What Is Knee Pain
The knee is a joint that permits the leg to bend and straighten. Knee pain is common due to injury, age-related degeneration, inflammation, and infection.
What Are Symptoms of Knee Pain?
Symptoms of knee pain include:
- Sudden, intense pain at the knee
- Inability to bend or fully straighten the knee
- Clicking, crunching, or catching sound in the knee joint when walking
Signs knee pain may be serious include:
- Feeling or hearing a popping when injury occurs
- Joint instability
- Inability to bear weight on affected leg
- Inability to straighten leg
- Knee buckles under when you try to walk
Diagnosing Severe Knee Injuries
If you feel your knee injury is serious, you should consult an orthopedic surgeon. These physicians have specialized training in bone and joint injuries. They may be able to diagnose your injury by examining your knee in their clinic. Sometimes, they may need to ask for:
X-rays. X-ray pictures are usually taken from two directions and can show fractures and dislocations.
Scans. Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scans give a detailed view of the structures inside and around your knee. Your doctor will find these scans helpful in diagnosing your knee injury and planning the treatment.
Arthroscopy. Your doctor will insert a tube with a light at the end into your knee joint through a cut made in the skin. Your doctor can see the structures inside your joint. Torn menisci, ligaments, inflammation, degeneration, and tumors can be seen. Some injuries can be repaired by arthroscopy, too.
Avoid putting weight on your injured knee.
Use ice in cold packs for 20 minutes at a time. You can do it many times a day.
Compression
Wrap your injured knee in an elasticized bandage. This will apply pressure around the joint and reduce swelling.
Elevation
Use pillows or bolsters to lift your knee higher than your heart while resting. This will let the swelling drain away.
What Conditions Require Knee Surgery
It is a type of surgery that relieves pain and disability in the knee and improves function. Hip osteoarthritis is the most common type of knee replacement surgery. Joint cartilage breakdown is the leading cause of osteoarthritis. It is possible that pain will result as a result of a lack of movement due to damage to the cartilage and bones.
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How Can You Tell If Your Knee Pain Is Serious
If youve injured your knee, it can be a severe issue that requires immediate attention. Its essential to assess the damage and determine if you should see an orthopedic surgeon or healthcare specialist.
One of the most important signs to look for when it comes to an injury is swelling. According to Christina Allen, MD, a sports medicine specialist, swelling is usually a sign that something serious has happened to your knee.
Professional Help For Knee Injuries
- Aspiration if the knee joint is grossly swollen, the doctor may release the pressure by drawing off some of the fluid with a fine needle.
- Physiotherapy including techniques to reduce pain, kneecap taping, exercises for increased mobility and strength, and associated rehabilitation techniques.
- Arthroscopic surgery or keyhole surgery, where the knee operation is performed by inserting slender instruments through small incisions . Cartilage tears are often treated with arthroscopic surgery.
- Open surgery required when the injuries are more severe and the entire joint needs to be laid open for repair.
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What Are The Symptoms To Look Out For
With symptoms ranging from less severe to significant, its important to take note of how your pain progresses each day. This is a key factor in determining whether or not your knee pain is more serious. The most common types of knee pain symptoms include:
- Stiffness or the inability to straighten or bend the knee
- The surface of your knee feeling warm to the touch
- Popping, clicking, or any other unusual sounds while walking
While these symptoms can indicate the presence of a minor injury, more serious injuries may include symptoms like:
- The inability to stand
- Abnormal appearance revealing a visible sign of injury
- Falling immediately upon standing
The most important thing to look out for when determining if your knee pain is serious is to pay attention to your symptoms. If your slight knee pain starts to develop into the more significant kinds of symptoms as stated above, you should schedule a visit to our orthopedist in NYC. This could mean you have a more serious injury that requires a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
How Are Knee Injuries Diagnosed
An orthopedic doctor will conduct a physical evaluation to determine which diagnostic method would be best. Various methods are used to locate the source of the pain and can include:
- Ultrasound technology This technique utilizes high-tech sound waves to produce images in real-time. This can help distinguish where the injury is located.
- X-rays Similar to ultrasound technology, x-rays are also used to produce images. But, rather than using sound waves they utilize electromagnetic radiation to curate the images. X-rays are often used to find suspected injuries, malformations, or conditions.
- CT Scanning CT scans are usually ordered if the doctor believes there is a possible injury in tissues, joints or bones. This type of scan produces images that allows a better view of the inside of the body at different angles and positions.
- MRI Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, can allow the doctor to see the inside of the knee and its anatomy. MRI is a form of 3-D imaging that provides a detailed perspective of the knee structure.
- Arthrocentesis this form of testing is used to examine joint fluid.
