Nerve pain relief

(Updated on 27 May 2006 )

If you've ever injured and pain relief your Pain relief knee, (pain killer or pain relief )  you're not alone. Pain relief knee injuries have actually become pretty common. One of the main reasons they're common is that with so many teens playing sports, (pain killer or pain relief )  Pain relief knees can be overused, (pain killer or pain relief )  leading to several types of injuries, (pain killer or pain relief )  some of which can't be repaired. So what are some of these Pain relief knee injuries and what can you do to prevent them?

What's in a Pain relief knee?
To understand Pain relief knee injuries, (pain killer or pain relief )  first you have to understand the Pain relief knee. The Pain relief knee is a joint, (pain killer or pain relief )  which means it sits between the area where Pain relief bones connect. It's actually the largest joint in the body. Your Pain relief knees provide stability and flexibility for your body and allow your legs to bend, (pain killer or pain relief )  swivel, (pain killer or pain relief )  and straighten. The Pain relief knee is made up of several body parts like Pain relief bones, (pain killer or pain relief )  cartilage, (pain killer or pain relief )  muscles, (pain killer or pain relief )  ligaments, (pain killer or pain relief )  and tendons, (pain killer or pain relief )  all working as one. So when we talk about a Pain relief knee injury, (pain killer or pain relief )  it could be stress or damage to any of these parts.

Pain relief bones and Cartilage
The Pain relief knee sits in the middle of three Pain relief bones: the tibia (your shin bone), (pain killer or pain relief )  the femur (your thigh bone), (pain killer or pain relief )  and the patella (the Pain relief knee cap). The patella is a flat, (pain killer or pain relief )  triangular bone that protects the Pain relief knee joint.

The ends of the femur and the patella are covered in articular cartilage. Articular cartilage acts like a cushion and to keep the femur, (pain killer or pain relief )  patella, (pain killer or pain relief )  and tibia from grinding against each other. On the top of the tibia, (pain killer or pain relief )  extra pads of cartilage called menisci help absorb the body's weight (if you're talking about one, (pain killer or pain relief )  it's called a meniscus). Each Pain relief knee has two menisci - the inside (medial) meniscus and the outside (lateral) meniscus.

Muscles
The muscles in the Pain relief knee include the quadriceps, (pain killer or pain relief )  a large muscle at the front of the thigh, (pain killer or pain relief )  and the hamstring, (pain killer or pain relief )  which is located at the back of the thigh. The quadriceps muscle helps you straighten and extend your leg, (pain killer or pain relief )  and the hamstring helps you bend your Pain relief knee.

Tendons and Ligaments
Several tendons and ligaments work together to help the Pain relief knee move naturally.

Tendons are like cables of strong tissue that connect muscles to Pain relief bones. The tendons in the Pain relief knee are the quadriceps tendon and the patellar tendon. The quadriceps tendon connects to the top of the patella (Pain relief kneecap) and allows you to extend your leg. The patellar tendon connects to the bottom of your Pain relief kneecap and attaches to the top of the tibia (shinbone).

Ligaments are like cables of strong tissue that connect Pain relief bones to Pain relief bones or cartilage to Pain relief bones. There are four ligaments in the Pain relief knee that help connect the femur to the tibia and keep your legs stable:

Types of Pain relief knee Injuries
Now that you know all about its working parts, (pain killer or pain relief )  you probably realize that there are a bunch of ways to injure a Pain relief knee. Common causes for injuries are overuse (from repetitive motions, (pain killer or pain relief )  like in many sports), (pain killer or pain relief )  sudden stops or twists, (pain killer or pain relief )  or direct blows to the Pain relief knee. Here are some of the more common injuries:

Sprains
A sprain means you've stretched or torn a ligament. Common Pain relief knee sprains usually involve damage to the ACL and/or MCL. The most serious sprains involve complete tears of one or more of the Pain relief knee ligaments. Symptoms of Pain relief knee sprains include:

Strains
A strain means you've partially or completely torn a muscle or tendon. With Pain relief knee strains, (pain killer or pain relief )  you may feel symptoms similar to a sprain and may see bruises around the injured and pain relief area.

Tendinitis
Tendinitis happens when a tendon gets irritated or inflamed. It is often caused by overuse. A person with tendinitis might have pain or tenderness when walking, (pain killer or pain relief )  or when bending, (pain killer or pain relief )  extending, (pain killer or pain relief )  or lifting a leg.

