What Are The Treatments For Arthritic Knee Pain
After determining that your knee pain is, in fact, caused by arthritis, Dr. Williams and the caring staff at Interventional Orthopedics of Atlanta will recommend an appropriate treatment plan to help you as quickly and reliably as possible. Some of the most widely known and used treatments for arthritis and arthritic knee pain include:
- NSAIDs
- Knee injections
- Fluid drainage
- Surgery
- Weight loss
- Physical therapy
In addition to these methods, Dr. Williams is proud to offer the breakthrough Regenexx family of nonsurgical treatments, which are designed to use a patients own stem cells to treat common and degenerative conditions without the need for going under the knife. While there are certainly some cases in which surgery may be unavoidable, Regenexx treatment has proven to be highly beneficial for chronic pain relief caused by a large number of conditions.
What Other Symptoms Are Linked With Knee Joint Pain
Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee are generally limited to the joint itself, whereas inflammatory arthritis causes a wider array of issues. Unlike OA, inflammatory arthritis is a systemic disease, which means it affects the whole body, says CreakyJoints Medical Advisor Vinicius Domingues, MD, a rheumatologist in Daytona Beach, Florida.
In fact, it would be less common for someone with a form of inflammatory arthritis to experience pain in just one knee. Thats because symptoms are usually symmetrical whats more, inflammatory arthritis symptoms usually dont start in the knee.
For example, rheumatoid arthritis generally strikes the small joints in the fingers and toes first, while someone with ankylosing spondylitis is more likely to complain of low back and buttock pain, with knee arthritis pain developing later.
Depending on the type of inflammatory arthritis you have, you may experience other symptoms beyond knee joint pain. People with psoriatic arthritis exhibit the telltale scaly rash and plaques of psoriasis eye inflammation can be a problem for those with psoriatic arthritis as well as ankylosing spondylitis, and people with rheumatoid arthritis may experience weight loss and fevers.
How To Describe Your Symptoms
Here are some other questions to ask yourself to help clarify what youre experiencing:
- Is your knee swollen? Usually swelling will be visible, but sometimes its subtle. Sometimes, morning swelling has gone down by the time of your afternoon doctors appointment. Use your smartphone to snap and share a picture of your “morning knees.”
- Do you feel a grinding or crunching sensation? Grinding feels like two rough surfaces are moving against one another. This could be bone rubbing against bone, like your shinbone and thighbone.
- Do you feel your knee snap, pop, or crack on occasion? Tell your doctor if you hear noises coming from your knee.
- Do you feel your knee weakening when you walk, as though its unstable and wont hold your weight and could buckle? When this happens, do you think that you might need to grab onto something so you wont fall?
- Does your knee lock? Locking prevents your knee from straightening out fully.
- Does your cause you to limp or walk without putting pressure on that leg?
Also Check: Can I Regrow Cartilage In My Knee
What Is The Long
Some knee pain, especially pain caused by osteoarthritis, will likely be permanent. Thats because the structure of the knee is damaged. Without surgery or another type of extensive treatment, youll continue to feel pain, inflammation, and swelling in your knee.
The long-term outlook for chronic knee pain involves managing pain, preventing flare-ups, and working to reduce irritation to the knee.
Keeping Track Of Knee Pain
Here are some additional prep steps you can take before and during your office visit to make the most of it:
- Keep a pain diary. For a week before your doctors appointment, keep track of your knee pain on paper or the computer. Log the time of day when your pain is at its worst and what you are doing when it hurts. You may see a pattern that will make it easier for you to describe your symptoms.
- Rate your pain. Your doctor may ask: On a scale of one to 10, one being slight and 10 being unbearable, how would you rate your pain? Note your ratings in your pain diary and bring it with you to your doctors appointment.
- Talk about limitations. Tell your doctor if your pain prohibits you from doing specific activities or tasks, such as climbing stairs or going grocery shopping. Talking about how the pain is affecting your daily activities gives him or her clues to work with.
- Prioritize your concerns. Write down your most pressing concerns and order them from most important to least important. That way youre sure to at least discuss your most important concerns during the limited time you have at your visit.
Recommended Reading: Nano Knee Cost
Most Common Knee Injuries
The knee is the largest joint of the body, and is also one of the most commonly injured joints. Bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons work together to form your knee joint and allow you to bend your leg. Because of all the moving parts on the knee and the sensitive nature of the joint, its very prone to multiple types of injuries.
If youre experiencing knee pain, its likely that youre suffering from one of the most common knee injuries. Well help you understand the makeup of the knee, as well as how to identify the symptoms of a knee injury. However, only your orthopaedic doctor can determine what injury youre dealing with.
Anatomy of the Knee
Within the knee joint are three bones: the femur , the tibia , and the patella . These three bones meet to form the knee joint. Articular cartilage covers the ends of the femur and the tibia, as well as the back of the patella. The cartilage allows the bones of the knee joint to smoothly glide against one another as you bend or straighten your leg. The meniscus is a tough and rubbery wedge-shaped cartilage located between your femur and tibia. The meniscus cartilage cushions the joint and also acts as a shock-absorber between the femur and tibia bones.
