ABOUT KNEE PAIN

Mrs Sharma, a 60 year old female is suffering from both knee pain from the last 5 years. She has difficulty getting up from sitting position, pain during standing and walking. Her knee x-ray shows reduced joint space & multiple osteophytes. Second case is a young man aged 28 year; having pain in front of the knee joint, during running, bending knee or jumping activities. His x-ray knee seems normal.

Are both cases the same? Answer is NO.

The first case is knee osteoarthritis or "Gathiya" which is the most common disease of knee joint which is usually age related wear-and-tear of joint cartilage, causing further damage to meniscus and ligaments. It usually happens after age 50 years but nowadays it is seen as early as 35 years old due to prolonged sitting jobs, hereditary factors, repeated injuries in some cases.

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis/Gathiya:

a. Dull aching pain on the inner side of the knee joint.

b. Swelling, Feeling of warmth in the knee joint.

c. Crackling or grating sound during the movement or walking.

d. Pain increases with activity/walking and relieves with rest.

e. Stiffness in the knee, particularly in the morning or during an extended period of rest.

f. Decrease in the mobility of the knee, making it increasingly difficult to get in and out of chairs or cars, use the stairs, or walk.

Treatment involves:

1. Home remedies like Hot fomentation or hot packs, application of ointments; rest to joint.

2. Anti-inflammatory medicines as per Doctor's prescription (Some persons who take medicines by their own develop kidney disease, so Self-prescription is strictly prohibited).

3. Joint viscosupplementation with Hyaluronic acid injections.

4. Regenerative therapy injections.

5. Knee braces.

Second case is of Patello-femoral Pain syndrome, which occurs in young active persons due to damage of cartilage lining patello-femoral joint space. Patient feels pain and stiffness in the front part of the knee, around patella; which increases with repeated knee bending, jumping, running activities.

Treatment involves:

1. Rest to the joint. Avoid pain producing activities especially repeated knee bending activities

2. Anti-inflammatory medicines under supervision of Doctor.

3. Cartilage healing/repairing medicines.

4. Knee braces

So to summarize, all knee pains are not the same and treatment is guided as per clinical diagnosis, by a Pain management specialist.