Conventional Treatments For Knee Pain
Ron Torrance II, D.O, a Sports Medicine Trained Physician at the New ReGeneration Orthopedics of Florida, says he commonly sees knee pain-related conditions among his younger patients who are generally fit especially runners, female athletes and anyone who uses their legs in other repetitive ways
Dr. Torrance feels that an often overlooked aspect of treating knee pain is the need for different interventions depending on someones current fitness level. For example, a young woman who experiences knee pain after running for several months will benefit from a much different treatment approach than an older man with osteoarthritis of the knees.
When treating knee pain injuries, Dr. Torrance first looks at his patients symptoms and then discusses their lifestyle and exercise habits. Knee pain treatment should always depend on which specific part of the knee is injured and the underlying cause of the pain. Even if medications and corrective devices like knee braces are needed to treat knee pain, exercises, stretching and other functional medicine practices should also be incorporated to help with recovery and injury prevention.
Aside from resting the knee after an acute injury, conventional treatments for chronic knee pain that lasts more than several weeks include:
Lack Of Sleep Makes Pain Worse
It can be easy to get stuck in a cycle where you cant sleep because of knee pain. That lack of sleep can actually make your pain worse. Sleep is vital for healing and rejuvenation. Without sleep, you have less energy to expend on healing as you need to focus your bodily processes on staying alert and awake.If nighttime knee pain causes you to toss and turn, you may end up accidentally further straining your knee by sleeping in an uncomfortable position.
Other Injuries And Conditions
Because the knee is the largest joint in your body, it is prone to injury and strain. If you fall or bump your knee, you may experience pain from bruising. If youve fractured any of the three bones in your knee, you may experience weakness, sharp pain, or deep throbbing sensations.
Rheumatoid arthritis can present similar symptoms to osteoarthritis, but this autoimmune condition may require different treatments than joint damage caused by the wear-and-tear typical of aging.
If you are experiencing knee pain that interrupts your daily life and persists after several days of rest, consider consulting with a doctor.
Read Also: What Are The Best Volleyball Knee Pads
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.
What Causes Knee Pain At Night
Our knees are complex joints responsible for bearing the weight of our bodies as it travels to our feet. They literally help us move through the world smoothly, connecting four bonesthe femur, the tibia, the fibula, and the patellaand two major muscles groups .
Connecting and stabilizing these bones and muscles are ligaments and tendons, including:
- The anterior cruciate ligament : Located on the front of the knee, the ACL prevents the femur from moving backwards onto the tibia
- The posterior cruciate ligament : The PCL keeps the femur nestled back where it belongs
- Medial ligaments: Stabilize the inside of the knee
- Lateral ligaments: Stabilizs the outside of the knee
In addition to this, articular cartilage lines the patella to smooth movement, as does the meniscus tissue that allows the femur and tibia to glide together. Bursa are fluid-filled sacs inside the joint. They further cushion movement, preventing painful bone against bone rubbing.
Any part of this structure can develop painful conditions or suffer from issues that could cause knee pain at night. In general, the five main causes of knee pain at night are:
You May Like: How Much Is Total Knee Replacement Surgery
Taming Tendinitis In The Knee
Tendons are the bands of fibrous tissue that attach muscle to bone. Tendinitis tendon inflammation is often a repetitive strain injury. You get it by repeating the same motion over and over, which irritates the tendon. Joints commonly affected by tendinitis include the elbow, heel, and wrist.
Weekend warriors often develop tendinitis in the knees. Simply being overweight can also contribute to knee tendinitis. Age is another risk factor. Over time, tendons become less flexible and the involved muscles lose strength, both of which further stress the tendons. Inflexible hamstring and quadricep muscles make you more susceptible as well.
Symptoms of tendinitis of the knee include:
- pain above or below the kneecap
- swelling
- pain that recurs with particular activities and eases with rest
- in severe cases, pain becomes constant and can even disrupt sleep
Here are some simple steps you can take to quell tendinitis pain. At the first sign of trouble:
- limit activities that put stress on your knees
- apply ice
Exercises To Help Relieve Knee Arthritis Pain
The most common cause of knee arthritis is osteoarthritis, which becomes more common with increasing age. Over time, the cartilage in your knee joint wears away causing pain and tenderness while using your knee.
“The stronger your leg muscles are, the more they can help cushion your knee joint during impact and during exercise,” explains Dr. Brooks.
