Knee Joint Pain Causes and Treatment

An extremely common physical complaint is knee pain, and there are many knee pain causes. Getting an accurate diagnosis of the cause of your knee pain is important in order to find the best treatment plan for you. Let’s look at common knee pain causes and treatment options.

Common Knee Pain Causes

Knee pain is typically caused by:

  • Arthritis. There are hundreds of types of arthritis that can affect the joints of the knee, causing knee pain.
  • Injuries to the ligaments that are found in the knee; this type of injury typically occurs during sporting or athletic activity and causes both instabilities in the knee and discomfort.
  • Injuries and tears to the cartilage in the knee; in both young patients and older patients, cartilage injuries commonly cause knee pain. Torn cartilage can also be a wear and tear injury from years of usage and is also common in obese or overweight patients.
  • Patellar tendonitis is a common cause of knee pain and affects the patellar tendon, which is the large tendon that is located at the front of the knee.
  • Chondromalacia patella is a caused by softening of the cartilage and is characterized as knee pain that radiates from underneath the kneecap. This type of knee pain is more common in individuals between the ages of fifteen and thirty-five.
  • The dislocated kneecap can cause obvious pain during the dislocation itself, but can also lead to a more chronic type of knee pain as well.
  • Bakers cysts can cause knee pain, but usually as a result of a meniscus tear; this type of knee pain is typically accompanied by swelling in the back of the joint.
  • Bursitis affects the joint above the kneecap and is a common knee pain complaint in those who kneel when working, such as carpenters, construction workers, landscapers, and gardeners.
  • Gout can cause knee pain, but it is more uncommon than any of the above causes.

When to See Your Doctor for Knee Pain

Knee pain can definitely be problematic, and if your knee or knees hurt, performing daily activities can be challenging. While not all causes of knee pain require a visit to the doctor, if you are unsure about why your knee or knees are hurting, or if you are not certain what treatment you should follow for your knee pain, you should consult with your doctor promptly. Most treatment plans for knee pain are tailored toward the specific cause. You should definitely seek out treatment for knee pain that causes the following symptoms:

Inability to walk comfortably on the affected side

The injury that causes deformity around the joint

Knee pain that occurs at night or while resting

Knee pain that persists beyond a few days

Locking (inability to bend) the knee

Signs of an infection, including fever, redness, warmth

Swelling of the joint or the calf area

Knee Pain Treatment

As mentioned above, the cause of the knee pain that you are experiencing will determine the treatment plan for the pain. It is thus important for you to understand the symptoms of knee pain that you have before beginning any type of treatment program. If you are unsure about the type of knee pain that you have or how severe your condition actually is, always err on the side of caution and seek out a medical opinion prior to launching a treatment program. Let’s look at some of the common treatments for knee pain causes:

Rest. The most obvious best treatment for many knee pain causes is to allow the joint to rest and heal. Resting the knee joint will allow for any inflammation to subside, and is often the only step that is required in order to relieve pain in the knee. For severe symptoms of knee pain, the use of crutches may also be beneficial.

Ice and heat application. Ice packs and heat applications are often used as the first line of defense when knee pain symptoms arise. Alternating between cold and hot packs can help reduce swelling and pain in the knee.

Stretching. Simple stretching exercises that work the tendons and muscles around the joint can help to alleviate knee pain.

Anti-inflammatory medicines. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) are commonly recommended by doctors for knee pain relief. This is especially true for knee pain that results from arthritis, tendonitis, and bursitis.

Physical therapy. Depending on the extent of your knee pain and knee pain causes, you may need to seek out rehabilitative therapy with a qualified physical therapist. Physical therapy can help to increase strength, regain mobility, and help you return to an enhanced level of daily activity.

Cortisone injections. Cortisone injections are typically injected into the joint of the knee to reduce inflammation, thus alleviating knee pain.

In sum, getting to the root of knee pain causes is the best way to find the appropriate treatment regimen for your particular knee pain.

See: best treatment osteoarthritis knee

Knee Joint Pain Causes and Treatment Information? Last Update: 12/5/2017

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