knee pain

The Common Causes of Severe Knee Pain

The Common Causes of Severe Knee Pain

Knee Pain and an Active Lifestyle

Most people experience knee pain at some point in their lives. Sports, exercise and other activities can cause muscle strains, tendinitis, and more serious injuries to ligaments and cartilage. For some, knee pain can be so severe that it limits daily activities. For others, mild knee pain may be a chronic hindrance to the active lifestyle they desire. In either case, chances are that you’re dealing with a knee problem that shouldn’t be ignored.

Knee Ligament Injuries

The ligaments are what connect your thigh bone to your lower leg bones. They hold your bones together and keep the knee stable. Knee ligament sprains and tears are very common sports injuries, and can occur to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), and medial collateral ligament (MCL). Any of these injuries can result in severe knee pain and could require surgery.

Knee Cartilage Tears

Other injuries, including tears, can take place in the cartilage of the knee. Cartilage is a semi-hard (tough, but flexible) tissue that covers the end of your bones. Knee cartilage comprises the two menisci on either side of the joint: the medial meniscus, located on the inside of the knee and the lateral meniscus, positioned on the outside of the knee. You’ve probably heard the phrase “meniscus tear”. A tear in the knee cartilage is a common injury, and typically requires surgery.

Arthritis of the Knee

Arthritis is a common cause of severe knee pain and disability. Unfortunately, arthritis is a chronic degenerative condition that can eventually require surgery. The three most common types of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, and osteoarthritis. In the case of any of these three, you may experience stiffness and swelling, and it may be hard to bend your knee

Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Knee

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes the tissue around the joint to become inflamed and thickened. Chronic inflammation often leads to damage and loss of cartilage. Rheumatoid arthritis represents only about 10 percent to 15 percent of all arthritis cases.

Post-Traumatic Arthritis

Post-traumatic arthritis can result after a serious knee injury, including bone fractures and ligament tears. These injuries can damage the cartilage in your knee over time and lead to pain, swelling, and stiffness.
Osteoarthritis of the Knee

The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is a progressive wearing of the cartilage in the knee joint. It occurs more frequently in individuals 50 and older. After 50, the impact of osteoarthritis can worsen due to accumulated use and the wearing down of cartilage that occurs with age. Osteoarthritis of the knee causes pain, limited range of motion, stiffness of the knee, swelling of the joint, tenderness, deformity and weakness.

Causes of osteoarthritis include age, weight, genetics, previous injuries, infections, and illness (such as a tumor or gout). Osteoarthritis can also be caused by sports injuries and wear and tear resulting from physical work in occupations, such as construction and manufacturing.

Diagnosing Knee Pain

Doctors diagnose arthritis and other knee problems using x-rays and a physical evaluation. You will be asked about your pain level, knee flexibility and function, and general mobility. Medical professionals will also use special tests to identify the type of arthritis affecting your knee.

Treating Knee Pain from Arthritis

Knee pain usually becomes worse as arthritis progresses. Common treatments include: weight loss, strengthening exercises, wrapping, and pain relievers—such as acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

While osteoarthritis is the most common surgical patient diagnosis, those with severe pain from any type of arthritis may benefit from surgery, including a partial or total knee replacement. It’s crucial to discuss and explore all treatment options with your doctor before opting for surgery.

Source: healthline

5 reasons why grapes are good for you

grapes bunch

Most of us love eating grapes. This juicy fruit is a rich source of vitamins A, C, B6 and folate. Grapes are a powerhouse of flavonoids and antioxidants, which help in reducing the damage caused by free radicals and slow down the process of ageing.

The best part about this ‘Queen of fruits’ is that they can be consumed in many ways – like grape juice, in wines etc.

Here are a few health benefits of the wonder fruit:

  • Grape juice is the best home remedy to treat migraine pains.
  • Research suggests that grape seed can be combined with chemotherapy to improve treatment for bowel cancer.
  • Adding grapes to your diet can help you lessen that excruciating knee pain.
  • Studies suggest that eating grapes helps lower blood pressure and improve heart function.
  • Grapes help in aiding digestion process thereby preventing dyspepsia.

Source: Zee news

 

 

Eating grapes reduces knee pain

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Suffering from knee pain? Adding grapes to your diet can help you lessen that excruciating knee pain.

Daily grape consumption may help alleviate pain associated with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee and improve joint flexibility and overall mobility, a research said.

This is possible because of polyphenols (antioxidants) found in grapes.
“Our findings provide promising data that links grape consumption to two very important outcomes for those living with knee osteoarthritis: reduced pain and improvements in joint flexibility,” said Shanil Juma from Texas Woman’s University, US.

During the study, researchers assigned 72 men and women with knee osteoarthritis (OA) to either consume grapes in the form of a whole grape freeze-dried powder or a placebo powder.

The results showed that both men and women consuming a grape-enriched diet had a significant decrease in self-reported pain related to activity and an overall decrease in total knee symptoms.
This beneficial effect was more pronounced in females.
Evidence of increased cartilage metabolism was observed in men consuming the grape-enriched diet, the study noted.
Osteoarthritis is more likely to occur in people over 45 years of age, and women are more likely to have osteoarthritis than men.

Source: Yahoo news

Glucosamine supplement does not help knee pain or deterioration

The use of a glucosamine supplement orally does not help in decreasing knee pain or lessen cartilage deterioration among people with chronic knee pain, says a new study.

Glucosamine is the second most commonly-used natural product to treat joint pain and arthritis. Previous reports have tallied global sales of the supplement at more than $2 billion. Chondroitin is another popular product.

The double-blind, placebo-controlled trial by researchers at the University of Arizona is published in Arthritis & Rheumatology.

The researchers say its the first study to investigate whether a glucosamine supplement helps with knee pain, prevents the worsening of cartilage damage or improves bone marrow lesions – which are thought to be the source of pain in those with osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis affects an estimated three million people, which amounts to roughly one in 10 Canadians, according to the Arthritis Society.

Dr. C. Kent Kwoh enrolled 201 people with mild to moderate pain in one or both knees in his study. The participants, aged 35 to 65, were recruited from physician offices and the University of Pittsburgh Arthritis Registry.

They were split into two groups:

Those treated daily with 1500 mg of glucosamine hydrochloride in a 16-oz bottle of diet lemonade.

Those treated with a placebo.

During a 24-week period, the participants were followed up with phone calls every four weeks. At the end of that period, they all underwent an MRI to assess the cartilage damage in their knees.

Researchers assessed both groups on four things:

  • knee pain.
  • degradation of cartilage.
  • bone marrow lesions.
  • the excretion of CTX-11 in urine.

Researchers discovered that there was no difference in any of those characteristics between the group that took the glucosamine and the group that had the placebo.

The urinary excretion of C-telopeptdes of type II collagen (CTX-11) is a predictor of cartilage destruction. Researchers found that there was no decrease in that either.

“Our study found no evidence that drinking a glucosamine supplement reduced knee cartilage damage, relieved pain, or improved function in individuals with chronic knee pain,” concluded Dr. Kwoh in his study.

The study was funded by The National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, the Beverage Institute for Health & Wellness and The Coca-Cola Company, which provided the lemonade.

Source: CBC news