Tailbone Pain Without Injury: Causes And Treatments
May 09, 2021
Most offices dont spring for the most expensive, most comfortable office chairs, leaving their employees to instead sit in uncomfortable office chairs for long periods of time that can cause damage to the neck, back, spine, buttocks, and hips over the years.
However, upgrading to a new office chair, especially one made to treat tailbone or another type of lower back pain associated with prolonged sitting, can be expensive. Instead, you should look into other more affordable relief options, such as alternative chair types and seat cushions.
When To See A Doctor
- Can’t bear weight on your knee or feel as if your knee is unstable or gives out
- Have marked knee swelling
- Are unable to fully extend or flex your knee
- See an obvious deformity in your leg or knee
- Have a fever, in addition to redness, pain and swelling in your knee
- Have severe knee pain that is associated with an injury
Apply home knee pain remedies with MrTherapy Patches:
Treatment For Tailbone Pain
There are many different options for treatment for tailbone pain. In most cases, if you see a doctor, theyll instruct you first to try to relieve your pain at home. More severe injuries to the tailbone, such as breaks or fractures, may require surgery. The only way to know is with a physical exam and a scan like an x-ray, CT scan, or MRI.
If youre a candidate for it, you can have surgery performed to remove the coccyx. This is only recommended when all other treatment options have failed and youre left with pain that refuses to subside. Most people do not get this surgery.
Occasionally, when at-home treatment doesnt work, you can opt for physical therapy. A physical therapist will show you how to relax your pelvic floor to provide relief for the pain youre experiencing. They can also help you adjust poor posture and reduce joint pain.
Many patients find relief for their tailbone pain by getting a massage. A massage can help relieve tension in the muscles, reducing any discomfort. You can also try manipulation, which is done through the rectum. During manipulation, the muscles attached to the tailbone are massaged to relieve pain.
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Pseudogout: Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition
Like gout, pseudogout is caused by the build-up of microscopic crystals in a joint and leads to sudden joint pain, redness, warmth, and swelling.
Pseudogout is less common than gout, but it is more likely to affect the knee joint.
The microscopic crystals that cause pseudogout are calcium phosphate crystals.
Pseudogout is also referred to as pseudogout as calcium pyrophosphate deposition or acute calcium crystal arthritis.
Common Causes Of Knee Pain Without Injury
Of all the joints, our knees are arguably the ones most likely to feel pain. Lots of injuries can cause knee pain. Car accidents, falls and sports accidents are some of the most common causes of knee injuries, like fractures, torn ligaments and sprains. Even though its never fun to experience knee pain, when it follows an injury, at least you have a pretty good idea whats causing your discomfort. And that can make it a little easier to seek and receive proper treatment.
Sometimes though, knee pain occurs without a preceding injury. In those cases, it can be tempting to ignore the pain at first to see if it subsides on its own. The problem is, even though you might not have had an accident, the issue causing your pain can still be serious. And delaying care can wind up prolonging your symptoms and even making them worse.
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You Notice An Obvious Deformity
If you notice your knee jutting outward in a way it never has before, take note. A dislocated or fractured patella can cause injuries like this, explains Brian Schwabe, C.S.C.S., board-certified sports physical therapist based in Los Angeles.
While some deformities occur over time, when the deformity is a result of an injury, it could be the result of a fracture or chronic wear on the knee joint. If you are already experiencing any kind of misalignment in your lower extremities, then you could be more prone to this type of injury.
If you notice a bone deformity after an injury, he recommends seeking the assistance of an orthopedic doctor immediately. The doctor will likely take x-rays as well as perform a visual diagnosis to determine if you need surgery.
Are You Getting Any Other Symptoms With The Pain
The first thing we need to do is to exclude the red flags. Two potential causes of unexplained pain are infections and tumours. Emphasis on the word potential: these causes are unlikely, so we dont want to be alarmist. But a consultant will want to eliminate them. If your pain is severe, if it occurs particularly at night, if theres increased heat, redness or swelling in the knee these are good reasons to seek prompt medical advice.
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For Ligament Cartilage And Joint Tears
Ligament, cartilage and joint tears in your knee will need to be addressed by your doctor.
After imaging diagnostics and a clinical assessment, your doctor will let you know if your treatment will include physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medication, or if youll need to undergo surgery to repair the injury.
Recovery from knee surgery can take some time. It may take anywhere from 6 months to a year to resume your normal activities.
