What are the Symptoms of Knee Pain?
Early detection is crucial for prompt intervention, which can prevent complications and improve treatment outcomes. Therefore, it is important to recognise the signs and symptoms of knee pain, which may manifest as:
Sharp and stabbing pain
Clicking or popping sounds
Swelling and inflammation
Feeling of instability
Limited range of motion
If you notice any of these signs, we recommend reaching out to our specialists at Avant Orthopaedics for proper diagnosis and treatment.
What are the Common Causes of Knee Pain?
Sprains
These result from ligaments being stretched or torn. Sudden twisting or impacts can strain these ligaments, requiring medical attention.
Strains
Similar to how rubber bands weaken after overstretching, muscles and tendons can experience the same due to excessive force or repetition. Activities that push them beyond their limits, such as improper lifting techniques or sudden, forceful movements, can lead to strains and contribute to knee pain.
Overuse
Just as items in our household wear out from prolonged use, our knees can suffer from consistent, repetitive stress without adequate rest.
Fractures
Knee pain can also stem from fractures, where the integrity of bones is compromised. A sudden impact or significant force can result in a bone break, causing pain, swelling, and limited mobility. This is a serious concern requiring immediate medical attention to ensure proper healing and prevent further complications.
Arthritis
This common condition can trigger knee pain. It comes in two common forms: Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis. The former occurs when the protective cartilage cushioning the knee's bones wears down due to ageing, excessive use, or injury. The latter is caused by the immune system attacking the joint, resulting in inflammation within the synovium, a protective lining surrounding the joint.
What are the Treatments Available for Knee Pain?
Upon receiving a knee pain diagnosis, a wide array of treatments is available to provide relief and comfort. These can be tailored by your healthcare provider to best suit your conditions.
Non-Surgical Treatments for Knee Pain
Assistive Devices
Your doctor may recommend using knee braces or supports to alleviate strain on your knee. They can provide additional support and offer relief during physical activity.
Corticosteroid Injections
This injection delivers anti-inflammatory medication to the knee joint. While relief is temporary, corticosteroid injections can be valuable in managing acute episodes of knee pain.
Hyaluronic Acid Injections
This treatment supplements the knee's lubricating fluid, potentially reducing friction and improving pain.
Surgical Treatments for Knee Pain
Arthroscopy
This minimally invasive procedure offers a view into your knee joint, allowing skilled surgeons to address issues directly. It's a precision-driven approach that aims to mend and restore, offering the prospect of alleviating pain and enhancing joint function.
Knee Osteotomies
These procedures are forms of knee preservation surgery which reduces pain and improves knee function and quality of life. The principle of osteomy around the knee is to rebalance the pressure force between the inner and outer compartments of the knee.
Partial Knee Replacement
When severe damage takes a toll on your knee joint, partial knee replacement becomes a solution for damage that’s confined to one or 2 compartments. This transformative procedure involves replacing damaged single of double compartments with prosthetic counterparts, offering enduring pain relief and restoring mobility.
Total Knee Replacement
Total knee replacement surgery is a procedure designed to address severe knee joint damage caused by conditions like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or injury. It is typically considered when non-surgical treatments no longer provide effective relief. In this procedure, all 3 compartments of the knee are replaced by prosthetic components
How Can the Source of Your Knee Pain Be Diagnosed?
When you visit Avant Orthopaedics, our attending Orthopaedic Surgeon will
- Take a detailed history about your symptoms or knee injury
- Perform physical examination of your knee and other relevant joints
- Organize imaging modalities such as Xrays or MRI for detailed diagnosis
- Assess your level of function and estimated return to function
Many patients may choose to self-medicate or ignore their knee symptoms. Not seeking proper and timely assessment and treatment, may worsen the knee condition over time.
At Avant Clinic, knee consultation leading to diagnosis and appropriate treatment is a collaborative effort between you and our specialists. It is also personalized to your profile, level of function and expectations.
What is the Anatomy of the Knee?
To comprehend the importance of maintaining knee health and the causes of knee pain, it is crucial to understand the anatomy of our knees. We have dissected its main components to provide a clearer explanation of their unique roles in maintaining our mobility.
At the core of the knee's anatomy are the femur and tibia, two major players that come together to form the primary joint connection. Protecting them is the patella, also known as the kneecap, which acts as a shield for the joint and contributes to knee extension during movement.
Ligaments are robust bands of connective tissue that provide stability to the knee and keep everything together. They can be likened to strong ropes connecting one bone to another, promoting stability and preventing overextension. The knee has four main ligaments:
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL):
They are situated in the centre of your knee, intersecting in an "X" shape. The former assists in the control and rotation of the shin bone, while the latter controls backward movement.
Medial collateral ligament (MCL) and Lateral collateral ligament (LCL):
They are positioned on the sides of your knee, with MCL on the inner side and LCL on the outer section. In addition to providing stability, they also prevent excessive side-to-side movement.
How Can You Reduce the Risk of Developing Knee Pain?
Taking steps to reduce the risk of developing knee pain and preserving their condition is essential. Here are some tips:
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Your knees support your body weight with each step. Maintaining a healthy weight ensures this load remains manageable, minimising undue strain on the knee joints.
Choose Low Impact Activities
Swimming, cycling, and brisk walking are examples of low-impact activities. They don't subject your knees to excessive stress and can improve your cardiovascular health.
Use Proper Techniques
Whether lifting weights or performing daily tasks, using proper techniques is crucial to prevent undue strain on your knees. Practising correct posture and alignment distributes forces evenly across the joints.
Listen to Your Body
Rest is integral to any fitness regimen. Overexertion can lead to fatigue and increase the risk of injuries, including knee pain. Allow your body the time it needs to recover and repair.
When Should You Seek Professional Help?
If your knee pain is due to an injury or you experience the following symptoms, seeking professional help is advised:
- You experience intense pain
- Your knee looks swollen
- You are unable to bear weight
- Your knee has a history of injury or trauma
- You can’t perform daily activities
- There is a deformed joint
- The pain persists and worsens after several days
You don't need to exhibit all of these symptoms before seeking medical attention, as early and timely intervention is crucial in preventing the condition from worsening.
Are You or a Loved One Suffering from Knee Pain?
Knee pain can be a debilitating condition that prevents you or your loved ones from living life to its fullest. Feel free to book an appointment to receive a personalised consultation where we will thoroughly diagnose and recommend your most suited treatment.