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First Aid For Knee Injuries In The First 48 To 72 Hours
- Stop your activity immediately. Dont work through the pain.
- Rest the joint at first.
- Reduce pain, swelling and internal bleeding with icepacks, applied for 15 minutes every couple of hours.
- Bandage the knee firmly and extend the wrapping down the lower leg.
- Elevate the injured leg.
- Dont apply heat to the joint.
- Avoid alcohol, as this encourages bleeding and swelling.
- Dont massage the joint, as this encourages bleeding and swelling.
Physiotherapy For Knee Injuries
If your injury is more severe, or it doesnt get better over time, your GP may refer you to a physiotherapist. You can also choose to see a physiotherapist privately.
A physiotherapist will create a programme of exercises to gradually strengthen your knee so you can move it normally again. The exact exercises will depend on how youve injured yourself, and how badly. But your physiotherapist will probably give you exercises to do every day at home, as well as at your follow-up appointments.
You may need to use a brace to support your knee while it recovers, usually if your injury was severe.
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How To Heal Your Knee Injury
A knee injury can be a difficult problem to deal with, but fortunately, it can usually be treated with some form of therapy and a diet that is healthy. The doctor may advise you to have surgery if the condition is more serious, but this is not always necessary. A common knee injury requires no surgery in the vast majority of cases. If surgery is required, your doctor will try to avoid extensive damage to your knee in order to resolve the issue. If youâre having problems with your knee, donât worry itâs almost certainly something that can be repaired.
When Should You Consider Knee Replacement Surgery
Any type of surgery should only be considered as a last resort, and knee replacement is no exception. Sometimes, strength-training exercises, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, or cortisone injections will do the trick. Other times , the patient will require surgery.
There are also different types of knee surgeries: total or partial, arthroscopy, or cartilage restoration. The benefits of partial joint replacement are less bone loss and shorter recovery time. By the same token, an arthroscopy is minimally invasive. However, no two patients are the same, and only your doctor can tell you what would be best for you.
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How Long Does It Take To Recover From A Knee Sprain
Rehabilitation varies based on the injured ligament and how it is treated. The most important part of the healing process is getting you back to normal before resuming activities.
Rehabilitation will include a light to moderate physical therapy program, depending on your level of pain. This is necessary to improve joint stability, full range of motion and your knee strength. Recovery time is dependent on the ligament injured and the severity of the injury.
You Cant Put Weight On Your Knee
If you cant bear weight on your knee, theres a good chance theres something serious going on.
The inability to put weight on your knee after a knee injury could be caused by a fracture, bone contusion, cartilage injury, or ligament tear.
After a minor injury like a twist or fall, you probably wont be able to immediately put weight on your leg.
Thats normal, but if you havent recovered within a few minutes or a few days, or it has turned into chronic knee pain, it could indicate something more serious.
You should also watch out for numbness after the injury.
Numbness could be the result of a pinched or damaged nerve and blood vessels.
This could be a symptom of an ACL or MCL tear, a kneecap dislocation, a fractured kneecap, or loose bone.
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Potential Causes For Knee Pain
Knee Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and is frequently seen in the knees. It is generally a result of wear and tear and age. Women 55 and older are more likely to develop knee osteoarthritis than men. Osteoarthritis can also be the result of genetics and is seen in patients who are overweight. Furthermore, it is more likely to occur in those constantly lifting heavy weights or athletes who have had knee injuries.
Treatment for osteoarthritis focuses on reducing pain and regaining mobility. If the patient is overweight, your doctor may first recommend weight loss. Exercise will also help strengthen the joint. Your doctor may also prescribe anti-inflammatory medications or recommend injections or a brace. We believe in conservative treatment, so while Mountainstate Orthopedic Associates has some of the most qualified and experienced doctors in the region, surgery is usually a last resort. There is no need to operate if, for example, the knee responds well to physical therapy and corticosteroid injection.
Knee Effusion
A knee effusion occurs when fluid increases in the tissues surrounding the joint. It can happen to any joint but is particularly common in the knee. A knee effusion can result from anything that injures or inflames the knee. Knee effusions are often seen in those with arthritis . Gout can also cause knee effusion.
ACL Strain or Tear
Meniscus Tear
Knee Bursitis
Patellar Tendonitis
How Common Are Knee Surgeries
Hip and knee replacement surgeries are one of the most common types of orthopedic surgery in the United States, accounting for more than one million surgeries each year. A total of 3.5 million knee replacement surgeries are expected to be performed in the next five years, up from 1.3 million in 2015.
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Joining A Weight Management Program
Getting active and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help prevent knee pain, which is often caused by arthritis. Some of the most effective ways to treat knee pain are weight loss and exercises to strengthen the muscles around the joint.
