Knee Pain; causes and treatments
Knee pain is a fairly common complaint. For some, it's a lifelong condition; blaming it on years of abuse, or “that old football injury”. For others, a traumatic injury may be the cause or knee pain may come on suddenly, with no explanation at all. In this article, we'll go over some of the causes of chronic knee pain as well as treatments and what you can do to prevent it.
If you search the web for answers to your knee pain, here are some terms you'll likely see:
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Hmmm...did we miss anything?...We probably did, but that's not the point. We can make lists for days, but in all actuality the treatments for each of these conditions are not that different from one another. Basically, the knee is a pivotal hinge joint. Similar to the hinge on a door, it's movement is not very complex- basically just back and forth.
The knee is supposed to be simple, and capable of supporting the body's weight through activity. The kneecap is like a permanent pad that protects the joint and keep the knee from bending outward. So, that's about it for our “knee anatomy” lesson. Now, about treating the pain...
Knee pain can be divided up between a few different areas. Here are some in-office treatments, and some things you can do at home to ease the pain.
| Condition | In-office treatment |
At home treatment |
| Ligament injuries (sprain) Ligaments hold the knee joint itself. Ligaments can be damaged by a traumatic injury, or can be injured through not-so-traumatic daily stress. Either way, they both hurt. |
Injections for pain, or injections to administer Prolotherapy. Exercise recommendations and physical therapy may also be added. | Exercise, eat right, and get quality sleep. In addition, try soaking the knee in epsom salt bath. Supplement your diet with fish oil, chromium, CLA, and Arthrolube. Make sure you are eating green leafy vegetables daily. |
| Arthritis (Osteoarthritis) Arthritis is the most common cause of pain in the knee. Normal wear and tear, and possibly old cartilage injuries can lead to arthritis. |
Injections for pain, radio frequency therapy, physical therapy, individualized nutritional and exercise evaluation, surgery, prescription-strength topical medications, and if very bad; replacement. | Exercise, sleep, eat right. Topical medications (MSM lotion), Glucosamine Chondroitin, Arthrolube, Fish oil, Skelogen, Vitamin C, Epsom salt bath/soak. Custom fit, hinged brace (make an appointment with Dr. Cassaro for details). |
We realize this list is short in comparison to the online lists you might find, but most knee pain falls under these two categories. Even if there is additional conditions present, they are usually a complication of one of these two conditions. Besides, the treatments for these additional conditions is pretty much the same as the ones listed above, just in a different order, or level of intensity (as determined by your doctor).
Remember, the best pain relief comes from prevention. If you live a healthy, active lifestyle- your chances of developing painful arthritis are very slim. You are the most important factor in your overall health and painless living!
If you suffer from knee pain, and want relief, make an appointment with Dr. Cassaro here.
