Many people might have experienced knee pain in their lives. Depending upon its severity, you either neglected it as something that didn’t need extra medical attention or you sought the advice of a specialist to alleviate pain and discomfort. Your knee is one of the most complicated joints of your body involved in various motions as they are supporting most of the body’s weight and should remain in a strong and healthy condition to live a quality life.  

Causes of knee pain

Knee pain can be caused by a variety of reasons, some more severe than the other. A sudden injury, an underlying orthopaedic condition, recurrence of untreated conditions, ageing, and wear and tear of the joint can lead to knee pain. Some other conditions that can cause knee pain are:

  • Dislocated kneecap – Knee pain and swelling caused when the kneecap slides out of its position.
  • Meniscal tear-  Injury to your knee can sometimes result in the tearing of the cartilage which rough edges of which on getting stuck in the joint cause pain and swelling. 
  • Osteoarthritis- Over the age of 50, it is the top cause of knee pain. It can cause the knee joint to become stiff, ache, and swell.

Symptoms

The severity of symptoms that one might have depends upon what is causing the knee pain. The various orthopaedic conditions causing knee pain can adversely affect daily activities like walking, running, climbing stairs, etc. Following are the symptoms that are indicative of  knee pain-inducing orthopaedic problem:

  • Inability to straighten your knees and limited range of motion due to pressure that develops on the extension of the knee. 
  • Cracking and popping sounds when bending your knee shouldn’t be the cause of alarm but when accompanied by a grinding sensation and pain it might be indicative of cartilage in your knee being torn. 
  • Muscle weakness causes difficulty in manoeuvring difficult terrains or climbing the stairs and is commonly observed during and after an initial injury.
  • Difficulty in walking due to knee pain can be a symptom of an orthopaedic condition called osteoarthritis.
  • Activities like squatting, bending, lunging, involving knee bending, cause knee pain that eventually leads to muscle weakness due to reduced physical activity to avoid pain. 
  • Experiencing knee pain when exercising, running, or any sports if your joint is not functioning properly.

Diagnosis

If the pain in your knees persists for over weeks and keeps getting worse over time, your knee keeps buckling under your weight, pain while walking, climbing stairs, or even resting are all indicators that you need to visit an orthopaedic clinic and consult a specialist. The consultation can include an examination to check how comfortable you are while performing a whole range of motions involving your knees. You might also be asked to get an X-ray and MRI scan done of your knee if the pain is sharp and intermittent. The diagnosis will determine the treatment that needs to be employed to alleviate your condition.

Treatment

Conservative methods, surgical options, or both can be used for knee pain treatment depending upon the severity of the condition. The first form of treatment that is usually performed at home is the RICE regime. To curb the pain, painkillers which include anti-inflammatories can be prescribed as a part of the treatment to reduce swelling and inflammation. Injections, another conservative knee pain treatment method, are also helpful in reducing inflammation. Surgical options can be suggested or needed to be performed on an individual in case of cartilage or ligament tears. Knee replacement surgery may also be recommended in case of severe arthritis hindering your daily life. 

Knee pain causes hindrance to your daily life activities like walking, slouching, bending, climbing stairs, and might even worsen over time. Consulting a specialist ensures that the underlying cause of the pain and discomfort can be determined so that effective treatment can be employed to resolve the root cause of the musculoskeletal problem. At Orthocure Clinics, our patients are given personalized healthcare after considering various factors like severity of the orthopaedic condition, patient’s medical history, lifestyle, and the treatment method that will benefit them the most in terms of pain alleviation and management. The advanced diagnostic services along with the globally acclaimed techniques that we use at Orthocure corroborates our efforts of providing efficacious solutions and treatment that doesn’t fall short of the updated standards.  

Disclaimer

This information should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment as this is for informational purposes only. One must consult their healthcare provider before making any healthcare decisions. Any damage, loss or injury suffered by an individual as a result of reliance on the information contained on this site is neither the responsibility nor the liability of Orthocure Clinics.