Everyone can have occasional knee pain. Maybe you slipped on some wet leaves this past fall and tweaked your knee. Maybe you were playing an awkward lie over at Pinehurst #2 and after you nearly shanked your shot, your knee told you it wasn’t a fan.
Those instances of knee pain are fleeting, maybe lasting a day or two.
Chronic knee pain is a different story. Estimates place from 15-20 percent of men and about 20 percent of women suffering from chronic knee pain. Chronic knee pain trails only chronic back pain in its prevalence in the U.S. population.
If your knee pain begins to preclude you from doing the things you want to do in your life, it’s time to consider treatment. Down that line, the final option is knee replacement with Dr. Moore at Pinehurst Surgical.
In this first blog of a New Year, let’s get into some of the conditions behind that aching knee of yours.
What are some causes of chronic knee pain?
Unlike temporary knee pain that improves, chronic knee pain rarely goes away without treatment. It can’t always be pinned on one cause or incident, but can result from several of these causes or conditions:
- Osteoarthritis — This “wear and tear” arthritis typically occurs in patients 50 and over. As the cartilage begins to wear away, the cushioning in the joint decreases and pain follows.
- Tendinitis — Pain in the front of the knee that is made worse when taking stairs or walking up an incline.
- Bursitis —Inflammation of the knee bursae, usually due to overuse or poor technique when doing things such as running.
- Chondromalacia patella — This is damage to the cartilage under the kneecap.
- Rheumatoid arthritis — Your body’s immune system mistakenly attacks your joints, causing swelling and joint degradation.
- Post-traumatic arthritis — This is another common form of osteoarthritis caused by a previous injury to the knee or another form of trauma.
- Dislocation — Dislocation of the kneecap. This usually leads to future arthritis.
- Meniscus tear — A tear in the cartilage that cushions the knee. A torn meniscus does not heal.
- Torn ligament — Four ligaments help keep the knee in its proper position. The most commonly torn of the four is the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
If you’re suffering from chronic knee pain strong enough it is impinging upon your life, it’s time to give Dr. Moore a call at Pinehurst Surgical. Call us at (910) 295-0224 to schedule a consultation.