The Pros And Cons Of Cortisone Shots
If you’re experiencing pain that makes it difficult for you to start physical therapy to address your knee problem, your doctor might recommend that you get an injection of cortisone to lessen the pain.
The shot injects a corticosteroid drug and a local anesthetic into the joint to temporarily relieve pain and swelling. But it isn’t a long-term fix. “Often people think that injections, especially cortisone injections, will fix a knee problem. What they do is provide a window of pain relief so you can make progress with rehabilitation,” says Dr. Rebecca Breslow, an instructor in orthopedic surgery at Harvard Medical School. “But when cortisone injections are overused, there is some evidence that they can actually accelerate osteoarthritis.”
In short, while cortisone shots put you on the path to healing, they should be used judiciously and aren’t a permanent solution to the underlying problem that’s causing your knee pain.
Symptoms Of Hip And Knee Pain You Shouldnt Ignore
Being active is the norm for many of us who live at the beach. Sometimes, we can start to experience aches and pains in our hips and knees, the bodys largest joints. Most times the pain will dissipate, but other times the condition could be more serious.
Hip pain and knee pain is often caused by an over-use injury from a repetitive motion. ;Such as swinging a golf club or tennis racquet. Surprisingly, even a less strenuous activity like gardening can cause a pain in the knee or hip pain. Other common causes include osteoarthritis, bursitis, or an injury or fall.;
So, if I have sharp pain in the hip or knee and I have the 5 symptoms that you shouldn’t ignore, how do I see a physician? ;The quick answer is to simply give us a call at 904-JOI-2000;or you can schedule online.;
What Happens When A Blood Clot Forms In The Leg And Travels To The Lung
Blood clots may cause life-threatening medical conditions and may be considered in the diagnosis.
Deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism
Deep venous thrombosis may lead to a pulmonary embolism. If there is a blood clot or thrombus in a deep vein of the leg or arm, it has the potential to break off and flow through the veins toward the heart, and into the lung where it can become lodged in a pulmonary artery, which prevents the lung from functioning. Pulmonary embolism is a medical emergency and can cause serious illness or death.
An embolus is a medical term for a blood clot that has moved within the bloodstream to a different location. With pulmonary embolus , two issues occur.
Even if venous blood clots do not embolize, they may cause significant local problems with swelling and pain. Since blood cannot return to the heart if a clot blocks a vein, the limbs may chronically swell and have decreased function in a condition called chronic thrombophlebitis.
Recommended Reading: Why Does My Knee Hurt When Lying Down
High Heels Causing Knee Pain And Steps To Follow For Avoiding The Pain
Your heels represent how strong you are to walk with pain on your feet! It is good to be strong, work for increasing strength; but it is perhaps not good ruining self while proving yourself to be strong. High heels do cause a lot of pain in feet and also come under the major factors causing knee pain. An additional amount of strain is put on the shin muscles when you put on high heels shoes. This causes the pain in knee and leg. Apart from this, the extra height of heels can cause shortening of calf muscles. This in turn lead to pain in feet and knee.
One surely needs to look for steps to follow for getting rid of this problem. Check them out below!
- Go for massage and relax your shin muscles.
- Do regular stretches in proper manner and relax your calves.
- Shop on comfort! Go for a purchase on comfortable pair of heels, which are lower in height. It is better to avoid heels while long run or regular walk.
Leg Swelling: Symptoms & Signs
- Medical Author: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Medically Reviewed on 9/10/2019
Leg swelling generally occurs because of an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the tissues of the lower extremity. The medical term for leg swelling from excessive fluid in the tissues is peripheral edema. Persisting indentation of a swollen leg after pressure from a finger is known as pitting edema.Common causes of leg swelling include salt retention, cellulitis,congestive heart failure, venous insufficiency, pregnancy, and medication side effects. Less common causes of leg swelling include blood clots in the leg , parasite infection, lymphedema, liver disease and cirrhosis, kidney disease and nephrotic syndrome, broken ankle, broken leg, and diseases that cause thickness of the layers of skin, such as scleroderma and eosinophilic fasciitis. In these diseases, the leg swelling is typically characterized by nonpitting edema. When leg swelling occurs for unknown reasons, it is referred to as idiopathic edema.
Symptoms that can be associated with leg swelling include
Other causes of leg swelling
- Idiopathic Edema
- Leg Vein Obstruction
Read Also: Why Does My Knee Stiffen Up After Sitting
When To See A Doctor
Its a good idea to see a doctor for leg pain if it gets worse with walking, involves swelling, or if it doesnt get better after a few days of home treatment.
