What are the most
common causes of knee pain?
Knee pain is not at all uncommon. Many of us experience it
for many different reasons. Injury, for instance, can cause knee pain.
- · ACL injury
o
The anterior
cruciate ligament (ACL) connects your shinbone to your thighbone. If you
are an athlete, you are familiar with ACL injuries. It happens frequently to
basketball and soccer players. When the ACL is torn in your knee, it can be
severe. It may require surgery to recover your knee pain.
o
The femur (thigh bone), patella (kneecap), tibia
(shine bone), and fibula come together to form your knee. Each of these has the
potential to be broken. Falls and motor vehicle collisions are common ways for
knee fractures to occur. However, if you have osteoarthritis, even a simple
fall could cause a fracture. Depending on the severity of the fracture, you
will require different treatments.
- · Torn meniscus
o
The cartilage of the meniscus acts as a shock
absorber for the knee. This prevents your femur and tibia from rubbing
together. Trauma to the meniscus can cause a tear or, as you age, you may lose
your natural cartilage. Without this protection, natural movement will become
painful.
- · Patellar tendinitis
o
Tendinitis is caused by inflammation and irritation
of the tendons. This happens to athletes who do a lot of jumping.
While injuries can take an otherwise healthy knee and cause
it to experience pain, sometimes there are mechanical issues causing knee pain.
- · Hip or foot pain
o
When your hip or foot is injured, your way of
walking can be thrown off. This change in your natural gait may result in you
developing knee pain.
- · Dislocated kneecap
o
The patella (kneecap) can slip out of place.
This, of course, results in knee pain.
- · Loose body
o
Degradation of bone or cartilage can result in
pieces breaking off. These free floating pieces can hinder knee joint movement
and result in pain.
There are hundreds of different types of arthritis. They can
absolutely result in knee pain.
- · Osteoarthritis
o
This type of arthritis is also known as
degenerative arthritis. The wear-and-tear on your knee causes the cartilage to
degrade. Without cartilage to cushion the joint, your knee
will experience significant pain.
- · Rheumatoid arthritis
o
This kind of arthritis is an autoimmune condition
that can impact any joint in the body, including the knees.
- · Gout
o
When uric acid crystals build up in a joint, it
is called gout. It most commonly occurs in the big toe but it can happen in the
knee.
- · Septic arthritis
o
An infection within the knee joint. That causes
swelling, pain and redness.
When do you need to
see a doctor about knee pain?
While knee pain is not uncommon, it’s also not something
that you simply need to bear. We all experience minor aches and pains depending
on our activity. However, when your day-to-day life is disrupted due to knee
pain, then you need to seek help. More specifically, contact a doctor if you:
- · Feel unstable like your knee is going to “give out”
- · Notice an obvious deformity in your leg or knee
- · Cannot fully extend your knee
- · Have noteworthy knee swelling
- · Cannot bear weight on your knee
- · Develop a fever
All of these symptoms are serious and should not be ignored.
Knee pain may not be unusual but it can become incredibly serious if not
treated properly.
What are some common
treatments for knee pain?
If you pain is minor, then you can treat your knees
yourself. Rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE) are useful tools for
self-care. Additionally, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc.) can help relieve knee
pain.
Will my insurance
cover stem cell therapy?
Unfortunately, most stem cell treatments are not covered by
health insurance. While you can check into your own personal plan, more often
than not, you will have to pay for stem cell treatments yourself.
Severe cases of knee pain may require surgery. Knee
replacements are not uncommon. However, as regenerative medicine evolves, there
are more and more options for minimally invasive options. Stem cell injections
can be used to repair and regenerate lost tissue in your knees. This can help
with your knee pain by correcting the root cause.
How do I decided
where to get stem cell therapy for my knee pain?
When selecting a medical team to provide you stem cell
treatments, it is incredibly important to do your homework. All across the
globe, there are “clinics” that claim to have medical treatments for numerous
ailments, including knee pain. Stem cell therapy has great potential and there
are FDA approved treatments available commercially. However, many of the
stories in the news refer to theoretical applications or treatments that are
still in clinical trials. These predatory clinics capitalize on the media’s
love for “miracle” regenerative medicine stories to prey on desperate patients
out of their money. Sadly, while going through the motions of treating the
patients they are swindling, these clinics can often cause
more harm than good.
This is your health! Don’t entrust it to anyone who doesn’t
have the technical skills and experience to properly care for you.
If you are considering stem cell therapy for your knee pain,
make sure to investigate the clinic, medical group, or doctor that you are
considering using. Any legitimate organization, like the Stem Cell Institute of
Texas, will be glad to explain the FDA guidelines and their personal background
to you. Asking questions is your right as a patient!
No comments:
Post a Comment