Know When To See Your Doctor
While many conditions that cause knee pain can be helped by exercise, in some instances it may not be appropriate, says Dr. Lauren Elson, an instructor in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School. You should stop exercising and see a doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:
- fever
Getting Medical Treatment For Knee Pain
What Are Knee Pain Symptoms And Signs
- Chronic use/overuse conditions: osteoarthritis, chondromalacia, IT band syndrome, patellar syndromes, tendinitis, and bursitis
Below is a list of some of the more common causes of knee pain. This is not an all-inclusive list but rather highlights a few common causes of knee pain in each of the above categories.
Acute knee injuries
Fractures: A direct blow to the bony structure can cause one of the bones in the knee to break. This is usually a very obvious and painful knee injury. Most knee fractures are not only painful but will also interfere with the proper functioning of the knee or make it very painful to bear weight . All fractures need immediate medical attention. Many fractures require significant force, and a thorough examination is performed to detect other injuries.
Ligament injuries: The most common injury is the ACL injury. An ACL injury is often a sports-related injury due to a sudden stop and change in directions. The remaining ligaments are injured less frequently.
Meniscus injuries: The menisci are made of cartilage and act as shock absorbers between bones in the knee. Twisting the knee can injure the meniscus.
Dislocation: The knee joint can be dislocated, which is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention. Knee dislocation can compromise blood flow to the leg and have other related problems. This injury often occurs during a motor-vehicle accident when the knee hits the dashboard.
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What Tests Help To Determine The Cause Of My Knee Pain
We have tests that help us to work out which structure is likely to be affected. It is hard to be 100% sure of the structure that is the main pain contributor because they sit closely together.What is physios role in getting rid of knee pain?Physio can be the key component to bringing information together. Many people understand that they need a clear diagnosis to guide treatment and rehabilitation. This allows us to identify weakness areas to help restore normal movement around the knee. We will often prescribed relative rest, educate you on the dos and dont to help you recovery efficiently.
We work on muscles to help you regain full proprioception and control around a joint, helping to reduce the risk of reinjury.
We can take a birds eye perspective of the mechanism, your symptoms and the clinical test results to find out the mostly likely cause of your knee pain.
What Else Can Help With Knee Pain
Finding relief from knee pain depends on the cause or issue thats making it difficult for you to go about your daily activities. Carrying excess weight puts extra stress on your knees, which may lead to osteoarthritis.
In this case, the most effective treatment, according to the Cleveland Clinic, is weight loss. Your doctor may recommend a combination of diet and exercise to help you lose weight and strengthen the muscles in your lower body, especially around your knees.
A 2013 study found that adults with overweight and knee osteoarthritis experienced a reduction in weight and knee pain after 18 months of a diet and exercise program.
But if overuse is the culprit, your doctor will likely suggest RICE which stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation and physical therapy. A physical therapist can work with you to develop a program that includes range of motion exercises, stretches, and muscle strengthening movements.
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How Do You Describe Your Pain
I know, its a tough question sometimes, Dr. Burg says. But you probably can tell the difference between a dull, throbbing pain and a sharp, burning sensation.
Thats important. A sharp, burning sensation moreoften indicates an irritated nerve rather than a joint or ligament problem. Onthe other hand, you might describe pain from arthritis as more constant andachy.
When To See A Doctor
There are times when inner knee pain requires more than an ice pack and Advil. You should consider seeing a doctor if:
- Your inner knee pain is due to trauma.
- The knee pain lasts more than a few weeks.
- The pain is significantly limiting your ability to move.
- The knee looks deformed or misshapen in any way.
- There is increased redness, swelling, warmth, tenderness, or pain .
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How Do Your Treat Inner Knee Pain
For these issues, follow these steps to relieve the inner knee pain.
- Rest the knee: If the injury occurs while doing sports, running, avoid this activity till the knee is fully healed.
- Use an ice pack: Apply the ice to the injured area, three to four times a day, for at least 20 minutes at a time. It can reduce pain and inflammation. These ice packs are readily available at the market, or you can also prepare them at home.
- Anti-inflammatories:You can also take anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen or aspirin, which are readily available at an online pharmacy and medical stores. If these medicines dont work, a doctor might recommend more potent pain medicines.
Your doctor might recommend:
- Using hot and cold therapy to relieve knee pain.
