Chronic Knee Pain

on the joint.

Overuse ’ Repeat motions or too much bending at the knee can lead to pain.

Bursitis ’ Bursae are small fluid-filled sacs that help tendons glide easier. These can get swollen and hurt. This often happens to people who do work on their knees, like gardeners.

Ligament tear or sprain ’ Ligament injuries can make the knee shaky and painful.

Meniscus tear ’ Injuries to the meniscus or cartilage can make your knee lock and cause pain with some movements.

Muscle strain ’ Injuries to the muscles near the knee happen often with sports. If these do not heal the right way, ongoing pain can happen.

Patellar tendinopathy ’ The tendon that goes over your kneecap can get swollen and hurt.

Chondromalacia patella ’ This is a health problem where there is pain under the kneecap from cartilage being worn.

Dislocating kneecap ’ If your kneecap slips out of its groove, pain can happen.

Bakers cyst ’ This a lump that is behind the knee.

Hip, ankle, back problems ’ Problems in the back and in nearby joints, such as the hip and ankle, can cause pain in the knee.

Fluid collection ’ Fluid can collect in the knee joint after a knee injury and lead to pain if not treated.

Osgood-Schlatter disease ’ This is a health problem seen in teens. The front of the knee below the kneecap is bothered by repeat movements.

Osteochondritis dissecans ’ This is a health problem seen in teens. There is a problem with the blood flow to the bone and cartilage of the knee.

Plica syndrome ’ Plica are folds of tissue that are left over from growth before birth. These can get sore and cause pain.

What are the main signs?

Pain
Swelling
Hard to walk or put weight on your leg
Knee locking ’ not able to bend or straighten your knee fully
Weakness
Crunching and popping noises in the knee

How does the doctor diagnose this health problem?

Your doctor will look at your knee. Your doctor will feel all over your knee to find where the pain is. The doctor may move your knee and push or pull on many parts to check your motion and strength. Your doctor may have you stand and walk to see if your knee is stable. The doctor may order:

Blood tests
X-ray
CT or MRI scan
Ultrasound
Surgery ’ At times, arthroscopic surgery may be needed to find the cause of the pain.

How does the doctor treat this health problem?

Finding out the true cause of your knee pain is the most important step to fix the problem and lower your pain. Some things that may lessen your knee pain are:

Rest
Ice
Keeping the knee raised
Braces or supports
Heat may be used later but not right away. Heat can make swelling worse.
Exercises to stretch and strengthen the knee
Physical therapy (PT)
Surgery

What drugs may be needed?

The doctor may order drugs to:

Help with pain and swelling
Fight an infection

The doctor may give you a shot of an anti-inflammatory drug called a corticosteroid. This will help with swelling. Talk with your doctor about the risks of this shot.

What can be done to prevent this health problem?

If your knee pain is due to overuse, do not do movements that caused the problem if possible.
Take breaks often when doing things that use repeat movements.
Do not sit or keep your knee in one position for long periods of time.
If you sleep on your side, use a pillow in between your legs. This can help take stress off of the knee.
Always warm up and stretch before a workout and cool down after.
If you are a runner, stretch before a run. Use good ways to train, such as slowly adding to how far you run.
Run on softer surfaces such as a track. This is easier on your knee than a hard surface like cement.
Try activities like swimming or biking rather than running. Running can put a lot of stress on your knee joint.
Stay away from activities that could result in twisting, sudden stops and starts, and blows to the knee. Sports such as basketball, skiing, football, and jogging are some common sports that can lead to knee injuries.
Wear shoes with good support. Replace your shoes often.
Keep a healthy weight. Being too heavy puts more stress on the knee joint. This makes the knee more at risk for injury.
Stay active and work out to keep your muscles strong and flexible.

Where can I learn more?

American College of Sports Medicine
http://www.acsm.org/access-public-information/articles/2012/01/10/basic-knee-injury-prevention
NHS Choices
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/knee-pain/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you.

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