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The knee is one of the most easily injured parts of the body. The largest and
most complicated joint, the knee is used for everything from standing up
and sitting down, to walking, running, etc. It is a weight-bearing joint that
straightens, bends, twists and rotates. All this motion increases your risk of
acute or chronic knee pain.
occur in young women, athletes and the elderly where pain is caused more
with activity or prolonged sitting.
Diagnosis
Medical background
When diagnosing the pain in your knee, the doctor will want to know the
exact nature of the pain. So, he might ask where exactly in the knee your
pain is, what it feels like, if it's happened before and if anything makes the
pain worse or better. He will also need to know about any medical problems,
your lifestyle and medication you might be taking. The doctor may confirm
the diagnosis by performing examination and/or by taking X-rays.
Examination
The doctor will do a physical examination of your knee after obtaining your
health background by pressing around the knee to search for tender spots.
He may perform manoeuvres to stress the ligaments, tendons and menisci
of the knee to evaluate the severity of the pain.
Medical Imaging
Depending on your background and the examination, the doctor may
suggest one of the following medical imaging of your knee:
X-ray
This will show bones fractures and dislocations as well as arthritic changes
and abnormally large or small joint spaces.
CT Scan
Your doctor may order a CT scan (a 3-dimensional x-ray) of the knee to
accurately define a fracture or deformity.
MRI Scan
While both X-rays and CT scans are excellent at diagnosing fractures, they
are poor at evaluating soft tissue structures of the knee such as ligaments,
tendons, and the menisci. This is why, when evaluating tendons and
ligaments, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used.
Fluid Removal
Your doctor may have to remove fluid from your knee for analysis to
diagnose infection and some kinds of arthritis. Crystals, which suggest
crystalline arthritis, can often be seen under the microscope, and infection
can be detected this way, too. The doctor may perform certain blood tests
for diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes.
Arthroscopy
This is a surgical procedure where the surgeon places a fibre optic camera
within the knee joint itself to look more closely at damaged menisci or
cartilage. The surgeon can see possible small particles in the knee and is
able to repair damage by shaving down torn cartilage or removing particles
from the knee during the procedure.
Treatment
Although treatment of knee pain depends entirely on the cause of the
problem, stretching the muscles and performing low-impact exercises and
using electrical stimulation can strengthen the muscles. Physical therapy is
also an advisable treatment as therapists use different exercises to increase
strength, regain mobility and help patients recover from their injury.
Other common treatments can range from simply applying ice and heat over
the affected area to taking anti-inflammatory medications or cortisone
injections. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) are
prescribed commonly for arthritis, bursitis and tendonitis. Cortisone is a
powerful medication that treats inflammation, which is a common problem
with patients with knee pain.
Prevention
Knee injuries are difficult to prevent, but you can take some precautionary
measures to limit your risk of knee pain.