- Injections of corticosteroid medication for the conditions.
- Surgery to remove or remove the damaged portions of knee tissue.
Use Your Knee Brace And Crutches
If youve been fitted for a knee brace or had one recommended to you, make sure it fits properly. You should be able to insert two fingers under the strap. If its difficult to fit two fingers or if you can fit a third finger, youll need to adjust the tightness. Usually youll wear the brace for two to six weeks.
Use crutches if theyve been given and avoid putting any pressure on your knee until your doctor says its okay. Wait at least two weeks or until your doctor gives you the go-ahead before you bathe, swim, or use a hot tub. Follow a healthy diet and drink plenty of fluids. Eat high-fiber foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables to ensure you have regular bowel movements. This will help while you may not have the benefit of moving around as much as usual.
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When Will My Knee Feel Better
People heal at different rates. Your recovery time depends on your body and your injury.
While you get better, you need to take it easy on your knee. That doesnât mean you have to give up exercise. Just try something new that won’t hurt your joint. If you’re a jogger, swim laps in a pool instead.
Whatever you do, don’t rush things. If you try to get back to your workouts before youâre healed, you could damage the joint for good. Don’t return to your old level of physical activity until:
- You can fully bend and straighten your knee without pain.
- You feel no pain in your knee when you walk, jog, sprint, or jump.
- Your knee is as strong as your uninjured knee.
Do Straight Leg Raises In Four Directions
Lie on your back to perform these exercises. Start by tightening up the front of the thigh to straighten the leg, says Wu. Maintain this muscle contraction and lift the leg up toward the ceiling while keeping your pelvis stable. Slowly lower the leg do 10 repetitions. Now roll onto the opposite side of the leg you are working. Keeping your leg straight and in line with your torso, lift the leg sideways up toward the ceiling. Slowly lower do 10 reps. Now roll onto your stomach and, without arching your back, lift the same leg up again. Slowly lower do 10 reps. Finally, roll onto the same side of the leg you are working out. Bend the top leg forward and place the foot on the ground in front of your bottom leg. Lift the bottom leg straight up toward the ceiling. Slowly lower do 10 reps. Now repeat with the other leg.
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Self Treatments For Bakers Cysts In The Knee
Have you been told that you have a baker cyst, youre getting swelling behind the knee, you probably have had a history of knee arthritis and meniscus problems as well. If this is the case, most of the time, people are left hanging with what to do about their Bakers cyst. And theyre not really fully sure about how to get their meniscus problem or their knee arthritis problem under control.
At the very root all three of these problems Baker system and discuss problems in the Arthritis problems are cartilage related. And weve got tons of videos on our channel about knee cartilage problems. Well link a playlist to all our new videos here in the description below.
But in this video today, Im going to cover with you a few things that you need to know specifically about Bakers cyst so that you can begin to treat it yourself at home. Ive got another video that talks about how Bakers cyst develops and what the signs and symptoms are for Baker cysts in case youre not sure if youve got one, go check that out. Ive also got a link in the description here below.
My name is Dr. David Middaugh. And Im a specialist physical therapist at El Paso manual physical therapy. And this channel is focused on helping people stay healthy, active and mobile. while avoiding unnecessary surgeries, injections and medications. Please subscribe to our channel so that you dont miss any of the helpful videos that we upload to our channel every week.
Diagnosis Of Inner Knee Pain
If you see your doctor with knee pain, theyll examine your knee and are likely to ask:
- when your pain started and if theres anything that makes it worse
- if theres any activity, accident or injury that could have caused it
- if you have any other symptoms such as your knee giving way or clicking, or pain in any other joints
They may suggest an X-ray or an MRI scan, but this is not always necessary. Your doctor may be able to make a diagnosis based on the examination and your symptoms.
If you have cartilage or ligament damage, your doctor may suggest a procedure to look inside your knee. This is called an arthroscopy . It involves making a small cut in your knee and inserting a thin tube and a camera. As well as helping with diagnosis, damaged tissue can be repaired or removed during the procedure.
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Will Surgery Treat And Cure Knee Pain
Surgery
Knee operations range from arthroscopic knee surgery to total knee replacement. Arthroscopic knee surgery is a very common surgical procedure that allows the physician look inside your knee through a few small holes and a fiberoptic camera. The surgeon can repair many of the injuries and remove small pieces of loose bones or cartilage. This is a common outpatient procedure.
