sports again without waiting for a full recovery.




In addition, to keep your joints and bones strong, you need to eat foods that contain a lot of calcium, because it is actively consumed during sports.

Most doctors note that if the patient fully follows all the recommendations, follows the regimen and avoids stress, then he will be able to recover from the disease much faster, and subsequent relapses will be excluded.

While watching the video you will learn about knee pain.


Sharp pain under the back is a very serious symptom that should not be ignored because the earlier the problem was identified, the faster and safer it can be eliminated. The main thing is not to self-medicate or resort to folk remedies without consulting your doctor.

What could be the reason for pain behind the knee? Throughout life, human joints experience numerous stresses - heavy lifting, falls, impacts. The knee joints rank first in terms of the degree of impact and frequency of damage. Pain manifestations affecting the knee vary in nature and location. Pain under the knee is a symptom characteristic of various conditions.

Types of pain

The variety of causes of pain under the knee in the front, sides and back is due to the complexity of the structure of the knee area. The knee is formed by the following components:

• bones;
• muscle tissue;
• adipose tissue;
• ligaments - inside and outside the joint;
• nerve bundles;
• lymphatic vessels and nodes;
• blood vessels;
• articular complex.

If pain appears at the back of the knee, the damage has affected one or more of these components. It is possible to determine exactly which area is damaged only using additional diagnostic methods (unless, of course, the onset of pain was preceded by an injury with open fracture bones of the knee joint).

Depending on which component is damaged, pathologies that cause pain behind the knee are divided into the following groups:

• joint damage;
• nerve diseases;
• vascular pathology;
• soft tissue damage.

Each of these groups requires separate attention.

Joint pathologies

The first thing you should think about when pain in the popliteal fossa appears is joint diseases. Cysts can provoke discomfort in this area.

Baker's cyst on the right leg.

A Baker's cyst is a hollow, round-shaped structure filled with gelatinous fluid located along the back of the knee area. Developing inflammation and pain under the knee causes increased production of fluid in the synovial cavity; its excess protrudes the posterior articular surface, forming a characteristic swelling. Baker's cyst is characterized by the following symptoms:

1. The formation is round, inactive due to adhesion to the articular capsule. This process is quite painful
2. Pressure reduces the size of the cyst, which is due to the flow of liquid contents back into the joint cavity.
3. The skin over the cyst is unchanged.
4. The size of the formation does not exceed five centimeters.
5. When the knee is bent, the volume of the cyst decreases; when the leg is extended, the parameters are restored.
6. Softness of the cyst during palpation examination.
7. Feeling of discomfort under the knee, moderate pain when pressed.

Large cysts reduce joint mobility. The cyst can also compress nerve bundles, in which case a person may complain that his foot is numb and it is difficult to bend his toes.

Treatment of the disease: traditional conservative, surgical. Excess fluid in the joint is removed using a puncture, while a drug that reduces inflammation (corticosteroids) is injected into the synovial cavity. In addition, the following manipulations are used:

• tight bandaging;
• wearing braces.

Reducing the load on the affected joint can reduce the manifestations of the disease. In case of advanced disease, they resort to surgical treatment - removal of the cyst.

Important! The primary goal in treating a Baker's cyst is to achieve remission of the arthrosis or arthritis that caused it.

Pathologies of the menisci of the knee

Another structure susceptible to cyst formation is the menisci of the knee joint. Even a small cyst can cause pain that will spread to the sides of the knee or behind.

Risk groups for the occurrence of pathology are athletes and people whose professional activity associated with stress on the knees. The formation of a cyst is a peculiar response of the joint to excess load. Treatment is similar to Baker's cyst therapy:

• taking anti-inflammatory drugs:
• load limit:
• surgery if there is no effect from medication.

If pain in the back of the knee was preceded by an injury, you may want to consider a torn meniscus. This condition is a consequence of inflammatory joint diseases that occur with damage to the menisci. Drug therapy is ineffective, the leg continues to hurt, so the affected menisci are usually operated on.

Nerve diseases

There are many nerves running through the popliteal fossa, and their diseases can cause pain in the back of the knee.

Neuroma is a tumor pathology of the tibial nerve. Symptoms are associated with a disruption in the flow of information along the nerve trunk to the distal sections: decreased sensitivity of the leg below the knee, tendon reflexes are pathologically altered.

The muscle tissue of the lower leg undergoes hypotrophy or atrophy. The pain spreads along the nerve - from the knee and down the shin.

