The knee is the body’s biggest hinge joint. Without your knees, you cannot stand or walk. Unfortunately, your knees bear your body weight and become more susceptible to wear and tear with time compared to other bodily joints. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that knee discomfort is so prevalent. The orthopedic specialists at Joint Regeneration of Lake Oconee provide the most innovative treatments to identify and address knee discomfort. If you have knee pain, you can rest confident that you are in professional hands. Meanwhile, read on to discover some of the most prevalent reasons for knee pain Eatonton, and appropriate relief options.
Wear and Tear
If your knee pain, inflammation, or stiffness is more severe in the morning, osteoarthritis could be the cause. Age-related wear and tear are one of the most prevalent reasons for knee pain.
The risk of developing osteoarthritis increases with age. Nevertheless, youth does not protect against osteoarthritis. This degenerative joint condition can also affect younger adults. Common risk factors include recurrent stress on the knee joint, past knee injury, and/or obesity.
Approximately 27 million Americans older than 25 suffer from osteoarthritis. This condition results from cartilage degeneration with time. An injury could expedite the onset of osteoarthritis. Degenerative knee changes eventually result in bone spurs.
Injury
Your knee is an intricate joint. Any knee injury might lead to persistent pain. Injuries to the meniscus and the ligaments are among the most frequent.
Knee injuries are widespread at both the leisure and professional levels of sports. However, basketball, football, and soccer are sports with a high knee injury risk. If you experience joint pain, inflammation, and a feeling that your knee is locking or sticking, the problem could be a persistent degenerative meniscal tear.
Patellar Tendinitis
Also known as a jumper’s knee, this condition develops from swelling of the tendon connecting the kneecap to the shinbone, often due to overuse. An uncorrected jumper’s knee could lead to tendon tears if not corrected early. You are more vulnerable to this condition if you engage in activities causing repeated knee stress, such as gymnastics, volleyball, and field and track sports.
Knee Bursitis
The most prevalent reason for knee bursitis is inflammation of the bursa at the front of your knee (prepatellar bursae). Often, stiffness and pain follow.
The knee joint contains approximately 11 bursae; sacs full of fluid protect the joint from trauma. However, the bursae notorious for knee bursitis are the prepatellar bursae. If your knee feels like it is locking up and you have stiffness, it might be knee bursitis.
How To Diagnose And Treat Knee Pain?
During your initial consultation, your orthopedic specialist will perform a thorough assessment to identify the cause of your knee pain. This assessment includes a comprehensive physical examination and review of your health records. If necessary, your doctor might request imaging tests such as CT scans, X-rays, and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Once your doctor identifies the root cause of your concern, they can develop a care plan for you. Often, your orthopedic doctor will try conservative solutions such as physical therapy, injection therapy, bracing, and medications. Unfortunately, these procedures are not always effective at relieving knee pain.
If your knee pain does not respond to conservative solutions, your doctor may resort to invasive procedures. Your specific surgery will depend on the unique circumstances of your case.
Knee pain hardly resolves by itself. Therefore, if you are experiencing knee pain, do not hesitate to seek expert consultation with the orthopedic specialists at the Joint Regeneration of Lake Oconee. Left untreated, your knee pain could result in further injuries and severe complications, such as deformity. Schedule a consultation through mobile or book online today.