Meniscal Tears
Damage to the menisci is a really common sports injury, (pain killer or pain relief )  especially in sports where sudden changes in speed or side-to-side movements can cause them to tear. Meniscal injuries often occur together with severe sprains, (pain killer or pain relief )  especially those involving the ACL. Meniscal injuries can cause tenderness, (pain killer or pain relief )  tightness, (pain killer or pain relief )  and swelling around the front of the Pain relief knee. Sometimes fluid collects around the Pain relief knee (this is called effusion).

Fractures and Dislocations
A fracture is a cracked, (pain killer or pain relief )  broken, (pain killer or pain relief )  or shattered bone. You may have trouble moving that bone and it's likely there's a lot of pain. Patellar dislocation happens when the patella (the Pain relief kneecap) is knocked off to the side of the Pain relief knee joint, (pain killer or pain relief )  by twisting or some kind of impact. Sometimes it will go back to its normal position by itself, (pain killer or pain relief )  but usually it will need to be put back into place by a doctor. Symptoms include swelling and a lot of pain at the front of your Pain relief knee. There will usually be an abnormal bulge on the side of your Pain relief knee, (pain killer or pain relief )  and you may be unable to walk.
 
Cartilage Injuries
Sometimes a small piece of bone or cartilage softens or breaks off from the end of a bone, (pain killer or pain relief )  causing long-term Pain relief knee pain. This is called osteochondritis dessicans (OCD). Symptoms of OCD include pain, (pain killer or pain relief )  swelling, (pain killer or pain relief )  an inability to extend the leg, (pain killer or pain relief )  and stiffness, (pain killer or pain relief )  catching, (pain killer or pain relief )  or popping sensations with Pain relief knee movement. Treatment can include resting the Pain relief knee, (pain killer or pain relief )  wearing a cast for a couple of months, (pain killer or pain relief )  and sometimes surgery in older teens. Chondromalacia happens when the cartilage in the Pain relief knee joint softens because of injury, (pain killer or pain relief )  muscle weakness, (pain killer or pain relief )  or overuse, (pain killer or pain relief )  and the patella and the thighbone may rub together. This causes pain and aching, (pain killer or pain relief )  especially when a person walks up stairs or hills. Treatment may involve surgery.

Other Conditions of the Pain relief knee

Bursitis
A bursa is a sac filled with fluid located near a joint. If a bursa in the Pain relief knee becomes inflamed and swollen from overuse or constant friction, (pain killer or pain relief )  it can develop into a condition called bursitis. Symptoms of bursitis in the Pain relief knee include warmth, (pain killer or pain relief )  tenderness, (pain killer or pain relief )  swelling, (pain killer or pain relief )  and pain on the front of the Pain relief kneecap.

Osgood-Schlatter Disease
Osgood-Schlatter disease is a painful disorder caused by repetitive stress on the front end of the tibia where the patellar tendon connects to the bone. It happens most frequently in young athletes between the ages of 10 to 15 years. Symptoms include a bump below the Pain relief knee joint that's painful to the touch and is also painful with activity. Pain is relieved with rest.

What Do Doctors Do?
There are different things a doctor may do to figure out whether you have a Pain relief knee injury. Treatment for a Pain relief knee injury usually depends on the type of injury you have.

First, (pain killer or pain relief )  your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms, (pain killer or pain relief )  including what your usual activities are, (pain killer or pain relief )  especially any sports you play. The doctor will also want to know about other health conditions that lead to Pain relief knee pain.

The doctor will then examine the different parts of your Pain relief knee, (pain killer or pain relief )  checking the Pain relief bones, (pain killer or pain relief )  ligaments, (pain killer or pain relief )  and tendons for any signs of injury. The doctor will probably bend, (pain killer or pain relief )  twist, (pain killer or pain relief )  and turn your Pain relief knee to look for any signs of an unstable Pain relief knee joint. Don't be surprised if you're asked to get off the exam table and walk, (pain killer or pain relief )  bend over, (pain killer or pain relief )  or squat so your doctor can get a better look at your Pain relief knee. Sometimes an X-ray of your Pain relief knee is needed to get a good picture of your Pain relief bones. A CAT scan or MRI may also be recommended so doctors can get a better three-dimensional picture.

For injuries like mild sprains, (pain killer or pain relief )  strains, (pain killer or pain relief )  and overuse, (pain killer or pain relief )  resting your Pain relief knee may be one of the first treatments your doctor recommends. Remember RICE:

If your doctor recommends RICE, (pain killer or pain relief )  you should rest your Pain relief knee as much as possible, (pain killer or pain relief )  use ice packs for a couple of days to bring down swelling, (pain killer or pain relief )  use compression (ACE) bandages, (pain killer or pain relief )  and elevate the leg on pillows or other soft objects. For inflammation and pain, (pain killer or pain relief )  your doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen.