Vascular pathologies

Vascular diseases that cause pain behind the knee are divided into two groups. The first is associated with pathological processes occurring in the wall of the arteries or inside it, the second - with disorders of the veins.

It manifests itself as a change in the vessel wall due to congenital or acquired pathologies and the formation of a convex “pocket”. Atherosclerotic changes and hereditary vascular pathologies precede this condition. Since the formation is vascular, blood flow through it causes pulsation under the knee, which manifests itself on palpation. This distinguishes an aneurysm from a cyst.

Pain under the knee occurs when the aneurysm grows to a significant size and puts pressure on nearby nerves. The pain is rather not intense, sometimes patients say that “it hurts under the knee” and “the pain seems to be throbbing” and has a pulling character. The patient complains that it feels as if he was hit under the knee with all his might.

An aneurysm in the popliteal localization must be removed, since its location predisposes it to permanent trauma, which threatens rupture of the aneurysm with the development of bleeding and possible death.

Thrombosis of the popliteal vein

A pathology that is not too common and remains asymptomatic for a long period of time. The occurrence of thrombosis is usually preceded by thrombophlebitis or varicose veins. Blood clotting disorders also provoke this condition. The symptoms are as follows:

1. The pain is characterized by high intensity and occurs suddenly.
2. The skin in the affected area is hot.
3. The color of the skin quickly changes from redness to cyanosis.

Treatment is aimed at dissolving the clot (anticoagulants) or removing it surgically. Thrombosis should be treated immediately. Lack of therapy for thrombosis very quickly leads to gangrene - the tissues of the limb die due to the cessation of blood supply.

Varicose veins of the lower extremity

A familiar diagnosis for many people, especially women after reaching the age of 35-40 years. Depending on where the veins are damaged, the patient complains of the following symptoms:

• leg hurts under the knee;
• pulling under the knee;
• aching along the lower leg;
• cramps calves;
• heaviness in the legs.

The nagging pain under the knee often intensifies in the evening, especially if the person has been on his feet all day. On examination, a vascular network of dilated small veins and nodules, and swelling of the legs are observed.

Popliteal artery embolism

It occurs as a complication of diseases of the circulatory system and, in fact, the heart. The source of pathology can be the following diseases:

• systemic diseases;
• rheumatism;
• rhythm disturbances, for example, atrial fibrillation;
• inflammatory diseases of the membranes of the heart.

The pain is sharp and severe, accompanied by a low temperature of the limb and the disappearance of the pulse in the vessels of the leg.

Important! The sudden occurrence of acute, sharp pain in the popliteal region in the midst of complete health is a reason to immediately consult a doctor! The development of gangrene threatens leg amputation!

Soft tissue diseases

In addition to the vessels and nerves, the following elements are located in the popliteal fossa:

• ligaments;
• muscle and tendon fibers;
• The lymph nodes.

Long-term or sudden damage to one component or a combination of pathologies can also cause pain behind the knee. This pathological process is caused by excessive tension in the muscles and ligaments. This can happen with prolonged monotonous physical effort.

The pain can be nagging or sharp. It tends to get worse when walking and when moving the leg. General intoxication may be accompanied by febrile symptoms and hyperthermia.

Conservative therapy usually gives good results. Purpose medical procedures is to relieve inflammation and eliminate pain. For this purpose:

• analgesics;
• NSAIDs;
• bandages-fixators and immobilization;
• sharp limitation or redistribution of loads.

Complexes of physiotherapeutic procedures with therapeutic exercises after the acute period subsides help restore lost limb mobility and improve the prognosis of the disease.

Treatment with folk remedies

There are methods traditional medicine, which can be used for many conditions that involve pain behind the knee. They help relieve symptoms and prevent new cases of the disease.

Compresses

Burdock leaf compresses are a well-known folk (home) remedy for curing joint diseases. The plant, which is usually considered a weed pest in vegetable gardens, can help in home medicine if your feet hurt. Burdock also helps relieve pain in diseases of the knee joint.

Four large or six medium leaves need to be washed. Place dry leaves on your knee with the velvety surface to the skin, wrap in film and secure with an elastic bandage. Do not remove the compress until the morning.

Important! Varicose veins are a contraindication for use in the treatment of thermal procedures.

