Black Spots on the Nose, Here are the Causes and How to Treat Them

Knee joint pain can be accompanied by other complaints, such as the knee feeling stiff, looking red, and swollen. This condition can be caused by many things so the treatment varies, depending on the cause and severity.

The knee joint is a joint that connects the thigh bone and the shin bone. This joint is the largest joint in the body and supports the most body weight, especially when you move.

When the joint feels painful, the knee becomes unstable in supporting body weight. As a result, knee joint pain can interfere with comfort or even make it difficult for you to stand and walk. Therefore, proper treatment is needed so that the knee joint can be moved optimally again.

Knee Joint Pain and its Causes

Knee joint pain basically occurs due to disturbances in the structure or tissue that forms the knee, such as cartilage, kneecap bone, or the connective tissue between bone and muscle.

The following are common causes of knee joint pain:

1. Injury

One ​​of the most common causes of knee joint pain is injury. When the knee is injured, several tissues in the knee joint area, such as cartilage, ligaments, or bones, are damaged.

Injuries to the knee joint usually occur when the knee suddenly collides with a hard object or when the knee undergoes sudden and intense changes in movement.

2. Osteoarthritis

Another cause of knee joint pain is osteoarthritis, which is inflammation of the bones and joints. This condition occurs when the cartilage that protects the bones loses its elasticity, resulting in friction between the bones which can cause joint inflammation.

Osteoarthritis in the knee can cause symptoms of knee joint pain accompanied by stiffness making it difficult to move the knee. Symptoms of osteoarthritis will generally get worse over time if not treated properly.

3. Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis can also be a cause of knee joint pain. This condition occurs when there is inflammation in the knee joint due to autoimmune disease, namely when the body's immunity attacks healthy tissues and organs. This can damage the structure of almost all joints in the body, including the knee joint.

Apart from knee joint pain, rheumatoid arthritis is usually accompanied by other complaints, such as stiff knees, redness of the knees, and swelling of the knees. 

4. Knee joint dislocation

This is a condition where the knee joint shifts or moves. Knee dislocation usually causes the shape of the knee to change, accompanied by severe knee joint pain and knee swelling and redness. 

In certain cases, the shifted position of the knee joint can return to its normal position. However, if not treated properly, this condition can also get worse and make it difficult for you to move and carry out activities.

5. Osgood Schlatter disease

Osgood-Schlatter disease is a condition when the tendons in the knee become irritated. This condition is usually experienced by children, especially those who often do sports involving the knees, such as running or playing basketball.

Apart from that, this disease can also occur because the thigh muscles work too hard. This can cause excessive pressure on the joints, resulting in irritation.

6. Gout arthritis

Other causes of knee joint pain are gout or gout arthritis. This condition occurs when the knee joint becomes inflamed caused by a buildup of uric acid crystals in the knee joint. This buildup can occur when the level of uric acid in the blood is too high.

Gouty arthritis can occur suddenly. This condition is generally accompanied by various other complaints, such as red, stiff, swollen knees, gout, and feeling sore and painful. 

7. Knee joint infections

Knee infections or septic arthritis can also be a cause of knee joint pain. This condition occurs when a bacterial infection spreads into the knee joint, causing inflammation. Septic arthritis can cause other symptoms, such as fever, severe joint pain, swelling, and limited range of motion.

Knee Joint Pain and Treatment

Treatment for knee joint pain can vary, depending on the cause. This condition can be treated with treatment from a doctor or self-care at home.

Medical treatment

The following are some treatments that can be given by a doctor:

• Administration of medication, to relieve knee joint pain, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• Giving corticosteroid drugs to reduce severe inflammation in the knee
• Physiotherapy, to train and strengthen the knee joint and the muscles around the knee 
• Surgery, for example knee replacement surgery, for cases of severe knee joint pain or completely damaged knee joints.

Independent treatment at home

Apart from that, you can also carry out several treatment efforts that can be done independently, such as:

• Compress the knee with ice to reduce inflammation and pain in the knee.
• Minimize movement in the knee.
• Place a pillow under your feet so that your feet are higher than your knees to reduce swelling in your knees.
• Get plenty of rest to reduce pressure on your knees so they can recover more quickly.
• Do not rub or massage your knees so as not to aggravate the knee injury.

To prevent knee joint pain from occurring in the future, it is no less important for you to take several precautions, such as using knee protectors when doing sports, doing warm up before exercising, and maintain an ideal body weight.

If you experience knee joint pain and intend to treat it, you should consult first online via Chat with a Doctor. That way, you will get information regarding examination and treatment that suits your condition. 

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