Advice On Painful Knees
posted on 09/15/2009
Anyone who has painful, arthritic knees knows how bad they can feel when trying to walk up stairs or negotiate uneven or hilly terrain. After years of carrying your body around, your knees may be starting to fight back, with a series of cracks, pops, creaks, aches and painful stiffness. Most people report that it is particularly bad in the morning, when trying to get out of bed, or when the weather is damp and cold.
What causes pain in the knees?
The most common cause of painful knees is osteoarthritis, especially in older people who have spent a lifetime walking around, stressing their joints. Other not so common causes include sports injuries, such as torn ligaments and tendonitis.
What happens with arthritis in the knees?
Osteoarthritis (arthritis) is a gradual breakdown of the cartilage around the knee joint. It comes about after years of wear and tear. When the cartilage becomes so thin that there is hardly any more left to cushion the joint, severe pain may occur, since basically, the knee joint is rubbing together and it is bone-on-bone, which is very painful.
Can arthritis in the knee be prevented?
Most arthritis is degenerative and comes about with the aging process. Some physicians feel that taking nutritional supplements such as glucosamine and/or chondroitin may keep arthritis from getting worse, along with regular exercise. Losing weight can also help alleviate some of the pain associated with arthritis of the knees, since less weight means less stress.
What can be done to treat arthritis of the knees?
The first, and most effective treatment is knee replacement surgery, which replaces the knee joint with one that is artificial. Today's surgeries are much less invasive than those of the past were, but there is still a period of rehabilitation. The earlier you get this done, the better.
You can also try anti-inflammatory medications that are available over the counter, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Your doctor may also prescribe other pain relievers, such as Lodine, Daypro or Celebrex. There are also some anti-inflammatory topical ointments, such as Voltarin. This is good for people who may have intestinal issues with oral medications.
Arranging for knee injections might help. The doctor will inject a steroidal compound in the knee that acts as artificial cartilage. The relief may last for up to four months, at which time the injections will need to be repeated. At some point they no longer are effective, but some people report huge success with pain relief.
Heat or ice can also be helpful in reducing the swelling and inflammation. Ice should be used for acute, occasional pain, whereas heat is helpful for more chronic aches.
Committing to an exercise program that helps build muscle can also help alleviate arthritis pain. A joint with conditioned muscle around it is far better to be able to absorb stresses. However, avoid repetitive joint-pounding exercises, such as running or squats.
Arthritis is a chronic condition that needs to be managed, since it is impossible to turn back the hands of time once joint deterioration occurs. But with proper advice from a trained rheumatologist, you can successfully live with arthritis for many good years.
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JeanS says:
(33d 4h 45min ago)
Good article. I have painful knees. Your info is very good.