Prevention

Following simple rules will help prevent many of the described conditions and pain under the knee:

1. It is recommended to avoid hypothermia of the feet.
2. Prevent the occurrence excess weight by using proper nutrition And physical activity.
3. Harmonious distribution of physical and sports activities.
4. The use of knee pads and bandages for activities involving prolonged strain on the knees.
5. Warm-up breaks for people whose professional activities involve prolonged sitting.

It is worth monitoring your health and identifying negative symptoms in time, so that the question of why painful sensations torment you bothers you as little as possible. Timely consultation with a doctor is the best way out.

Pains in the head, in the lower abdomen in women, or in the stomach after poor-quality food are considered common and understandable for people. If there is pain behind the knee, what could it be?

With such a symptom, it is recommended to pay attention to your health and find out the cause of the pathology, which can cause a person either mild discomfort or unbearable pain. About 15% of people suffer from knee joint diseases, but few know that it is necessary to treat such conditions.

The popliteal cavity is surrounded above and below by the knee tendon, as well as muscles extending from the thigh and lower leg. At the bottom is the femur, and in the middle are the knee nerve, artery and vein. The free space is filled with subcutaneous fat. Don’t forget about the lymph nodes, which serve as a barrier against infection in the foot and leg area.

Such a complex structure makes it difficult to diagnose diseases.

In addition, the nerves in the popliteal fossa can also transmit pain from the lower parts of the spine.

Causes

What can cause pain behind the knee? In most cases, it is difficult to independently determine the cause and this will require consultation with a doctor and additional diagnostic methods.

A possible cause of pain under the left or right knee may be hidden in:

• Pathologies of the knee joint itself;
• Periarticular inflammatory and infectious processes;
• Conditions not related to the musculoskeletal system.

Provoking factors

Why do some people develop joint problems very early, while others lead an active lifestyle until old age?

There are several categories of people predisposed to bone or connective tissue diseases:

• Professional athletes. Joints and sprains are a big problem for such people. Their joints endure not only heavy loads, but also excessive activity, which leads to premature wear. The athlete's muscle often cramps and twitches. According to statistics, the left leg is less often affected;
• Workers with heavy physical labor. Heavy stress destroys joints and accelerates the pathological process. If a problem appears and the cause is not eliminated, this can lead to disability;
• People after operations or infectious diseases . Pulling pain in the area of ​​the popliteal fossa may appear as a result of innervation of nerve endings from other foci of inflammation.

Joint diseases

If the knee is inflamed, pain will occur when bending and straightening the knee.

Pain under the kneecap can occur as a result of:

• Cystic formations. A well-known disease, Baker's cyst, most often affects women after 35 years of age. The disease occurs as a result of pre-existing arthrosis and osteoporosis, representing a chronic inflammatory process in the synovium. Cystic lesions of the menisci are also possible;
• Meniscus injuries. A rupture often occurs after excessive stress on the joint. This condition requires immediate medical care, otherwise the injury will lead to disability.

Periarticular pathologies

If tendons, ligaments, muscles, or joint capsules are inflamed or mechanically damaged, you may feel that the popliteal fossa hurts. If the back of the joint is inflamed, we can assume the presence of bursitis, in which the seal does not disappear when pressed, and the pain may radiate to the surface of the thigh.

Non-orthopedic diseases

Promote the emergence painful sensations under the knee can:

• Neoplasms, mainly tumors of nerve endings. In this case, severe aching or sharp pain in the back of the knee is also duplicated in the calf;
• Lesions of blood structures, for example, an aneurysm of the popliteal artery or vein thrombosis (one of the complications of varicose veins, when the vein swells and a blood clot forms in it). It may be noticeable that the affected area is swollen and throbbing, or a bruise appears without a contusion;
• Infected wounds below the joint can lead to purulent diseases left or right popliteal fossa. In this case, there is inflammation of the lymph nodes and increased pain when bending the leg.

Symptoms

Popliteal pain can be of different types, for example:

• With Baker's cyst An adult is bothered by nagging, not severe pain. As a rule, one leg aches. The cyst, or hernia, is noticeable even externally - it looks like a swelling that is located in the middle of the popliteal fossa. If the patient notices that he is swollen in this place, it means that there is an accumulation of excess liquid, which moves into the cup when pressed;
• Meniscal cyst lesion, on the contrary, is characterized by severe and sharp pain;
• Damage to periarticular structures manifests itself as pain of moderate intensity and limited mobility. In this case, swelling appears on the knee and it swells;
• Arthritis easy to recognize by a characteristic set of symptoms: limitation of movement of the legs and knees, pain, swelling;
• Vascular diseases cause not only local symptoms, so a person, in addition to pain in the knee joint, will be bothered by general intoxication, numbness of the limbs, and a feeling of pins and needles.

