Chronic knee pain is a common problem that can make it difficult to walk and carry out daily activities. It can be a long-term problem that can affect one or both knees. It can affect one part or all of the knee. The pain may be felt with bending, walking, or other movements.
Chronic knee pain has a number of causes, including trauma and arthritis. It can cause inflammation and pain, and affect your mobility and independence.
This article will cover chronic knee pain causes, symptoms, treatment, self-care, ways to find relief, and more.
Knee pain affects around 25% of adults, and its prevalence has increased over 65% over the last 20 years. It can either be temporary or chronic. Temporary knee pain is usually the result of an injury to the knee, while chronic pain often has a long-term cause.
A number of health conditions and diseases can result in chronic knee pain. Such conditions include:
Knee pain, whether related to a health condition or an injury, can get worse without treatment. It can cause severe pain, further injury, difficulty with movement, joint deformity, poor mobility, and bone spurs (outgrowths of sharp bone at the end of a bone in the joint).
You could be at risk for chronic knee pain if you are overweight or have obesity. According to a 2016 study, 19.5% of people with grade 2 obesity (body mass index of 35 to 39.9) have OA of the knee compared to 3.7% at a healthy weight. The additional weight puts extra pressure on the knees and can lead to inflammation, which can further exacerbate knee problems.
Additional risk factors for chronic knee pain are:
The location and severity of knee pain will vary depending on what is causing your knee pain.
Common signs and symptoms of chronic knee pain may include:
Chronic knee pain can also affect your ability to carry out activities of daily living (ADLs). Being able to complete ADLs is vital to maintaining your independence.
If you have chronic knee pain, the following ADLs might be affected:
Depending on what is causing your chronic knee pain, your healthcare provider may use different diagnostic tools. These may include a physical examination, lab tests, and imaging tests.
During the physical exam, the healthcare provider will inspect the knee for swelling, tenderness, and warmth. They will also check to see how far you can move your lower leg in different directions. They may push on the joint to determine if there is any damage to the knee structure.
If your healthcare provider suspects an infection or an inflammatory condition, like RA, they may order blood tests, including:
Another type of lab test done to diagnose the cause of knee pain is a procedure called arthrocentesis. It involves using a needle inserted in the knee joint to remove fluid and send it to the lab for analysis. It is often done to look for crystals that indicate gout (a type of inflammatory arthritis) or evidence of a bacterial infection.
Your healthcare provider may request imaging tests to look for certain types of joint damage to the knee:
If you are experiencing chronic knee pain, you should see a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis. This is especially important if you:
If you have had a trauma like an automobile accident or a severe fall, go to an emergency room (ER) or call 911. You should also go to the ER if you cannot move or bend your knee or leg or if you believe you may have broken a bone.
Treatment for chronic knee pain will depend on the underlying cause. For example, if your knee is swollen and inflamed due to OA, RA, or gout, treatments to bring down inflammation and halt disease processes can help manage your knee pain.
In addition to treating an underlying problem, knee pain is treated conservatively (without surgery) or with surgery.
Conservative treats for chronic knee pain include:
Surgery is a last resort option, but it is sometimes the most effective treatment for chronic knee pain. It is often considered when conservative therapies have failed.
Surgical options may include for chronic knee pain may include:
In addition to using conservative treatments recommended by your healthcare provider, you can manage chronic knee pain at home through lifestyle changes, exercise, sleeping well, hot and cold therapies, and assistive devices.
Making healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of chronic knee pain and improve symptoms in people with existing knee pain.
Research shows that obesity and chronic knee pain go hand in hand, with excess weight contributing to joint load and increasing the risk for knee OA. Losing excess weight can significantly reduce stress on knee joints, alleviate pain, and prevent fractures and further damage.
Additional ways to manage chronic knee pain are by reducing your alcohol intake and not smoking. Alcohol use and smoking have been linked to knee pain and OA.
A major mistake that people with chronic knee pain make is avoiding movement. Research has continually found that regular exercise has numerous protective advantages for knee health.
It can prevent cartilage degeneration, inhibit inflammation, and prevent bone loss. It can also improve pain, stiffness, joint dysfunction, and muscle weakness in people with knee OA.
For people with chronic knee pain, low-impact exercise can reduce stress on joints and improve joint health. Such exercises include:
Knee pain can affect your sleep, but there are things you can do to improve knee pain and get a more restful sleep.
These include:
Heal therapy using a hot water bottle or a heating pad can improve knee pain and reduce stiffness. Cold therapy with a commercial ice pack or a simple bag of ice can alleviate pain, inflammation, and swelling.
A number of assistive devices can help manage chronic knee pain and prevent further damage to the knee joint. They can also help manage knee stiffness and pain, improve mobility, and help you stay independent.
Examples of assistive devices to manage knee pain are:
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies are medical practices that are not part of conventional medicine. They may include natural therapies, mind-body practices, and body therapies to promote healing.
CAM therapies that have been found to be helpful for managing knee pain include acupuncture, yoga, tai chi, and massage. These can be used alone or in combination with other therapies to manage your chronic knee pain.
It is possible to prevent some, but not all, causes of chronic knee pain.
Ways to do this include:
If you are experiencing knee troubles, including stiffness and pain, let a healthcare provider know. They can examine your knees and create a treatment plan that reduces the potential for chronic knee pain.
Some causes of knee pain, like arthritis, can be lifelong because the structure of the knee is damaged. Without surgery or other extensive treatments, you will continue to have swelling, pain, and stiffness.
However, as long as you can manage pain, prevent flares, and reduce other knee symptoms, your outlook can be positive. Knee surgery can also be helpful for repairing joint and cartilage damage and reducing or eliminating pain and other symptoms.
Chronic knee pain can cause long-term pain, swelling, and stiffness in one or both knees. The cause of knee pain will determine any additional symptoms a person might have. Many conditions can contribute to knee pain, including an injury or arthritis.
Chronic knee pain can affect your mobility and independence. Treatments include self-care management with exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, wearing supportive shoes, and using assistive devices.
OTC NSAIDs and other pain relievers can help manage pain and other knee pain symptoms. A healthcare provider can prescribe more potent pain relievers and other medications to manage inflammation if needed.
Surgery is considered as a last resort and is reserved for cases of severe pain or damage to bones and joints. You may be able to prevent chronic knee pain by maintaining a healthy weight, staying active, using mobility aids, and wearing supportive shoes.
The outlook for chronic knee pain can be positive if symptoms can be managed or surgery is done to repair a damaged knee.
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