If you have chronic knee pain, then you know just how much this pain can affect everyday functioning, from getting up in the morning to playing with the kids and even just walking to get the mail.
For the millions of people who suffer from knee pain, it can be overwhelming enough to deal with the daily pain, let alone to try and fix the underlying problem.
However, if you can better understand what causes knee pain, you can start taking steps to relieve it and prevent future complications.
Knee pain from injury
The most obvious cause of some kinds of knee pain is that which is connected to an immediate injury. In most cases, this type of pain will be temporary; over time, you will heal with proper treatments, ideally not feeling any long-term effects.
Patella damage, or damage to the cartilage under the kneecap, can make walking incredibly painful. This can be caused by knee trauma or consistent high-impact activity.
Dislocation occurs when the kneecap is shifted out of place due to impact or injury. This happens in accidents, but it is also common in athletes like dancers, who can easily land poorly from a jump and dislocate their knees. A full dislocation can occur, in which case you won’t be able to use the joint, and you’ll probably see the kneecap actually out of place.
Meniscus tears may result from overuse or immediate trauma, such as a sudden twist. They occur when the cartilage in the knee tears. The meniscus is essential in reducing the shock placed on the legs during the day.
Torn ligaments are particularly common in athletes and active individuals. The focus of the injury is the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and/or the MCL (medial collateral ligament). A torn ligament affects the connection of the shin and thighbones and can greatly impact daily functioning.
Iliotibial band syndrome occurs when the ligament connecting the pelvis to the tibia tightens, causing pain along the leg. Runners are often susceptible to pain related to this tight feeling.
Overcompensating due to injury in other areas of the body often places undue stress on the knees. A change in the way you walk or stand, particularly for those with injuries in the feet and/or hips, can contribute to knee pain.
Knee pain not from injury
If you are in an accident and suffer an injury, you can probably connect new knee pain to that. But sometimes, knee pain seems to come from nowhere.
The truth is that knee pain can also be caused by a number of seemingly unrelated things you do regularly. For those who suffer chronic knee pain, certain parts of your routine may likely be contributing.
Improper footwear or old, worn shoes are a key way to put pressure on joints that can have ill long-term effects. Look at your shoes and ensure everything is in good shape.
Especially if you walk a lot or spend a lot of time on your feet, insufficient soles can lead to far too much excess work on your knees to absorb the shock of every step.
Excess weight and obesity are some of the leading causes of knee pain that are not related to injury. Your body’s frame is designed to hold an optimal amount of weight, and anything more than that will impact the strength of the structure.
Think of your house’s roof and imagine replacing it with concrete blocks. Over time, your walls will likely buckle under the weight; the same thing can happen to your knees and joints if you are overweight.
Overuse may cause patellar tendonitis, which is exacerbated by stairs and walking on non-flat surfaces. Swollen or sore tendons can impact both your muscles and your joints.
Bursitis is when the area becomes inflamed because of overuse or from an injury, causing a bursa – or fluid sac – to become swollen and painful. Repetitive kneeling can contribute to bursas.
Arthritis can contribute to knee pain and may be caused by age or other complications. Gout occurs when there is too much uric acid and greatly affects joints.
Osteoarthritis due to years of use and joint deterioration is also a leading cause of knee pain, particularly in adults over the age of 50. Rheumatoid arthritis can cause significant damage to the joints and is often very painful.
Osgood-Schlatter disease is very common in active young children, and sufferers will notice a bump form on the connection between the shin and the knee.
Patellofemoral pain syndrome commonly affects girls in their teenage years and is typically due to an imbalance in muscles and leg alignment. Sometimes, older adults who already have arthritis can develop this.
A loose body is when parts of a bone or cartilage may break off, affecting the knee area if they get stuck in the joint.
Risk factors for chronic knee pain
Aside from injury and pain, knee pain can also be a chronic problem that causes many problems in the day-to-day life of sufferers.
High-impact athletes and very active individuals are at risk for injury and stress put on their knees over time.
Often, these people will overlook knee pain as something that comes with the territory of their activity levels, but when not properly addressed and treated, this can lead to long-term issues. Skiers and basketball players are often at greater risk for knee injuries.
Stretching and proper warm-ups and cool-downs are essential for most levels of activity, whether high-impact or not.
Not stretching can lead to instant injury in your knees and other body parts, and improper stretching can also cause pain. Ensuring that your muscles are strong and flexible can help offer greater support to the knees.
A sprained or strained joint elsewhere in the body, such as an ankle, may cause you to rely on your knees to overcompensate for the weakness in those areas, creating long-term pain in your knees. Similarly, if a sprained or strained knee isn’t properly treated, it can lead to chronic pain in the future.
Poor posture puts undue stress on many different body parts, but this can also lead to knee pain due to how you walk or stand. Similarly, those who suffer from misaligned legs or spinal misalignments can be at a greater risk for knee pain.
Overweight people often suffer from knee pain, as there is too much stress being placed on these joints every day. Even the simplest activities can cause undue stress in the area. Of course, those with excess weight or obesity problems are often more susceptible to developing forms of arthritis.
What are the symptoms of knee pain?
Knee pain can manifest differently and may not mean the same thing to everyone.
Knee pain from injury will likely be associated with pain that is immediate and clearly tied to a cause.
However, some knee pain may only show up when the knee is being used, and it is typically a more focused area with sharper pain. This pain can range from mild discomfort to severe incapacitation.
Certain types of knee injury or stress may also cause pain when you touch your knee in different areas.
