Knee Pain: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Knee pain is such a health concern which is common among all the age groups, which ranges from active athletes to people who are living a sedentary life. This concern can emerge either due to any injury or wear and tear of tissues over a period of time due to daily activities. One of the largest and complex joints in the human body is the knee joint which comprises bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons and muscles. The sensitive and intricate structure of the knee joint allows you to do essential movements like walking, running, jumping, which thereby makes it vital and important for mobility and overall healthy physical functioning. 

With knee pain, your daily activities can be affected thereby leading to diminish one’s quality of life. Simple tasks such as climbing stairs, sitting, and walking can become challenging and excruciatingly painful. 

This article will help you understand and have a deeper look at the causes and possible symptoms of knee pain. Not only this, but you’ll also explore some of the solutions of knee pain treatment in Orange Park. So let’s get started. 

Causes of Knee Pain

There can be multiple causes of knee pain such as injury or usual wear and tear of tissues due to daily physical activities. However, there can be other various causes too. It’s very crucial to understand the origin of your knee pain, else it gets difficult to cure the pain. 

Some of the causes of knee pain includes:

Injuries

One of the leading and common causes of knee pain includes injuries which can also involve damage to your ligaments, tendons, cartilage or bones within the joint. These injuries can occur due to accidents, sports activities or sudden movements. Some common types of knee injuries include fractures, ligament tears, meniscus tears, and patellar tendinitis. 

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is one of the generative joint knee diseases which basically occurs due to gradual breakdown of cartilage of the knee. As the cartilage wears down, bones may start rubbing against each other, which thereby causes pain, stiffness and swelling. 

Overuse or repetitive strain

If you are walking too much or doing exercise while having gentle pain, then that can also lead to excessive knee pain. It’s very crucial that you take proper rest, else overuse or repetitive strain can cause you knee pain which becomes very painful and difficult to manage. Runners, cyclists and individuals who are involved in physically demanding jobs are more prone to overuse knee injuries. 

Symptoms of Knee Pain

Depending on the underlying cause, severity, and the timeline of the issue, knee pain can be evident in different varied ways. It is very important for you to identify the symptom on time and seek treatment. 

Some of the major symptoms of knee pain includes:

Pain

If you have been having an undetermined level of knee pain for a long time, then it’s time for you to seek treatment as soon as possible. Pain is the hallmark of knee problems but its intensity can vary differently. You need to recognize whether you are having dull pain, sharp stabbing pain, localized pain or is it giving you a burning sensation. With every type of knee pain, the intensity differs and so does the treatment. 

Swelling

Another major symptom of knee pain or knee related injury is swelling. There might be times when you might not feel any pain at the initial moment, but the area around your knee might get swollen up after any injury or gradually over time. Swelling also can be varied in terms of intensity like, acute swelling, chronic swelling or fluid buildup.

Stiffness

Stiffness is another symptom of knee pain which makes basic movements like, bending the knee, or straightening the led challenging for you. Stiffness can be of two types in terms of knee pain- morning stiffness and post-activity stiffness. Morning stiffness usually happens when you wake up in the morning and there is stiffness around your knee. This basically occurs due to arthritis and it may improve as your day progresses further. Another type, called as, post-activity stiffness happens majorly after prolonged period of activity or when some weight is put on your knee. 

Warmth and redness

Some of the inflammatory conditions such as, arthritis, bursitis, can lead to another symptom of knee pain which is warmth and redness. These inflammatory conditions can cause the knee to feel warm to the touch and appear red. 

Treatment for knee pain

Since you have had a clear idea about the causes and symptoms of knee pain, now it’s equally important to know and be aware about the solution for this knee pain. Treatment for knee pain actually depends on the intensity and severity of your condition and pain. 

Let’s have a look at the treatment options available for knee pain:

Rest and Ice

At times, our knee pain increases because of not having proper and sufficient rest. This can happen due to any injury or overuse, in such cases, rubbing ice over the painful area and resting will help you get through the pain and swelling. 

Physical therapy

A physical therapist or what we usually call a physiotherapist can develop a personalized exercise plan or routine for you that can help you to strengthen your muscles around the knee, thereby improving flexibility. 

Surgery

There are certain conditions where no treatment works except for surgery, such as, severe ligament tears, or arthritis. Some of the surgical options may range from minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery to more expensive procedures like knee replacement. 

Medications

At times, there are certain people who don’t want to undergo any treatment procedures. For them, there are over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen which can help manage mild to moderate knee pain. 

Conclusion

Knee pain is a concern common amongst all age groups which can be caused by multiple reasons such as, injuries, osteoarthritis, or overuse or repetitive strain. There are some symptoms also associated with knee pain which needs to be identified on time. Such symptoms include: pain, swelling, stiffness, warmth and redness. Depending on the intensity of the symptoms, the treatment plan is personalized for each one of you. 

In Orange Park, various healthcare providers specialize in knee pain treatment. At We Are Well And You, you can regain mobility and flexibility and live a pain free life with comprehensive care and support from the experts.