Knee pain can be caused by injury, overexertion, or aging. Mild pain can be treated with home remedies, while severe pain may require medication, therapy, or surgery. Injuries, such as torn ligaments, are the most common cause of knee pain.
Individuals of all ages and activity levels can be prone to knee pain for a variety of reasons. In most cases, the pain is caused by some type of injury to the joints, muscles, tendons, or ligaments in the area. A person may also experience pain or tendonitis if they overstretch the knees while playing a sport, working, or exercising. Simply getting older is also a common cause of knee pain; joints are prone to arthritis and generally tend to become less stable in old age. Most types of mild pain can be relieved with classic home remedies, such as resting, applying ice to the joint, and wearing a splint, although more severe knee pain may require prescription medication, rehabilitation therapy, or even surgery to correct the problems.
The most common cause of knee pain is direct injury, which can result in a torn or strained ligament, cartilage damage, a luxated kneecap, or bruising of muscles, bones, and skin. An injury can result from a fall, a direct blow to the knee, or a sudden jerk or twist. Knee ligament injuries are usually the most debilitating. They can easily strain or even tear if an individual bends the knee suddenly or beyond its range of motion, which is common in contact sports.
Overexertion of the knees can lead to significant pain in athletes, workers, hikers, and other individuals who engage in constant activity. It is common for tendons to become inflamed and swollen from overuse, a condition known as tendonitis. Many young people experience Osgood-Schlatter disease when they are engaged in frequent activity, leading to chronic knee pain and occasional swelling and tenderness.
The chances of developing knee pain increase considerably as a person gets older. Individuals over the age of 45 are prone to the problems of arthritis, weakened muscles, osteoporosis and other ailments of an aging body. Rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and osteoarthritis frequently affect the knee joints in older people, causing stiffness, loss of range of motion, and pain when standing or walking.
Individuals can usually relieve their mild knee pain in as little as a week by resting their legs, applying ice packs to reduce swelling, providing support in the form of bandages or splints, and taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medications. Some conditions, such as severe arthritis or torn ligaments, require a trip to the emergency room or doctor’s office to receive immediate treatment. A doctor will conduct a thorough physical exam and possibly take an X-ray to check for internal damage. Depending on the type and severity of an injury or illness, your doctor may prescribe pain medication, fit a brace, schedule physical therapy classes, or recommend surgery.
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