Associated symptoms

The accompanying symptoms can vary with the cause of the pain in the calf and the hollow of the knee. They also provide important information for the diagnosis. The type and timing of the pain are decisive here.

A pulling pain from the calf to the hollow of the knee during endurance sports indicates an irritated tendon. However, if swelling, overheating, redness and limited mobility add to the pain, an inflammation is likely. Particularly in the case of injuries to the ligament structures, instabilities in the joint are often noticeable.

Even without pain, damage to the cruciate ligament can make itself felt through increased displaceability of the lower leg. If the arthrosis has existed for many years, an audible rubbing and grinding of the bones against each other can sometimes occur. Thromboses, on the other hand, are initially unspecific and painful with possible swelling.

If breathing difficulties occur in this context, there is an urgent need for action. Swelling occurs when fluid accumulates in the area of the knee. This can be synovial fluid, blood, lymph or other fluids.

Acute injuries to various structures of the knee are usually accompanied by bruising. Rapid compression and cooling can reduce swelling. The swelling also restricts the function of the joint and increases the pain.

Joint fluid can also cause this swelling. This is normally located inside the joint capsule or a Baker cyst, if one exists. If one of these structures tears, the knee joint fills up with the clear fluid. Inflammation of the joint also promotes the swelling. The inflammatory cells can produce a cloudy inflammatory secretion, which can occur especially in active arthroses, inflamed tendons or Baker cysts.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is made on the basis of a specific external examination and, if necessary, with the help of diagnostic equipment. A detailed questioning of the symptoms and accompanying circumstances (anamnesis) with palpation and examination of the knee can in most cases already provide the most important suspected diagnoses. Accompanying circumstances, such as active endurance sports or a recent fall with injury, provide the decisive indications of orthopedic causes.

Subsequently, an X-ray diagnosis can be performed to confirm a possible suspicion. A subsequent arthroscopy allows for an exact diagnosis and offers the first possibilities of direct treatment. With certain instruments, minor complaints can be treated during arthroscopy. To diagnose thrombosis, blood and ultrasound examinations must also be performed.