Knee pain is a very common complaint among patients, especially the elderly. As goes the common saying that, “you are as old as your knees”. This makes people assume that it is normal to have knee pain in old age but this is not entirely true because some knee pain may be a result of severe underlying conditions.
Millions of people visit the doctor annually with complaints of pain in the knee. Chronic, severe, or recurrent pain needs checking with the doctor to rule out severe conditions. There are a variety of treatment methods at Clifton, NJ orthopedics like injections, spinal cord stimulation, and platelet-rich plasma. Treatment depends on the severity and cause of the pain.
What Causes Knee Pain?
- Old age
- Being overweight
- Trauma to the knee
- Space occupying lesions in the knee like tumors or abscesses
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Inflammatory conditions like osteoarthritis
- Fractures of the patellar bone
- Referred pain from the leg or thigh
- Physical inactivity in people with sedentary lifestyles and poor diet
How to Reduce Leg Pain
- Rest your knee for short intervals. Prolonged resting is also bad for you because it can make muscles become stiff leading to more pain
- Elevate your knee by placing it on a pillow so as to reduce swelling, thus alleviate the pain
- Take care of your general health, because other comorbidities can worsen the knee pain
- Massage your knee so as to relax it and reduce pain
- Avoid doing activities that you are not used to
- Apply warm or cold compresses for about 15 minutes to help reduce pain and swelling
- Physical therapy can help you to cope better with the pain
- Using walking aids like a cane to reduce the pressure that the bodyweight exerts on your knee
- Take mild painkillers but visit a doctor if the pain persists
- Avoid doing vigorous exercises or work
- Lose excess weight
- Wear appropriate shoes that do not strain your back
- Get adequate sleep
Which Medical Conditions Cause Knee Pain?
Arthritis
This is a very common cause of knee pain which is caused by wear and tear in the knee joint and the friction that results between one bone and another. The condition presents with pain, swelling, redness, and heat on the knee. Treatment can be with painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications.
Baker’s Cyst
This is an accumulation of fluid that commonly occurs on the posterior knee presenting like a soft orange. The condition results from inflammation of the popliteal bursa resulting in a fluid collection in this space.
Housemaid’s Knee
This condition is also referred to as prepatellar bursitis. It mostly occurs on the front part of the knee and is associated with excess kneeling. The swelling limits movement and makes it difficult for the patient to bend his or her knee.
Conclusion
Knee pain is a very common problem that can be caused by a variety of factors. Mild pain can be taken care of at home but severe, recurrent pain needs treatment by a specialist.
Once your minimally invasive procedure is complete, you’re not done yet: physical therapy is an important part of your recovery. During your physical therapy appointments, you retrain your injured or previously painful body parts how to move safely again.
During physical therapy, you also rebuild strength — not only for your injured body part, but also for the surrounding muscles. If you commit to your physical therapy program and follow your doctor’s guidance, there’s no reason that you have to suffer this pain again.
