One of the best things you can do to keep your joints healthy is by being active. However, injuries can happen, and sometimes they may involve the knee.
Some of the most common types of knee issues are runner’s knee, tendonitis, meniscus tears, and sprained ligaments. If you have a knee injury that is old and wasn’t treated properly, it can flare up sometimes or even cause pain all the time. This may prompt you to visit a knee doctor Omaha-based for treatment.
Other Causes of Knee Pain
There are many other things that can result in knee pain including:
- Bursitis- A bursa is a sac that contains fluid under the skin above your joint. The responsibility of the bursa is to prevent friction when moving the joint. However, overuse, repetitive bending, or even falls can cause irritation to the bursa on top of your kneecap. This can lead to swelling and pain. This is known as a condition called prepatellar bursitis.
- IT band syndrome- The IT band is a piece of strong tissue that extends from your hip to the outer part of your knee. When you are involved in excessive activity, inflammation can occur. The pain can be felt on the outside part of the knee.
- Dislocated kneecap- This simply means that your kneecap can slide out of position, resulting in swelling and knee pain.
- Meniscal tear- There are times when a knee injury can result in cartilage to tear. This can result in swelling and pain.
- Osteoarthritis- This arthritis is considered as the “wear and tear” type of arthritis. It is one of the top causes of knee pain after the age of 50. It causes your knee joint to swell or ache after activity.
- Patellar tendinitis- This simply means that inflammation is present in the tendon that connects the shinbone to the kneecap. If you overdo exercise, the tendons can become sore and inflamed.
What can I do for knee pain?
Depending on the type of knee injury you have, your plan for treatment may vary. However, issues that range from mild to moderate will normally heal on their own. You can also speed up the healing by:
- Resting your knee- It is perfectly fine to take several days off from intense activity.
- Icing it- To help reduce swelling and pain, ice your knee every 3 to 4 hours for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Compressing your knee- Use straps, sleeves, or an elastic bandage to wrap your knee. This will help to keep swelling down and add support.
- Keep your knee elevated- You can do this by simply using a pillow under your heel while you are lying or sitting down to help reduce swelling.
- Take NSAIDs- Naproxen or Ibuprofen will help with swelling and pain.
- Practice strengthening or stretching exercises- If your doctor gives you the okay to do exercises, you should implement them into your daily routine.
Prevention
To prevent knee pain, you can take several steps to help:
- Pause exercise if you’re beginning to feel knee pain.
- Gradually increase your exercise if you want to make it more intense.
- To prevent bursitis, use kneepads.
- Stretch your legs prior to and after physical activity.
- Wear shoes that fit well and give you good support.
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