Self Help For Knee Pain
When knee pain is severe, limiting your activities or has persisted for a long time its best to speak to your own doctor for a diagnosis and for advice on the best knee pain treatment for your condition, says Dr Rhianna McClymont.
In the meantime, theres a few simple ways you can look after your knees, prevent any further damage and help manage your symptoms.
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Rest your knee to reduce any repetitive strain and give yourself time to heal a really important one if youre getting knee pain from exercise, or knee pain from walking
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Ice your knee to minimise swelling, which works well for acute and chronic knee conditions
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Protect your knee from further trauma with knee padding or a splint, to help keep your knee straight and avoid knee pain when walking up stairs
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Elevate your knee as much as you can to help reduce swelling and minimise knee pain from sitting
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Compress your knee with a brace or wrap to reduce knee inflammation – speak to a doctor if youre not sure how to apply correctly or whether this is suitable for your knee
Rare Causes Of A Swollen Knee
Recognize Heat From Inflammation
When the knees feel hot after exercising, it is a sign of increased blood flow to the joint. The vessels transport warmer blood from the center of the body to the knee joint.
Heat, swelling, pain and redness are the four key signs of inflammation, according to Mayo Clinic. The bodys inflammatory response is designed to heal injured tissue and fight infections.
However, continuous inflammation can lead to tissue destruction and joint damage. It is important to determine the cause of inflammation so it can be treated appropriately to prevent further damage.
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Sounds Familiar You Can Find The Answer Below:
The three major signs of inflammation anywhere on the body are heat, redness, and pain. Heat and redness mean a slight injury which might have caused the inflammation. The fact that you feel the heat in that area is a sign that the tissues around your knee may be inflamed. It can be quite a painful condition if not taken care of in time. Inflammationis less significant when there is no redness or pain.
Swelling is another sign of joint trouble, normally seen near knee joints with inflammation. Thus, the heat is produced as a result of a reaction of the collection of muscles, tendons, and ligaments to the exertion.
It appears to me that you are pushing your limits, taking your muscles beyond a place where they can function comfortably. Though pushing your limits is always appreciated and it surprises the body every time but if you are not careful, you might hurt yourself too.
The best advice I can give you is to get assessed at a sports medicine clinic. A quick inquiry within your local health authorities will help you find one nearby. Thus, you will get relief from the pain and you do not have to spend anxious moments wondering what is wrong with your health.
If you fail this, go for the services of a specialist physiotherapist, one with experience in dealing with sportsmen. You can get a complete list from your local GP.
Rapid Knee Swelling After An Injury
A swollen knee that develops immediately after an injury, within minutes, is usually due to haemarthrosis, where blood accumulates in the joint. Essentially what happens is that a structure inside the knee gets damaged and starts to bleed, building up pressure in the joint.
Knee swelling after an injury is normally profuse and the knee balloons up. It will feel tense and very sore and is often accompanied by bruising, although that may take longer to develop.
There are three main injuries that cause a swollen knee from a haemarthrosis:
1. Ligament Tear:Where a knee ligament ruptures . This is the most common cause and usually involves the ACL . Other symptoms include instability and pain Learn More >
2. Meniscus Tear:A tear in the outer rim of the cartilage lining the knee. Associated symptoms include locking and pain on stairs and when squatting Learn More >
3. Bone Fracture: A break in one of the knee bones such as a patellar fracture. In most cases, it will be obvious if you have broken a bone Learn More >
A swollen knee caused by a haemarthrosis like these needs urgent medical attention.
Choose from the links or visit the Knee Injuries section to find out more about these common causes of knee swelling, including symptoms and treatment options.
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Understanding Knee Pain In Young Adults
Sore, aching knees might seem like a problem only older people experience, but guess what? Plenty of younger people have knee pain, too. But while the symptoms may feel similar, younger people tend to have knee pain for different reasons. And that means theyll need to have different types of care to feel better. Heres what you need to know about knee pain in kids and young adults.
What Are The Causes Of Knee Pain In Teenagers
Common knee pain problems in your teenager can be generally divided into three types:
- Anterior knee pain, also called patellofemoral pain.
- Injures to ligaments and tendons of the knee or to the kneecap itself.
- Medical conditions that affect the knee.
Anterior knee pain happens when your teens kneecap is pulled out of its groove from increased pressure. Increased pressure on the knee joint is caused by:
- Abnormal hip rotation due to imbalances in muscle strength and flexibility around the hips.
- Improper training methods or equipment.
- Poor flexibility of the thigh muscles, which support the knee joint. Thigh muscle weakness or tightness.
- Overuse of the knee from repetitive bending of the knee during running, jumping, and other activities.