But, you’ve likely already noticed that some common leg-strengthening workouts, such as running or jumping, actually worsen your knee pain.
“High-impact weight-bearing exercises aren’t recommended for people whose knee pain is due to arthritis,” says Dr. Brooks.
Instead, Dr. Brooks recommends improving your knee mobility by stretching;regularly especially your quadriceps, hamstring, and calf muscles and increasing your knee stability by performing low-impact leg strengthening exercises, such as:
- Riding an exercise bike
- Using an elliptical
- Swimming
- Water-based workouts, such as walking, high-stepping, kickboarding or other exercises you can perform while holding on to the ledge of the pool
“Performing water-based exercise is a really good way for a person with arthritis in the knee to maintain his or her overall fitness,” explains Dr. Brooks. “The buoyancy effect of water can relieve the pressure on the joints, making conditioning and strengthening exercises much more comfortable.”
Recommended Reading: When To Go To Er For Knee Pain
Apple Cider Vinegar And Other Foods
According to some sources, apple cider vinegar has anti-inflammatory properties that can help relieve arthritis and other types of pain.
However, there is a lack of scientific evidence to support this. The Arthritis Foundation refers to ACV as a food myth.
Other popular advice for arthritis includes:
- consuming collagen, gelatin, or pectin, and raw foods.
- avoiding dairy, acidic foods, and nightshade vegetables, such as tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplant
There is no evidence to suggest that these are helpful or even advisable.
Pain at the front of the knee is one of the most common aches and pains. It is second only to lower back pain around a quarter of people will get it at some point in their lives.
It commonly affects teenagers, especially young female athletes. It is the most common overuse syndrome in sportspeople.
Most cases of front knee pain are injuries from overuse, or from poor preparation for exercise. The problems usually go away on their own, and sporting activities can resume after the pain subsides.
The pain varies but tends to:
- be a dull ache that starts gradually, and is linked to activities
- produce clicking or other sounds
- come on when going upstairs, or when getting up after a long time sitting, squatting down, or kneeling
- produce a weakness in the legs
Recommended treatments for front knee pain include:
Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, sprains, and gout are some of the most common causes of knee pain.
Bone On Bone Knee Pain Relief : Best 5 Options
Also referred to as Osteoarthritis of the knee, bone on bone knee pain is a common problem. The study shows that more than 20 million Americans suffer from this disability. Whereas the problem is mostly associated with old age, young people are also not spared. There are several factors that can lead to Osteoarthritis of the knee. To some, the problem is hereditary. To others, it occurs as a result of an infection, injury, or being overweight.
Bone on bone happens when the knee cartilage wears out. This is the natural cushioning between the joint bones. When it no longer exists, the bones tend to rub against each other. This results in pain, stiffness, and inflammation which limit flexibility.
You May Like: Can You Get Arthritis In Your Knee
Cortisone Shots In The Knee Do They Really Work
Are you considering getting cortisone shots in your knee? Although cortisone injections have been used for the past fifty years, some physicians are concerned that they may have adverse long-term side effects. Despite this, many patients experience significant pain relief from corticosteroid shots depending on your circumstances this treatment may be right for you.
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.
Don’t Miss: How Long Is Knee Surgery
What Can You Do For Bone
Bone on bone knee pain is treatable. The treatment aims at relieving pain and enabling movement again. Below are the various ways you can treat osteoarthritis;
Complications Of Bone Spur In Knee
Bone spurs can make a person feel downright miserable, but thats not all. They can come with complications. Some people also experience permanent damage to the nerves in the knee, while others have to go through more than one treatment because surgery only brings relief temporarily and the bone spur grows back. With no treatment, bone spurs can cause severe pain and impact surrounding structures like tendons and nerves. In many cases, people with bone spurs in the knee have extreme pain when they walk.
Don’t Miss: How To Reduce Swelling In Knee Quickly
Youre Trying To Relax
When your body is at rest, you may notice the mild to moderate pains that you could more easily ignore when your mind was preoccupied with busy thoughts during your waking hours.Additionally, when you sleep, your body produces less cortisol. While high cortisol levels can lead to heart disease, healthier levels can help your body reduce inflammation.
Since most joint pains are caused by or worsened by inflammation, moderate amounts of cortisol can help your body manage this inflammation. But when your body is relaxed, such as when youre trying to go to sleep, your body has less cortisol to mitigate the swelling and irritation in your knees.
