Knee pain is a common condition caused by injury or medical conditions with many people needing treatment for knee pain. Any pain is emanating from the knee joint from the fibula, tibia, femur, the kneecap or ligaments can be classified as knee pain. It is important to consult with a medical professional if you experience knee pain, for a prognosis to be done. The doctor will come up with a treatment plan depending on the cause of the pain; sometimes surgery is needed especially in injury cases. Knee pain can be exacerbated by other factors such as surrounding muscles, physical movements, exercise and foot injuries as well.
Symptoms of knee pain
Depending on the cause, knee pain can occur in any area around the knee. One usual sign of knee pain is the whole knee getting swollen and painful, regardless of inflammation or infection cause the pain. The location of the ache also indicates the underlying condition, e.g. pain in the back of the knee is usually a symptom of a Baker cyst. If it’s a result of a fracture or torn ligament, the swelling occurs in one location only. Knee pain varies in intensity from a small ache to intense pain that limits physical movement. Additional symptoms include difficulty in walking up or down stairs (meniscus/ ligament damage), limping, shifting weight to the healthy knee, knee locking and difficulty in walking.
Home remedies for treating knee pain
There exist some home remedies that are used as a treatment for knee pain before consulting with a doctor. Inflammation of the knee tendon is characterized by swelling and pain when moving the affected muscle. Applying ice on the knee relieves the knee pain from inflammation. Ice packs also work on a torn cartilage although it should be checked by a doctor using MRI scans. Straining the joints from light to heavy exercise will require you to stretch the affected muscle using active range of motion (AROM) exercises. For instance, sit upright on a chair and raise your knees to your chest, one after the other. Apply ice if the pain doesn’t go away. The same case applies for an overstretched ligament where you should follow the R.I.C.E procedure; rest, ice, compress and elevate. Other types of knee pain like arthritis need more intensive care including heat baths, gentle exercises and aquatic therapy.
Conventional medicine for relieving knee pain
Treatment of knee pain comes in many forms including over-the-counter drugs like acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. These are painkillers that can relieve sprains, muscle pain and manage arthritis. It’s dangerous to use OTC medication without a prescription, and even then, one should follow the dosage instructions. Patients with moderate to the severe knee can benefit from COX-2 inhibitors like Celebrex and Vioxx or NSAIDs. Another treatment option is injection treatment including viscosupplementation; a hyaluronic acid injection to lubricate the knee joint. For inflammatory pain, corticosteroids can be injected into the knee for pain relief. Surgery is usually the last option with some surgical procedures inclusive such as arthroscopic surgery, partial and total knee replacement surgery.
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