Tendinitis is called an inflammation of the tendon, if translated from Latin. Knee tendinitis is characterized by the presence of an inflammatory process that has formed inside the ligaments of the patella.
Such inflammation is curable with the help of a conservative, folk and surgical method. It will help well to restore exercise therapy.
Knee tendonitis - what is it?
Microscopic fiber breaks that cause inflammation are caused by physical overload. Therefore, the disease is more likely to affect athletes, in particular, runners.
The inflammatory process develops due to an incorrectly conducted warm-up or ignoring it, disregard of safety rules, injury when falling and hitting.
Knee tendinitis also affects people whose work is associated with prolonged overload of the legs. Such inflammation is diagnosed even in children and the elderly.
This disease can be completely cured. But the earlier you seek medical help, the earlier the stage will be diagnosed. Accordingly, the course of treatment is shortened, and the recovery period itself, too.
Causes of the disease
The onset of inflammation of the knee joint is often associated with an existing lesion of the tendon bursa, as well as the tendon sheath. These diseases have other names - tendobursitis and tendovaginitis. There are many causes of knee tendonitis.
Namely:
- Joint overload or prolonged heavy loads.
- Getting injured by impact, falling. In this case, numerous microtraumas are formed, leading to inflammation.
- The presence of infectious diseases of a fungal or bacterial nature.
- Already existing systemic diseases: diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis and polyarthritis, gout, arthrosis deformans, lupus erythematosus.
- Allergy to medicines.
- Physiological differences - different lengths of the lower limbs, the presence of flat feet.
- Frequent use of uncomfortable low-quality shoes.
- Increased mobility of the knee joint, developed its lack of stability.
- Poor posture, scoliosis, osteochondrosis.
- A pronounced weak immune system.
- Deformation of the tendons due to advanced age.
- Infection with helminths.
- Imbalance in muscle tissue.
Long-term treatment with glucocorticosteroids can provoke the appearance of tendonitis. Depending on the reason for the onset of the disease, it is divided into infectious and non-infectious.
Identification of a specific cause will determine the accuracy and type, correctness of therapy, on which the course of treatment and recovery will depend, and their duration.
Symptoms of pathology
The main signs characterizing this pathology are manifested in:
- painful sensations of a whining character during changing weather;
- abruptly, as well as a sudden onset of pain in the knee joint, as well as nearby organs and tissues;
- inactivity of the knee;
- feeling of sharp and severe pain when palpating during examination;
- a change in skin color to bright pink in the affected area;
- the appearance of puffiness, swelling;
- the occurrence of a crunch or squeak in the knee when moving;
- an increase in body temperature in some cases.
A sharp pain may appear when trying to get up from a sitting position, bend a leg, climb stairs. Even when walking, especially running. These symptoms worsen the quality of life, interfere with sports.
The described symptomatology is easy to identify during examination of the patient's leg, especially when probing the site of the pathology: the connection of the ligaments with the patella. If the process of inflammation proceeds deeply in the specified place, the pain increases as it is pushed into the tissues.
Diagnosis of the disease
Knee tendonitis is diagnosed after performing the following actions:
- Visual inspection.
- Collecting anamnesis.
- Palpation, fixation and analysis of complaints during it.
- X-ray. It will show the possible presence of the disease only at the third or fourth stage. In this case, the causes of tendinosis will be visible - chondrosis, arthritis, bursitis.
- CT and MRI. These procedures will identify possible ligament ruptures and show lesions that require surgery.
- Ultrasound will detect internal changes in the ligament, its possible reduction.
A deviation from the norm during laboratory tests is observed with infectious tendonitis of the knee joint. An unmistakable diagnosis reveals the specific stage of the disease, tendon lesions and the exact location.
The method of therapy, its duration and the need for surgical intervention depend on the literacy of the diagnostic measures and procedures.
Tendinitis treatment
Therapy for tendonitis involves the use of drugs. You can use folk methods. It helps with tendonitis of the knee joint, physical therapy in the form of a set of exercises. Surgery is sometimes required.
Drug treatment
Knee tendinitis can be treated well conservatively in the first two stages. The disease can also be defeated at the third stage. The first step of therapy is immobilization of the limb, giving it a state of rest. At the first stage, you need to reduce the motor function of the knee, use a stick when moving.
To reduce the load on the patella ligament, wear an orthosis. The use of an orthosis is an excellent solution, it goes as an addition to the complex treatment of knee diseases, and is also a good way to prevent injury to ligaments during running, strength loads and physical work.
Treatment with drugs:
- Pain relievers stop the onset of pain.
- Anti-inflammatories that can reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Usually these drugs are included in the NSAID group: Ibuprofen, Ketorol, Diclofenac (Voltaren). Therefore, it is necessary to worry about the state of the gastrointestinal tract and eat right. The drugs are taken after meals, even when NSAIDs are used topically in the form of ointments and gels. Sometimes the doctor will prescribe injections. They should only be done by a health worker. An allergic reaction test is required before use. NSAIDs are prescribed for a period of 5 days to two weeks.
- If the above drugs do not give the desired effect, injections of corticosteroids are used, as well as plasma. Corticosteroid injections are excellent for pain relief and inflammation. However, they cannot be pricked for a long time in order to avoid rupture of the ligaments. Plasma injections contain blood cells, platelets. Such injections are a new method in therapy. It improves the regeneration of damaged tissue.
- Antibiotics. If tests have shown a bacterial origin of knee tendinitis, the doctor will prescribe to drink or inject a course of antibiotics Amoxicillin (Augmentin), Cefazolin or other similar drugs.
Traditional methods
Alternative medicine is applied topically, penetrating the skin, or acting from the inside in the form of tinctures and decoctions. They help relieve pain as well as reduce the development of inflammation.
Means for internal use:
- Chopped ginger should be mixed with sassaparil in equal proportions (a teaspoon each), brewed as a simple tea and taken twice a day.
- Add curcumin on the tip of a knife to food while cooking. The substance relieves pain. It also has anti-inflammatory properties.
- Pour 50 grams of nut partitions with vodka in the amount of 500 ml. Insist 2.5 weeks. Take 20 drops three times a day.
- Brew bird cherry with a water bath. You can use dry berries (take one tablespoon), you will need three fresh ones. You need a glass of water. Drink like regular tea.
Means for local use:
- Rubbing with ice for up to 20 minutes.
- Squeeze the juice from aloe, make compresses with its addition. On the first day, put compresses 5 times (every 2.5 - 3 hours), then - at night.
- Arnica ointment can help reduce swelling and relieve pain. It should be smeared three times a day.
- Infused ginger lotions. Pour 400 ml of boiling water over two tablespoons of the product. Insist 30-40 minutes. Apply lotions up to 3 times a day for 10 minutes.
- Contrasting procedures will help regenerate damaged fibers and increase blood flow. It is necessary to alternate ice rubbing with warming up hot cereals poured into a sock or bag.
The use of folk remedies is effective in the initial stages, as well as the chronic form of knee tendinitis. But before using this method, you need to consult a doctor.
Operative intervention
The operation is done to remove damaged tissue that cannot be restored. Surgical intervention is prescribed at the fourth stage, when a complete rupture of the ligaments is determined or a partial tear is diagnosed.
Surgical intervention is divided into two types:
- open. It is carried out directly through the external complete incision of the tissues;
- arthroscopic. Gentle intervention. One of the varieties of endoscopic surgery.
Open surgery will remove cysts and other similar growths. Sometimes surgeons have to do curettage at the bottom of the patella. As a result, regeneration is activated.
Doctors do tendon reconstruction to keep the thigh muscles functioning properly. Often during surgery, surgeons have to reduce the lower pole of the patella. Removal (sometimes partial) of Goff's body is also possible.
The operation is performed for tendinitis of the knee caused by vasoconstriction (stenosing tendonitis). Purulent tendovaginitis occurs as a concomitant complication. He needs urgent pumping of pus, which accumulates in the tendon space. Recovery takes place within 3 months.
Exercises for Knee Tendinitis
Physicians attach great importance to physiotherapy exercises in the treatment of the first, second stages of tendonitis of the knee joint. A set of exercises is prescribed as a preventive measure for this disease. They strengthen the thigh muscles well and also improve the stretching of the muscle tissue.
Exercises:
- Lying on your side, you need to raise the lower limbs as high as possible. Repetition five times is fine for initial execution. You can increase the number of repetitions later.
- From a supine position, raise a straightened leg to a position perpendicular to the floor. Repeat - up to five times for each leg.
- Stand with your back to the wall. You need a ball. It needs to be fixed between the knees and squeezed.
- Sitting on a chair, you need to bend your knees followed by straightening.
You can also use walking, swinging your legs. Physiotherapy exercises lasts several months until the limb is completely back to normal.
Preventive measures
Tendinitis is easier to prevent than treat.
Therefore, it is better to follow these recommendations:
- it is imperative to properly warm up before each workout and performing heavy physical labor. The muscles of the limbs need warming up;
- try to avoid overloading the knee joints;
- if you need to lift weights, it is better to keep your knees bent;
- avoid falls and hits in the knee area;
- control your own body weight, eat right;
- get rid of extra pounds and bad habits;
- do not trigger infectious diseases.
Following all these tips will help prevent or prevent knee tendinitis from getting sick again.
Complications and consequences of the disease
Long-term neglect of the symptoms of the disease leads to the following consequences:
- complete or partial rupture of the tendons of the knee joint;
- feeling of constant pain. Normal movement in the future is excluded.
Complications are treated with surgery. There is a risk of slight lameness. In order to prevent the development of complications, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible at the first symptoms.
Treatment of tendonitis of the knee joint will not take much time and money if the visit to the doctor was timely.
A neglected form of the disease implies a complication and a prompt solution. In order to avoid the disease, it is more advisable to prevent tendonitis and take your health more seriously.
