If the muscles aren’t flexible, the knee joint sometimes won’t move properly, says Dr. Elson. High-impact exercises can further injure painful knees. Avoid jarring exercises such as running, jumping, and kickboxing.
Years of wear and tear can break down the cartilage in the knees, leading to chronic joint inflammation. While nothing can reverse these physical changes, you can reduce pain by building up the muscles around the knee as well as in the pelvis and core. Strong muscles act like scaffolding, taking some of the pressure off the joints. Stretching to increase flexibility can help the joint function properly. In conditions that are seen as discrete clinical entities self-management can be defined as patient-led activities. By subsuming knee pain within normal ageing conceptualising self-management becomes more complex because the distinction between “getting on with life” and dealing with pain cannot be made.
Deep breathing and meditations, when done properly, can ease the tightness and tension of the muscles, leading to relaxation. Sometimes healthcare providers order a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test or a computerized tomography (CT) scan. Experts have identified some genes that might cause arthritis, including arthritis of the knee.
Understanding Chronic Knee Pain
Chronic knee pain is a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It can be caused by a variety of factors such as arthritis, injury, or overuse. This type of pain typically lasts for more than three months and can significantly impact one’s quality of life.
Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan. If you have a weakness in one of these categories, here’s what could be causing your inside knee pain. Let’s look at four lesser-known (and often overlooked) contributors that cause knee pain to linger and not go away. The Pain Toolkit is a collection of helpful tips and strategies to manage persistent pain, developed by someone with long-term pain.
Symptoms of Chronic Knee Pain
Make your tax-deductible gift and be a part of the cutting-edge research and care that’s changing medicine. Some people find relief by rubbing the affected knee with creams containing a numbing agent, such as lidocaine, or capsaicin, the substance that makes chili peppers hot. You’ll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Falling from a height, receiving a direct blow to the knee, making a sudden change in direction, or making repetitive movements during sports training are all causes of traumatic knee injuries. Cartilage is a slippery substance on the ends of the bones in the knee.
The symptoms of chronic knee pain may vary from person to person but commonly include:
- Pain and swelling in the knee joint
- Stiffness and difficulty moving the knee
- Popping or clicking sounds when bending or straightening the knee
The diary was to be filled in for 1-week of the participant’s choosing, each month, for 6 months. A potential problem was that people might choose an extraordinary week or one which was particularly “calm.” In reality, people wrote whenever they liked (odd days here and there). Accounts often shifted temporally e.g., updating on key events that contextualised the “now.” A set of prompts were included with the diary to offer suggestions and direction to participants. Diaries were posted back to the researchers each month. The researcher tried not to lead and be too specific. The quality of the diary material varied due to the differing styles and amounts of information people provided.
Treatment Options
There are several treatment options available for individuals dealing with chronic knee pain. These may include:
- Physical Therapy: Working with a physical therapist can help strengthen the muscles around the knee and improve flexibility.
- Medications: Over-the-counter pain relievers or prescription medications may be recommended to manage pain and inflammation.
- Injections: Corticosteroid injections or hyaluronic acid injections can provide temporary relief for some individuals.
Lifestyle Changes
In addition to medical interventions, making lifestyle changes can also help alleviate chronic knee pain. These may include:
- Weight Management: Maintaining a healthy weight can reduce stress on the knee joints.
- Low-Impact Exercise: Engaging in activities such as swimming or biking can help improve knee function without causing further damage.
- Proper Footwear: Wearing supportive shoes with cushioning can help reduce strain on the knees.
By taking a proactive approach to managing chronic knee pain through a combination of treatments and lifestyle changes, individuals can find relief and improve their overall quality of life.