Typical complaints related to knee pain are the inability to put weight on the affected leg, extreme swelling, and the inability to bend or straighten the knee.
When to see a doctor for knee pain
If you have an injury that causes severe pain, see a doctor immediately to address any other complications.
If you’re feeling recurring knee pain with no obvious cause of immediate injury, it is likely that seeing a doctor is still in your best interest, as you can cause more damage by not properly treating a knee, and he or she will be able to see if any underlying causes are contributing to your pain.
How will a doctor diagnose the cause of knee pain?
For a doctor to help determine the source of your knee pain, he or she will likely have to perform a series of imaging techniques to see what is affecting the immediate knee area.
X-rays and CT scans are the most common of these, although you may need to be referred to a specialist to have the results properly analyzed.
Blood tests may also be performed if your doctor suspects an underlying cause of your knee pain.
How to reduce knee pain medically
Most medical professionals will prescribe a combination of pain medication and RICE (rest, ice, compress, elevate) to immediately reduce pain and swelling.
Resting your knee can seem impossible with all of the realities of a busy everyday life, but giving your aching joints a break is a great way to reduce inflammation and decrease pain. Sufficient rest is often required to reduce long-term complications.
Ice is a great way to reduce inflammation in any part of your body. You never want to apply ice directly to the area, as this can injure surrounding muscles and ligaments, but do try applying a cold pack to the area for around 15 minutes at a time, several times a day. If you don’t have a cold pack, place a towel between your skin and a plastic bag of ice.
Compressing swollen areas helps to reduce swelling and can often be combined with ice.
Elevating injured and inflamed areas allows blood to flow better to them by ensuring that excess buildups that cause bruising or swelling flow throughout the body.
Over-the-counter anti-inflammatories such as Advil can help relieve pain and reduce swelling.
If you suffer from a particular cause of knee pain, like bursitis, your doctor can address the problem by draining excess fluid from the knee area.
Similarly, for those with knee pain resulting from arthritis, regular injections into the area can help boost strength and keep chronic pain down.
Unfortunately, in the case of severe injury, surgical intervention is often necessary. For those with an ACL or MCL ligament tear, immediate surgery may not be necessary, but surgical intervention is required to restore the ligaments.
Physical therapy is often prescribed for those with knee and body pain. It is an effective treatment for alleviating discomfort in the area and rebuilding strength in the immediate and related areas. This helps ensure you don’t cause other problems while recovering from knee pain.
A doctor can also help prescribe you a support device to restrict movement while your knee is on heels.
How to reduce knee pain naturally
Expensive medications and ongoing treatments may not be a long-term option for you, and the prospect of surgery frightens many who suffer from knee pain. However, there are a number of natural remedies that you can do at home to help reduce pain and regain strength.
Always remember RICE (rest, ice, compress, elevate) as a great first line of defense after new injuries or when pain is a problem.
It may seem surprising, but there are things that you can add to your diet to help decrease knee pain. Apple cider vinegar has long been celebrated as a way to detoxify your body and keep joints functioning optimally. Ginger can help reduce swelling and help get rid of bad toxins – you can either drink it or massage oil on the knee area.
Soaking in a warm Epsom salt bath is a great way to help you relax and feel less pain. Since knee pain often promotes other aches and pains that overcompensate for the weakened knee, this can ensure that your entire body is receiving positive effects.
While resting is essential for the period following injury, staying active and exercising however you can is a great way to promote blood flow and keep areas strong.
Too much rest can lead to muscle atrophy and actually stiffen joints, so low-impact walking and stretches can help you feel better and heal faster.
Ensure you wear the proper shoes, with optimal ones having lots of cushioning. Skip the high heels, as these have increased strain on the knees and other joints.
Incorporate stretching into your daily routine while immediately recovering from knee injuries and if you simply suffer from chronic knee pain.
Stretching will help oxygenate the muscles, keeping them strong and doing the brunt of the hard work for your body. Keeping joints limber and lubricated will ensure that you reduce further complications.
How will I know when my knee is better?
People heal at different rates, and because there are so many causes of knee pain, the amount of time it takes to recover can vary greatly.
You should always talk to a doctor before resuming higher levels of activity after an injury or if you suffer from constant pain.
Likely, he or she will recommend not going back to activities until you can bend and straighten your leg with no pain, you can stand on your leg without pain, and you don’t feel pain when walking or jumping.
Long-term prognosis for knee pain sufferers
How long you suffer from knee pain will likely be due to the causal factors behind it.
For knee pain caused by some forms of arthritis, pain is likely permanent because the knee itself is damaged. However, your doctor can prescribe you medications that will help reduce pain and swelling.
For those suffering from knee pain related to an injury, it is likely that your pain will only be temporary so long as you follow all of the recommended treatments for the area.
Many people stop undergoing physical therapy or other interventions when they start feeling better, but if strength is not fully restored to the area, pain can return in the future.
If your knee pain results from overuse and a high activity level, you may have to adjust your routine, particularly as you age. Low-impact walking and water aerobics routines can have equally as much impact as running. Try mixing up your routine so you can stay active but also avoid overstressing an area.
If your job or lifestyle requires constant kneeling, consider purchasing knee pads to protect your knees from hard surfaces and constant impact.
Always be aware of when you start feeling pain in your knee when you are active, and always stop if you feel sharp, immediate pain, as they may signify injury.
References
http://www.healthline.com/health/chronic-knee-pain#1
http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/knee-pain/default.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/knee-pain/basics/definition/con-20029534