Knee pain can get in the way of just about everything. Thankfully, knee pain has a few common causes, and they all have treatment options. These are three of the usual suspects of knee pain, and what to do about them.
1. Knee arthritis
There are many kinds of arthritis, and any of them can affect the knee. Arthritis in the knee usually feels stiff and painful upon waking up and worse in bad weather. The knee can also loosen up as you use it, but then the pain gets worse as the day progresses. Your knee may hurt to move, pop and click with use, or buckle under your weight if you move wrong.
Knee arthritis is initially treated with hyaluronic acid or growth factor injections for pain. If you’re unable to find relief from injections or physical therapy, you may be a candidate for partial or total knee replacement. If you suspect you have knee arthritis, you should go to your doctor to get imaging and discuss pain treatment.
2. Baker’s cyst
A Baker’s cyst is a fluid filled sac that can form behind the knee. Baker’s cysts usually cause pain or tightness while bending and a sense of painful fullness in your knee. In some cases, you can feel the cyst in the soft space behind your knee, but it does not show up on an x-ray.
If you suspect you have a Baker’s cyst, you should go to your doctor and ask for MRI imaging to confirm. The first line of treatment is to drain the cyst with the help of ultrasound or, if that fails, through arthroscopic surgery.
3. Injury
People usually know if they’ve sustained a knee injury, but it’s possible to tear or sprain your knee even with a small movement.
Most knee injuries can be resolved with physical therapy and modalities like ice packs for pain. If those conservative methods don’t work, surgery may be necessary. If you know or suspect you have a knee injury, talk to a doctor or physical therapist.
– Staff report, The Houston 100