Treatments For Sudden Knee Pain Without Injury
What treatments can provide pain relief? The condition of your wound will lead to treatment. Likewise your preferences. It is best to consider the full menu of available options. This includes:
1. Exercise and physical therapy
Unlike running, walking is a low-impact exercise that can help stimulate joint fluid and soften your joints. A dedicated walking method can reduce inflammation and reduce joint stiffness of the knee. However, it takes the right form and location to implement this properly without causing unnecessary hassle. Studies show that by regaining your mobility and preventing horizontal or vertical surfaces, you avoid getting your knee muscles and joints out of tension.
Muscle strengthening exercises are also known as resistance training. These types of exercises do not directly affect the knee joint, but help to strengthen the surrounding muscles. Strong leg muscles provide excellent support to the knee and thus reduce pressure and strain on the joints. This helps to reduce pain and prevent further injury. In strengthening muscles, any type of resistance is important. It can come from exercise machines, straight bands, free weights and even your body weight . Knee band exercises, for example, can improve knee stability which also increases pain relief.
2. Lifestyle
While in some cases knee pain can lead to procedures such as injections, stem therapy, or surgery, lifestyle changes can often solve problems. For example:
Assistive and alternative medicine
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What Causes Knee Pain Without An Injury
Sometimes the cause of severe knee pain is apparent.
Knee injuries caused by a twist, misstep, accident, or strain can strike at any time during a walk or a run.
But many people suffer knee pain without an injury and are unsure of the source of their pain.
Most people make the assumption that knee pain will just go away or if it isnt the result of an injury that it isnt a big deal.
Sometimes that may be true, but any pain in your knee should be taken seriously.
Damage to your knee joint can happen slowly over time.
It can also have as significant an impact on you as a traumatic knee injury would.
The first thing we should do is stop making assumptions.
Any time you feel pain, something in your body isnt right.
As a result, any time you feel pain, its never a bad idea to your knee pain medically reviewed by specialists like the ones at Ethos Health Group.
Knee pain specialists can get to the bottom of your pain so they can help relieve some of your distress.
If you havent suffered an injury, it will be imperative for your doctor to make a correct diagnosis to fix your pain.
If you havent suffered an injury, what are the causes of knee pain?
In the article below, we will discuss the most common causes of knee pain without an injury.
Check out a related blog post: Common Causes of Chronic Knee Pain.
You Felt Or Heard A Pop
Sometimes, a popping sound after a movement can indicate something is out of place.
Oftentimes this type of sound upon injury is indicative of a ligamentous injury, says Schwabe. Not all ligamentous injuries are full tears, though, and not all require surgery.
However, if you also experience excessive swelling and instability, get it checked out by an M.D. If you only have a mild sprain then you will be able to rehab it with physical therapy, he says.
The pop is what you hear as a result of a ligament tear, a meniscus tear, strained tendons, or a dislocated kneecap. Usually what happens is youll simultaneously hear and feel the pop.
If youre not familiar with the meniscus, its the cartilage in the knee that functions as a shock absorber. Each knee has two menisci, and theyre shaped like horseshoes. The medial meniscus is on the inside of the knee, and the lateral meniscus is on the outside.
The popping sensation can be difficult to explain, but youll certainly know it when it happens to you. Though the sound originates in the knee, youll hear it as though it was directly in your ear. Its as if the sensation travels up your body, and when it gets to your brain, it becomes audible.
If the pain is severe, youll want to visit a doctor as soon as possible. Surgery is often the recommended course of action, but physical therapy and other non-invasive remedies may be prescribed as alternatives.
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How A Knee Works
To understand the potential problems with your knee and why it hurts when you bend it, you need to understand the joint itself. Biologists refer to the knee joint as a hinge joint. This means it can both bend and straighten.
Here are the main parts of your knee and the ways they work together when you bend your knee:
- Muscles: You have three major muscles that work together for your knee to move. Your quadriceps , hamstring , and calf all work together. When you bend your knee, for example, your hamstrings contract and your quads relax.
- Bones: Your femur , tibia and patella work together to make your knee bend. The patella sits in a groove in your femur, and the upper and lower leg bones will roll, glide, and spin around the patella. Your muscles control how those bones move.
- Cartilage: Your knee has cartilage in the knee cap, cushioning the bones so you have shock absorption. The meniscus is that cartilage. It is a spongy substance that moves with the movement of your upper and lower thigh bones.
- Ligaments and tendons: these are the stringy tissues that connect your bones to bones and bones to muscles . They stabilize your knee so it does not go crooked as you bend. They keep the knee joint in line with your hip and ankle.
