Knee Pain
Find out more about knee pain and how Torrance Pain Institute can help you manage your pain, improve your quality of life, and get back to doing the things you enjoy.
What is knee pain?
Knee pain is a common condition that affects people of all ages. It may be a result of an injury, medical conditions such as arthritis, general wear and tear from daily activities and aging. Repetitive stress softens and breaks down the cartilage surrounding your kneecap. This irritates the lining of the knee joint which causes pain.
Although knee pain is very common, there are factors that increase your risk of developing this condition:
- Obesity – Excess weight puts more stress on your knee joints.
- Intense workouts – Highly active people who put a lot of pressure on their knees are more prone to knee pain.
- Certain occupations – People who work in construction or play professional sports put repetitive stress on their knees which results in knee pain.
- Gender – Women are 2-8 times more likely to have knee pain than men.
What causes knee pain?
There are several causes that lead to knee pain such as the following:
Injuries – A tear or inflammation in the knee joint due to trauma can cause pain.
Mechanical problems – Some mechanical problems such as loose body, dislocated kneecap, or hip or foot pain place more stress on the knee which results in pain.
Arthritis – This disease causes pain and swelling in the knee joint.
What are the symptoms of knee pain?
You may feel an aching pain in the front of the knee and notice some swelling and stiffness. You may also hear popping or crunching noises when you move your knees. You may feel weakness or instability during movement. Your pain may also be worse when you squat, run or sit for a long time.
What is the treatment for knee pain?
Knee pain may be relieved by OTC medications, cold compress, and even special exercises. However, if your knee pain is still unmanageable after you’ve taken these steps and don’t see knee surgery as an option, a genicular nerve block may provide you the pain relief that you need. It is the injection of a local anesthetic to block the nerves that sends pain signals to the knee.
Get in touch with our expert pain management doctor at Torrance Pain Institute, so we can discuss your options for genicular nerve block in Torrance.