- Problems with alignment, for example, the kneecap not being properly aligned within the knee or having flat feet, which changes the normal gait.
Knee pain resulting from sprains, strains and tears to ligaments and tendons or injuries to other soft tissues. These conditions include:
Medical conditions that can affect your teens knee include:
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Runners Knee Or Chondromalacia
Runners knee, also known as chondromalacia, occurs as a result of overuse of the knee joint. It is particularly common among runners and other people who put consistent pressure and stress on their knees.
Chondromalacia occurs when the knee cartilage deteriorates, providing less cushioning to the joint.
The first steps in treatment often involve therapies to help reduce pain and swelling and allow the knee to heal. Some treatments include:
- taking over-the-counter pain relief medications
- applying an ice pack to reduce the swelling
- aligning the kneecap with a brace, kneecap-tracking sleeve, or tape
- resting the knee joint
If the knee does not improve, a healthcare team may recommend arthroscopic surgery. This involves smoothing the cartilage to allow it to heal better.
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After An Accident Or Trauma
Any impact injury causing swelling, redness and pain, should be checked out by a physician. Use ice packs to reduce swelling and use your best judgement regarding your childs injury to determine if a visit to the ER is warranted. When in doubt, practice RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation.
Clear signs of when to see a specialist for your childs knee pain include the following:
- Fever
- Pain that lasts over 2 weeks
- Pain in the morning
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Skin Infection Of The Knee
Cellulitis is an infection of the skin and tissues underneath it. It is most commonly caused by Group A strep and typically enters the body through a break in the skin.
Rarity: Uncommon
Top Symptoms: fever, knee pain, knee redness, knee injury, painful knee swelling
Symptoms that always occur with skin infection of the knee: knee redness, area of skin redness
Urgency: Primary care doctor
Burning Pain At The Side Of The Knee
Any kind of knee injury or pain causes alarm. When you feel pain at the side of your knee, you often do not have a knee problem at all.
Your knee is a complicated joint where two major bones and sets of muscles meet. If either of those two sets of muscles is injured, then your knee will hurt as a result. The muscles stabilize that joint, so a compromised muscle also compromises the joint.
Your IT band or iliotibial band is a band of connective tissue that runs from your hip to your knee and shin. When the band is tight from exercise, it will rub against your thigh bone, causing friction and pain down to your knee.
Sometimes you will feel the pain from your hip to your knee. Sometimes you just feel pain on the side of your knee.
IT band syndrome or ITBS is a common problem among individuals who fail to stretch before they exercise or individuals who do too much too soon. For example, if you’ve never ridden a bicycle for more than five miles and attempt to ride fifty miles in a day, you may end up with a sore IT band, and the outside of your knee will burn.
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How Are Joint Conditions Diagnosed
In addition to your joint warmth, your healthcare provider will consider your other symptoms and review your medical history, family history, and medications.
They may also do a physical examination to look for joint pain, tenderness, a rash, swelling, or restricted movement.
Based on your history and physical examination, you might need one or more of the following:
- Blood tests: Various blood tests are done to check for inflammation, antibody levels, uric acid, and genetic markers.
- Imaging tests: Ultrasound, X-ray, computed tomography , and magnetic resonance imaging can help visualize bone or soft tissue damage.
- Joint aspiration: Arthrocentesis is the removal of fluid from the joint using a needle. It is generally done if the symptoms are severe and an infection is suspected.
- Blood and tissue cultures: The bacterial or fungal organisms causing an infection can be grown and identified in a lab.
- Antinuclear antibody tests: Autoantibodies, which are specific proteins associated with an autoimmune process, can be detected in the blood with this test.
When To See Your Doctor
Its important that you see a doctor when seeking treatment. A doctor can determine the cause of your knee tightness, and together you can develop a treatment plan to resolve your condition. You may have a physical exam, imaging tests, or lab tests.
You may be referred to a doctor specializing in physical therapy or musculoskeletal and joint problems, or a rheumatologist. If you need surgery, youll be referred to an orthopedic surgeon.
The Healthline FindCare tool can provide options in your area if you dont already have a doctor.
When youre doing knee stretches and exercises its important that you follow a few guidelines in order to get the maximum benefits. Here are a few tips:
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If The Pain Seems To Be Chronic
Chronic knee pain is quite common in kids. They may experience pain on and off for a number of weeks. There may be no redness or limping, but theyll often say that it still hurts. Pain in the lower part of the knee is most likely a temporary ligament stress of the top of the shinbone. It can be from overuse, imbalance in muscle strength, or a growth related disease called Osgood Schlatter disease. Talk with Carrollton Orthopaedic Clinic about treatments.
