Knee pain is a common complaint and is most often associated with general wear and tear from daily activities like walking, bending, standing and lifting. It can also be triggered by sporting activities that cause stress on the knee ligaments and tendons.

About one-third of the world’s population experience knee pain. The risk increases further if you have obesity, heart disease and hypertension.

Whether your knee pain is caused by aging or injury, it can be a nuisance and even debilitating in some circumstances. Do not let knee pain interrupt your life. By employing the appropriate treatment, you can help keep your knees as young as you feel.

WHAT ARE THE COMMON CAUSES OF KNEE PAIN:

• Sprain

A sprain is an injury to the ligaments that hold the knee together, usually due to a fall or collision during a sport, abrupt twist of the knee, or placing sudden excessive weight on the knee joint. Symptoms include knee pain, swelling, bruising, instability and knee popping. It is best to rest your joint to prevent the condition from worsening. If pain and swelling lasts for more than 48 hours, please seek treatment.

• Strain

A strain is a common injury when the tendons or muscles surrounding the knee are stretched, usually from exercise or lifting heavy weights. Symptoms include knee pain and limited range of motion. It is best to avoid strenuous activity until symptoms improve to avoid the risk of further damage. If symptoms persist, please seek treatment.

• Bursitis

Bursitis occurs when the fluid in bursa around the knee joint is irritated, inflamed, or infected. This is usually due to repeated overuse or injury of the knee. Symptoms include knee pain and swelling. Untreated bursitis can cause chronic inflammation and pain.

• Meniscal tears

Meniscal tears are one of the most common knee injuries. It occurs when the knee is twisted or accidentally rotated, usually during sports, or simply a result of overuse or aging. Symptoms include knee pain, swelling, limited range of motion and instability. Untreated tears can increase in size and lead to complications, such as arthritis.

• Fractures

Fractures occur when a person falls directly onto the knees and the kneecap cracks due to the force. Symptoms include knee pain, swelling, limited range of motion and tenderness. Untreated fractures can result in improper healing, misalignment, and infection.

• Tendinitis

Tendinitis is pain from tendons around the knee that is made worse when climbing, taking stairs, or walking up an incline. Symptoms include knee pain, tenderness and mild swelling. Untreated tendinitis can be quite debilitating and affect quality of life.

• Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is pain and inflammation caused by degeneration and deterioration of the joint cartilage. Symptoms include knee pain, tenderness, stiffness and limited range of motion. Osteoarthritis, if not treated properly, can result in the need for surgery and joint replacement.

• Cysts and Masses

The most common knee cyst is the Baker’s cyst which is a build-up fluid behind the knee. Symptoms include knee pain, calf pain, and clicking, locking and buckling of the knee joint. Left untreated, the cyst could burst, causing bruising in the lower leg. Meniscal cysts are related to meniscal tears and can also lead to a painful lump around the knee.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF KNEE PAIN:

• Pain and swelling in the knee
• Limited range of motion
• Inability to bear weight
• Difficulty walking
• Weakness or instability
• Clicking, locking, or buckling of the knee

WHAT ARE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR KNEE PAIN:

• Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Imaging

This is our first line of treatment to verify your exact condition. Diagnosis of causes of pain, including ligaments, tendons, cysts, peripheral meniscus tears and bursitis, can be done very well using Musculoskeletal Ultrasound. Our specialist, Prof. Dr. John George is a world-renowned Musculoskeletal Radiologist and an expert in Ultrasound imaging.

For diagnosis of deeper ligament tears, such as ACL and PCL, bone contusion and cartilage loss, assessment is done by MRI and we will refer you to do an Extremity MRI in the National Sports Institute which is a sit-down unit with no claustrophobia. The scans will be reported by Prof. Dr. John George with 22 years of MRI reporting experience. The cost of this MRI with a CD is also very reasonable at RM 620 only.

• Conservative therapy such as physiotherapy and rehabilitation

Physical therapy can help to reduce the pain, swelling, and stiffness. There are two main types of physical therapy—passive and active treatments. Physical therapy, though effective, has a long road to recovery and may not be suitable for those who are seeking quick and effective solutions to help you get back on your feet in no time.

• Regenerative injection

The aim of regenerative treatments is to restore partially injured tendons, ligaments and muscles back to their normal structure and function when conservative management has failed. PRP is used commonly for partial MCL and LCL ligament tears, patella and quadriceps tendinosis and peripheral meniscal and menisco capsular tears. Steroid can be injected into bursa and a combination of PRP and high molecular weight Hyaluronic acid (HA) done annually can preserve partially worn-out cartilage to last for more years before surgery is needed. Annual packages of different PRP and HA is provided at the Beverly Orthopaedic Diagnostic and Regenerative Centre (ODRM).

Read More About Regenerative Injections