Partial knee replacement: The surgeon replaces the damaged portions of the knee with plastic and metal parts. Because only part of the knee joint is replaced, this procedure has a shorter recovery then a total knee replacement.
Total knee replacement: In this procedure, the knee is replaced with an artificial joint.
Other therapies
Acupuncture has shown some relieve of knee pain, especially in patients with osteoarthritis. Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements have shown mixed results in research studies.
Treatment For Knee Problems
If initial treatment methods do not provide relief, and X-rays show destruction of the joint, the orthopaedist may recommend total joint replacement for the knee, also referred to as knee replacement.
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Is Anything Strange Happening
Or really, Is anything strange happening beyond your knee pain?
For example, can you still flex your knee all the way? Most people get frightened when their knee locks and cant straighten anymore. Often the culprit is called Bakers cyst, a fluid-filled sac behind the knee caused by inflammation.
A also triggers concern for many people. Nobody wants to hear a click with every step. Sometimes, its harmless, but if that clicking comes with pain, you might have a mechanical problem such as a torn meniscus, Dr. Burg says.
These are just a few examples among many. The knee is a complicated andcritical part of your everyday life. So when you have pain that comes withserious symptoms or lasts for more than a week or two, seek the right diagnosisby getting a physical exam and any necessary imaging that comes with it.
How Can I Prevent Runner’s Knee
- Keep your thigh muscles strong and limber with regular exercise.
- Use shoe inserts if you have problems that may lead to runner’s knee.
- Make sure your shoes have enough support.
- Try not to run on hard surfaces, like concrete.
- Stay in shape and keep a healthy weight.
- Warm up before you work out.
- Donât make sudden workout changes like adding squats or lunges. Add intense moves slowly.
- Ask your doctor if you should see a physical therapist.
- If your doctor or physical therapist suggests it. Try a knee brace when you work out.
- Wear quality running shoes.
- Get a new pair of running shoes once yours lose their shape or the sole becomes worn or irregular.
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Medial Collateral Ligament Injury
The medial collateral ligament runs along the outside of your inner knee to stabilize the joint. If the ligament overstretches, you may have an MCL sprain.
The MCL can also tear partially or fully. An MCL injury most commonly occurs after force is applied to the outer knee, such as in contact sports.
Symptoms of an MCL injury include:
Find Your Inner Om With Yoga
Many people use yoga as a way to stay fit and increase their sense of well-being through meditation and relaxation. Yoga is essentially a choreographed series of movements meant to open your energy centers and stretch and strengthen the muscles in the body. Yoga is generally considered safe and it is easy for beginners to pick up the basics. However, it is important to make sure that you do the poses correctly to avoid any unnecessary strain on the body and prevent injury. While there are plenty of videos and mobile apps that can help with yoga it may be a good idea to start with a class where a teacher can instruct you in the correct form.
This kind of dedicated stretching workout can be great for osteoarthritis. Because yoga is low-impact by nature and does not involve any sudden movements it likely will not put pressure on already damaged joints. Yoga can also be modified to use in a variety of ways if someone has any physical limitations.
Like swimming, yoga can also be beneficial for relieving the pain of sciatica leg pain. Because this pain is caused by pressure being placed on the sciatic nerve, anything that can take the pressure off can provide pain relief. Seated or standing spinal twists can help alleviate this pain as well as poses that open the hips.
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Osteoarthritis And Rheumatoid Arthritis
Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are two common types of arthritis that can lead to knee tightness. Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage in the knee to erode, leading to malalignment. Rheumatoid arthritis causes damage to the lining of the joints, which leads to inflammation. Both types of arthritis can lead to limited function and range of motion, deformity, and tightness.
Exercises that strengthen the surrounding muscle groups may help your range of motion and knee stability.
Inner Knee Pain After Running: Symptoms
Inner knee pain after running can come with a host of symptoms, including:
- Swelling of the knee
- Sharp pain under the kneecap
- Bruising
- Difficulty climbing stairs
- Rising from a sitting position or running
Inner knee pain tends to be intermittent and may come from any activity that puts stress on your knee joint, like running. It may feel like a sharp stabbing pain or a constant dull ache.
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