Overuse, injuries and arthritis are usually the culprits that cause knee pain. Home care can often give relief, but severe cases need a providers attention.
2. Points to cover
• Overview
• What is Knee Pain?
• What are the possible causes of Knee Pain?
• How can I manage Knee Pain?
• How can I ease Knee Pain at home?
• When should I call the doctor about Knee Pain?
3. • If you have knee pain you can often relieve your discomfort at home.
• But more serious cases (like sudden injuries that damage tendons and ligaments, or severe joint
degeneration) need medical attention and sometimes surgery.
4. What is knee pain?
• can occur for many reasons, most commonly because of overuse, injuries or arthritis. You can experience
knee pain at any age, but older people are more likely to develop it due to degeneration of the joint, a
condition known as osteoarthritis.
• Depending on what’s causing your pain, you may feel better with rest, anti-inflammatory medication and ice.
If you have a more severe injury, you may need a procedure or a surgery.
5. Knee anatomy
The knee is made of
• Skin.
• Muscles.
• Bones.
• Cartilage - protective lining and shock absorber for the bones.
• Meniscus - a type of cartilage to cushion deep in the joint.
• Tendons- fibers that connect muscles to bones.
• Ligaments- tissues that attach bones to other bones.
• Bursa- thin protective pads under the skin.
6. What are the possible causes of knee
pain?
• Many conditions and injuries can make your knees hurt. Some common knee pain causes can include
overuse, injuries and arthritis.
• Overuse
• Repetitive activities can lead to pain Some examples are:
• Patellofemoral pain (runner’s knee): pain under or around the kneecap, often related to mechanics, shape of
the knee cap, or
• Osgood-Schlatter disease: In children, swelling in the shinbone below the kneecap due to overuse.
• Tendonitis, involving the quadriceps or patella tendon: repetitive jumping sports such as volleyball or
basketball.
7. What are the possible causes of knee
pain?
Injury
• Sudden trauma can damage parts of your knee joint. Common knee injuries can include:
• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury or medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury: Damage to the main
stabilizing ligaments of the knee.
• Bursitis: Inflammation (swelling) of the fluid-filled sacs that cushion the knee joint.
• Kneecap dislocation: Movement out of place by your kneecap (the bone that covers your knee).
• Meniscus tear: Tear in the knee’s cartilage (slippery tissue that helps bones move together smoothly).
8. What are the possible causes of knee
pain?
Arthritis
Arthritis is a condition that can impact many different joints in your body. When you have arthritis in your
knee, it causes the joint to swell. This can be a painful condition. Arthritis in your knee is more likely to develop
over time as you age. There are several different types of arthritis that can affect the knees, including:
Rheumatoid arthritis: This type of arthritis is an autoimmune disease, which means that it attacks the joints of
the body, causing inflammation (swelling) and breaking them down.
Osteoarthritis: This type of arthritis is characterized by a breakdown of cartilage in your joint over a period of
time. Body weight can play a big role in your joint health. Being overweight can place extra stress on the knee.
This can cause pain. Maintaining a healthy body weight by regularly exercising and eating a nutritious diet can
reduce your risk of joint pain.
9. How can I manage knee pain?
• Treatment for knee pain depends on what’s causing it and how uncomfortable it makes you.
• Mild knee injuries often improve with rest, ice and anti-inflammatory medications. Wearing a brace can
stabilize your knee while it recovers.
• If arthritis is causing knee pain, your treatment may include medication and physical therapy.
• Doctors can usually repair tendon and ligament tears with minimally invasive surgery, if necessary.
• More serious knee pain may require knee replacement surgery.
• No matter what caused your knee pain, physical therapy exercises can strengthen the muscles supporting
your knee to help relieve discomfort
10. How can I ease knee pain at home?
• Your doctor or physical therapist can recommend home care to relieve knee pain. These may include:
• Applying heat or ice packs.
• Modifying activities to avoid causing pain.
• Practicing gentle stretches or exercises.
• Taking over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
• Topical treatments such as muscle creams or rubs.
• Wearing a brace to support the knee.
11. When should I call the doctor about knee
pain?
• See your doctor right away if you have severe knee pain after a fall or accident, or if your knee is too painful
or unstable to support your weight.
• You should also see your doctor if your knee is swollen or you can’t extend it all the way.
• Call your doctor if you have pain that keeps bothering you longer than a few days.
• Refrence URL: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21207-knee-pain
