KNEE PAIN 101

Why Does My Knee Hurt?

For thousands of people, it’s the question of the day, asked each time they get up or try to walk, “Why am I in such pain?” It can be overwhelming, because the fact is that when you have knee pain, it’s hard to think of much else when every movement brings a nagging reminder that something isn’t right. But what is it that’s actually wrong when your knee hurts constantly, and what steps can you take to ease the pain?

The answer for many of us is simple, we’re getting older. The knee, being a center of high impact and stressful movements, oftentimes just begins to show the wear and tear. For others, pain could be the result of an injury, sometimes one we might not even be aware of. Other possible causes of chronic pain include bursitis or rheumatoid arthritis. Regardless of the cause, the important thing is to get your knee the help it needs to feel better, so that you can get back to living your best life. That’s where UMass Memorial Health’s Comprehensive Joint Replacement Care Program comes in. Our team of orthopedists are experts in diagnosing and treating knee-related pain.

Common Causes of Knee Pain

Bursitis: A bursa is a sac that holds a small amount of fluid that’s under the skin above your joint. The bursa is there to ease friction and to keep the joint moving smoothly. When the bursa is injured or begins to wear out from overuse, it can lead to pain and swelling.
Dislocated kneecap: There are several reasons why your kneecap can sometimes slide out of position – a fall, a sports-related injury, genetic reasons that affect the ligaments that hold it in place. When the kneecap, medically referred to as the patella, shifts, it can cause knee pain and swelling.
IT (iliotibial) band syndrome: The iliotibial band is a long piece of tissue that stretches from your hip to your knee. Too much exertion can cause it to become inflamed, which will cause the outer part of your knee to hurt.
Meniscal tear: This is a common injury in athletes but can happen to anyone. It occurs when cartilage tears and begins to get caught in the joint. It’s common for people who have a meniscal tear to complain of pain and a catching sensation in their knee.
Osteoarthritis: Common in people 50 and older, osteoarthritis causes the knee joint to ache or swell, especially after exercise.
Patellar tendinitis: This means that the tendon that connects the kneecap to the shinbone has become inflamed. A common cause of patellar tendinitis is exercise, specifically jumping.

Preventing Knee Pain

Taking precautions may help you avoid the kind of overuse or damage to the knee that requires medical attention.

Stop exercising if your knee begins to hurt.
Always stretch your legs before and after exercise.
If you have to kneel a lot, use knee pads.
Make sure your shoes fit well.
If you’re overweight, consider a weight loss program to reduce the stress and pressure on your joints.

Diagnosing Knee Problems

An orthopedic specialist can identify many knee-related problems with a physical exam, but may enlist the help of technology to confirm a diagnosis. A patient with knee pain might be asked to undergo one or more of the following diagnostic procedures:

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
X-ray
CT scan
Arthroscopy
Specialized bone scan

How Can I Manage Knee Pain?

Treatment for knee pain depends on the cause.

If the knee injury is mild, it will often improve with rest. Ice packs to reduce inflammation can also help, as well as anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
If you’ve been diagnosed with arthritis in your knee, your doctor may prescribe a combination of medication and physical therapy.
If you have a more severe injury, like a tendon or ligament tear, surgery might be necessary to repair the knee. The good news is that many injuries can be repaired with minimally invasive surgery techniques, which can cause less pain and heal faster than traditional or open surgery procedures.
In cases where the knee has degenerated and the pain is significant, knee replacement surgery is an option. The hospitals of UMass Memorial Health offer orthopedic surgeons who specialize in total joint replacement of the knee, hip and shoulder at all our campuses.