Significant research published in Arthritis and Rheumatism on overweight and obese persons with knee osteoarthritis indicated that a one-pound weight loss resulted in a four-pound reduction in knee pressure. In other words, reducing only ten pounds would provide pain relief on your knees of 40 pounds of strain.
Is My Knee Injury Serious 5 Signs To Look For
Howard J. Luks, MDUpdated September 17, 2021
Your knee twists, you hear a pop, and now you have knee swelling and pain when trying to walk or with bending your knee. Perhaps you were struck by another player and have bruising, but no swelling. Are these severe knee injuries? When should you consider seeing a Sports Medicine Doctor following a knee injury? Lets go over 5 things that trained professionals look for to determine if your knee injury is serious.
As an active athlete or competitor, you know that severe knee injuries are common. Both contact and non-contact knee injuries can be severe. This post will cover five signs to look for to help determine if you might have a severe knee injury. In general, the most common and worrisome finding is immediate, significant swelling.
Even though most of the injuries I see in the office turn out to be mild, it is essential for you to know what the warning signs are to look for a potentially severe knee injury.
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Prevention Of Knee Injuries
There are several things you can do to reduce your chance of damaging your knee ligaments. This will help to prevent other sports injuries too.
- Exercise regularly to keep your fitness levels up, and include some resistance training . Regular exercise will make your muscles stronger and more flexible, so they can support your joints, including your knees. If you haven’t been active for a while, start off gently and gradually increase the number, length and intensity of your exercise sessions.
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My GP says I have housemaids knee. What is this?My GP says I have housemaids knee. What is this?
Housemaids knee is the common name for prepatellar bursitis. Its often caused by the pressure of kneeling forwards for long periods. These days, prepatellar bursitis is often seen in carpet fitters or roofers anyone who spends a lot of time working on their knees.
See our Types of knee injury section for more information.
How A Lawyer Can Help
We do not recommend representing yourself in a case like this. There is just too much at stake, and a lawyer can help you with your personal injury suit in a number of important ways. Your knee injury attorney will:
File your case before the statute of limitations expires: You do not have an unlimited amount of time to pursue your knee injury case. Per IC § 34-11-2-4, you have just two years to begin pursuing compensation. An attorney can help make sure that you do not miss the chance to pursue damages after suffering a serious knee injury.
Gather all evidence needed to make your case: Whether there are eyewitnesses to talk to, a police report to look at, or surveillance footage of the accident scene, you can be sure that your lawyer will gather every bit of evidence needed to show that you deserve compensation.
Defend you against any accusations: Other parties involved might try to accuse you of being at fault for the accident. If that fails, they could say that your knee injury was simply a preexisting condition. We can show that your accident caused your injury, and then we can show how another party caused that accident.
Calculate fair compensation: Your lawyer will talk to your doctor about the seriousness of your knee injury. They will look at the paychecks you missed and how this injury will affect your future ability to work. Then they will calculate what kind of compensation would be fair.
our How Do I Know If My Knee Injury Is Serious? today
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What Are The Most Common Knee Injuries
The knee is a strong joint built to bear your body’s weight. Athletic pursuits like running and some sports cause serious knee injuries. Tears of the ligaments and menisci and fractures and dislocation of the bones are common knee injuries.
People with active lifestyles often have knee pain. It is important to distinguish between minor strains and severe knee injuries.
Anterior cruciate ligament tear
This is an injury of one of the ligaments connecting the thigh bone to the shin bone. It is injured by rotational forces twisting while the feet are planted on the ground. Basketball, soccer, skiing, and football are the sports that commonly cause this injury. You can also tear the anterior cruciate ligament by landing awkwardly.
ACL tears are often not very painful. You may feel a pop at the time. The typical feature of an ACL injury is a feeling of instability and swelling. You feel your knee could give way at any moment.
Posterior cruciate ligament tear
These happen with an impact to the front of the knee while it is bent. PCL tears are common in vehicular crashes and contact sports. They’re usually partial tears and may heal on their own.
Collateral ligament injuries
In this injury, two collateral ligaments are damaged by a direct blow to the sides of your knees. These are often sports-related injuries. Medial collateral ligament injury is more common. Your knee could become unstable and have long-lasting effects, including osteoarthritis.
Meniscal tears
Tendon injuries
Medicines For Knee Injuries
Over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, can help with the pain if you injure your knee. You can also use anti-inflammatory gels and creams to help with pain relief.
Your doctor may prescribe stronger painkillers containing codeine if your pain is very bad.
Always read the patient information that comes with your medicine and if you have questions, ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice.
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