Knee Pain

Joints are the parts of your body where two bones come together. The knee joint links your thigh and lower leg. It’s the spot where your thigh bone (femur) connects to your shin bone (tibia). The knee is the largest joint in the body. It takes on much of your weight whenever you move. This makes it one of the most injured joints. Sometimes, knee pain is a short-term issue, but other times, it lasts longer and requires a doctor to diagnose and treat it.

What are the symptoms of Knee Pain? Pain of varying degrees is the primary symptom. Other symptoms that can accompany pain are:

• Swelling or stiffness of the knee
• Clicking or popping sounds
• Weakness or instability
• Difficulty bending or straightening the knee
• Pain during walking, climbing, or standing

What are the possible causes of Knee Pain? Knee pain often comes from: Overuse Using your knees for physical activities like sports, working hard, exercising, or repetitive motions can put stress on them. Knee pain often happens because of overusing the joint. Common problems linked to this are:

• Patellofemoral pain, which is also called runner’s knee.
• Osgood-Schlatter disease, also known as jumper’s knee
• Quadriceps Tendinitis, patellar tendinitis.
• Bursitis (sometimes called prepatellar bursitis)

Arthritis Arthritis causes pain and swelling in the joints. Different forms of arthritis can result in knee pain, such as:

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Post-traumatic arthritis

Injuries Any damage to the knee joint may result in pain. Common knee injuries include:

• Repetitive strain injuries
• Sports injuries
• Accidents like car crashes or falls.
• A range of injuries are often linked to knee pain:
• Knee sprains.
• Knee ligament tears, which are injuries to your ACL, PCL, MCL, or LCL.
• Meniscus tears
• Bone fractures
• Dislocations.

Management and Care Knee pain can generally be managed at home by using the RICE method:

• Rest: Take a break from the pain-causing activity to prevent the injury from getting worse.
• Ice: Use a cold pack or compress on your knee for 15 to 20 minutes each hour on the first day.
• Compression: Wrapping your knee can lower blood flow and ease swelling. Use a compression wrap or bandage.
• Elevation: Keep your knee raised higher than your heart. Use pillows, cushions, or blankets to support it.
• Medications to treat knee pain: Most people can use common over-the-counter drugs like NSAIDs or acetaminophen. Talk to your doctor before using these medications for more than 10 days in a row if you have kidney or liver problems.
• Knee support braces: A knee brace gives support to your knee and keeps it stable. It works by ensuring your knee stays aligned.
• Physical therapy: Various exercises and stretches help increase joint stability and may help reduce pain.
• Knee surgery: Most people dealing with knee pain do not end up needing surgery. However, doctors might recommend it if the pain is intense and other options have not worked. Surgery may be necessary to fix a torn ligament, repair a broken bone, or address serious arthritis.

How do I prevent knee pain? The best way to avoid pain is to be cautious while staying active. When playing sports or doing any other activities:

• Use proper gear to stay protected.
• Stop if your knee hurts during or after the activity. Don't push through the pain.
• Take breaks and allow your body to recover after tough workouts.
• Warm up & stretch before starting any physical game or exercise.
• Cool down and stretch when you're done with physical activities.
• Keep your home and workspace clear of clutter to avoid tripping hazards.
• Consider using a cane or walker if walking is hard or your risk of falling is higher.