You never realize how much you use your knees until you are limited by pain, stiffness, tightness, swelling and popping. By design, the knee is an amazing anatomical feature that works perfectly to help you walk, run, climb stairs, bend down stand up and sit. Many people who experience knee pain decide to limit their activities or change the way they use their legs, but you have other options. A chiropractor helps you understand what is causing your knee pain and recommends non-surgical, drug-free interventions that are proven effective.
What Causes Chronic Knee Pain?
Knee pain is caused by any condition that affects one or more of the structures of the knee, such as:
- Bursa, which are fluid-filled sacs around the knee joint
- The tissues inside the joint
- Muscles
- Bones
- Tendons and ligaments
The severity of knee pain depends on the underlying cause as well as the individual patient. You may experience sudden sharp pain, dull ache, feeling of weakness, instability, loss of balance, falling and tightness.
Common medical conditions that affect the knee are:
- Osteoarthritis
- Dislocation
- Gout
- Baker’s cyst
- ACL injuries
- Lupus
- Bursitis
- Torn meniscus
- Ligament injuries
- Tendinitis
Is My Knee Pain Caused by My Activities?
Participating in sports does increase your chances of developing knee problems, but even everyday activities may cause knee pain. The way that you sit at the computer may strain your knees. Lifting heavy objects with your knees rather than your leg muscles may damage the connective tissues of the knee. Compensating for other types of discomfort, such as pain in the hips or back, may lead to knee pain.
When Should I See a Doctor for My Knee Pain?
Resting and applying ice/heat to the knee may alleviate discomfort and help your knee to heal with time. We recommend that you see a doctor if you experience:
- Significant pain and swelling
- Fever
- Redness around the knee or on the back of the knee
- Lumps or bumps on the knee
- Warmth or tenderness around the knee joint
- Symptoms that have a significant impact on your ability to stand, sit, walk or sleep
Do I Need Surgery for My Knee Pain?
Home care works well in many cases. If you have persistent knee pain, we can help find the underlying cause and begin treatment or refer you to a specialist.
How Can Integrative Medicine Therapies Help with Knee Pain?
The first step in integrative medical therapies for knee pain is to reduce inflammation. Swelling interferes with range of motion and places pressure on the soft tissues. We then use massage therapy [LINK] and other techniques to improve range of motion gradually. Joint manipulation may also be recommended to realign the knee and hip joint.
What Can I Do at Home to Alleviate Knee Pain?
The leg muscles improve knee function by holding the joint in place. Exercising strengthens these muscles and stretches keep the muscles loose and extended.
Don’t let your knee pain diminish your quality of life. Integrative medical care is a safe non-surgical, drug-free intervention that addresses the underlying cause of your knee pain and other symptoms. Contact us today to schedule your personal consultation.
