The causes of knee pain, which vary by age, generally occur due to knee joint arthritis in older ages. However, the causes of knee pain seen at a young age include knee ligament injuries, meniscus tears, cartilage damage and plica syndrome. Knee pain, which negatively affects daily life, can be managed with appropriate treatment methods. The first thing to do for knee pain to go away is to find the factor that causes knee pain. Thus, it becomes easy to treat it depending on the cause.
What causes knee pain?
Knee pain is one of the most common ailments that can be caused by many different reasons. The causes of knee pain can be listed as follows:
- Osteoarthritis: This condition, generally associated with aging, occurs as a result of wear and tear on joint cartilage over time. Symptoms include pain, stiffness and swelling.
- Tendonitis: Inflammation of tendons resulting from overuse or sports injuries.
- Meniscus injuries: Meniscus tears can occur during sudden and forceful movements. This type of knee pain is accompanied by swelling and limited movement.
- Bursitis: It occurs due to inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs in the knee joint. It is generally caused by trauma, infection or overuse.
- Poor posture: Walking or sitting incorrectly can put pressure on the knee joint. If this situation continues for a long time, it can cause knee pain.
- Obesity: Excess weight is a condition that puts a burden on the knee joint. Excess weight, which also triggers joint diseases, can cause knee pain.
- Inflammatory diseases: Gout and other inflammatory diseases cause swelling and sudden pain in the knee. Inflammation also causes knee pain.
Knee pain symptoms and treatment
Knee pain symptoms may vary depending on the cause of the knee pain. The most common knee pain symptoms include swelling, stiffness, and redness. If these symptoms do not go away with home treatment methods, it is necessary to consult a specialist doctor. Knee pain symptoms include not being able to bear weight on the knee and feeling weak in the knee. Also, significant swelling is one of the biggest knee pain symptoms.
Not fully extending the knee and swelling due to an injury are also among the symptoms that cause knee pain. Knee pain treatment varies depending on the diagnosis. Medication may be applied to relieve the pain. If the pain is caused by an infection, medications recommended by the specialist doctor will be effective.
Depending on the severity of the pain, physical therapy and exercise programs are also among the treatments for knee pain. In some cases, knee pain may also require surgical intervention. If there is an injury that requires surgery, the treatment is performed in the form of a surgical operation.
What is good for knee pain?
Rest, appropriate practices and professional help when needed can help with knee pain. Maintaining knee health is very important to relieve pain. So how do you relieve knee pain?
Here are some methods that can help with knee pain:
- When knee pain is felt, the first thing to do is to rest. You can rest by avoiding excessive movement and strain.
- A cold compress or ice pack can be applied several times a day as it will help reduce inflammation and swelling in and around the knee.
- A hot water bag or hot compress can be used to both increase blood circulation and relax the muscles.
- If the pain is not long-lasting, mild painkillers without a prescription can also be used to relieve the pain.
- Exercises performed under the guidance of a specialist physiotherapist contribute to increasing the flexibility of the knee. Thus, the knee muscles are strengthened.
- Since excess weight puts pressure on the knee joint, weight control can be achieved with a balanced diet.
- Regular light exercises without putting too much strain on the knees support the knee joint. Activities such as swimming and cycling are good for knee pain.