How Is Knee Pain In Teens Treated
Treatments depend on the cause of your teens pain.
Pain from overuse and general knee pain management tips include:
- Apply ice to the knee. Ice, wrapped in a towel, relieves inflammation and swelling. Apply up to 20 minutes at a time.
- Take anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen , naproxen or aspirin, to reduce pain and swelling.
- Rest. Rest allows tissue to heal. Your teen should take some time off from the activity that caused the pain.
- Use compression around your knee if prescribed by your healthcare provider or physical therapist.
- Elevate the knee to reduce swelling. Keep the injured knee elevated above the level of the heart anytime your teen is sitting or icing their knee.
- Follow through with the physical therapy plan. Physical therapy can help relieve pain, reduce swelling, increase strength and flexibility, improve range of motion, increase speed and endurance and improve coordination and balance. Physical therapists teach strengthening and stretching exercises and can suggest braces, insoles or other orthotics as appropriate.
- Lose weight if overweight. Extra weight puts strain on the knee joint.
Osgood-Schlatter disease:
- Take anti-inflammatories to reduce pain.
- Apply ice to reduce pain and swelling.
- Commit to an exercise program.
- Relieve pain and discomfort through electrotherapy and/or hydrotherapy .
Sindling-Larsen Johansson syndrome:
- Soft tissue treatments, including myofascial release, trigger points, massage.
Ligament treatment:
Aetiology Of Knee Pain
Pain when ascending or descending stairs may indicate pathology from the patellofemoral joints. This is a direct result of the increase contact pressures on the patella when the knee is loaded in a flexed position. There is an increased incidence of patellofemoral disorders in women.
Night pain is red flag symptom. The most common cause of night pain in the adult is a severe degenerative arthritis. However, night pain in a child or a young adult may indicate an underlying pathology such as infection or neoplasm. The presence of night pain in an older patient with normal plain radiology of the knee may also be a red flag symptom.
Treatment Options For Knee Pain
Many people with knee pain can be treated without surgery. Common treatments include anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen, resting the knee, ice, taping or bracing to stabilize the knee or physical therapy.
Only the people who have clear findings of mechanical problems that can be corrected surgically are candidates for surgery or arthroscopic surgery, Reznik said.
In fact, a 2015 Danish review of studies published in the British Medical Journal found that people in their 50s and older who get arthroscopic surgery for knee pain show no lasting benefits. And doctors often disagree about whether knee surgery does more harm than good.
Reznik believes it is vitally important to pay attention to your pain.
Pain has many benefits, he wrote in an article for the AAOS website. It helps the body release special chemicals that are needed for healthy healing … Using too much pain medication can override Mother Natures messages. Therefore masking pain completely with a drug is never ideal. It can lead to failure of fracture repair, increased swelling, delayed healing and missed complications.
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What Questions Might A Healthcare Provider Ask To Diagnose Arthritis Of The Knee
Your healthcare provider will interview you when you report your symptoms. Some questions might include:
- Does anyone in your family have arthritis of the knee?
- Does your knee swell up?
- Is your skin often red?
- Is your skin often warm?
- Do you have symptoms in one knee or both?
- How long have you had these symptoms?
- What medications do you take?
- How severe is your pain?
- Do you struggle to walk?
- Do the symptoms interfere with your daily activities?
What Is A Swollen Kneecap
Swollen kneecap is a body dysfunction that causes the knee to get filled with fluid, also known as water on the knee or knee effusion. This can happen either slowly or just at once depending on the reason behind it. The swollen kneecap can be caused by a small injury, arthritis or bursitis. These are the mild forms of knee swelling and cause little to no pain. These can also be treated with some over the counter medicine and some rest. The more persistent kind of knee pain means that swelling is the worst. It causes a lot of pain even while doing the daily activities like walking, running or bending etc. Sometimes even if there is no injury or disease the knee swells up for no reason. This can be because of the excessive pressure or extra work that has been done on the knee and can be treated with just rest in two days.
Our knee is a joint that is responsible for holding the weight of the whole body. Every time we do an activity, it automatically puts pressure on the kneecap. So, injury to the knee joint is very common. Sometimes the knee swelling is not the disease, but is the symptom of an underlying disease that might have bad effects on the body later. Knee swelling if not treated on time might totally make a person incapable of walking and putting pressure on their legs. Sometimes an injury in the knee if not treated properly can cause chronic knee pain and some diseases like arthritis.
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What Are We Seeing In This Image Fluid On The Knee Or In The Knee Drowns Cartilage And Meniscus Cells And Leads To Bone On Bone Knees
In this image, we see cells that are drowning. How does this happen? Arent our knees protected by synovial fluid? Dont our knees live in fluid? Isnt 90% of our body made of water? So how do cells drown?
