Getting severe knee pain diagnosed and treated

Severe knee pain is an incredibly uncomfortable symptom of what could be a serious orthopaedic condition. As a result, it could lead to expert surgical attention from experts such as consultant orthopaedic hip, knee and pelvic surgeon Mr Daud Chou.

He provides a detailed look at knee pain, possible causes and treatment in this informative article.

How is knee pain medically defined?

Knee pain is defined as pain in and around the knee caused either due to disease of the knee joint or due to soft tissue injury. It can be caused by injuries, mechanical problems, types of arthritis, among other things.

Knee pain is a common condition that affects people of all ages.

How do you know when knee pain is serious?

Some knee injuries and medical conditions, like osteoarthritis, can lead to increasing pain, joint damage, and disability if left untreated. You should see a doctor if:

• you can’t bear weight on your knee or feel as if your knee is unstable or gives out;
• have marked knee swelling;
• are unable to fully extend or flex your knee;
• see an obvious deformity in your leg or knee;
• have a fever in addition to redness;
• pain and swelling in your knee, or,
• have severe knee pain that is associated with an injury.

What causes knee pain?

Some common causes of knee pain include:

• injury;
• fracture;
• overuse, and;
• sitting for long hours.

Some common causes of severe knee pain include:

• bone injuries such as fractures and joint dislocations;
• ligament injuries like ACL tears;
• meniscus tears;
• gout;
• knee arthritis;
• septic arthritis, and;
• cellulitis
• referred pain from the hip or back

How is serious knee pain treated?

Serious knee pain treatment varies depending on the underlying cause of the pain. Your doctor may prescribe medications to help relieve the pain and to treat the conditions causing your knee pain.

Physical therapy and strengthening exercises may also be recommended in order to help improve knee stability. Your doctor may suggest injecting medications or other substances, such as corticosteroids, directly into your joint.  Keyhole or open surgeries may be indicated for certain severe knee conditions.

How can I manage serious knee pain at home?

There are several ways to manage serious knee pain at home. Some of the things you can try include:

• Losing weight. People who are overweight experience more knee pain from increased compression on the joints;
• Regular exercise;
• Applying ice to the area you’re experiencing acute knee pain;
• Applying heat to the area of pain;
• Taking over-the-counter (OTC) medications such as painkillers;
• Taking supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin.

If you experience debilitating knee pain, arrange an appointment with Dr Chou via his Top Doctors profile.