As discussed in the
Emergency Department prior to discharge, you were diagnosed with knee
pain. Many different conditions
can cause knee pain.
Some of the most common causes of knee
pain include:
-Bending or using the knee too much –
This can cause pain in the front of the knee that worsens with running,
climbing steps, or sitting for a long time.
-Arthritis – Arthritis is a general term
that means inflammation of the joints.
There are lots of types of arthritis.
The most common type, called osteoarthritis, often comes with age. It can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling.
-Bursitis – Bursitis happens when
fluid-filled sacs around the knee (called "bursae") get irritated or
swollen. Bursitis can cause pain and
swelling.
-A collection of fluid in the knee (an
effusion) – This can happen after a knee injury.
-A tear in the meniscus – The meniscus is
a cushion of rubbery material (cartilage) between the thigh bone and the leg
bone.
-A tear in a ligament – Ligaments are
bands of tissue that connect one bone to another. There are 4 ligaments in each
knee.
-Muscle strain – Different leg muscles
move the knee joint, causing the knee to bend and straighten. If one of these muscles doesn't work well,
moving the knee can cause pain.
-Other knee injuries, a knee joint
infection, or a condition called gout, which causes crystals to form inside
joints.
-Conditions that don't involve the knee –
For example, problems in the hip can sometimes cause knee pain.
You may
have had x-rays of the affected knee in the Emergency Department and the
results have been discussed with you prior to discharge. Many people are curious about whether they
will need more advanced imaging such as an MRI or magnetic resonance
imaging. These studies can only be
obtained in the Emergency Department when there is a chance that an emergency
surgery needs to be done. It is possible
you will need additional imaging, including an MRI, but this will need to be
ordered by your primary care provider.
This is because this study will usually require referral to physical
therapy and possibly to Orthopedics for surgery.
There are several ways to reduce swelling in the injured
knee and to help the healing process:
-Elevate
the injured knee. This can be done by
putting your leg up on a chair when sitting down (watching TV, reading, eating
dinner, etc.).
-If
the knee is swollen or painful, apply ice wrapped in a towel (or a bag of
frozen peas wrapped in a thin towel) on the knee for about 10 minutes at a
time. Then remove the ice pack and allow
the skin to return to normal temperature before re-applying the ice pack (to
avoid frostbite). Continue this while
the knee is still swollen; do not apply heat while the knee is swollen.
-A
tensor bandage can be wrapped around the knee to provide more support over the
lengthy healing period. This bandage can
be removed when applying ice to the knee.
-If
the sprain was severe, you may have been provided with a splint or immobilizer
during your visit to the Emergency Department.
Use the splint as directed by the emergency physician.
You can take Acetaminophen (also known as Tylenol), Ibuprofen (also known as Advil or Motrin), or Naproxen (also known as Aleve) for the pain.
https://orthoinfo.org/en/staying-healthy/knee-exercises/
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