There is a relation between the common causes of knee pain to aging. Cartilage is a slippery tissue found in our knees. This tissue makes it easier for our knees to glide. As a person ages, the amount of this slippery tissue decreases. Also, young ones have no problem getting up and down the stairs. It is because they have enough amount of cartilage to move. Unlike the old ones, they have a hard time climbing up and down the stairs.
Symptoms:
Swelling and redness are visible around the knee area. Therefore, you may feel weak and stiff. The knee is not straightened, and you can hear a popping noise. These are some common symptoms, but it may depend on how bad the problem is. Also, you need to consult a doctor when you feel that your knee is unstable, and when you can see a deformity in your knee.
Moreover, a frequent crossing of legs is the most common cause of a pinched nerve in the knee. Remove the cause of the pinched nerve to allow it to heal itself. You can treat these conditions with over-the-counter pain relievers. But your doctor might also suggest treating a pinched nerve in the knee with surgery.
1. Injuries
The tendons, ligaments, and tissues surrounding the affected are causes of knee pain. The common injuries are:
ACL injury
A sport that involves jumping and landing causes this injury to happen. For instance, sports like soccer, basketball, and football are some.
Fractures
It is the breakage of the bones in the knee. Hence, it may happen during motor vehicle collisions or falls. However, some people who have weak bones can have a fracture by stepping wrong.
Torn Meniscus
The meniscus is a rubbery tissue that acts as a shock absorber between two of your bones. Also, it can tear by twisting your knee while bearing weight on it.
Knee Bursitis
It is a small fluid sac that cushions the outside of the knee. Also, it is for the tendons and ligaments to glide over the joint. Therefore, the inflammation of the sac causes knee pain.
Patellar Tendinitis
The patellar tendon is the thick, fibrous tissue that attaches muscles to bones. The cause of knee pain is the inflammation and irritation of the tendons.
2. Mechanical Problems
Loose Body
During an injury of the bone, some tissues and bone pieces break off and float in the joint space. Hence, the loose parts might affect the knee joint movement.
Dislocated Kneecap
A dislocated kneecap happens when the tissue becomes tight as it rubs to the femur. Also, the tissue extends from the outside of your hip to the inside of your knee.
Hip or Foot Pain
Having this type of pain, you may change the way you walk because of these painful joints. In some cases, injuries in the hip or foot can cause knee pain.
3. Arthritis
Osteoarthritis
Moreover, it is the most common type of arthritis. It is when the cartilage in the knee decreases with use and age.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
It is an autoimmune condition that affects the joints in the body, including the knees. Above all, it is the most serious type of arthritis.
Gout
Uric acid crystals in the joint are the major cause of this type of arthritis. Hence, the big toe and knee are the most affected parts of the body.
Pseudogout
It is caused by calcium-containing crystals. Hence, it is the knees that are the most common joint affected by it. This arthritis develops in the joint fluid.
Septic Arthritis
Knee joints can become infected, which causes swelling, redness, and pain. Also, it often occurs with a fever. Also, septic arthritis can cause great damage to the knee cartilage. If you have the symptoms of this arthritis, see a doctor right away.
4. Overweight
Excess weight causes stress on your knee joints. It is because the knees and other joints carry all the excess weight in your body. Therefore, to relieve the pain in your knees, consider losing a few extra pounds. Additionally, it is to lessen the stress on your knees.
5. Lack of muscle Strength and Flexibility
Knee injuries are most likely to happen when you do not have enough flexibility and strength. Build strong muscles to stabilize and protect your joints. Flexibility increases your chance to achieve a full range of motion.
6. Sports
Some sports put more stress on your knees than others. Some of the sports that stress the knees are basketball and ski. These sports include a lot of running, jumping, and turning.
7. Previous Injury
Having a previous injury increases the risk of knee pain and injury. Some cause of knee pain is severe that it requires the advice of a health professional. But some knee problems are found in young children, like knock knee. It is a large gap between the feet from where the person is standing. There is a knock knee treatment for this condition, such as wearing leg braces to support the legs and knees. The brace would put the leg and knee into proper alignment. Knock knee treatment takes a lot of time, but it is much safer than invasive surgeries.
Take extra measures to prevent these conditions from happening. You have to know the limitations of your knee. Having knee pain has a lot more serious causes if you think of it.