At the start of your chronic knee problems, you were at the development phase of knee instability caused by weakened or damaged knee ligaments. As your knee became more unstable and somewhat painful your body started to send extra fluids into the knee to act as a sort of brace and extra shock absorber. Your body needs a functioning knee so your body is trying to protect your knee. As you continue on with your job and activities and your knee becomes more of a problem, your body sends more fluid to the knee. Your body is trying to tell you something. Your knee is a problem.
As knee degeneration continues cracks start developing in the articular cartilage of the knee. That is the cartilage that wraps at the bottom of the thigh bone, the back of the patella, and the top of the shinbones. Cracks and tears also develop in the meniscus. Here you are on the way to bone on bone. But it can get worse.
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How Is Arthritis Of The Knee Treated
Healthcare providers can’t cure knee arthritis. But they have some tips that might reduce the severity of your symptoms and possibly stop the arthritis from getting worse, including:
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Exercise using low-impact activities instead of high-impact activities . Aim for about 150 minutes of exercise per week.
- Wear shock-absorbing inserts in your shoes.
- Apply heat or ice to the area.
- Wear a knee sleeve or brace.
- Physical therapy exercises that help with flexibility, strength and motion.
- Use a cane.
Most people have stage 4 arthritis when they get surgery.
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Is It Better To Heat Or Ice A Knee With Arthritis
For an acute injury, such as a pulled muscle or injured tendon, the usual recommendation is to start by applying ice to reduce inflammation and dull pain. Once inflammation has gone down, heat can be used to ease stiffness. For a chronic pain condition, such as osteoarthritis, heat seems to work best.
What Causes Swelling On The Right Side Of The Leg
Many factors varying greatly in severity can cause leg swelling. Leg swelling caused by the retention of fluid in leg tissues is known as peripheral edema. It can be caused by a problem with the venous circulation system, the lymphatic system or the kidneys. Leg swelling isnt always a sign of a heart or circulation problem.
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What Are The Stages Of Arthritis Of The Knee
There are five stages of osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis that affects your knees:
- Stage 0 . If youre at stage 0, your knees are healthy. You dont have arthritis of the knee.
- Stage 1 . Stage 1 means that youve got some wear and tear in your knee joint. You probably wont notice pain.
- Stage 2 . The mild stage is when you might start to feel pain and stiffness, but theres still enough cartilage to keep the bones from actually touching.
- Stage 3 . If youre at the moderate stage, youll have more pain, especially when running, walking, squatting, and kneeling. Youll likely notice it after long periods of rest . You’re probably in a great deal of pain because the cartilage has narrowed even further and there are many bone spurs.
- Stage 4 . Severe osteoarthritis means that the cartilage is almost gone. Your knee is stiff, painful and possibly immobile. You might need surgery.
Gradual Knee Swelling Without An Injury
A swollen knee that develops gradually is usual a sign of an underlying knee condition rather than an injury. The fluid on the knee tends to come and go and varies in amount. There is usually only mild to moderate amounts of swelling in these cases.
Arthritisis the most common cause of gradual knee swelling, often referred to as water on the knee. Arthritis is the wear and tear of the cartilage and bones. It causes the body to produce extra fluid in the knee, which fluctuates in amounts. Other symptoms of arthritis include stiffness and crepitus .
Sometimes if the leg has been overworked, or gets knocked or twisted, the joint gets irritated and responds by producing more fluid to try and protect and heal itself, hence the term water on the knee.
Visit the Arthritissection to find out more including causes, symptoms and treatment options.
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Getting A Diagnosis For Swollen Knee
Chronic swelling can cause permanent damage to the joint tissue, cartilage and bone. It is therefore important to ask your doctor for advice if your swelling doesnt go down.
They’ll discuss your symptoms and carry out a physical examination.
They may arrange for you to have some tests. These may include an:
They may also arrange for you to have joint aspiration. This is when a fine needle is inserted into the swollen area to check for blood, bacteria or crystals
When Will My Knee Feel Better
The recovery time depends on your injury. Also, some people naturally heal faster than others.
While you get better, ask your doctor if you can do an activity that won’t aggravate your knee pain. For instance, runners could try swimming or other types of lower-impact cardio.
Whatever you do, don’t rush things. Donât try to return to your regular level of physical activity until you notice these signs:
- You feel no pain in your knee when you bend or straighten it.
- You feel no pain in your knee when you walk, jog, sprint, or jump.
- Your injured knee feels as strong as the other knee.
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Torn Cartilage Or Ligament
Common types of injuries in this category include tears in the anterior cruciate ligament and the medial collateral ligament that often occur during sports, according to Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush. Symptoms of an ACL are a loud popping sound and immediate pain, followed by swelling and knee instability with difficulty walking. Symptoms of an MCL include pain when pressure is put on the ligament and with a complete tear greater pain, swelling and an inability to straighten the leg, Midwest Orthopaedics says.