Its important to see a doctor quickly if any of the following are true:
- There are signs of possible infection
- Your leg is swollen and pale or unusually cool
- You have calf pain after a period of prolonged sitting
- You have swelling in both legs along with breathing problems
- Any serious pain develops suddenly
While leg pain usually isnt a medical emergency, you should seek immediate medical attention if any of the following applies to your pain:
- Youre unable to walk or stand
- You develop pain, swelling, redness, or warmth in your calf
- You have a sudden injury with a deep cut or exposed tissue
- You heard a pop or grinding sound when you injured your leg
The Link Between Your Back And Knee Pain
Every part of your body has a special and unique function, but each part relies on others for optimal performance.
When your body is functioning well, you feel invincible. When you are falling short due to an injury or illness, its hard to function. The same is true with many interacting body parts. One connection, in particular, is when back pain causes knee pain. Even though the back and knee arent directly connected, there is a very real link that can help explain why when your back hurts, your knees may hurt, too.
Don’t Miss: Inversion Table After Hip Replacement
Reasons Behind The Cause Of Knee Pain
Knees are designed to assist movements and balance while individual is standing, walking or jogging. Knee joint provide intense support to the lower body and weight distribution. Impact or improper weight distribution while knee joint is actively moving often results in knee joint subluxation or dislocation. The malalignment of knee joint is caused by tear and fracture of ligaments, bones and cartilages, which supports the knee joint. Such malalignment causes knee joint pain during ambulation. Strenuous activities or running results in abnormal twist of hip joint, which follows knee joint pain. Repeated abnormal hip joint movement causes more pressure on knee joint resulting in knee pain. Pain following hypermobility of hip and knee is observed in obese women.
Can Knee Pain In Teens Be Prevented
Most knee pain that is caused by injury or overuse can be prevented with some attention and work by your teen, including:
- Make sure your teen wears proper shoes for the activity/sport and wears knee pads and leg guards . Replace worn out footwear and gear.
- Engage in muscle strength training exercises. Check with a trainer to make sure proper form and body alignment are being followed. Always do warm up and cool down exercises before and after workouts.
- Keep your muscles flexible by proper stretching exercises or yoga.
- Dont engage in activities that cause or worsen knee pain.
Don’t Miss: Tommie Copper Knee Sleeves For Arthritis
Cracking Or Popping Sounds
When you bend or straighten your knee, you may feel a grinding sensation or hear cracking or popping sounds. Doctors call this crepitus.
These symptoms can occur when youve lost some of the cartilage that helps with smooth range of motion. Both OA and RA can result in cartilage damage.
When cartilage is damaged, rough surfaces and bone spurs develop. As you move your joints, these rub against each other.
How Are Blood Clots Found And Diagnosed
The first step in making the diagnosis of a blood clot is talking to the patient and family to understand the situation. The location of the blood clot and its effect on blood flow is what causes symptoms and signs. If a blood clot or thrombus is a consideration, the history may explore risk factors or situations that might put the patient at risk for forming a clot.
Venous blood clots often develop slowly with a gradual onset of swelling, pain, and discoloration. Symptoms of a venous thrombus will often progress over hours.
Arterial thrombi occur as an acute event. Tissues need oxygen immediately, and the loss of blood supply creates a situation in which symptoms begin immediately.
Arterial thrombi occur as an acute event. Tissues need oxygen immediately, and the loss of blood supply creates a situation in which symptoms begin immediately.
There may be symptoms that precede the acute artery blockage that may be warning signs of the potential future complete occlusion of the blood vessel.
- Patients with an acute heart attack may experience angina or chest discomfort in the days and weeks prior to the heart attack. It is important to remember that women may experience atypical and non-specific symptoms as part of their angina equivalent, including fatigue and malaise.
- Patients with peripheral artery disease may have pain with walking
- A TIA in which the symptoms resolve without treatment may precede a stroke.
Also Check: Bioknee Cost
Leg Problems And What Might Be Causing Them
The primary purpose of your legs is to keep you upright and mobile. Yet, your legs can also act as an indicator of your overall health. Although some symptoms you may experience are specific to a leg problem, others can suggest trouble with your heart, nervous system, kidneys, or other organs. Use the following symptom guide to help you decipher what broader problems your leg pain might suggest.
Symptom: Leg crampsPossible cause: Dehydration
A cramp in your leg after you’ve been working out, especially in the heat, could be an important sign that your body is low on fluids. To contract and relax normally, muscles rely on water and electrolytes like sodium and potassium. Too little fluid or electrolytes can hypersensitize the nerves that control muscles in the legs, causing themuscles to contract abnormally, or spasm.
All of your organs rely on fluids to function normally. Dehydration prevents cells from properly using energy, transporting nutrients, and dividing. If not quickly remedied, it can become a life-threatening condition. To avoid getting too low on fluids, drink water or an electrolyte-containing sports drink before, during, and after exercise.
Symptom: Calf pain during activityPossible cause: Atherosclerosis
Symptoms: Pain, burning, numbness, and tinglingPossible cause: Diabetes
Symptom: Leg swellingPossible causes: Heart, kidney, or liver disease
- a blood clot in the leg
- heart failure
Gradual Increase In Pain
Arthritis pain usually starts slowly, although it can appear suddenly in some cases.