If the pain is located on the outside of the knee, it comes from repeated stress causing the tissue on the side of the thigh to become inflamed. This particular type of injury is especially common with runners. Invest in good shoes, suggest warm up stretches, and advise your child to rest in order to relieve the pain.
A third type of chronic pain in kids can be deep in the knee under the kneecap. This is a common overuse injury. Squatting and climbing usually makes the pain worse.
All three of these chronic issues can be dealt with through physical therapy or handled at home. Rest, ice packs, taking a break from activities, and taking ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatory medications are all excellent at home treatments to try at the first signs of knee pain. If after two weeks the pain persists, its time for your child to see Carrollton Orthopaedic Clinic.
Pain Swelling And Knee Stiffness
First lets talk about pain: Its the bodys way of preventing you from making an injury worse. Since pain may limit movement, it can cause stiffness in the knees, as can any ongoing injury.
Knees become swollen when excess fluid builds up inside the knee due to an injury, overuse, or medical condition. This can cause sensations of tightness as well as pain. Swelling may be subtle, so you may not always notice it unless its a severe injury. Since the swelling may not be visible, you may feel this as stiffness in the knee.
Any type of swelling will cause limited movement since theres less space in the knee. Irritation, internal bleeding, and injuries in the knee can lead to fluid buildup. Arthritis, gout, and tumors or cysts are conditions that can also cause swelling.
Pain and swelling are two mechanisms your body uses to protect itself. Together they can lead to stiffness in your knee. Next, lets look at possible causes.
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Burning Sensation In Knee: Why And What To Do
The knee forms a very important joint in the body. The knee joint is compromised of various components like ligaments, tendons, bones, cartilage, etc. A knee injury can be debilitating and affect your day to day activities. Knee injuries can occur in anyone, such as athletes, teenagers and geriatrics. There are various causes of knee injuries with the resulting burning sensation in the knee. Recovery will usually depend on the type and extent of the damage and the steps you take to rehabilitate the injured knee joint.
Necrotizing Fasciitis Of The Leg
Necrotizing fasciitis is a potentially life threatening skin condition stemming from the infection of a wound or injury. If left untreated, it can spread to body parts surrounding the infection changing the color of the skin and degrading the tissue underneath. This can result in muscle, tissue or limb loss and a severe body-wide response to the infection.
You should visit your local emergency room where blood tests can be run and a consultation can be made by a skin specialist. If caught early, antibiotics, cleaning, and a stay in the hospital can help control the infection. If serious, additionally procedures may be required. It is important to get treatment due to the possibility of this becoming a serious, life-threatening condition.
Rarity: Ultra rare
Top Symptoms: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, chills
Symptoms that always occur with necrotizing fasciitis of the leg: leg skin changes
Urgency: Hospital emergency room
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Ice Or Heat: Which Is Best For A Swollen Knee
by The ViscoGen Team | Jul 23, 2019 | knee |
Knee pain is one of the most common and debilitating joint issues, affecting millions of people on a daily basis. Whether the pain is caused by an acute injury like a tear or overuse, or its the result of too much weight or regular wear and tear, there are a number of structures in the knee joint itself that can be the source of the pain. Weve all heard of icing for pain, but sometimes, heat is a much better source of relief. When it comes to painful, swollen knee treatments, which is best, ice or heat?
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If The Pain Keeps Your Child Up At Night
If you child complains of pain early in the evening or before bedtime, this could be nothing more serious than growing pains. These occur in older kids and teens, and in this case it is due to the wear and tear of the day and nothing to worry about. They will wake up in the morning feeling fine.
On the other hand if pain is waking them up at night, this is something more serious and your child should be seen by Carrollton Orthopaedic Clinic right away to assess their condition.
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Why Does The Knee Swell
A swollen knee is a common problem that affects people of all ages. Knee swelling typically indicates a problem somewhere inside the knee joint.
The knee has a joint capsule, which is like a sac that surrounds the whole joint. The capsule contains synovial fluid which nourishes and lubricates the joint so that it can move smoothly, think of it like the oil in your car. The joint capsule acts as container, keeping the fluid within the knee joint.
A swollen knee usually develops when excess fluid builds up inside the joint capsule and is caused by either:
- Bleeding in the Joint: aka Haemarthrosis. This is normally caused by an injury and the knee swelling comes on rapidly . The swelling can be intense making the knee feel very tight.
- Accumulation of Synovial Fluid: aka knee joint effusion or water on the knee. This type of swollen knee tends to come on gradually and may come and go, varying in degrees of severity.
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, such as with knee bursitis.