What is chronic knee pain?

Chronic knee pain is when the knees become sensitive, swell or give you long term pain. The pain can be different in each person depending on the type of condition you have.

If the pain is only temporary, this can be caused by an injury or accident, whereas chronic knee pain usually requires treatment in order to cure it.

Causes ofchronic knee pain

There are several reasons why you get chronic knee pain and these include osteoarthritis, tendinitis, bursitis, chondromalacia patella, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, dislocation, meniscus tear, torn ligament or bone tumors. While some of the above are more common than others, none of them can be ruled out when you’re experiencing long term knee pain.

Whilst suffering from knee pain there are several factors that can make the pain worse, these include; continued use, sprains, strains, infection, poor preparation before and after exercise and over stretching muscles.

If you are overweight you can be at greater risk of suffering from knee problems and it has been proved that for every pound that you are overweight your knee absorbs 4 times more pressure when walking and running.

People who have had a previous injury or trauma to the affected area can also be at higher risk, as can older people.

Symptoms of chronic knee pain

Where each person will experience different levels of pain and sensations, but can be a continuous ache, shooting pain when idle, a burning sensation or swelling around the knee that is painful to touch.

Treatments

Depending on the cause of the pain will determine which treatment you will need. Treatments include; physical therapy, surgery, medication and injections.

Steroid Injections also known ashydrocortisone orcorticosteroid injections are administered to the swollen area to alleviate the pain. The benefits of the injections can last for several months.