Knee Pain

Knee Pain

Knee pain is one of the most frequent complaints that affects people of all ages. It can be caused by injury, growth spurts or normal wear and tear. Knee problems can cause a range of symptoms, including pain, stiffness and swelling. You don’t normally need to see a healthcare professional and symptoms should settle within 6 weeks. Most knee pain is not serious and does not require a scan or x-ray to diagnose the problem.

The Knee Joint

The knee joint is one of the largest and most complex joints in the body. The joint is formed where the thigh bone (femur) and shin bone (tibia) articulate with the kneecap (patella). There are an extensive network of ligaments and muscles. It is a hinge type synovial joint, which mainly allows flexion and extension and a small degree of medial and lateral rotation.

What causes Knee pain?

There are many different causes of knee discomfort and it can occur in people of all ages.

• Sprains and strains after overstretching and twisting injuries.
• Tendinitis can occur after repetitive activities (running and jumping).
• Torn Ligaments or meniscus after an injury where you could hear a pop and the knee feels unstable after incident.
• Osteoarthritis is more common in older people and causes stiffness, pain, and mild swelling.
• Gout or septic arthritis causes sudden pain and presents hot, red, and swollen.
• Patellofemoral pain is pain under the kneecap and is very common in teenagers and young adults.

How can you help yourself?

There are several ways that you can help yourself when you experience knee pain.

• Ice can be used in the first couple of days after an injury or flare-up. After two days you might find that heat is more relaxing and eases the pain.
• Pain medication and or anti-inflammatory tablets or creams can help to reduce the pain in the short term. Your GP or pharmacist can advise you on what to take.
• You can rest your leg for the first 24-72 hours after an injury or flare-up. However, it is important to maintain flexibility and movement in the knee as soon as you are able to but respect your pain (up to mild levels of discomfort).
• Excessive weight can increase stress on your knees and increase your risk of osteoarthritis.
• If your knee presents with swelling it is important to elevate you leg while you are resting.
• Do not rest for long periods of time as this could lead to stiffness and weakness which can prolong recovery. Simple exercises can be performed to help with function and strength. A physiotherapist can help you with the best advice regarding exercises and mobility.

When should I see a Doctor?

If you have severe pain which is getting worse over a few weeks and you feel unwell with lower back or full leg pain, or if you are under the age of 16 years, you should contact your GP. If you present with the below symptoms, you should consult your GP immediately:

• Significant swelling to the whole leg
• Sings of infection (out of the normal night sweats, high temperature and feeling unwell)
• Constant night pain
• Unexplained weight loss

What treatments are available for knee pain?

If your knee pain does not improve with the above self-help advice, then there are other treatment options available to help reduce your discomfort, including:

• Physiotherapy can help with increasing joint mobility, improve muscle strength and reduce pain.
• Acupuncture may help to ease symptoms in some cases.
• Evidence has shown that Shockwave therapy can reduce chronic anterior knee pain (patella tendinopathy).
• A Steroid injection into the knee joint can help reduce swelling and pain.
• Hyaluronic injections can help to lubricate the knee joint and reduce pain. These injections are not available on the NHS but are available privately.