How Old Are You
Your age is also an important factor in determining why youve developed knee pain without any obvious injury. If youre over 50, osteoarthritis is a higher possibility . This is a very common wear-and-tear condition, where time and rubbing slowly reduce the protective layer of cartilage on your bones. This often leads to a constant aching pain after activity, or at night. But adolescents also seem to be particularly susceptible to unexplained knee pain. One of the most common issues is Osgood Schlatters, where tightened thigh muscle pulls on the knobbly bone below the knee , resulting in pain and swelling. Another is Plica pain the Plica is a congenital remnant of the shelf-like tissue on the inside of the knee. This normally disintegrates as we reach maturity. But in some young people it can persist, which results in painful friction in the knee.
This is of course just a starting point for unexplained knee pain. What happens next? In the first instance you may want to treat your knee with rest, icing and painkillers to see whether the issue disappears naturally.
But if it persists or becomes severe, youll want to see a medic as soon as possible. This might be your GP. But you can also do it directly with us here at Chris Bailey Orthopaedics we can often scan, diagnose and get you started on treatment within one or two appointments. Getting to the roots of any problem, after all, is the first step to overcoming it.
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Your Knee Keeps Buckling
When you got hurt, did it feel like your knee gave way underneath you? Were not talking about a temporary sensation of weakness or some wobbliness, but more like your shin and thigh bone werent connecting or staying in place. A buckling knee could signal an ACL tear or a cruciate ligament injury.
It could start with a small pop or crack, or you could feel it after a strenuous exercise session or a soccer game.
Either way, your knee feels unstable or weak. Your knee may give out momentarily, which is scary because you might not trust yourself to walk safely when this happens. According to Dr. Howard Luks, an orthopedic surgeon, this could indicate a tear in the patella or the quadriceps tendon.
These tendons are on the front of your knees and offer a lot of support to keep you upright. If theyre not in top form, youre bound to feel weak in the knees , and you might not be able to walk at all. If this is the case, you could need surgery.
On the other hand, the weakness could be temporary, caused by wear and tear, improper footwear, or a strain. If youre a weekend warrior or youre over the age of 30 , you might experience this symptom on a regular basis.
However, if the weakness is recurring and happens every time you exercise, its possible you have a time bomb thats waiting to happen. When in doubt, seek advice from a physician.
If your knee buckles under you when you are walking, then it usually indicates instability, she says.
Is Walking Is Good For Knee Pain
Short Answer
Sometimes yes, but not for all time!
You should know how and when your walking is good for knee pain and please make sure you know the answer to what can cause knee pain without injury.
Due to osteoarthritis, if you have little pain in your knees then walking with proper guidelines will help you to mobilize knee joint fluid and make joints flexible. You should walk so that you move your knee joints. It will be helpful to reduce your pain as well as help you find stiffness, pain, and fatigue improve with walking. But if you have strong pain in your knee then you should take rest and follow the guideline of your physician.
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Get Knee Pain Looked At Early
If you have unexplained knee pain, visit your doctor or physical therapist as soon as you can. This will keep the pain from getting worse and help you avoid costly treatments like surgery with longer recovery periods.
When you start to feel the effects of inflammation, go see a physical therapist, Holland says. Tell them how youre doing so that you can change your body mechanics. You can change the way youre actually loading your joints, and then youll fare a whole lot better.
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Shoulder Pain Without Injury: 6 Common Causes
Joshua M. Zimmerman, M.D. contributes to topics such as Orthopedics.
Your shoulder is killing you, but you cant think of anything you did to make it hurt.
I didnt fall.
I didnt get into a fight.
I didnt go all out at the gym.
Well, there are several conditions that cause discomfort but arent caused by a traumatic activity. How can you identify whats wrong and how to make your shoulder feel better?
Joshua Zimmerman, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon with Hackensack Meridian Health Medical Group, helps by sharing six of the most common causes of shoulder pain without injury that he sees in his patients regularly.
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Worst Knee Pain Causes That Cant Be Ignored
Knee pain is an extremely common ailment, with pain levels ranging from mildly annoying to severe and debilitating. Knee pain causes are just as varied: excess weight, injury, illness, etc Regardless, a knee pain diagnosis is useless without knowing what caused it, how to fix it, and how to prevent future knee pain. Your knee joint is actually fairly complex . Bones of the knee include:
- tibia and fibula
- patella
- femur
Cartilage:
- meniscus the menisci are found on the ends of the femur and tibia and at the back of the patella
Bursae :
Tendons and ligaments of the knee:
- anterior cruciate ligament
- quadriceps tendon
- patellar tendon
Any bone or soft tissue of the knee can be injured or affected by certain medical conditions. Symptoms of knee problems include knee joint pain , swelling, general soreness, difficulty bending or straightening the leg, and even hip or foot pain.