Inflammation of the bone in the knee

definition

Periosteum inflammation on the knee is inflammatory damage to the so-called periosteum. Since the knee includes the lower thigh bone as well as the upper shin bone and the kneecap, all of these three bony structures offer the possibility of inflammation. This inflammation affects a layer that lies on the outside of all bones and which is the only structure within the bone that can feel pain because small nerve fibers only run within this layer. And those fibers convey the pain stimulus to the brain when there is inflammation.

causes

In principle, two potential causes can be identified for bone inflammation. On the one hand, periosteum inflammation caused by overloading and, on the other hand, infectiously mediated periosteum inflammation. Whereby the first part clearly predominates. The overload occurs mainly in enthusiastic runners who, for example, massively increase their training quota for a short time or who cause excessive strain on the knee due to poor posture. The infectious variant can either be traced back to an injury to the knee itself or to pathogens that spread through the blood. Exactly which part of the knee will be affected is difficult to predict. However, the tibia is the most common site for periosteum inflammation.

Read more on this topic at: Periosteum inflammation

Periosteum inflammation from jogging

The "runner's knee" or iliotibial ligament syndrome (ITBS for short) is primarily a differential diagnosis, but it can be a preliminary stage or cause of periosteum inflammation on the knee. The runner's knee is a disease of the tendons and ligaments that stabilize the knee due to overuse or, in most cases, improper use. Leg axis misalignments or legs of different lengths lead to one side of the leg being overstretched while running, while the opposite side increasingly shortens.

However, this also ensures that the ligaments and tendons on the stretched side are brought closer to the bone. Constant rubbing of bones and ligaments ultimately ensures that not only the ligaments but also the bony structures are damaged; which in the worst case can manifest itself in periosteum inflammation if you do not interrupt the sport in time.

Read more on this topic at: Runner's knees

Periosteum inflammation caused by an accident / fall

A fall on the knee usually offers the risk of an open wound, which can be the gateway for various germs. The knee is particularly predestined for this, as both the kneecap and the upper part of the shin are only a few mm below the skin level. If a germ gets inside the body via this path, the path to the periosteum is no longer a real obstacle. For most immunocompetent people, however, this is not a problem, since the own immune system can fight the pathogens without any problems. In contrast, immunocompromised patients are more susceptible to any type of infection.

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The knee joint is one of the joints with the greatest stress.

Therefore, the treatment of the knee joint (e.g. meniscus tear, cartilage damage, cruciate ligament damage, runner's knee, etc.) requires a lot of experience.
I treat a wide variety of knee diseases in a conservative way.
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These symptoms can be used to recognize periosteum inflammation on the knee

The leading symptom of periosteum inflammation on the knee is the pain that occurs, which is usually greater under stress than at rest. Another typical symptom is warm knees. This warming is due to the increased blood flow, which is a typical accompanying symptom of any inflammation. This also leads directly to the next visible sign: the reddening of the knee and an increase in volume. This is best assessed in comparison to the other knee, as the difference is easier to see here.

Read more on this topic at:

• Knee Pain - What Do I Have?

Pain

The pain is the most characteristic symptom of periosteum inflammation. Unfortunately, this is also a symptom that occurs in most knee diseases. Typically, those affected only feel the pain in the first phase during exercise.The body wants to convey that there has been an overload. Whether this is due to a misalignment or a sport-induced overload. If you do not pause sufficiently, the partially damaged periosteum can develop into a fulminant inflammation, which then also causes movement-dependent pain. The pain, however, can be managed quite well with pain relievers.

Read more on this topic at: Pain in the knee

diagnosis

The diagnosis is usually a combination of the patient's medical history, the location of the pain from a physical examination, and the results of a blood sample. Typical statements in the anamnesis would be, for example, continuing the sport, although pain was already present or a known foot or leg misalignment. The pain can be localized by palpating the knee. In this way, other causes such as the menisci can be almost completely eliminated.
The additional blood test can then usually reveal signs of inflammation. This usually shows an increased leukocyte count and an increased amount of C-reactive protein. These two markers are the strongest clues that there must be an acute inflammation in the body.

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• CRP value
• Levels of inflammation in the blood

Treatment / therapy

The treatment is a combination of different starting points, the most important of which is certainly physical rest. Extended running units are to be avoided whenever possible. People who have to run a lot for work should be put on sick leave for the time of healing. Furthermore, those affected can cool the area. This slightly counteracts the inflammatory process.
The periosteum inflammation is also treated with so-called anti-inflammatory drugs - substances that are intended to prevent or contain inflammation. After the pain has subsided, care should be taken to start exercising again slowly. In this way, another immediate overload can be prevented.

Medication

The medication administered depends on the one hand on the severity of the pain and on the other hand on the extent of the inflammation. As a rule, a combination preparation is chosen that contains both an anti-inflammatory and an analgesic component. Ibuprofen, for example, would be a member of this group. However, if the pain treatment is not sufficient, the dose can either be increased or another pain reliever can be taken with it. The last remedy of choice to counteract the inflammatory process would be the use of cortisone. However, this should always only be done after consulting your doctor, as cortisone can cause a number of side effects.

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• Ibuprofen
• Cortisone

Taping

Taping the knee can be an additional approach, but it is not enough on its own if physical protection is not observed. There are currently no conventional medical studies that certify the kinesiology tape to be clearly effective. However, many athletes love this additional option. Since the tape - apart from known incompatibilities to its ingredients, such as the adhesive - has no negative consequences, nothing speaks against its use.

Also read on this topic:

• Knee brace
• Taping the knee

Healing time

The duration of the healing process can vary greatly and is primarily dependent on how much or, better said, not too much, the affected person stresses their knees during this time. If you don't allow yourself real rest, healing can take up to six months. It is much faster with patients who adhere to the rest requirement. Here healing can be completed after three to four weeks. Another influencing factor is whether medication is used to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. This fact usually speeds up the healing process.

Read more on this topic at: This is how long periosteum inflammation lasts