The tendons within your knee connect the muscles to the bones. The quadriceps tendon is located in the front of your thigh and connects those muscles to the patella. The patellar tendon connects your patella to your shinbone.
Knee Injuries
1. Knee Fracture
2. Knee Dislocation
Why Does My Ankle Hurt
If you are experiencing ankle pain or swelling from a recent injury, ankle pain while walking or running, or ankle pain while resting, etc., it may be a minor concern or indicator of a serious issue.
Ankle pain is usually caused by traumatic injuries, repetitive motion injuries, long-term wear & tear, or tissue disorders. Below are injuries that are common causes for ankle pain, but it is best to enter your symptoms into our Ankle Pain Diagnosis Symptom Checker to gain a better understanding of your injury and read Dr. Stone’s blog article on ankle pain and when you should consider surgery.
Also Check: How To Whiten Your Knees
How To Identify A Muscle Tendon Or Ligament Tear Versus Tendonitis:
- If there was trauma and you felt or heard a pop or tear in the area of pain, then usually thats a tear
- Bruising and significant swelling usually indicates a tear, especially immediately after the injury has occurred. Tendonitis doesnt usually have the severity of swelling thats associated with a tear
- With a thorough and proper assessment, there are physical tests that we do that can help to determine if a ligament, tendon or muscle is torn
- If the pain persists beyond the expected and reasonable healing time-frame, it is likely a tear
- If there is a major tear of a muscle, then often there is weakness of that muscle
- Tears are definitively diagnosed through an ultrasound or more accurately through an MRI, which allows us to assess damage to the tissues
What Is Water On The Knee
Water on the knee is a result of your bodys natural efforts to protect itself. When you injure your knee joint causing irritation and inflammation, your body produces extra joint fluid to cushion and lubricate your joints.
The extra fluid causes:
- Redness
- Warmth
You wont be able to put pressure on your knee. Fluid on the knee can also limit your mobility and make it painful to go up and downstairs, kneel, or squat.
Also Check: Is Nano Knee Covered By Medicare
How Does An Orthopedist Treat Fluid On The Knee
The team of orthopedic knee specialists begins with a thorough exam and testing to identify the underlying condition causing the liquid accumulation.
They review your health information and symptoms and complete a physical exam. When necessary, your physician may order blood tests, other lab work, X-rays, and magnetic resonance imaging scans.
Once your orthopedist understands your needs, they may recommend an aspiration treatment to extract fluid from the swollen knee joint.
During this process, your doctor numbs the site and uses a hollow needle to drain fluid from the knee. They may also provide a knee brace to stabilize and support your leg.
Your doctor can also recommend treatment for the underlying issue causing your symptoms.
Simple Procedure With Big Results
Meniscus repair is one of the most common orthopedic surgeries and one of the most successfully treated.. Recovery is relatively simple and you will be feeling back to your old self in no time.
Our team at The Kennedy Center are experts in meniscus tears, making a quicker and more comfortable recovery possible. Contact us today to learn more about this procedure and results.
Don’t Miss: Can I Regrow Cartilage In My Knee
Why Would A Teenager Have Knee Pain
Knee pain isnt a condition that only happens to older people. Despite being young, your teenager can develop knee pain too.
Knee pain in teens is a common result of overuse, but also results from specific knee injuries and medical conditions that affect the knee. Knee pain can also be temporary and not related to an injury, but rather a change in your teens level of activity or sport.
Because of the many different reasons for knee pain, if your teen complains of pain, its wise to get it checked. Never think that knee pain in your teen is simply growing pains. This is not a typical cause of knee pain in a teenager.
What You Need To Know
- The most common causes of knee pain are related to aging, injury or repeated stress on the knee.
- Common knee problems include sprained or strained ligaments, cartilage tears, tendonitis and arthritis.
- Diagnosing a knee injury or problem includes a medical examination and usually the use of a diagnostic procedure such as an x-ray, MRI, CT scan or arthroscopy.
- Both non-operative and surgical treatment options are available to treat knee pain and problems depending on the type and severity of the condition.
You May Like: How To Get Rid Of Cellulite Above My Knees
What Other Symptoms May Be Associated With Knee Pain
If you have knee pain, you may get other symptoms such as:
- swelling, redness or heat in the knee
- bruising around the knee
- locking or clicking
- inability to straighten your knee
See a doctor if the pain doesnt improve in a few weeks, if you cant move your knee or put any weight on it, or if your knee locks or gives way.
Go to an emergency department if your knee is very painful, is badly swollen or has changed shape, or if you have a fever and a red and hot knee.
You Experience Greater Than Normal Movement
If you feel like your range of motion in the knee is higher than usual, something might be out of place or injured. This is known as joint instability.
You may feel like your knee will buckle or fold with walking, twisting, or weight-bearing.
