Knee Pain, Causes, Symptoms And Possible Treatments
Knee pain is more prevalent in the United States than you can even imagine. Indeed, according to the Arthritis Foundation, more than 31 million Americans suffer from this condition.
Most people really don’t realize how valuable healthy knees are until these joints deteriorate on them. In fact, your knees are your largest, most complex joints. If they hurt, your quality of life goes down, fast. From a structural standpoint, knees are not stable. they are three bones held in place by muscles and ligaments.
Pain in these joints can be especially difficult for senior citizens. For example, studies show a strong link between knee pain and depression in seniors aged 65 and older. Also, other studies show a strong link between this joint pain and death in people aged 45 and older.
A telltale sign that your knees are in trouble is when become swollen or prevent your functioning in some way. In many cases, this pain responds well to noninvasive treatments that allow you to avoid surgery or at least delay it.
Knee Pain: Causes
If you are over 50 years of age and have knee pain, it is likely due to one of the following reasons:
Arthritis
This condition, which frequently comes on gradually and worsens with age, involves deterioration of the knee cartilage and adjacent bone. Symptoms often include swelling, stiffness and difficulty moving. Genetics is also a factor.
Another cause for knee pain is a tear of the meniscus. The meniscus are two rubbery pieces of cartilage inside the knee. They serve as shock absorbers between the thighbone and the shinbone. These cartilage tears can be minor that you don’t even feel to large tears that cause severe pain. In older patients, these ears can be degenerative, if not treated.
Knee Pain: You’re Overweight
obesity is a major epidemic in the United States. It leads to several types of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and circulatory problems. You can also include knee pain.
It’s really a very simple equation: The more you weigh, the greater strain you’re putting on your joints. Eventually, something has to give. According to the Arthritis Foundation, every one pound of weight you put on your body — means 5-7 extra pounds of pressure on your knees.It’s high time to lose weight.
Rheumatoid arthritis
This autoimmune disease results in the patient’s immune system attacking the knee’s synovial lining (which provides fluid to lubricate the joint), ultimately leading to cartilage damage. The symptoms include pain, stiffness, swelling and redness, especially after sleep. The condition is treated with steroids.
Treatments
There are a number of treatments available. Anti-inflammatories include over the counter medications such as Tylenol and Aleve. Also, switching your diet to include more fresh fruit, fish and vegetables, can help. Avoid processed foods, fructose and sugar.
It goes without saying that scheduled exercises will be a great help toy you. You will lose weight, improve your overall health, and lower the strain on your knees.
Focus on exercises that strengthen the quadriceps the fronts of the thighs which help control the movement of your hips. Lean muscle mass can absorb stress; fat can’t.
Joints need exercise — the more you do, the healthier your knees become. And, the best part is, it’s not necessary to do vigorous exercise. Just walking, swimming, yoga, tai-chi or rumba dancing, will keep your joints in top health.
Injections
Corticosteroid injections are effective for about 40 percent of patients with arthritis of the knee. They usually work best with patients who have pain and swelling, because they reduce inflammation.