Did you know that over 50% of the population will suffer from knee pain during their lifetime?
That number might be limited to your friends and family, though, because knee pain is one of the most common orthopedic diagnoses. If you or someone close to you suffers from chronic knee pain, it’s essential to know what could be causing it – some are more common than others, and all have different treatments!
How to avoid further damage
When you have an injury, you should seek medical help. There is a good chance that a knee brace will be recommended to support your knee after an injury to the knee. Podobrace.co.uk sell knee supports that will help you limit the damage.
Here is a list of five causes of knee pain.
1) Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Patellofemoral pain syndrome is one of the most common causes of chronic pain. It is caused by a dislocation between the patella and femur or the patella and tibia. This usually happens when the cartilage in the knee joint wears out. Okay, what does this have to do with your knees not working correctly? Well, patellofemoral pain syndrome isn’t a problem until you move your knee (or try to). Walking around, sitting at your desk, or sleeping won’t hurt your knee.
2) Chondromalacia
Chondromalacia is a form of arthritis where the cartilage deteriorates because of a problem in the cartilage. It can be caused by overuse or an accident, but if left untreated, it can lead to osteoarthritis, when the cartilage breaks down entirely, and you get little pieces of bone sticking out. However, there are ways to treat chondromalacia that don’t involve surgery! Using ice packs and anti-inflammatory medication will usually work.
3) Arthritis
Osteoarthritis is one of the most common causes of chronic knee pain. It is typically the result of wear and tears in the joint. There are multiple forms of arthritis with different symptoms, treatments, and prognoses, so make sure you are diagnosed correctly. If you have untreated osteoarthritis, it will progress over time to cartilage degeneration, which can eventually cause fractures.
4) Bursitis
Bursitis is inflammation in a fluid-filled sac in or around a joint that results from an injury or repetitive strain. The cause varies; it could be stress on tissues extending past the joint, abnormal movement within the joint itself, or other factors. When a bursa sac becomes inflamed, it swells and becomes painful. This condition is usually treated with anti-inflammatories for swelling, pain relief, and physical therapy exercises to help relieve the inflammation.
5) Meniscal Tears
The cartilage that fills the knee joint can tear because of trauma, excess pressure while exercising, or even arthritis. Sometimes the outer layer of articular cartilage tears apart from the bone because of poor conditioning, age, or a previous injury. This can be treated through physical therapy exercises and resting when pain occurs. Still, surgery is sometimes warranted if there is a risk of further damage to cartilage or bone (like in athletes).
Although knee pain can be highly frustrating, knowing the root of your pain allows for better treatment and more effective recovery. If you’ve suffered from knee pain, or you’re worried that it may be something more serious, see a doctor!