Diagnostics

If discomfort or lumps appear under the knees, the patient can contact:

• To the therapist. He will suggest why your knees may hurt when stretching or walking, and then refer you to a specialist;
• If your child is bothered by leg pain, you should go to pediatrician;
• Orthopedist– a specialist in diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
• Surgeon;
• Neuropathologist.

After asking about the nature of the pain and how long ago it appeared, the doctor may send the patient for an x-ray or ultrasound to see the presence of pathology or destructive processes.

Treatment

Considering the many reasons why the legs hurt under the knees, how to treat this condition should be determined by a doctor. If the pain is nagging, the treatment may be one thing, but if the lump is sharp or clearly visible, it can be completely different. You should not take any measures or medications on your own.

In treatment, preference is given to conservative methods. However, in most cases, they only reduce the symptoms, but do not eliminate the cause of the disease.

Medicines prescribed:

• Non-hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs. Used for no longer than a week, they help reduce pain, inflammation and swelling;
• Analgesics. Facilitate the patient’s condition, relieve pain;
• Hormones. Appointed to severe cases when easier therapy is ineffective. Quickly relieve itching, inflammation and swelling;
• Chondroprotectors. Unlike other remedies, they act on the cause, restoring cartilage tissue and slowing down the process of degeneration;
• Antibiotics.

In case of purulent lesions, meniscus rupture, vascular aneurysm, surgical intervention is recommended. Special knee pads for sore joints will help reduce the load and slow down the pathological process. If possible, the underlying disease (for example, osteoarthritis) should be treated.

Video - treating knee pain

Traditional treatment

Therapy folk remedies less effective than medication, but widely used for orthopedic pain.

Basically, it includes external treatment on the leg:

• Dandelion, lilac and chestnut raw materials pour a glass of vodka and leave for 2 weeks. You need to moisten a piece of gauze in the infusion and apply lotions to the diseased area;
• From honey and mumiyo you can prepare an ointment that is rubbed on the side of the calyx and hamstring;
• A mixture of table salt, soda and mustard effectively removes swelling and reduces pain. Honey is also used as a base for the mixture.

If you don’t know the name of the place where you feel discomfort, go to an in-person appointment with a doctor.

If you feel heaviness, burning, the knee is swollen or pulling– it will be very difficult to find the reasons on your own. It happens that sharp knees are just a cosmetic feature, but it happens that the kneecap begins to hurt when pressed from the front and indicates pathology.

A small bruise at the bottom of the knee in children should not cause concern, even if it burns and bakes. If the lymph node is inflamed or the baby is pulsating above the popliteal fossa, there may be vascular pathologies.

Pain in the knee joint occurs in inflammatory and degenerative diseases – arthritis and arthrosis. No less often, discomfort occurs under the knee, which is usually associated with other causes of the pathological process. The popliteal fossa is limited above and below by the ligamentous apparatus, as well as by the muscles of the thigh and lower leg. Its bottom is represented by the posterior surface of the femur and the articular capsule of the knee. The area behind the knee joint is filled with adipose tissue, in the thickness of which passes the femoral nerve, artery and vein, united in a neurovascular bundle. The popliteal fossa contains lymph nodes - a protective barrier against ascending infection from the lower leg and foot area. Pain behind the knee due to injury and inflammation of the above mentioned formations.

Cyst and meniscus tear

The cause of pain in the popliteal fossa when walking can be a cyst of the meniscus, a cartilage that performs a shock-absorbing function during movement. A cystic formation appears in the posterior horns, located near the external (lateral) and internal (medial) collateral ligaments. Even small cysts that are not detected by external examination and palpation (feeling) cause severe pain. Most common cause pathology is considered a violation metabolic processes cartilage tissue or chronic injury during intense physical activity, including during sports.

A tear of the posterior horn of the meniscus usually occurs in the area of ​​the medial collateral ligament and is associated with unnatural forced rotation of the tibia. This causes intense pain, impaired movement and a feeling of “buckling” in the knee joint. If the pathology progresses, knee blockade may appear - the inability to flex and extend when walking. Immobilization (immobilization) of the limb, the use of anti-inflammatory drugs (nimesulide, diclofenac, indomethacin), chonroprotectors (rumalon, teralex) help restore the affected anatomical structures. In severe cases, surgery is prescribed.

