Knee Pain, is it Osteoarthritis or...
As we get older it’s likely that we’ll deal with knee pain at one point or another. Often our patients come to our office telling us they have osteoarthritis (OA) in their knee from the x-ray they had from 2 or so years ago, and their pain is just getting worse. They have difficulty with walking longer distances, trouble with stairs, and unable to squat, bend or crouch on their knees. Does this sound familiar yet? In today’s topic we’ll address common sources of knee pain and talk about the typical symptoms people experience.
One of the most common causes of knee pain as we get older is osteoarthritis, and is often referred to as “wear and tear arthritis”. As our body ages, the cartilage inside our joints erode, and the bones begin to rub against each other, causing pain. Typical symptoms with this “disease” is joint pain that is often worse in the morning, and usually dissipates within an hour of waking up and moving around. Additionally, increased pain is noted following inactivity for about 30 minutes, like sitting down for dinner or watching TV, and usually takes a few steps before things “loosen up”. Stairs are also usually difficult and oftentimes going down stairs is more difficult than going up. Lastly, prolonged activity increases pain around the affected joints. These symptoms come on slowly over time (usually years) and progressively worsen with time. If your pain is recent, a few weeks to a few months, and is sharp (especially when touched), it’s most likely not OA.
Another common cause of knee joint pain is patellofemoral pain syndrome. This pain is often located “in and around” the knee joint and the kneecap. The exact cause of this problem is varied, but often we see that the patellofemoral joint is restricted causing improper tracking of the patella (kneecap), causing irritation of the surrounding tissues. Here’s the fun part, the symptoms for this dysfunction are very similar to that of OA. We often see knee joint pain, pain with prolonged activity, and difficulty with stairs (more pain going down than up). The key difference is pain following inactivity. This type of knee dysfunction isn’t often painful in the morning or following periods of inactivity, and is usually painful to the touch in various areas around the knee. It’s possible that patellofemoral pain syndrome may be present for many years before it becomes so severe and painful that people seek treatment, and is often misdiagnosed as OA.
Another area of concern for many knee injuries is ligamentous or meniscus injury. These problems are often associated with some sort of specific event whether it be a dramatic injury from sports or turning wrong while stepping off a curb. These types of injuries are usually recalled quickly and often patients say, “My pain started June 20th,” or maybe, “It started last February while I was on vacation.” Typical symptoms vary, but are usually worse with activity and certain positions or motions. To determine the exact ligament or meniscus that is injured usually requires evaluation by a professional. The problem with these injuries is that areas of the menisci and ligaments have poor blood supply and can take a relatively long time to heal from injury. It’s common to notice pain for a year or more following injury to these structures, especially without proper treatment.
Knee pain is something that can significantly interfere with our ability to live our lives to the fullest, and often affects our quality time with our families. Maybe you don’t see your grandchildren as often because their house has stairs, or maybe you avoid going on vacation because sitting for a long period makes your knees hurt. These are all common statements that we hear at our clinic and we want to be able to help everyone who wants to get back to doing the things they used to do. There are certain things that we can attribute to age like wrinkles, weird toenails, and funny hairs that grow out of places we didn’t know we had. However, if you think that those aches and pains that you’re feeling are because of “old age,” it may be that your body just needs a “tune-up” to get you going again, and a proper evaluation and rehab program may be all you need.
Important take-away point for today. If you’re experiencing any bodily pain, it is advised to seek treatment sooner rather than later. The longer dysfunction is present the longer it can take to treat the dysfunction and the pain associated with it. Early detection is the key to healthcare and wellness care to keep you doing the things you want to do.
As a general disclaimer, the information in this blog post is for informational use only and is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition. As always, it is recommended that anyone with questions regarding their health seek advice from a medical provider.