Knee Pain in Bethesda MD

A sudden feeling of pain or discomfort in the knee is most commonly the result of overusing the joint or by physically injuring it. The knee joint is especially vulnerable to damage as it takes the full weight of your body plus any additional force during physical activity. This is why individuals who are very active as well as individuals who are overweight may be more susceptible to knee pain. Our team at Montgomery County Chiropractic wrote this article to provide some needed information.

For some individuals, their knee pain has persisted for several months or even years. This is called Chronic knee pain and is usually the result of repetitive stress to the joint over long periods of time.

You will be glad to know that in most cases knee pain can be treated effectively through a course of physical therapy, eliminating the need for medical intervention.

What are the symptoms knee pain?

The severity and location pain in the knee may vary, depending on the cause of the problem. Symptoms and signs that often accompany knee pain can include:

• Swelling and Stiffness
• Weakness or Instability
• Popping or crunching noises
• Inability to straighten the knee fully

Most common types of knee pain:

Sprain and Strain
If you believe the pain is due to recently doing more activity than you’re used to, the chances of a knee sprain/strain is more than likely. This is when the tissue around the knee has stretched past its normal limit, but is not torn or permanently damaged.

You can care for your knee in your own home with an ice pack and pain killers. The pain should eventually alleviate.

Anterior knee pain syndrome
Pain felt towards the front of the knee is known as anterior knee pain syndrome or patella-femoral knee pain. Although the exact cause is not fully understood, it is often exacerbated by using stairs frequently or sitting for long periods. Weakness in certain muscles around the knee can cause the patella (knee cap) to shift slightly out of its normal alignment, causing pain.

Runners Knee
As the name implies, runner’s knee is caused by excessive friction in the Knee joint caused by running. This could be from something as simple as running on a trail or treadmill, to playing soccer, basketball or tennis. This excessive friction causes the cartilage to wear down and depletes the normal fluid around the joint that serves to lubricate and protect it.

Damage to cartilage or meniscus
Found in between the lower and upper leg bones towards the knee joint are small rubbery pads of tissue called meniscus (or menisci). These pads cushion the bones, and act as shock absorbers. The menisci becomes worn down as you get older, and this wearing down of tissue can be the reason for knee pain in older individuals.

Osteoarthritis
In older individuals, repeat scenarios of knee pain are likely to progress into a condition called osteoarthritis. It’s the most common type of arthritis found in older individuals. Osteoarthritis is known to cause damage to the articular cartilage and can create mild swelling of the tissue around and inside the joints. Osteoarthritis can also affect younger individuals, especially those who may have had a serious knee injury in the past or are are overweight.

The daily struggle with knee pain

Knee pain can be debilitating. Even the simplest of everyday tasks such as getting out of bed in the morning, or even getting dressed can be painful and stressful. 12% of individuals living in the US called in sick to work last year due to knee pain; a pain which could easily be resolved or treated without the need of traditional medical treatments. Many individuals are too frightened to seek advice from their doctor, in fear of the need of expensive treatments or even surgery.

Traditional medical treatments such as pain relievers and anti-inflammatories could simply be masking the pain instead of treating the cause. Because of this, your condition may be worsening but you would be unable to know!

There is a solution

If you are suffering from knee pain there is always another solution. There are an abundance of effective and affordable physical therapy treatments available. Here at Montgomery County Chiropractic we can offer you professional physical therapy to help with most cases of knee pain. Our services are friendly & affordable, and we aim not only to ease the pain of debilitating joints, but also provide you with lifetime knowledge to help prevent repeat occurrences. Our goal is to treat the actual cause of your pain instead of just trying to cover up symptoms.

Our knowledgeable staff will take a full health history and orthopedic evaluation and refer for any x-rays or MRI if needed. With this information we can determine the root cause of your pain and see if you are a good candidate for physical therapy and which treatment options are best for your specific condition.

If you have knee pain, or suspect that you have any of the above mentioned conditions, contact Montgomery County Chiropractic today!