Knee pain is generally associated with old aged people, but these days, it is common in young people too. Youngsters who are in their 20s complain about knee pain and face challenges performing daily activities like walking, bending, standing, and lifting. Many sportspersons are also more likely to experience knee pain and other related problems. Regardless of one’s age or injury, it can be challenging in some situations.

Things to Know about Knee Pain

• The major causes of knee pain are associated with aging, injury, or repeated stress or pressure on the knee.
• Some of the common knee problems are due to sprained or strained ligaments, tendonitis, cartilage tears, and arthritis.
• Knee pain can be diagnosed with a medical examination and the use of diagnostic procedures such as x-ray, MRIs, CT scans, or arthroscopy.
• It can be treated in both non-operative and surgical treatment ways – depending on the type and severity of the problem.

Common Knee Problems

Due to years of wear and tear and old age, pressure is created on the knee causing numerous knee related issues (such as arthritis). Knee pain can be due to various causes, such as:

Knee ligaments that have been sprained. Often, a stress to the area or an abrupt twist of the area results in a sprained or strained muscle. Some of the symptoms are pain, swelling, and challenges in walking.

A cartilage tear. Meniscal tears can occur after knee trauma. Injuries, in general, go hand in hand with cartilage rips. To prevent future damage to the knee during an activity, treatment can be used like wearing a brace. If the tear is severe, might require surgery.

Patellar tendinitis. When involved in specific activities, such as running, leaping, or cycling, may cause excessive pressure on tendons leading to swelling and inflammation. It is also termed Jumper’s Knees, as athletes playing basketball or volleyball in which the power of landing after a jump can over stretch the tendons.

Arthritis. It is the most common type that affects the knee. It is a worsening condition in which the joint's cartilage gradually deteriorates. Middle-aged and elderly adults are frequently impacted. Excess pressure on the joint because of recurrent injuries or obesity, can lead to this problem. By inflaming the knee joint, rheumatoid arthritis can also have an effect on the knees. People frequently have faced this issue at a younger age than osteoarthritis.

Other Causes

Bursitis. It is a sac under the skin above your joint that contains a little amount of fluid. As the joint moves, it lessens friction. The bursa on top of your kneecap might become irritated by overuse, accidents, or frequent bending and kneeling. This causes discomfort and edema. Prepatellar bursitis is the term used by physicians. It is also called the "preacher's knee."

Kneecap dislocation. Your kneecap falls out of place as a result, resulting in knee pain and swelling. "Patellar dislocation" may be the term used by your doctor.

Syndrome of the IT (iliotibial) band. The tough tissue known as the iliotibial band (IT band) extends from your hip to the outside of your knee. Extra doing an activity might cause inflammation over time. It also brings pain on the outside of the knee. When moving downward, runners frequently experience it.

Osgood-Schlatter. Teenagers who still have developing bones and other knee components experience this problem so frequently. When a tendon from the kneecap links to the shin below the knee, it may result in a painful lump. It hurts from the overdoing activity and inflammation at the tibial tubercle, a point on the bottom of your knee. With time, the ache could come and go. Mainly, young boys and girls are prone to it.

Syndrome of patellofemoral pain. It is typically brought on by muscle imbalance, tension, and alignment issues in the legs. It results in knee pain and sporadic "buckling," which is when your knee suddenly becomes unable to support your weight. It is not a result of a wound. Females experience it more frequently than males do.

How to diagnose?

Besides a complete medical history and physical exam, there are some other tests that can be used to diagnose knee problems:

X-ray: Here, invisible electromagnetic energy beams are used to create images of interior organs, bones, and tissues on film.

MRI: It stands for Magnetic resonance imaging. It creates comprehensive images of the body's organs and tissues using huge magnets, radiofrequency technology, and a computer; it frequently identifies injury or disease in an adjacent ligament or muscle.

