Knee Pain
The knee is the largest joint in the body, composed of three bones: the femur, the tibia and the patella. Knees provide support and mobility and carry the weight of almost half the body. Knee problems are very common, and can occur at any age.
What Causes Knee Pain?
Knee pain is most commonly due to overuse in sports or labor, which can cause inflammations such as bursitis and tendonitis.
Another common cause is a recent or past injury to one of the structures of the knee:
- Sprains, strains or tears of the ligaments and tendons that connect and support the kneecap
- A tear in the meniscus, which are the knee's shock absorbers
- Bone fracture
- Kneecap or knee joint dislocation.
Knee problems also can be caused by:
- Diseases such as arthritis, osteoporosis, runner's knee or Osgood-Schlatter
- Infections such as cellulites, infectious arthritis, osteomyelitis or septic bursitis
- Deterioration due to past injuries
- Obesity
What Are the Symptoms of Knee Pain?
Symptoms vary, depending on their cause. Patients with arthritis or other inflammatory conditions may find their knee swollen, red, stiff, painful and possibly hot to the touch. Pain due to injury is sharp, throbbing and intense. There may be bruising and swelling. Patients with meniscus tears find that the knee doesn't hurt unless they put pressure on it.
When to Seek Treatment
See your physician if an infection develops, or if symptoms do not improve or become worse with one week of home treatment. Call for emergency care immediately if:
- Your knee pain is caused by a fall or other injury
- You have sudden severe pain that prevents you from standing or moving your knee
- Your knee joint has been dislocated
- There is blood or exposed bone
- There is numbness or tingling in your legs or buttocks
- Your knee or leg has turned pale, white, blue or cold
How Is Knee Pain Evaluated?
Keep a pain diary of your symptoms to show your physicians. Write down:
- The day, time and duration of pain
- Pain location
- Pain intensity, rating it from one to ten, with ten being excruciating
- What you were doing before or during the pain onset?
- Was there an injury?
- If you have knee pain when you walk, how far can you walk without discomfort? Does the pain change for better or worse as you continue to walk?
- Physical activities that you participate in. (Have you started something new?)
- Medications you take regularly
Your physician will conduct a physical examination, in which he or she will bend, straighten, rotate or press on the knee and then ask you to stand, walk, or squat to help assess the knee's function, the location of the pain and the possible reasons for it.
Depending on the findings of the physical exam and your pain dairy, your physician may order certain tests such as an X-ray, CAT scan, bone scan, MRI, athroscopy or a joint aspiration.
How Is Knee Pain Treated?
If it is not an emergency situation, try home care first:
- Rest while elevating the injured knee on a pillow
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen sodium (Aleve), as directed
- Wrap injured knee with an elastic bandage (such as an Ace wrap to decrease swelling. (Don't wrap it too tightly so that blood can't flow.)
- Ice your knee for 20 minutes a few times each day for the first few days after injury. (Do not put ice directly on skin; wrap in a towel)
- Once swelling subsides, apply moist heat packs (hot water bottle, warm towel)
For chronic pain:
- Avoid high impact exercise such as running
- Take glucosamine and chondroitin
- Stay off your feet as much as possible
- Massage your knee to stimulate blood flow to the affected area
- Use a cane, crutches or other support until you can see your physician
- Try gentle exercises such as a hamstring stretch or knee-topchest stretch keep flexibility
If these measures don't work, your doctor may prescribe stronger anti-inflammatory medications or recommend physical therapy.
In severe cases, your physician may recommend:
- Arthroscopic surgery to repair torn meniscus
- Meniscal transplants
- Surgery to repair an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) to restore muscle function
- Osteotomy to reshape bone if a fracture hasn't healed properly
- Unicondylar knee replacement
- Total knee replacement
Learn more about knee problems »Go
For more information or to make an appointment please call
1-877-233-WELL (9355).