KNEE PAIN

WHAT IS IT?

Knee pain refers to physical discomfort in or surrounding the knee joint. The knee joint is where the femur (thighbone), tibia (shinbone) and patella (kneecap) connect and is the largest joint in the body. Acute knee pain is commonly caused by an injury or sprain. Acute knee pain will typically settle spontaneously or resolve with modification of activities and instruction in appropriate exercising and self-management. However, knee pain that lasts three months or longer is considered chronic knee pain.

The knee is the largest joint in the body, where the thighbone (femur), shinbone (tibia) and kneecap (patella) connect.6 Knee pain can be described as acute, such as when someone falls and tears a ligament. Acute knee pain will typically resolve with the recovery of the injury. Knee pain that lasts three months or longer is described as chronic knee pain.

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KNEE PAIN

WHAT CAUSES IT?

Chronic knee pain is common and can include:

  • Injury
  • Surgery
  • Everyday wear and tear
  • Degenerative conditions, such as osteoarthritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Crystalline arthritis
  • Gout
  • Bursitis
  • Infection, such as cellulitis
  • ‘Runner’s knee’ (patellofemoral syndrome)

TREATMENT

OPTIONS

Treatments often depend on the source and extend of pain.

Initial treatment options include:

  • Anti-inflammatory medications
  • Physical therapy

The next step of the treatment journey may involve:

  • Injection therapies
  • Corticosteroids (to reduce inflammation)
  • Hyaluronic acid (to help lubricate the moving parts within the knee)
  • Chronic pain rehabilitation programs7
  • More advanced care options include:
  • Radiofrequency ablation may be used to target the pain generating nerve within the knee joint to provide temporary pain relief
  • Arthroscopic and joint replacement surgeries

LEARN MORE

REFERENCES

6. https://www.thepaincenter.com/news/chronic-knee-pain
7. https://www.instituteforchronicpain.org/common-conditions/knee-pain

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