Knee Pain

Knee pain is a common condition affecting people of all ages. Knee pain usually develops following accidents or due to different health conditions. These discomforts usually start off as a minor inconvenience before gradually getting worse.

People of old age usually face knee discomfort, which is typically brought on by regular wear and tear from daily activities including walking, bending, standing, and lifting. Running and sports involving leaping or fast pivots increase the risk of knee pain and issues in athletes. But whether knee pain is brought on by age or an accident, it may be bothersome and even crippling in certain cases.

The knee is formed by three different parts; the Tibia (shin bone or larger bone of the lower leg), the Femur (thighbone or upper leg bone), and the Patella (knee cap).

A layer of cartilage covers the ends of each bone, absorbing shock and safeguarding the knee. Essentially, the knee is made up of two lengthy leg bones that are joined by tendons, ligaments, and muscles. The quadriceps muscles, which are found on the front of the thighs and straighten the legs, and the hamstring muscles, which are found on the back of the thighs and bend the leg at the knee, are two sets of muscles that work together in the knee.

Any damage brought on to these parts due to accidents or health conditions results in knee pain.

Identifying / Symptoms of Knee Pain

Knee pain can be felt right around the knee which often affects the whole leg. Depending on the underlying source of the issue, the location and intensity of knee pain may differ. Indicators and symptoms that can go together with knee discomfort include:

Stiffness and swelling
Touchable redness and warmth
Weakness or instability
Noises of popping or crunching
Knee cannot be fully straightened

If you have any of the aforementioned symptoms, you should contact a doctor right away. Fever, noticeable swelling, and visible deformity are other associated symptoms that you should be cautious about.

Causes of Knee Pain

The aging process and ongoing wear and tension on the knee joint are the causes of several knee issues including arthritis. Other knee issues are brought on by an injury or an abrupt motion that stresses the knee. There are several other causes, including:

1. Sprains

Typically, a blow to the knee or an abrupt twist of the knee results in a sprained or strained knee ligament or muscle. Pain, swelling, and trouble walking are common symptoms.

2. Cartilage Tear

Meniscal tears can occur after knee trauma (pads of connective tissue that act as shock absorbers and enhance stability). Sprains frequently go hand in hand with cartilage tears. To prevent future damage to the knee during an activity, treatment may entail wearing a brace. Some cases may require surgery to repair the damage.

3. Tendonitis

Overusing a tendon when engaging in certain sports, such as running, leaping, or cycling, may cause tendon inflammation. Patellar tendonitis is commonly known as Jumper's knee as it frequently happens in sports like basketball when the power of landing after a jump stretches the tendon.

4. Arthritis

The most prevalent kind of arthritis that affects the knee is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition in which the joint's cartilage gradually deteriorates. Middle-aged and elderly adults are frequently impacted. Excessive stress on the joint, such as from recurrent injuries or being overweight, can lead to osteoarthritis. By inflaming the knee joint and eroding the knee cartilage, rheumatoid arthritis can also have an effect on the knees. People frequently have rheumatoid arthritis at a younger age than osteoarthritis.

Knee Pain: When to Seek Help?

Most people experience some form of knee pain from time to time. Common causes often include injuries sustained during exercise walking or running among young people while health conditions give rise to knee problems in old people. Some minor knee pain can be treated with home care such as:

Rest and stay away from painful activities. Do not bear any weight on your knee.
Putting ice on the affected regions. However, before applying ice, make sure your knee is covered with a towel.
As much as possible, keep your knee elevated to reduce any swelling.
Put on an elastic bandage or sleeve
For pain and swelling, take medications such as ibuprofen or naproxen.
Place a cushion between or beneath your knees as you sleep.

You should see a doctor right away if:

You are unable to put weight on your knee.
Even while not carrying any weight, you experience extreme agony.
Your knee begins to lock, click, or buckle.
Your knee is malformed or distorted.
You cannot bend your knee or find it difficult to extend it all the way.
You have a fever, redness, warmth, or significant swelling around the knee.
After three days of home therapy, the discomfort is still there.

If early treatment options are unsuccessful and X-rays reveal damage to the joint and other nearby structures that cannot be repaired with conservative measures, orthopedic specialists advise surgery.

However, the majority of knee pain conditions do not require surgery or knee injections. This is because non-invasive therapies frequently help patients heal just as well or even better. Your doctor could recommend that you see a surgeon to talk about knee replacement surgery if you have osteoarthritis in your knee and it is making it difficult for you to do daily activities and causing you a lot of discomfort.

Preventing Knee Pain

While knee pain is an irritating and painful condition, to say the least, it can be prevented by modifying our day to lifestyle. These steps can help you prevent knee pain:

Always warm up and cool down before and after a workout.
Stretch the quadriceps and hamstrings at the front and rear of your thighs (hamstrings).
Instead of running on concrete or pavement, choose a surface that is slick and soft, like a track.
If you are overweight, lose weight. When you climb and descend stairs, every pound (0.5 kilograms) of excess weight exerts an additional 5 pounds (2.25 kilograms) of strain on your kneecap.
Try using special shoe inserts and arch supports if you have flat feet.

If your knee discomfort keeps you from moving about normally for more than two days, you should visit a doctor to be examined.

If you are looking for a healthcare provider around Kathmandu, Nepal get in touch with Bone and Joints today. Orthopedic specialists at Bone and Joints are highly experienced doctors who are experts in the fields they represent and are committed to providing quality treatment with honest opinions throughout the treatment process.

Knee Pain

Identifying / Symptoms of Knee Pain

Causes of Knee Pain

Knee Pain: When to Seek Help?

Preventing Knee Pain

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