Do You Need to See a Doctor? | Glow Healthy Life

What if your knee pain seems manageable and not so acute or debilitating that you need emergency care? Should you still check in with your doctor? A good rule of thumb is to consider how many lifestyle changes you’re making to accommodate the pain. If the pain is affecting your daily routine and your sleep, or if the pain is gradually worsening or persisting, it’s a good idea to speak with your healthcare provider about it.

The Pain Won’t Go Away

Sometimes an injury can lead to a sprain that may not seem all that serious initially and that you can treat at home with RICE: rest, ice, compression, and elevation, along with over-the-counter pain medications. But if the pain doesn’t lessen or disappear, or the knee is giving out when you try to walk, you should see a doctor.

The pain could be due to the following:

Patellar tendonitis affects the tendon connecting your kneecap (patella) to your shinbone. Also called jumper’s knee, it often occurs in sports like basketball, where the force of hitting the ground after a jump strains the tendon.

Most cases of tendonitis can be treated with rest, physical therapy, and pain medication. But see a doctor if symptoms persist or worsen, interfere with your daily activities, or there’s redness or swelling around the joint.

Kneecap bursitis happens when your knee’s bursa sac is repeatedly irritated, damaged, or infected. The lining of the bursa thickens, producing extra fluid, which causes the bursa to swell. It can be caused by infection, or the inflammation can occur through overuse or repeated pressure (such as kneeling for long periods of time). Symptoms include swelling, pain, and limited range of motion. Bursitis due to overuse can typically be treated at home with RICE, avoiding activities that irritate the knee, and OTC meds. But bursitis due to infection — often accompanied by fever, achiness, and chills — needs immediate attention from a healthcare provider.

Mechanical problems may be the source of knee pain that eventually requires medical attention. These include iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS), which commonly affects runners and cyclists and occurs when the iliotibial band — the tough band of tissue that extends from the outside of your hip to the outside of your knee — becomes so tight that it rubs against the outside of your thighbone. In addition to knee pain, symptoms may include hip pain, a clicking sensation on the outside of your knee, knee pain, warmth, or redness.

Loose body is another mechanical issue, in which injury or degeneration of bone or cartilage can cause a piece of bone or cartilage to break off and float in the joint space, which can interfere with knee joint movement.

Sciatica — which generally refers to pain that travels from the lower back into the lower legs — can cause pain down the leg through the knee. If you’re unable to increase your pain level or feel a tender spot by pressing or touching your knee, your knee might not be injured at all — and you should consult your doctor to figure out what’s going on.

The Pain Could Be Related to Arthritis

Chronic or recurring pain, stiffness, or swelling in or around one or more of your joints could be due to arthritis.

Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, occurs when the cartilage in your knee deteriorates with use and age. Inflammatory forms of arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis (RA), can also cause knee pain, as can gout, when uric acid crystals build up in the joint, and pseudo-gout, caused by calcium-containing crystals in the joint fluid.

If you’re having arthritis symptoms such as pain, stiffness, or swelling in or around one or more of your joints, talk to your doctor.

Read the full article here

The Pain Won’t Go Away

The Pain Could Be Related to Arthritis

You Might Also Like

What Is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment

9 Celebrities Who Have Autism

Meningitis Treatment and Prevention: Antibiotics, Antivirals, Vaccines

What Are Anal Fissures?

Can Diabetes Cause Hair Loss?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply