Why do my knees hurt?
There are many reasons that could be causing or contributing to your knees being painful. The knees are the largest joints in the body, the knee is subjected to many strains and stresses all day long, including weight-bearing activities like walking and climbing. Repeated activities, sitting, lifting and other activities can add to the pressure.
The most common sources of knee pain include:
- arthritis, or inflammation of the joint - ligament injury, like tears of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) - sports injuries
- traumatic accident Often, injuries are caused by twisting of the joint, repetitive stress or overuse related injuries. Also, wearing shoes that don't fit properly. Obesity or overweight can often cause knee damage and pain. Some types of lower back issues can also cause knee pain. Having your knee pain evaluated is the first step in ensuring you get the best treatment for resolution of pain, inflammation, and other issues. Getting the correct knee pain diagnosis The first step in diagnosis is having a complete assessment/ examination of the joint to look for signs of inflammation, including swelling, redness and tenderness in or near the joint.
During the examination, range-of-motion exercises may be used to help determine when and how pain and other symptoms occur. Your knee joint will be carefully felt to determine if there are any specific points of pain and to feel how the joint reacts during certain moments. Diagnostic imaging studies (scans) may also be needed and of course, a complete medical history will also be taken to look for any clues or risk factors.
Getting the best treatment for your knee pain Many types of knee pain can be successfully treated with manual and physical therapy, stretching to restore strength and flexibility in the joint. Your rehabilitation program will be tailored to your specific needs.
A great form of treatment for your knee pain is HYALURONIC ACID injection treatment.
HYALURONIC ACID treatment for knee pain
Hyaluronic acid is a Viscosupplementation regularly used to treat joints that have cartilage damage like Osteoarthritis. During this treatment a substance called hyaluronic acid (also called hyaluronate and hyaluron) is injected into the joint space to act as a lubricant, restoring natural joint fluid and reducing friction on the joint surfaces to relieve pain and inflammation while improving the way the joint works.
Hyaluronic acid treatment is used to help damaged joint surfaces heal, and to slow progressive degenerative changes. Also, Hyaluronic Acid injections can also help promote the body's natural production of hyaluronic acid for better joint function and a reduction in inflammation in pain in the future. What is hyaluronic acid? Hyaluronic acid is a substance that occurs naturally in our joints, helping facilitate normal, pain-free function. As we age, hyaluronic acid production reduces, thus increasing the risk of Progressive cartilage damage and arthritis. The joint surface damage then resulting in pain, stiffness and limited range of motion in the joint. What is the Hyaluronic Acid treatment like? Viscosupplementation (Hyaluronic Acid) is performed in the office as an quick outpatient procedure, which means you can go home immediately afterward and carry about your normal day. During treatment, injections are made into the joint to serve as a natural cushion and prevent friction, and pain. Also, increasingly most of these are being published on its ability to dampen down inflammation. Sometimes joint can be very painful due to inflammatory (effusion) swelling within a joint. If this is the case, this fluid will be painful to the patient and will be extracted via aspiration before the hyaluronic acid is applied into the joint.
The entire procedure takes just a few minutes to perform, and while a single treatment can be effective, most patients achieve optimal benefits with three to five treatments. How will I feel after treatment? Immediately after treatment, you may feel some slight discomfort at the injection site and within the joint, as well as mild swelling and stiffness. But in most cases of patience, they reports feeling hardly any discomfort at all. Any effects resolve soon afterward. Following the hyaluronic acid injection procedure there is minimal downtime and you can carry about your normal business but you are advised to take it easy for 48 hours to allow the joints you recover as fast as possible.
Find out more about knee pain treatments in Solihull with Dynamic Osteopaths
Or, schedule free consultation on 01564 330773. We are here to help!