Baker's cyst

Baker's cyst most often appears in patients over 40 years of age and has a symmetrical location on both legs. The cause of the pathology is inflammation of the synovial bursa of the knee joint (synovitis); the disease develops against the background of chronic arthritis or arthrosis. At the same time, it accumulates in the joint cavity a large number of synovial fluid, which, according to the principle of least resistance, penetrates into the popliteal fossa through a weak spot in the posterior wall of the knee capsule.

The disease causes swelling at the back of the knee joint, which is better visualized when the lower limb is extended. A characteristic symptom is a decrease in formation when pressure is applied to it as a result of the reverse flow of fluid into the joint cavity. The cyst causes bursting pain under the knee at rest; when walking, it pulls in this area and interferes with the normal extension of the limb. Treatment of the disease is carried out with non-steroidal drugs, hormonal drugs, including by injection into the cavity of the knee joint (hydrocartisone), and physiotherapy (ultrasound, electrophoresis with dimexide).

Purulent inflammation in the popliteal fossa

Pain syndrome at the back of the knee, wounds in the feet and legs indicate inflammation of the lymph nodes located deep in the popliteal fossa. The causes of purulent inflammation lie in the hyperactivity of pathogenic microflora against the background of insufficient functional activity of the immune system. Under such conditions, lymphadenitis and purulent melting of the popliteal lymph nodes develop, which causes discomfort when walking.

A slight swelling appears in the affected area, which is usually not accompanied by redness of the skin and an increase in local temperature. Severe pain appears with maximum extension of the limb and pressure behind the knee. If pus accumulates, surgical treatment is prescribed, antibiotic therapy is used, and physiotherapy is used at the stage of subsidence of the inflammatory process.

Damage to the neurovascular bundle

Inflammation or tumor process of the tibial nerve causes severe pain under the knee, regardless of movement, which spreads to the foot and toes. In this case, there may be a violation of the sensitivity of the skin below the level of the lesion, a decrease in muscle tone and the extinction of tendon reflexes. Therapy of the pathological process is carried out surgically, after surgical intervention painkillers (nalgesin, airtal) and antibiotics are prescribed.

Popliteal vein thrombosis is extremely rare and is a type of pathological thrombus formation in the deep veins of the leg. Disease for a long time may be asymptomatic and cause life-threatening conditions such as thromboembolism of the pulmonary artery system. Nagging pain in the popliteal region, swelling of the feet and legs, and trophic disorders appear in the later stages of the development of the pathology. The causes of thrombosis in most cases are varicose veins of the lower extremities. For treatment, antiplatelet agents (Curantil), anticoagulants (Warfarin), venotonics (Detralex), and surgical therapy are used.

An aneurysm of the popliteal artery is a dissection of its wall with the formation of a saccular protrusion. In the area of ​​the pathological process, the vascular wall becomes thinner, becomes fragile, and can cause heavy bleeding with minor injury or physical activity. The causes of an aneurysm are associated with a congenital defect of the artery or acquired pathology (atherosclerosis, endarteritis). The disease causes intense pain, with pulling in the area of ​​the knee fossa while walking. The symptoms are similar to Baker's cyst; the main difference is the persistence of swelling when pressed and pulsation at the site of the artery lesion. Treatment is carried out surgically.

Disease of periarticular tissues

The periarticular tissues of the knee joint are represented by ligaments, tendons, and tendon bursae. The cause of pain under the knee is inflammation and microtraumatization of these anatomical structures during physical overexertion or, conversely, prolonged static posture. Tendonitis, tendovaginitis, and bursitis occur when ligaments and tendons swell during intense exercise, which leads to pinching and damage. Pain in the outer part of the popliteal fossa is associated with damage to the tendon bursa of the biceps femoris muscle, and discomfort on its inner side is associated with bursitis of the semimembranosus muscle.

The pain syndrome intensifies when walking and decreases at rest, is characterized by nagging pain of moderate intensity and a one-sided pathological process. A compaction appears in the area of ​​inflammation, which does not disappear upon palpation (feeling). Immobilization of the affected knee joint, reduction in physical activity, anti-inflammatory treatment, and physiotherapy are prescribed.

Pain behind the knee can occur for various reasons when certain anatomical structures of the popliteal fossa are affected. To prescribe the correct treatment, you must consult a doctor and undergo a comprehensive examination to make the correct diagnosis.