|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The latest statistics show that more than 600,000 knee-replacement surgeries are performed yearly in the U.S. While it has become one of the most game-changing operations to restore quality of life, still about 20 percent of knee-replacement patients are unhappy with the results.
In this blog, I will describe the common causes of knee pain; the symptoms; how to recognize and manage them; who is most at risk; and ultimately what necessitates surgery. I also will include links to more in-depth blogs I’ve written on several subjects covered in this post.
Chronic knee pain results in long-term pain and swelling or sensitivity in one or both knees. It differs from temporary knee pain in that it rarely goes away without treatment and is often the result of several causes or conditions. Each person with chronic knee pain can experience varying signs and symptoms, including a constant ache, sharp, shooting pain when in use; a dull burning discomfort; and swelling when you touch your knee. Ultimately, chronic knee pain can impair mobility, quality of life and be the precursor of joint destruction.
From preventative and conservative treatments to robotic-assisted total knee (TKR) and partial knee (PKR) surgery, the good news today is that people no longer have to accept chronic knee pain and often can eliminate it and return to normal activity.
Common Causes of Chronic Knee Pain Include:
- Osteoarthritis results in pain, inflammation, and joint destruction due to degeneration and deterioration of your knee joint. Since the knee is considered to have three compartments, this can occur in one or more compartments.
- Tendinitis occurs when you experience pain in the front of the knee, often made worse when climbing stairs or other activities that include moving on an incline.
- Bursitis, which is inflammation caused by the repeated overuse or injury of one or more compartments of your knee.
- Chondromalacia patella: damaged cartilage under the kneecap.
- Gout is a disease that results in arthritis due to a buildup of uric acid.
- Baker’s cyst, a buildup of synovial fluid (which lubricates your joints) behind the knee.
- Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease that affects people of all ages, causing painful swelling that eventually can lead to joint deformity and bone erosion.
- Dislocation, mostly due to trauma from a sports injury or other type of accident which causes the dislocation of your kneecap.
- Meniscus tear, also common with sports or other injuries that results in the rupture of knee cartilage.
- Torn ligament, a very common sports injury when you tear one of the four ligaments in the knee. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the most commonly injured ligament.
- Bone tumors: osteosarcoma (knee cancer) is the second most prevalent bone cancer.
Are you at risk for chronic knee pain?
- If you are overweight or obese, you are at greater risk of experiencing knee problems. For each pound that you are overweight, your knee has to absorb an additional four pounds of pressure when walking, running or climbing stairs.
- Age, as with anything else, wear and tear on your knee joints will have an effect as you get older, most commonly resulting in osteoarthritis.
- Previous injury or trauma can leave your knee in a more weakened condition and conservative measures, especially with regard to activities, should be implemented, as well as strengthening techniques. Sometimes, surgery is required.
- Athletics today play a more common role in our lives, including daily physical exercise, as we’ve learned the importance of taking care of our bodies. However, both can have a long-lasting impact on your joints, especially your knees.
Factors that might exacerbate chronic knee pain include:
- injury to the structure of the knee can cause bleeding and swelling and if left unchecked over time will cause chronic pain
- straining or spraining the knee
- overuse
- infection
- improper posture and form when doing any type of physical activity
- failing to warm up and cool down when engaging in physical activity
- stretching your muscles improperly
Can you prevent chronic knee pain?
Unfortunately, you cannot always totally eliminate chronic knee pain, as with diagnosed osteoarthritis, but there are methods to help prevent and alleviate pain, which I described in detail in a previous blog. Other ways to prevent pain include:
- always warm up prior to exercise
- switch to low-impact exercise, such as swimming or bicycling and/or mix high-impact and low-impact exercises in your routine
- lose weight
- use of anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and ice/heat therapy
- whenever possible, walk on smooth or paved surfaces
- support, such as shoe inserts, can help with gait problems that could contribute to knee pain; and
- replace running shoes frequently to ensure that you have proper support and cushioning.
What is the long-term outlook for chronic knee pain?
Knee pain from osteoarthrosis will most likely be permanent and ultimately require surgery because the structural integrity of the knee has been changed or damaged beyond repair. If the pain renders you unable to walk, it’s time to have a talk with your doctor about possible surgery.
At The Leone Center for Orthopedic Care, the goal of me and my team is to restore quality of life for our patients, free from joint pain. For some it could mean walking again pain free and for others it could be getting back to enjoying tennis, golf and even ballroom dancing.
Dr. William A. Leone is head of The Leone Center for Orthopedic Care at Holy Cross Health in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and has earned a reputation as one of the nation’s top orthopedic surgeons. An experienced orthopedic surgeon, his specialty is solving complex hip and knee problems. Call 954-489-4575 or visit HolyCrossLeoneCenter.com to schedule a consultation.