CT Scan or CAT Scan: It stands for Computer tomography. In this procedure, horizontal or axial images of the body—often referred to as slices—are created using X-rays and computer technologies. Any aspect of the body, such as bones, fat, muscles, and organs, can be seen in great detail on a CT scan. If compared to regular X-rays, this procedure gives more details.

Arthroscopy: It is a combined condition diagnosis and treatment method requiring the least amount of invasiveness possible. An arthroscope—a tiny, illuminated optic tube—is introduced into the joint during this treatment through a tiny incision in the joint. In order to analyze any arthritic or degenerative changes in the joint, to find tumors and diseases of the bone, and to identify the source of bone pain and inflammation, pictures of the inside of the joint can be projected onto a screen.

Radionuclide bone scan. It is a nuclear imaging procedure that involves injecting a very small amount of radioactive material into the patient's bloodstream in order to be picked up by a scanner. The results of this method reveal both bloods flow to the bone and cell activity there.

Knee Pain Treatment

Your knee pain treatment will depend on your specific injury. However, to speed up the recovery, you can:

1. Take a break. Spend a few days relaxing from strenuous activity.
2. Ice it to reduce swelling and pain. Every three to four hours, do it for 15 to 20 minutes. Continue this for two to three days or until the pain is gone.
3. Squeeze your knee. You can wrap the joint with the help of an elastic bandage, straps, or sleeves. It will help in reducing swelling or provide more support.
4. Whether you are sitting or lying down, elevate your knee by placing a pillow beneath your heel to reduce swelling.
5. Using painkillers to reduce inflammation. Ibuprofen or naproxen is examples of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) that can reduce pain and swelling. Observe the directions on the packaging. Unless your doctor advises differently, you should only occasionally use these medications due to the possibility of negative effects.
6. If the doctor advises, then, perform basic stretching and strengthening exercises. You could also consult a physiotherapist for the same.

What next?

Schedule an appointment with a doctor if, after two weeks of at-home knee pain treatment, your discomfort persists, your knee gets warm, or you also have a fever and a painful, swollen knee.

Some knee pain patients require further assistance. For instance, your doctor might need to drain additional fluid from your knee's bursa if you have bursitis. An occasional corticosteroid shot may be necessary if you have arthritis to reduce inflammation. Also, you might require surgery if you have a damaged ligament or certain knee injuries.

Prevention is better than cure

Although you can't control everything, you may reduce their likelihood by following these procedures.

• If you get knee pain, stop exercising.
• Always increase the intensity of your workouts gradually.
• Stretch your legs both before and after exercise.
• If you must frequently kneel, kneepads can help you from developing bursitis.
• Choose shoes that are comfortable and provide adequate support.
• Regular stretching and strengthening will keep your thigh muscles strong.
• Reduce your weight if you are overweight to relieve pressure on all of your joints, including your knees.

How to know you are recovered?

The recovery time depends from person to person. Some people heal more naturally than others.

• Ask your doctor if you can engage in any activities that won't make your knee pain worse while you recover. For instance, runners might want to consider swimming or another low-impact aerobic activity.
• Take your time with whatever you do. Wait until you experience these symptoms before attempting to resume your usual level of physical exercise.
• When you bend or straighten your knee, you don't experience any pain.
• If you walk, jog, sprint, or leap, your knee doesn't hurt.
• The injured knee is just as powerful as the other one.

Consult your doctor if you have severe pain in your knee after a fall or accident. You should also consult a specialist if your knee is too painful or unstable to carry your weight. Moreover, you can also call a doctor if your knee is swollen or you cannot extend it all the way. Get in touch with a doctor if the pain is continuously bothering you for longer than a few days.

Another common cause of Knee Pain is damage of the knee cartilage, which is often observed in athletes or people who exert their knee a lot in their daily lives. At Regrow® Biosciences, we offer an advanced regenerative cell therapy & biological solution for regeneration of damaged knee cartilage – CARTIGROW®. To understand more about this solution, get in touch with us today.