The knee joint is one of the most complex joints in the body. It comprises many bones, ligaments, and cartilage. However, the knee is prone to injuries leading to pain. The effects of knee pain can be severe and prolonged. You may experience pain in your knee that causes limping, difficulty walking, or even a lack of movement. Knee pain Myrtle Beach can also cause you to lose your balance and fall, resulting in an injury.

Below are the types of knee pain and treatment options.

Types of knee pain

Fracture or dislocation: A fracture involves a break that occurs on a bone. A fracture can be partial or complete, depending on its location and severity. It usually occurs due to trauma such as falling down stairs or being hit by a ball.

Genu recurvatum: This is an overstretching of the spine that causes pain at the back of the knee, often accompanied by swelling and redness (inflammation).

Patellofemoral syndrome (also known as runner’s knee): This condition occurs when there is too much tension on your patella (kneecap), causing it to rub against its tendons or against your femur bone at different points along its path through your leg. Commonly occurring during exercise, it can also occur from osteoarthritis or after an injury to one’s leg.

Osteoarthritis:  (OA) is the most common form of knee pain. Osteoarthritis develops when cartilage on the ends of your bones wears down over time, resulting in bone-on-bone contact that causes friction and inflammation in cartilage. Over time this friction can cause damage to your knee joint as well as damage to other parts of your body, such as your spine and hips.

What is the best treatment option for knee pain?

  1. Ice Therapy: Ice therapy can help reduce inflammation in your knee joint and decrease pain. You should apply ice directly to your knee as often as needed until you reach a comfortable level of pain relief.
  2. Physical Therapy: Physical therapy is an important part of knee rehabilitation that focuses on improving function and reducing pain after injury or surgery for certain conditions, such as arthritis or osteoarthritis.
  3. Injections: These treat arthritis and other conditions that cause joint inflammation and swelling. They typically involve injecting an anesthetic into the affected area, allowing you to feel no pain during the procedure. The injection causes the body to produce its natural painkilling substance called endorphins, which make you feel better.
  4. Osteopathic manipulation: An effective treatment for knee pain is osteopathic manipulation, a form of holistic medicine that works on the body’s energy fields or meridians. It can help you to heal your knee pain naturally and faster than other treatments.
  5. Surgery: Surgery is the treatment of choice for patients with severe knee pain who have failed other treatment options, such as therapy. Surgery is effective in reducing pain and improving function in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.

If you experience pain in your knee, consult your specialist at United Physician Group.