The sensation of the knee giving away may occur with simple daily activities or upon return to sport following what was thought to be a minor injury, explains Dr. Brown.
Additional episodes of joint instability may worsen the condition of a knee after an injury. Tears of the ACL or MCL and patellar dislocations could also create joint instability, he says.
Hundreds of thousands of exercise injuries occur each year. Among these, knee injuries are the most common.
The best plan of action is to make an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon.
Wear a compression-sleeve-type brace or a knee brace with hinges in the interim, says Dr. Brown.
This may provide some comfort or level of support. Use crutches if you feel like you could fall and suffer additional injury because of knee joint instability.
Another type of hypermobility can occur when the kneecap moves out of place. This condition is called a patella dislocation. Its usually painful when it happens, and it might be sore the next day. If it pops back in by itself, the injury might not be serious. The true test is whether you feel confident that you can resume regular activity later that day or the next day.
Also Check: Can You Rebuild Cartilage In Your Knee
How Can I Find Relief From My Knee Pain In Atlanta Ga
If you are interested in getting to the root of your knee pain, finding relief, and enjoying your life to the fullest again, the first step is to be evaluated by a qualified, experienced, and skilled professional. Call Interventional Orthopedics of Atlanta to schedule your one-on-one consultation with Dr. Christopher Williams today, and discover how the solution for living a more comfortable life may be closer than your think!
What Natural Home Remedies Relieve Knee Pain
Over-the-counter pain medications can frequently alleviate the pain. If someone is taking these medications on a regular basis, he or she should see a health care professional to evaluate the knee pain for proper diagnosis and to avoid the potential side effects of chronic medication use.
The RICE mnemonic is often helpful, especially for minor injuries:
Rest: Rest the joint, and take a break from your usually activities involving the knee joint.
Ice: Applying ice can help with pain and inflammation.
Compress: A compression bandage can help prevent swelling and help knee alignment. It should not be tight and should be removed at night.
Elevate: Elevation can help with swelling and resting of the knee.
Read Also: Rollator Knee Scooter
Typical Symptoms Of Bursitis
Typical symptoms of bursitis include pain, tenderness even without motion, swelling, and loss of movement. If bursitis is caused by an infection, additional symptoms may be seen such as fever, redness of the area, and the affected area feeling hot to touch. Its important to note that symptoms also depend on the location of bursitis. Here are some additional symptoms experienced in specific locations in the body.
Hip: Pain may occur at the side of the hip and radiate to the thigh. The hip may be painful to touch. Walking, climbing stairs, and lying on your side becomes difficult.
Knee: Pain with movement is rare, unless the joint is significantly flexed.
Elbow: Swelling. Tenderness may occur if infection is present.
Heel: this type of bursitis is often associated with runners and is caused by overuse.
How Long Does Meniscus Repair Recovery Take
Because the incision is small and the repair is relatively simple, most patients recover in a week or two.
The RICE method is important for the first few days after surgery. Your knee will probably be a little swollen for a couple of days, but following the RICE steps will help with that. In addition, you may be a little more tired than usual. After just a couple of days, you will see improvement in both the swelling and energy levels.
If the knee is not feeling better after several days of rest, it is important to contact your doctor.
Read Also: Can I Regrow Cartilage In My Knee
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 cant extend it all the way. Call your doctor if you have pain that keeps bothering you longer than a few days.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 11/04/2020.
References
How To Identify Tendonitis Bursitis Sprains & Tears
Tendonitis is inflammation of a tendon. A tendon acts as the cable that attaches the muscle to the bone. If the tendon gets overly stressed and strained, it may get irritated and inflamed. We often hear of tendonitis involving the knees, elbows, wrists, shoulders, or heels such as, tennis elbow, achilles tendonitis, or jumpers knee.
It can be easily confused with other conditions that involve the joints because they involve similar levels of pain and swelling and disability. We regularly diagnose and treat a variety of joint conditions in our .
Receiving an accurate diagnosis for a joint injury can involve:
- A complete and thorough physical assessment by a doctor or
- Having an x-ray depending on if there was trauma to cause the pain to rule out a fracture. If arthritis is suspected as the cause of pain, an x-ray can be useful to diagnose the presence or severity of cartilage loss
- Ordering an MRI to assess ligament or muscle damage if a major injury is suspected or if the persons pain is lasting longer than expected
Recommended Reading: Do Compression Sleeves Help With Knee Pain
Your Lower Back Arches A Lot
Find a full-length mirror, stand sideways with your natural posture and take a look at your booty and back.
A pronounced lower-back arch “most often points to weak glutes not holding your pelvis in a neutral position,” Perkins says. Your hips should be level, but if your glutes aren’t strong enough, your hip bones will tilt forward and cause your lower back to arch. “While you should have a curvature in your lower back, it is important to not be exaggerated.”
Since a big arch in your lower back may also be a sign of a weak core, it’s important to pay attention to the two other signs below, as well. Or play it safe and make sure your workouts target both your core and your glutes.