The knee joints are a very important element in the human musculoskeletal system, so they should be treated with extreme care and attention. For example, if you notice that a bump has grown under your knee, be sure to find out the reasons for this phenomenon and take appropriate measures. The most common factors that cause pain and lead to lumps are discussed below.
Becker's cyst
This disease can be diagnosed by acute pain localized in the popliteal cavity, and slight swelling, in place of which a bump under the knee may appear. The fact is that the inner surface of human joints is covered with a membrane that produces synovial fluid. The latter plays the role of a lubricant. With inflammation of the membrane, the production of fluid increases. It is its excess that leads to compression of the membrane and its swelling, this explains the unpleasant sensations and the appearance of a formation that is soft to the touch and responds with pain at every touch. At the initial stage, the cyst resembles a pea, but quickly increases and becomes clearly visible. You can get rid of it through conservative treatment (receptionanti-inflammatory drugs) or pumping fluid with a thick needle.
Pyoinflammatory process
A bump under the knee may indicate a running inflammatory process. Most likely, the patient had infected wounds in the past in the ankle area: the infection penetrated the popliteal lymph nodes, which increased in size. In medicine, this condition is referred to as "purulent lymphadenitis". It can lead to an abscess of the popliteal fossa. To avoid such complications, it is necessary to contact the surgeon as soon as possible, he will open the abscess and clean it.
Vascular problems
Quite often, a bump under the knee is a sign that the tibial nerve, which runs along the bottom of the popliteal fossa, is inflamed. Inflammation can be identified by a slight swelling and sharp pain that occurs while walking and increases when the leg is bent. In advanced cases, it spreads throughout the limb up to the foot. At the same time, tendon reflexes change, muscle tone worsens. Only surgery can help the patient.
Aneurysm
A bump under the knee at the back, which pulsates and "pulls" the leg, indicates an aneurysm of the corresponding artery. This is explained by the fact that the walls of the artery gradually delaminate, and it bulges outward. If not taken care of, the patient may begin to bleed extensively.
Thrombosis
Sore leg under the knee behind? It is likely that the reasonlies in thrombosis of the popliteal vein. It should be noted that this diagnosis is extremely rare and is recognized by doctors with great difficulty. In most cases, it can only be fixed after serious complications, such as thromboembolism. You can detect the presence of blood clots using an ultrasound examination of the vessels. Depending on their size, doctors prescribe conservative or surgical treatment.
