Knee pain may stem from various factors and impact your health and mobility. Diagnosing the source of your pain provides insight into its potential causes. After choosing a doctor at a pain clinic, they can collaborate with you to help you treat symptoms and give you focused care. Here are some causes of knee pain:
Knee Injuries
Ligament or cartilage damage may occur from sports or accidents. Anterior cruciate ligament tears destabilize your knee, causing buckling, while meniscus tears from twisting motions inhibit your range of motion. Patellar tendon tears reduce your knee extension ability, and fractures of bones, such as the patella, might result from falls. Comparing your movements or activities before you have experienced ongoing knee pain helps identify the extent of any damage. Imaging at a pain clinic should reveal internal knee structures to distinguish soft tissue tears from bone injuries.
Knee Medical Conditions
Arthritis inflames and weakens the joints, and rheumatoid arthritis is caused by an autoimmune attack on the synovium, which produces swelling. Osteoarthritis deteriorates cartilage over time from wear, while gout is characterized by joint fluid imbalance, causing crystals to collect in the knees. These diseases cause swelling, stiffness, and pain. Blood tests from your pain clinic can identify markers for autoimmune and metabolic disorders connected to your joint health.
Knee Changes With Aging
With age, cartilage loses its texture, reducing cushioning for the bones. Your ligaments may stiffen, inhibiting knee flexibility. Muscles also weaken, reducing your joint support during loads or impacts. Bone density declines over time, and accumulating micro-traumas can lead to joint pain in later years. The aging process may reveal underlying degenerative changes behind your discomfort. Joint replacement becomes an option if you have persistent pain from cartilage loss.
Obesity’s Knee Impact
Higher body weight increases the load on knee joints, accelerating cartilage wear. Extra mass heightens pressure on bones during repetitive activities, so obese individuals have an increased knee osteoarthritis risk. Misalignments can also develop and worsen degeneration. Excess pounds limit your mobility, reducing the blood flow to your healing tissues. Evaluate whether lifestyle choices contributed to your knee degeneration since losing weight lessens stress on your knees, slowing or preventing further degeneration.
Exercise Impact
Repetitive high-impact activities stress knee joints and produce micro-injuries, and those who exercise for long periods may sustain overuse injuries due to inadequate rest. Lifting excessive weights may tear your meniscus, while poor squat or lunge form strains knee tendons. Running on uneven surfaces could also result in ligament sprains. Examine your training regimen to identify motions or loads that may injure you. Avoiding improper exercise techniques can help protect your knees.
Posture and Knee Alignment
A misaligned gait affects how your foot strikes the knee. Abnormal tracking of the kneecap increases the risk of patellar cartilage erosion. Pelvic tilts or twisted spines change your weight distribution to overload your knees, and pronated feet increase the angles of knee flexion. Sitting, standing, or gait mechanics may contribute to your knee degeneration. Corrective exercises restore alignment to reduce uneven wear on your joints.
Visit Pain Clinic Today
Diagnosing what drives your knee pain provides insight into triggers and offers solutions. Your pain clinic uses imaging, blood tests, medical histories, and physical exams to identify causes. Specialists can provide sports medicine, complex regional pain syndrome care, and arthritis treatment for joint health issues. Contact a provider today to explore diagnosis and relief options.