Knee Injuries and Knee Pain Relief

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Knee pain is one of the most common types of pain people experience. Because of the amount of use required of the knee, knee injuries are very common. Overuse can cause muscle strain and tendon stress. Often the tendons incur tiny tears which are not allowed time to heal before they are used again. This can cause inflammation and pain which might interfere with walking or can even cause pain while sitting. Early treatment can often avoid permanent damage as well as providing knee pain relief. The knee joint gets an abundance of use and is the easiest part of the body to sustain injury. It bears our weight as well as bending to allow us to walk. When walking or running the knee joint is in constant motion. Athletes often suffer knee injury because of the constant use required to participate in sports. Football, basketball, soccer, and baseball all require some sort of contact which can lead to knee injury or knee pain. Knee pain relief can often come in the form of ice packs applied to the affected area.

Other Causes of Knee Pain

Another major cause of knee pain is arthritis. This comes in the form of rheumatoid or osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid causes damage to the joints and cartilage while osteoarthritis is the slow decrease of cartilage which is usually due to age. Arthritis can cause a build up of fluid on the knee which can cause severe pain. Before you can get knee pain relief you must be able to reduce the fluid accumulation. There are a variety of anti inflammatory drugs available both over the counter and by prescription. If this conservative approach fails your doctor may need to draw this fluid off with a syringe. You might also get knee pain relief by injecting steroids directly into the knee. This is usually done after anti-inflammatory drugs have failed. Continued use of steroid injections can cause further damage to the knee cartilage and tissue.

Surgery – The Last Resort

For some people who have degenerative osteoarthritis the only solution for knee pain relief may be surgery to replace the knee. This is usually only recommended if all else fails. Since knee replacement will eventually wear out it is recommended it be put off as long as possible. As always, the best prognosis is prevention. If you are overweight you are at an increased risk of knee damage. Developing a stretching exercise program can help keep the joint loose and mobile. If you begin to feel pain it is best if you consult your doctor before the condition worsens and causes permanent damage.