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Nearly everybody has experienced knee pain at some point in their life. Whether it be caused by a medical condition like arthritis or a sports injury, there’s no denying that our knees take a beating. Knee pain is so common, it is the largest cause of disability in patients over 65 here in the US.

Causes of chronic knee pain

Chronic knee pain is most often caused by a past injury with pain ranging from dull and annoying to sharp and debilitating. If left untreated, chronic knee pain can lower your quality of life and prevent you from doing what you love. Generally, the pain stems from swelling in the tissues surrounding the knee, which makes the joint difficult to move. Chronic pain can be in either knee or both depending on the circumstances of the past injury. One thing’s for certain, your chronic knee pain won’t go away without the proper treatment.

Consider the following tips if you’re suffering from chronic knee pain:

• Ice

  Icing your knee on a daily basis helps reduce swelling while increasing blood flow in the tissues surrounding the knee. To avoid discomfort, wrap the ice in a towel before placing on the knee. Ice your knee for 15 minutes, with a 15 minute rest period in between for best results.

• Keep an eye on the scale

  While there’s no need to be an Olympic athlete to maintain healthy joints, maintaining a healthy weight can greatly improve chronic knee pain symptoms. Moderate physical activity helps keep joints well-lubricated, and maintaining a healthy weight keeps excess stress off of your bones. It’s been shown that just a 10 percent weight loss can improve knee function by up to 28 percent.

• Wear proper footwear

  While improper footwear may not necessarily cause chronic knee pain, it can make your symptoms much more severe. Unsupportive footwear and high heels significantly increase pressure on your knees. Wearing comfortable shoes like sneakers or even orthopaedic footwear goes a long way to relieving knee pain.

If chronic knee pain is keeping you from enjoying life to the fullest, give the experts at Orthopaedic Associates of St. Augustine a call today at 904-825-0540.

 

SINA KASRAEIAN, MD
Board Certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and has extensive training in arthroscopy and sports medicine reconstructive procedures.