As we get older, experiencing more aches and pains in your body is not uncommon. Some might be minor aches and pains from sleeping in a funny position, working out too hard or sitting for too long in the same spots. While most minor aches and pains will usually go away with minor care like taking an over-the-counter painkiller, stretching, or rubbing the affected area, some can be a bit more serious, and might be a sign of a more serious underlying condition that shouldn’t be ignored. One area of the body that is likely to cause more pain as we get older is the knees, since they support a lot of our body weight as we walk. Here are some painful knee symptoms that you shouldn’t ignore.
Popping or Clicking
If your knee is making a clicking or popping sound or locking when you walk or move it, these are all signs that something is wrong that will need to be checked out by a professional. Popping can sometimes be a symptom of an injury to the ligaments. This is a common sports injury, but it can also happen as a result of other accidents. If you have injured the ligaments, you may notice other symptoms such as pain that persists when you walk, pain that comes on suddenly in your knee and is quite severe, your knee giving out suddenly which causes you to feel unstable or even fall when walking and swelling of your knee in the first day or two after the injury.
A meniscus tear is another common cause of popping in the knee. This can occur alongside an injury to the knee ligament and involves a tear of the medial meniscus. It usually occurs due to a single and sudden movement and may include symptoms such as knee pain, discomfort when walking, stiffness and pain that gets worse over time, and the knee locking and catching. Injuries can usually be treated with the RICE method – rest, ice, compression, and elevation. However, in serious cases, you may require knee surgery. Check out Circle Health Group to find out more about knee surgery and treatment options. Circle Health Group offer a range of private treatment options to choose from.
Pain When Walking
Sometimes you might have pain when walking that isn’t really a cause for concern, such as sore legs after a heavy workout or taking part in an activity like cycling or horse riding if you don’t do it all the time, since this can use leg muscles that you are not used to working as hard. However, knee injuries and conditions can cause a different type of pain when you walk, especially if you are walking up stairs. It might feel like a dull pain, or a sharp shooting pain when you take a step. This can be a symptom of damage to the cartilage underneath the kneecap. Osteoarthritis is the number one cause of this; however, it can also be caused by a condition called runner’s knee. Some other symptoms of this condition include swelling and tenderness, pain that gets worse after prolonged periods of standing, sitting, or exercising, and a cracking or grinding when you extend or bend your knee.
Swelling
Swelling in the knee can be a cause for concern, especially if you have not injured it. If you haven’t had any accidents that have led to injuring your knee, it might be due to a condition such as arthritis. This is a chronic condition that worsens over time, and there are several different types of arthritis that might affect your knee including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Alongside a swollen knee, you may experience knee pain, stiffness, tenderness, weakness and deformity, difficulty fully bending your knee, and a limited range of motion.
Shifting or Moving
If you change direction suddenly when your feet are on the ground, this can lead to a knee dislocation. While this is not generally considered serious and will usually heal quite easily with the right care, in rare cases, it can be more concerning. Dislocating your knee can sometimes lead to blood vessel breakage, ligament tearing, nerve damage, and other issues that can cause your knee to feel like it is shifting or moving when walking. Along with this symptom, you may also have severe pain in the knee, swelling, a limited range of motion, and knee joint deformity. At the time you dislocate your knee, you may hear a popping sound, and you may feel unstable and like the knee is going to give out when walking. This can lead to an inability to carry on with everyday activities and tasks.
While your knees might sometimes be sore when you’ve been sitting down for too long or after exercise, these symptoms can signify something more serious and shouldn’t be ignored.
