Ever thought about how significant your knees are? The knee and joints allow you to stand as they support your body weight. When you experience knee pain, your daily activities are affected. Knee pain Myrtle Beach can make it difficult to walk, stand, bend and sit, which can take a toll on your ability to manage your daily activities. Knee pain can be acute or chronic, mainly following its cause. Here is a glance at the common causes of knee pain.
Injury
The knee is complex, making it prone to injuries. It is the main reason many athletes complain of knee pain. The injury could be due to overuse, a horrid tackle, or a sudden twist while exercising or in a competitive game. Injuries such as a slip and fall could also occur in your routine.
Injuries can result in meniscus tears, which means you rupture the cartilage in the knee joint that acts as a cushion. It could also result in ligament tears, impacting the MCL, AL, or PCL. The injury could also result in a fracture, mainly affecting the kneecap, shinbone, or thighbone. In other cases, you may experience tendinitis. The good news with injuries is that you are likely to know where and when the injury occurred, making it easier to follow the right care measures to avoid further damage.
Arthritis
There are two types of arthritis; osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition that accelerates wear and tear. Cartilage wears out as the bone endings become thin, making the bones grind during motion. With osteoarthritis, there is repeated injury, especially if you are overweight or obese. It is associated with symptoms like pain after activity and at night.
Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation around the joint, which damages the cartilage. This type of arthritis mainly occurs in young people as it is an autoimmune disease. It comprises eruptions that come and go and is characterized by morning pains which can be worse than osteoarthritis.
Physical activities
Have you retired, and everything in the house is DIY? Or have you got a new job that involves heavy lifting and needs you to remain active throughout the day? Change of daily schedule has been linked to causing knee pain. In heavy lifting jobs, you need to bend or squat to prevent back injuries, and in the process, you can experience knee pain, referred to as bursitis. With bursitis, the protective sac is irritated and becomes swollen. Some activities can even unmask an existing knee concern, leading to or aggravating the pain.
Infection
Infections, such as from poorly teed wounds, can affect the knee. The infections are mainly characterized by a swollen, red, and hot knee. You can also get athlete’s foot which is a fungal infection. If not treated early, the infection can affect the knee and cause pain.
Multiple muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the knee joint work together to facilitate movements. You may experience pain that may not warrant professional attention. If the pain is persistent or excessive, you should seek medical attention to establish the cause and receive proper care. This is more so since knee pain can become severe and demands surgery. Call United Physician Group today for more on knee pain, diagnosis, and treatment.
