Knee pain can occur not only in the elderly, but also in people of all ages, for a variety of reasons, from overexertion to injury or arthritic disease, and it can occur suddenly or slowly. Knee problems usually start out mild and then get worse over time. Early detection is especially important, and the following warning signs should be paid attention to:
The knee is not injured, but the pain is sudden, which is more common in older people, and the cause may be a torn meniscus, torn ligament, or a dislocated kneecap. Due to the deterioration of the body of the elderly, it will lead to degenerative changes in bones and ligaments, calcification and aging of the ligaments around the knee joint, and dislocation will occur after exertion. There is also a torn meniscus, which is usually thought to occur during exercise, while the meniscus of the elderly is prone to degenerative tears, and an inadvertent turning action can occur, which is also caused by meniscus degeneration.
A weak leg is an indication of knee instability, most likely a torn ligament. A torn ligament such as the anterior cruciate ligament can make the knee unstable. Especially during weight-bearing activities, there is a phenomenon that the legs are weak and do not obey the call. Patients should seek medical attention promptly, have a doctor's examination, and perform imaging tests if an anterior cruciate ligament tear is confirmed. The success rate is as high as 95% in the early stage, and it is difficult to guarantee the effect in the late stage. Because the pain and swelling can be reduced after the ACL tear for a period of time, the patient can walk, but feel weak in the leg and unstable in the knee, which will lead to the wear and tear of the cartilage, the formation of osteophytes, and then the appearance of osteoarthritis, which is an irreversible bone disease.
Swelling and warmth around the knee joint usually indicate inflammation or infection in the joint, and inflammation can also cause pain in the knee joint and feel hot. Swelling may be accompanied by limited range of motion and joint stiffness, especially when the knee is flexed and extended. The doctor will determine the underlying cause of the swelling through a physical exam, imaging tests, blood tests, etc. Assess how much range of motion is affected. Blood tests are used to identify the presence of an underlying systemic disorder, such as infection or rheumatoid arthritis.
It is not normal for the knee to suddenly get stuck. A healthy knee is flexible and should be able to rotate and bend up and down. Full of needs for daily activities. If there is a lockdown, even if it is temporary, it is necessary to go to the hospital for a check-up.
There are two types of knee locks: true knees and fake knees. In the case of true locking knee, the patient is unable to move the knee in any direction, the most likely cause is meniscus injury, after the meniscus tear, the torn part will turn into the joint space or intercondylar fossa, affecting the flexion and extension of the joint, so that the knee joint is in locking symptoms, and the patient will have severe knee pain and limited mobility.
The pseudo-locking knee is mostly related to knee pain, and patients are unable or afraid to flex and extend the knee joint due to severe pain, resulting in false locking knee. In addition to pain, it may also be that the patellofemoral joint surface is rough, the knee joint is bent during flexion and extension, and the articular surface friction occurs during flexion and extension, which suddenly restricts flexion and extension activities, which is manifested as fixation at a specific angle, but after gently pushing the kneecap with the hand, it can return to normal, usually in the morning, there will be knee stiffness and decreased flexibility, which is more common in elderly patients with osteoarthritis. This happens a lot, and it can cause quadriceps muscle atrophy, muscle weakness, and sudden kneeling when going up and down stairs.
Your doctor will do imaging tests such as MRI and CT to determine whether it is a true or false knee lock. False knees are mostly recommended to be conservative**. Surgery may be required to remove obstacles that limit knee function and blood vascularity as soon as possible.
This condition is normal for a few weeks after surgery, and the pain will gradually disappear as the knee tissue heals. If there is still pain, swelling and bruising around the knee for several months after surgery, it may indicate that there is something else and it is recommended to follow up as soon as possible.
All in all, the above symptoms are mostly related to meniscus tears, cruciate ligament tears, arthritis, knee dislocations or fractures, which may be one or a combination of these.
Medical science, for reference only.