At first, you may notice pain in the morning or after youve been inactive for a while. Your knees may hurt when you climb stairs, stand up from a sitting position, or kneel. It may hurt just to go for a walk.
You may also feel pain when youre simply sitting down. Knee pain that wakes you up from sleep can be a symptom of OA.
For people with RA, the symptoms often start in the smaller joints. They are also more likely to be symmetrical, affecting both sides of the body. The joint may be warm and red.
With OA, symptoms may progress rapidly or they may develop over several years, depending on the individual. They can worsen and then remain stable for a long time, and they can vary by days. Factors that may cause them to worsen include cold weather, stress, and excessive activity.
With RA, symptoms usually appear over several weeks, but they can develop or worsen in a few days. A flare can happen when disease activity increases. Triggers vary, but they include changes in medication.
With OA, this can be:
- hard swelling, due to the formation of bone spurs
- soft swelling, as inflammation causes extra fluid to collect around the joint
Swelling may be more noticeable after a long period of inactivity, like when you first wake up in the morning.
This is because RA is a systemic disease, which means it affects the whole body. OA, meanwhile, only has a direct impact on the affected joint.
Don’t Miss: How To Remove Scar Tissue From Knee Surgery
A Woman’s Aching Knees
The knee is formed by the femur , the tibia and the patella . It is essentially a hinge joint that is held in place by the medial collateral , lateral collateral , anterior cruciate and posterior cruciate ligaments .
Most of us have heard that women athletes are more prone to suffering from a traumatic knee injury. But what most people don’t know is that you don’t have to be a weekend warrior to end up with a serious knee problem. Each year, roughly 10 million women see their doctors for knee pain, often caused by activities that are not related to sports, such as lifting boxes, going up a flight of stairs or squatting too much while gardening.
Why are women winding up with more knee injuries? Researchers suspect one of the most likely causes is the way women are built. Women tend to have wider hips and are slightly knock-kneed and this alignment can create added stress on the joints. Another cause could be traced to a woman’s muscles. More often, women tend to use their leg muscles differently than men.
Here are some common knee problems women encounter and tips from UCSF orthopedic surgeons and knee specialists on how to prevent them:
Treating Knee Pain From Arthritis
Knee pain usually becomes worse as arthritis progresses. Many people with severe pain from arthritis choose to have surgery to relieve their symptoms and help repair the joint.
But surgery isnt right for everyone. Some of the more conservative options for treating knee pain from arthritis include medication and at-home strategies like exercise.
The exact treatment plan thats recommended for your knee pain will depend on factors such as severity of your pain, your age, your activity levels, and any other medical conditions you have.
Typically, your doctor will try the least invasive type of treatment, such as weight loss and medication, and then move down the line to consider surgery.
Because there are many considerations before turning to surgery, its crucial to discuss and explore all treatment options with your doctor.
You May Like: Flying After Knee Replacements
Can Shoes Cause Knee Pain
Shoes and gait transform your body language and attitude. Perfectly fitting shoes lift mental attitude and mood. You might have come across this beautiful saying on shoes many a times. But ever gave a thought on the fact, Wrong shoes can get you physically and emotionally down!? Yes! In a world where we all are busy running in our life, we usually lack behind finding out if something we are adhered with, is actually helping us or making us fall sick.
Knee pain is one of the common problem people face in their lifetime.1 There are many reasons behind this pain in your knee. Amongst all the crucial causes of knee pain is the wrong shoe that you put on your feet. The current article will revolve around the point on how shoes causes knee pain and what are the ways one can avoid the same.
What You Can Do
Take over-the-counter NSAID drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen to ease pain and swelling. RICE — rest, ice, compression, and elevation — can often help, too: Get off your feet. Raise your leg so it’s higher than your heart. Put a cold pack in a thin cloth or towel on your knee for 10-20 minutes at a time, several times a day. Wrap an elastic bandage around your knee when you’re up and about, snug but not tight.
Read Also: How To Pop Your Knee While Lying Down
What Is Leg Pain Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment And Prevention
Leg pain is a common problem, and can range from mild and annoying to severe and debilitating. In severe forms, it can affect your ability to walk or stand.
There are many possible causes of leg pain, from muscle injuries to problems with blood vessels. In some cases, leg pain can be caused by nerve problems in your spine.
What To Expect At Your Office Visit
Your provider will perform a physical exam, and look at your knees, hips, legs, and other joints.
Your provider may do the following tests:
- MRI of the knee if a ligament or meniscus tear could be the cause
- CT scan of the knee
- Joint fluid culture
Your provider may inject a steroid into your knee to reduce pain and inflammation.
You may need to learn stretching and strengthening exercises. You also may need to see a podiatrist to be fitted for orthotics.
In some cases, you may need surgery.
You May Like: Can I Have Both Knees Replaced At The Same Time