As the knee is a region with ligaments, cartilage, muscles, and tendons, with use, it can present wear and tear, which may be accompanied by pain.
Pain is common for the following reasons:
- Meniscus injuries and wear
- strains or sprains
- trauma
- Misalignments
- Weakness in the muscles
- Excessive weight or physical activity
- Obesity
On the other hand, there are diseases such as tendinitis, bursitis, rheumatism, Baker’s cyst, gout, and infections, which can also trigger problems in this joint. Some of them cause serious cartilage wear.
How The Pain Presents Itself
Knee pain or knee injury (อาการบาดเจ็บที่เข่า which is the term in Thai) can present itself in many ways, such as when it pops or even internally. It is also present on the sides, this being more common in corridors. It can still manifest in the front or back and go up and down stairs.
Sometimes the pain is accompanied by:
- Swelling
- Muscle stiffness
- Redness
- heat to the touch
- Weakness or instability
- Difficulty straightening or fully straightening the leg
How To Make The Diagnosis?
As we have seen, the knee has a complex structure, and each problem causes different pain, and each person can have different symptoms and intensities of discomfort. Only a specialist doctor (orthopedist or rheumatologist) can make the correct diagnosis from laboratory and imaging tests.
These exams are usually:
- Joint fluid culture
- MRI
- X-ray
How Does The Treatment Work?
Treatment depends on the cause of the knee pain.
Sometimes, physiotherapy sessions help a lot to alleviate the problem. In others, it is necessary to use medication, such as anti-inflammatories. Suppose you were playing sports and felt pain; ice immediately elevates your leg to reduce swelling. In some more severe cases, it is necessary to inject a steroid to relieve pain and reduce the inflammation present. And in critical situations in which the medication is no longer indicated, surgery is oriented for the necessary corrections. Of course, as soon as you start to feel the pain, it is recommended to seek professional help.
