Knee Pain is a Warning Signal
If you suffer from knee pain, you are not alone. Knee pain prompts more people to pay a visit to the doctor than any other musculoskeletal condition. Nearly one in three adults above the age of 45 reports experiencing some form of knee pain. In light of the very many kinds and causes of knee pain, it is usually necessary to conduct a thorough medical examination to determine the exact cause in any given case.
Generally speaking, knee pain should not be regarded as an enemy, but as an important warning signal. The pain sends a signal that something is not quite in order in the knee. And this often allows people to get help in time to correct the problem. Indeed, painless conditions, such as small tears in the meniscus, which can accelerate the development of osteoarthritis if they remain undetected, can be more dangerous.
There are two causes that account for nearly all cases of knee pain: injuries and wear.
Various Kinds of Knee Pain
What is the pain like?
The nature of the pain involved can often help in determining the cause. External signs include effusion, redness, swelling, heat and a reduced range of motion. The pain itself may involve a tearing sensation, pressure, a sharp stabbing sensation, a continuous dull throbbing or a violent cramping sensation.
Where does it hurt?
The exact location of the pain or the point from which it emanates is also important in diagnostic terms. Is the pain on the inside of the leg or on the outside? Is it on the front or back of the knee? Does it encompass the entire knee?
When does it hurt?
We often notice knee pain for the first time while running or climbing stairs. However, sometimes we don't notice the pain until experiencing a situation involving great or sustained strain. Some knee disorders cause pain while we are at rest.
And even if they are usually not painful, knee snapping, instability and stiffness may all be signs of joint injury.
Knee pain as a result of injury is usually acute and immediate. The pain then tends to decrease when we take our weight off the joint and increase again when put our weight on it and attempt to move. Such injuries usually trigger inflammation and can therefore also cause considerable pain at night while we try to sleep.
Ligament injuries in the knee usually make the joint feel wobbly or unstable.
Wear and Tear (Osteoarthritis)
Knee pain associated with wear and tear tends to increase as we age. As the cartilage in the knee begins to deteriorate, it gradually loses its capacity to act as a cushion and a pivotal bearing surface. Conditions related to wear and tear in the joint are usually associated with gradually increasing levels of pain or acute after heightened physical exertion. A certain start-up pain that occurs when we shift from rest to motion is also characteristic of osteoarthritis. Given that osteoarthritis-related pain is not typically associated with inflammation, the pain usually does not occur at night when we rest, unless we have overexerted ourselves beforehand.
However, swelling and effusion may occur if the osteoarthritis turns into a case of inflammatory arthritis on account of chronic irritation.
Other Possible Causes
- Work or sports-related repetitive motions or excessive strain
- Congenital deformities (bow legs and knock knees)
- Arthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Ligament injuries
- Meniscus injuries
- Gout
- Bursitis
- Patellar dislocation
- Wear
- Chondropathy
- Baker's cyst
Knee pain may also be a sign of simple overexertion that causes no more than a temporary irritation. There are also cases in which a painful disorder in another joint radiates pain to the knee, with the result that pain is felt in both joints.
Arthritis
Morning stiffness, higher levels of pain when at rest (e.g. at night) and lower levels when moving about are commonly associated with arthritis.
Patellar Disorders
Conditions that involve changes in the cartilage of the knee cap are often associated with intense pain after sitting for prolonged periods or when climbing stairs. This sort of pain is commonly experienced by youths.
What can you do about your knee pain?
If you suffer from persistent knee pain, it is advisable to consult a doctor or, ideally, a knee specialist. In addition to the more common causes of knee pain, a specialist can carry out the necessary diagnostic examinations to determine whether the pain is being caused by disorders in other joints, osteoporosis, bone infarcts or tumors, which, in rare cases, may also cause knee pain.
Knee pain is often a result of simple overexertion. In this case, it tends to go away after a period of rest or after we reduce our levels of activity. Knee pain often disappears as sudden as it appears. The application of a cold compress and mild anti-inflammatory painkillers may help.
However, you should not put off a visit to a doctor or specialist for too long: neglecting knee injuries and other knee disorders can lead to irreversible damage. It is better to go in and get a professional diagnosis than suffer the consequences of an inappropriate treatment or to do nothing and resign yourself to chronic pain.
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