Let’s discuss 5 Common Causes of Knee Pain causes and Possible Treatments.
Knee pain can be debilitating and can affect anyone at any age. This Knee pain affects millions of Americans each year. Understanding what causes your knee pain is important so you can treat it properly and get back to doing the things you love. So, if you’re dealing with knee pain right now or know someone who is, this article will help explain five common knee injuries—and how they can be treated:
You can help relieve your knee pain by treating the underlying cause:
It’s important to treat the underlying cause of your knee pain to prevent it from returning. If you don’t, the pain may worsen and become chronic. Understand the importance of taking your vitamin D, calcium, and other multivitamins, as advised by your dietician, too!
Patellar tendonitis:
Patellar tendonitis is an inflammation of the patellar tendon, which connects your kneecap to your shinbone. It’s a common cause of knee pain in athletes and can occur for various reasons. The Patellar tendonitis often develops gradually over time, but it may also happen suddenly after an intense workout or other activity that puts stress on your knees (such as running).
The exact cause of patellar tendonitis isn’t always clear, but it likely results from overuse during physical activities such as running or jumping. Other factors that may contribute to this condition include:
- Muscle weakness around the knee joint
- Tightness in muscles that cross over each other at different points along their length (for example, quadriceps/hamstrings)
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (Runner’s Knee):
Patellofemoral pain syndrome, also known as runner’s knee, is a common cause of knee pain among runners. It occurs when the patella (kneecap) rubs against the femur bone at certain points during movement. The condition is often caused by muscle imbalance and overuse but can also be an underlying problem with the bones or cartilage around the knee joint. Symptoms include:
- Pain behind or around your kneecap
- Soreness when straightening your leg after sitting for a long period
- Stretch out your lower legs before walking or running
Knee pain can also be caused by metabolic syndrome if it occurs during mid-adulthood.
Chondromalacia patellae:
Chondromalacia patellae is a condition in which the cartilage on the underside of your knee cap is soft and worn away. It’s usually caused by repeated overuse of your knees or direct trauma that damages the articular cartilage underneath your patella (kneecap).
The most common symptom of chondromalacia patellae is pain directly behind or under your kneecap when you squat or straighten your leg. You may also feel tenderness in this area when pressing on it with your fingers, and some people experience swelling after sitting for long periods without moving their legs around enough to keep blood flowing properly through them.
If not treated, chondromalacia can worsen over time and lead to arthritis in other parts of the knee joint–so if you think you might have this condition it’s important to talk with an orthopedist about treatment options as soon as possible!
Arthritis:
Arthritis is a general term for several conditions that cause pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints. Arthritis affects people of all ages and can lead to significant loss of mobility. There are many types of arthritis, including:
- Osteoarthritis – Caused by breakdown of cartilage between bones in your joints
- Rheumatoid Arthritis – An autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in your synovial membranes (the tissue that lines your joints) and causes them to swell up around the ends where they attach to bones
- Gout – An inflammatory condition caused by crystals forming inside blood vessels near or within a joint
Injury:
Injuries are one of the most common causes of knee pain. Injuries can be caused by a fall, or overuse. If you think that you have an injury to your knee, see a doctor immediately.
Knee injuries include:
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture
- Medial collateral ligament (MCL) tear
- Lateral collateral ligament (LCL) tear
Meniscectomy:
A meniscectomy is a surgery that removes part of your meniscus. This procedure can be done arthroscopically (through tiny incisions) or through an open incision. It’s usually used to treat damage caused by repeated trauma or degenerative changes in the knee, such as osteoarthritis.
Meniscus injuries are common in athletes who play contact sports like football and basketball, but they can also happen any time you put stress on your knees with sudden movements that cause it to bend too far or twist out of place–like when you’re running down stairs or jumping up from sitting on a bench at the park.
Know when to see a doctor:
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s time to see a doctor. When you are unable to do your normal activities and the pain is not improving after 7-10 days, it’s important to get checked out. Swelling or redness around your knee joint, this could be a sign of infection and should be treated immediately by a medical professional.
If you have had previous knee injuries or surgeries on other parts of your body (such as hips or ankles), then it’s especially important that these areas are checked for signs of arthritis before treatment begins in order avoid worsening any existing conditions later down the road.
Even though these are common causes, they are treatable:
If you think that one of these causes may be the culprit behind your knee pain, it’s important to see a doctor. Your doctor can help diagnose the cause and recommend treatment options for both the underlying condition and its symptoms.
The best way to prevent knee pain is by staying active and exercising regularly–especially if you have risk factors like being overweight or inactive. A healthy diet also plays an important role in preventing knee injuries by keeping joints strong and flexible so they don’t become injured easily when walking around all day long!
In Conclusion
You can help relieve your knee pain by treating the underlying cause. For example, if you have arthritis, try exercises that strengthen your quadriceps muscles and improve flexibility in your hamstrings and calves. If you suffer from patellofemoral pain syndrome (runner’s knee), try doing squats or lunges with no weight at all to start off with before progressing towards heavier weights. If none of these treatments work for you then it may be time to see a doctor who specializes in sports medicine or orthopedics who can help diagnose what exactly is wrong with their diagnosis so they can prescribe appropriate treatment options based on individual needs
Author: Emily John
Published by International Pain Foundation, iPain Living, iPain Blog, Team iPain
