Don't Ignore Knee Pain, It Might Be a Signal to Take Action

Knee pain used to afflict the elderly till some years back, but now even those who are as young as 25 could also be seen jostling with it. Sedentary lifestyle and almost no physical activity are the primary reasons why even youngsters are not untouched with it.

There are multiple reasons which can cause knee pain. It might be due to some injury, infection or disease that could lead to discomfiture in your knee and pain. If the pain does not subside in some time, it should be enough to ring an alarm bell to consult an orthopedician, who will tell you in the nick of the time what might be causing the pain and the best treatment procedure to fix it.

Signs and symptoms of knee pain

Human knee is not a stable joint. It is a complex joint having bone, cartilage and ligaments and its movement is aided by muscles and tendons. While disease or light damage in any of the structure can cause knee pain, any serious damage can leave a person impaired for life. So what are the symptoms you must be careful about:

• Not being able to place weight on impacted leg

• Swelling and redness of the knee or on the calf beneath the affected knee

• Can’t bend or straighten the knee

• Knee painfully locks or clicks when bending or sitting

Don’t ignore knee pain

Any knee pain should not be taken lightly and medical assistance must be sought. And if the pain has been there for a long time, it needs to be taken seriously and requires medical care. In fact, any pain that persists for more than three days must be brought to the notice of an experienced orthopedician.

Knee diseases that cause knee pain

The most common disease that has become the leading cause of disability in India is arthritis. In this disease, the cartilage, which is the connective tissue that protects the joints, break down. This allows bones to rub together, causing pain and swelling.

1. Osteoarthritis

It is one the most common form of arthritis, in which there is loss of bone density and deterioration

In its quality.

2. Rheumatoid arthritis

It happens due to inflammation of joints and surrounding tissues. Pathological infections, genetic predisposition and hormonal imbalance trigger it.

Knee arthritis in its severe form hampers a person’s normal day-to-day activity, crippling all movement, even simple ones like walking or even standing. It not only restricts a person’s movement but could also lead to problems like avascular necrosis (AVN) wherein blood supply to bones get disrupted.

Knee Replacement

Knee surgery is not for everyone as it’s still a major procedure and isn’t something that has to be done unless your pain can't be controlled with simpler measures.

But it may really be time for you to consider knee replacement if the pain, swelling, and knee stiffness is so much that it curtails most of your daily activities or if you suffer pain even at night or when you are resting. A knee deformity also signals that it’s time to make the move towards knee replacement surgery.

The Procedure

During knee replacement, the surgeon removes damaged bone and cartilage from thighbone, shinbone and kneecap.

Cartilage is soft, gel-like padding between the thighbone (upper portion of knee joint towards thigh) and shinbone (lower portion of knee joint towards the feet) that protects the knee joints and allows for movement.

After the removal of diseased portions, artificial joint made of metal alloys, high-grade plastics and polymers are inserted.

With technological advancements, knee replacement surgery has become very safe and stays now for longer durations. With proper care after surgery, patients can resume most of their daily activities and functionalities like walking, sitting, bending and climbing stairs.