Pain in the knee area? here are various causes and how to overcome them

Similar to pain that you may have felt in other areas of the body, pain that appears in the knee can also cause discomfort and inhibit activity. There are many things that can cause knee pain. Therefore, how to overcome it should not be arbitrary. Come on, see the full explanation of knee pain below.

Knee pain, when the knee is painful and uncomfortable

Pain or pain in the knee area is a condition that is quite common and is experienced by people of various age groups. One of the common symptoms of this musculoskeletal disorder can occur due to a variety of causes.

Starting from torn ligaments to broken cartilage can be the cause of knee pain. In fact, health conditions such as arthritis, gout, and infections have the potential to cause pain in the knee area.

Generally, knee pain can be treated with simple treatments that are done independently at home. However, there are times when your knee pain may require you to undergo a surgical procedure.

Symptoms that appear when experiencing knee pain

The location of pain in the knee area can vary. In fact, the level of pain you feel may not be the same from one person to another. Usually, this is determined by the cause of the pain. In addition to knee pain, this condition may be accompanied by several signs and symptoms such as the following:

Swelling and stiffness in the knee area.
Redness appears and the knee feels warm to the touch.
The knee feels weak and unstable.
The knee cannot be fully straightened.

There are various causes of pain in the knee area

There are many possible causes for knee pain. You need to know what causes pain in the knee area in order to determine the right type of treatment. Various causes of disturbances in the human movement system include:

1. Injury

There are various kinds of injuries that you may experience in the knee area, causing pain or soreness. The injury that occurs can affect any ligaments or tendons in the area. Some of the possible injuries:

ACL injury

Injury anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a tear that occurs in the ligament. This injury usually occurs in sportsmen who require a lot of sudden changes in direction while exercising. For example, football, basketball and volleyball. This condition is more common in women than men.

Bleeding in the knee

Injuries can damage the bones and joints in the knee, causing fracturing and bleeding to radiate to the joint. You will feel heat, stiffness, swelling, and bruising on the knee. Immediately see a doctor if your knee feels more painful and the swelling gets bigger.

Fracture

When the kneecap or other bone in your knee breaks, it can cause unbearable pain in the knee. Sometimes, the fragments of this broken bone can damage the joints and soft tissue in the knee.

Meniscus tear

A meniscus tear is usually caused when you involuntarily make a circular motion in the knee joint when the foot is flat and the knee joint is bent.

A torn meniscus can cause the outside or inside of your knee to feel painful, stiff, and difficult to move. If not treated properly, pain can recur at any time.

Knee bursitis

Some repetitive knee movements cause fluid to build up over the knee joint. This makes the pain worse when you bend your knee completely. Knee bursitis affects people in certain occupations such as footballers.

Patellar tendinitis

Patellar tendinitis is a problem in the patellar tendon. The patellar tendon is a group of fibrous tissue that connects the quadriceps muscle at the front of the femur to the shin. People who play jumping sports such as basketball and volleyball are more at risk for this condition.

2. Arthritis

Apart from injuries, several types of arthritis or arthritis can also be a potential cause of knee pain.

Osteoarthritis

With increasing age or overuse, the knee becomes less flexible, stiff and painful. This pain can get worse when you place weight on the knee. Osteoarthritis can also cause fluid-filled swelling at the back of the knee, which can be very painful.

Rheumatoid arthritis (rheumatism)

Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the body's immune system attacks its own tissues. This condition can occur in any joint of the body. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease but can be severe.

Gout (uric acid)

When your body stores too much uric acid, it can trigger inflammation in the joints which will then form crystals. Inflammation usually starts in certain joints in the knee, then spreads to other joints.

Septic arthritis

Joints in the knee area may experienceseptic arthritis,resulting in swelling and causing pain and redness. Usually, this condition is also accompanied by fever, although there is no trauma to the source of the pain.

If you feel pain in the knee with the various symptoms mentioned above, it is better to see a doctor immediately and have your condition checked.

3. Baker's cyst

If fluid builds up behind your knee, Baker's cyst can develop. A Baker's cyst usually causes only discomfort, not pain. However, if the cyst opens, you can feel excruciating pain accompanied by swelling and bruising.

4. Osgood-schlatter

Osgood-Schlatter disease is caused by an injury to the knee when the knee is not fully developed. Patients usually feel pain, swelling, and irritation. If you play football, volleyball or basketball a lot, you are at risk for this problem.

5. Illitobial band syndrome

You who are very fond of cycling may need to be more careful, because of the risk of experiencing it iliotibial band syndrome will be higher. This condition is characterized by rubbing of the ligament tissue on the outside of the thigh with the bone at the back of the knee. Over time, this friction causes irritation, swelling, and pain behind the knee.

7. Injury to the hamstring muscles

The hamstring muscles are a group of muscles found at the back of the thigh. If they are pulled too far, they can injure or tear the hamstring, causing pain, including in the back of the knee. The recovery process for the hamstring muscles can usually take up to months.

Risk factors for experiencing pain in the knee area

There are several important factors that may increase your risk of developing knee pain, such as:

1. Being overweight

Being overweight or obese can increase your risk of experiencing pain in the knee area. This is because the knees have to withstand heavier body loads, especially when doing several activities, including walking and going up and down stairs.

In fact, not only does it increase your risk of knee pain, being overweight can increase your risk of developing osteoarthritis because this condition increases the risk of damage to cartilage.

2. Muscles that are not flexible and strong

If you have muscles that are too stiff and weak, you may be more at risk for knee injury. The reason is, strong muscles can help stabilize and protect joints. Meanwhile, flexible muscles can help you to perform a variety of movements.

3. Several types of sports and other activities

According to the Mayo Clinic, there are several types of exercise that can suppress or increase physical stress on the knee, compared to other sports. One example is basketball. When playing basketball, you will often jump and make sudden changes to your movements.

This can increase your risk of getting a knee injury. On the other hand, there are jobs that may require you to perform repetitive movements that cause physical stress in the knee area, such as work in construction, and the like.

4. Previous injury

If you have had a knee injury before, you are at an increased risk of having another knee injury. This is what triggers pain in the knee area.

How to deal with pain in the knee area

After recognizing the cause, now you can know how to deal with pain or pain in the knee area. The following are some medications that can relieve general knee pain:

1. Use of drugs

One way to relieve pain in the knee area is to use drugs. Medicines that can treat pain in the knee include:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen.
Corticosteroid drugs, either orally or given by injection.
Analgesic drugs.

2. Natural remedies

Some of you may feel more comfortable if you consume natural ingredients to relieve pain in the knee area. You can just consume some natural ingredients that are believed to reduce pain, such as the following.

Ginger extract.
Turmeric.
Willow bark.

3. Alternative medicine

The alternative medicine in question is an activity that might help with medication to relieve the pain that is felt in the knee. Among them:

Exercise and weight management

Doing daily exercises can reduce knee pain by keeping joints active and preventing stiffness. The more you are overweight, the more stress on your knees, so it is very important to manage a healthy weight.

Hot and cold compress therapy

Hot or cold compresses can reduce knee pain. Using an ice pack or hot water and applying it to your painful area can effectively reduce the pain.

Tai chi

Tai chi is an exercise to improve balance and flexibility. This activity also teaches you to focus and discipline your thoughts. Tai Chi can reduce pain and improve movement for those with knee pain.

4. Operation

If your knee pain is caused by an injury, you may be advised by your doctor to undergo a surgical procedure. Usually, this procedure is not done immediately after you are diagnosed with a knee injury.

You will be asked to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of having surgery, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of having other treatment. This will help you ensure that whatever type of treatment is the best decision for your knee health condition.