Exercise 2: Tibial Rotations
This open-chain exercise works to activate the muscles that rotate your tibia. Your tibia doesnt move as much as your foot does, but it does internally and externally rotate.
If your tibial rotation is limited, it will lead to excess stress on the knee. Utilize this exercise to restore the movement and make sure your knee is functioning optimally.
- Sit on the floor and flex your right knee as much as you can
- Rotate your shin bone internally as much as you can, pausing at the end range, then rotate it externally and pause at end range
- Complete 5 rotations in either direction, then straighten your leg out a bit at repeat
- Continue completing the tibial rotations at 4 or 5 different angles of knee flexion, then repeat on the other leg
Also Check: How To Pop Your Knee
Why Do Knee Cap Exercises
The VMO muscles should be working the whole time when the knee moves, but if there is knee pain or there has been a kneecap injury such as a dislocation, they often switch off and stop working properly.
Regular quads strengthening exercises e.g. squats and lunges, dont specifically target the VMO muscles. They need to be strengthened in a slightly different way.
Here you will find some easy to perform yet effective knee cap exercises for the VMO muscles. They will improve your patellar tracking and the stability of your knee.
What Other Alternatives Are There
Other Pharmacological Treatments: There are other types of injections for the knee joint such as hyaluronic acid and Platelet Rich Plasma that could provide a similar benefit. Various prescription and over the counter oral anti-inflammatorydrugs can also provide quick relief from pain. However, many of them come with a high risk of adverse side-effects.
Non-Drug Treatments: If you are worried about the risk of negative side effects associated with injections and oral pain killers conservative treatmentmay be for you. The focus here is to avoid/delay surgery, get you off painkilling drugs and improve the health of your knee joint.
Offloader Knee Braces: If you have knee osteoarthritis and want to preserve what cartilage you have left, offloader knee braces could be the right fit for you. These knee braces actively reduce the pressure between the bones in your knee joint significantly reducing pain.
What Causes Pain Above The Knee Cap
When knee cap pain is felt just above or at the top of the kneecap, the most likely cause is Quadriceps Tendonitis. The top of the patella is usually tender to touch and the knee pain gets worse with activity.;
If there is also marked weakness and swelling, it may indicate a complete quads tendon rupture which will likely need surgery.
What Is The Best Knee Brace For Knee Pain Relief
During the recovery process, it is highly recommended to wear medical knee support which can;stabilize;the knee joint.
Bauerfeinds GenuTrain Knee brace;protects and stabilizes the knee joint. It features an;omega-shaped gel pad;that surrounds the knee cap. This gel pad has integrated massaging points which help to;alleviate pain;and;pressure;in the structures of the patella tendon and meniscus.
The;GenuTrain Knee Brace;is also engineered from a breathable knitted fabric, making it comfortable to be worn over long periods of time whilst also compressing at a medical-grade.
How To Treat A Knee Bone Spur
Knee bone spur treatment is not necessary if you arent experiencing any pain. If you have mild to moderate pain, bone spur in the knee treatment can include attempts to relieve pain and stiffness in the joints. For instance, losing weight can help decrease the load on your knees and thus lower the pain.
The following are considered common treatments for bone spurs in the knee:
The Top 10 Acupressure Points To Helps Relieve Knee Pain
This area is located just behind the knee on either side. Use your index finger and your pointer finger to apply pressure, hold for ten minutes. This decrease knee pain, edema muscle cramps, tension and varicose veins.
This areas located underneath the kneecap on the outside of your leg. Massage the area in a circular motion for five. You can add a little pressure if you like.
Its located on the outside crease of a bent knee. Apply pressure in a circular motion, for ten minutes. This decreases pain and stiffness.
Apply pressure on the middle area behind the knee, at the knee joint crease. This helps relieve back pain, sciatica pain, knee stiffness and arthritis
This is two inches, or four fingers down from the kneecap, and a finger width toward the outside.; Putting pressure on this area will stop knee pain, help with muscle tone and strengthen your body.
This pressure point is inside the knee at the end of the bent knee crease. It relieves pain and swelling of the knee and fibroids.
This pressure points located on the outer lower leg, below and in front of the head of the shin bone. It helps with muscle tension, strain aches,;and knee pain.
Do this for 7 minutes, repeating three times a day. This relieves tension in your knee, abdominal pain,;and disorders of the genitals.