Trauma Or Sports Injury
Trauma is a common cause of swelling in the knee. In these instances the fluid in the knee might be blood from a meniscus tear or an ACL tear. If you have a very swollen knee after a traumatic injury you should see an Orthopedic Surgeon to determine what type of injury you might have sustained. X-rays are important to be sure there isnt a fracture around the knee. Most injuries that result in significant swelling due to bleeding have a meniscus tear, fracture, or ligament tear such as an ACL tear.The swelling from an acute injury will diminish over time as the blood is reabsorbed. Cartilage injuries are less common, but still on the list of possibilities.
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What Are The Potential Complications Of Behind Knee Swelling
Swelling related to cancers may have life-threatening consequences, which depend on the type and stage of the . Left untreated, swelling due to abscesses or serious infections may lead to widespread infection in the body. Behind knee swelling and associated symptoms can be due to serious diseases, so failure to seek treatment can result in serious complications and permanent damage.
Once the underlying cause is diagnosed, it is important for you to follow the treatment plan that you and your health care professional design specifically for you to reduce the risk of potential complications including:
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How Is Knee Pain In Teens Diagnosed
Your healthcare provider will ask about your teens knee pain:
- Is there a known cause for the knee pain does it happen with certain movements or is there no specific known event?
- How long has the pain been present?
- Where on or around your knee do you feel pain?
- Does the pain wake you up at night?
Your provider will perform a physical exam, checking:
- Kneecap and knee stability.
- Alignment of lower leg, kneecap and thigh.
- Range of motion of hips and knees.
- Thigh muscle strength, flexibility, firmness.
Your provider may order imaging tests including X-rays or a CT scan or MRI .
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Arthritis And Other Joint Problems
Several diseases and conditions can make your legs swell:
- Gout: A sudden painful attack caused by uric acid crystals in your joints that usually follows drinking heavily or eating rich foods. Learn more about the symptoms of gout.
- Knee bursitis: Inflammation in a bursa, a fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between bone and muscle, skin, or tendon. Learn how to treat knee bursitis.
- Osteoarthritis: The wear and tear type that erodes cartilage. Learn more about osteoarthritis symptoms.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: A disease where your immune system attacks tissues in your joints. Learn more about rheumatoid arthritis.
You May Have An Autoimmune Condition
In addition to rheumatoid arthritis, a number of other autoimmune conditionsin which the immune system attacks the body in various wayscan contribute to swelling and pain throughout the body, including in the knees.
Though less common, systemic autoimmune conditions, like lupus, may cause swelling, Dr. Gladstone says. Like Lyme, these conditions may explain inflammation in the knees when nothing else can. Along with pain and swelling, people with autoimmune conditions often experience chronic fatigue, muscle aches, and low fevers.
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Bursitis Could Be To Blame
Often confused with arthritis, bursitis is another condition that can cause swollen knees. Bursitis is a reaction in which sacks of fluids, blood vessels, and nerve endings that cushion your jointscalled bursaebecome inflamed, explains Dr. Gladstone. Typically, bursitis occurs across the front of the knees as a result of excess pressure and friction on the joint over time.
Those little blood vessels bleed and the bursa produces excess fluid, which creates this giant, swollen pouchlike a bubble of fluid just below the skin, Dr. Gladstone says. These inflamed pouches, which can take on all sorts of shapes and sizes, can be incredibly painful to put pressure on.
Bursitis is most common in people who work a lot on their knees, like carpenters, plumbers, and tile-setters, says Dr. Gladstone. However, a good fall can cause bursitis, too.
Lifestyle And Home Remedies
Taking care of yourself when you have a swollen knee includes:
- Rest. Avoid weight-bearing activities as much as possible.
- Ice and elevation. To control pain and swelling, apply ice to your knee for 15 to 20 minutes every two to four hours. When you ice your knee, raise your knee higher than the level of your heart, using pillows for comfort.
- Pain relievers. Over-the-counter medicines such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help reduce your knee pain.
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Other Causes Of A Swollen Knee
Usually, knee swelling remains inside the knee joint as the joint capsule acts like a barrier, preventing the fluid from escaping.
However, it can also occur outside the joint capsule, known as extra-articular swelling. The most common types of swelling outside the joint capsule are:
1. Knee Bursitis:Bursa are small fluid filled sacs that sit between bones and soft tissues to reduce friction. If there is excessive friction on them, they get inflamed. You tend to get pockets of swelling rather than general swelling of the whole knee.
Swelling in front of the knee cap of usually caused by Pre-Patellar Bursitis, aka Housemaids Knee.Swelling behind the knee, often like a squashy orange, is usually due to Popliteal Bursitis, aka Bakers Cyst. Swelling on the inner side of the knee may be due to Pes Anserine Bursitis. Visit the Bursitissection to find out more, including treatment information.
2. Haematoma: Blunt trauma to the soft tissues around the knee can cause bleeding. The blood collects around the muscles and can build up into a hard lump. If there is only a small amount of bleeding it is usually referred to as a contusion/bruise.