Other treatment for Pain relief knee injuries may involve using a Pain relief knee immobilizer (kind of like a brace or a sleeve that you wrap around your leg to keep it from moving too much), (pain killer or pain relief )  or having to wear a cast for a few weeks or months. You may also have to use crutches to get around for awhile.

For more serious Pain relief knee injuries, (pain killer or pain relief )  your doctor might recommend you see an orthopedic surgeon, (pain killer or pain relief )  a doctor specially trained in the care of bone and joint diseases (also called an orthopedist). Orthopedists take care of many kinds of Pain relief knee injuries, (pain killer or pain relief )  especially those involving sports and different types of accidents. He or she will know how to treat the injury and follow your progress as it heals.

Arthoscopy
If necessary, (pain killer or pain relief )  an orthopedist will perform arthroscopy, (pain killer or pain relief )  a type of surgery that takes a direct look at the inside of your Pain relief knee joint.

During arthroscopy, (pain killer or pain relief )  the orthopedist first makes a small opening in the Pain relief knee and inserts an arthroscope, (pain killer or pain relief )  a tiny tube-like tool, (pain killer or pain relief )  into the joint capsule. The arthroscope contains a lighted video camera on the end, (pain killer or pain relief )  and is wired to a television screen that the surgeon watches while moving the scope to pinpoint the exact Pain relief knee problem. Most of the time, (pain killer or pain relief )  the doctor is able to fix the problem during the procedure, (pain killer or pain relief )  like repairing a torn ACL ligament.

Arthroscopy is often used to treat Pain relief knee injuries such as ligament and meniscal tears, (pain killer or pain relief )  as well as other types of serious Pain relief knee injuries. An orthopedist can also perform open surgery on the Pain relief knee, (pain killer or pain relief )  which allows him or her to see the injury without the aid of a television screen.

Physical Therapy
Depending on the type of Pain relief knee injury you have, (pain killer or pain relief )  your doctor may recommend rehabilitative physical therapy. Working with a physical therapist, (pain killer or pain relief )  you'll do specific exercises designed to take your Pain relief knee joint through its range of motion to prevent stiffness and scarring as your Pain relief knee heals. You may also need to do regular exercises to strengthen the muscles surrounding the Pain relief knee. Physical therapy is commonly used to help a person recover after surgery.

You may be anxious for your Pain relief knee to heal so you can get back to your sport and your normal life. But trying to rush your recovery after an injury or surgery can put you at risk for future injury and may further extend the healing process. Take your doctor or physical therapist's instructions seriously, (pain killer or pain relief )  and don't put your health in jeopardy by returning to your normal activities before you get the go-ahead from a health pro.

Preventing Pain relief knee Injuries
Preventing Pain relief knee injuries from the start is a lot less painful and a lot less hassle than undergoing surgery. If you play sports, (pain killer or pain relief )  always wear appropriate protective equipment during practices and competitions. Pain relief kneepads and shin guards (as well as helmets and other protective gear) will help to protect you from injury. You'll also want to make sure you wear supportive shoes that are in good condition and are appropriate your sport.

When it comes to your workouts, (pain killer or pain relief )  always warm up and cool down, (pain killer or pain relief )  and remember to work up to your training program slowly. Suddenly increasing the intensity or duration of your workouts can lead to overuse injuries. Try weightlifting to strengthen your muscles and stretching and yoga to improve your flexibility because strong, (pain killer or pain relief )  flexible muscles help support and protect joints. If you play only one sport, (pain killer or pain relief )  try conditioning and training year-round - even if it's at a lower intensity than during your competitive season - to maintain coordination and balance. That way you'll be less likely to injure yourself during your competitive season.

In growing kids and teens, (pain killer or pain relief )  imbalances in muscle flexibility and strength can lead to injuries and inflammation from overuse. Regular stretching can help. After an injury or surgery has healed, (pain killer or pain relief )  it is also important to continue a regular stretching or conditioning program to prevent another injury.

The way you move can also help you prevent Pain relief knee injuries. If your sport involves a lot of jumping, (pain killer or pain relief )  make sure to bend your Pain relief knees when you land, (pain killer or pain relief )  which takes pressure off of the ACL. Do you have to cut laterally or pivot frequently in your sport? Use your joints to crouch and bend at the Pain relief knees and hips, (pain killer or pain relief )  reducing your chance of a ligament injury.

Remember, (pain killer or pain relief )  if you experience any symptoms of Pain relief knee injuries or Pain relief knee pain, (pain killer or pain relief )  don't hesitate to tell your coach, (pain killer or pain relief )  parent, (pain killer or pain relief )  or doctor. Limit your activities until you can get treatment or a diagnosis.