Knee Pain!! Help ASAP!?!
Question: I've played basketball for a couple of years, and the running and conditioning was intense. I think that I might have messed up my knee in that process. It is like a shock of pain sometimes, then just stiffness, but usually only every couple of months. The pain lasts a week or so during those times. What could be wrong, and what would be a way to help it?
Answers: I've played basketball for a couple of years, and the running and conditioning was intense. I think that I might have messed up my knee in that process. It is like a shock of pain sometimes, then just stiffness, but usually only every couple of months. The pain lasts a week or so during those times. What could be wrong, and what would be a way to help it?
I'm sorry to hear you're in pain like that, it must be quite distressing. I think it is best if you consult your local general practitioner with regards to the knee pain, as it could be anything ranging from ligament or tendinous injury or strain to bursitis, which is basically inflammation of the fluid-filled cavity in your knee which has a number of causes. I guess it would be best to cease activity when the pain comes on and rest your knee and apply ice, and definitely seek your doctor's advice!
Good luck!
try IcyHot.or Activ-on(?). If the pain persists, contact your doctor. But i would recommend seeing him/her now. You don't know whats going on yet andit could take a while to get an appiontment so yeah, calll now.
EDIT:these other ppl have good ideas too.
wow. theres no reason to give me a bad hand, jerk. >.>
you need to get that checked. you could have dislocated something. same thing happened to me and i ignored it. now i cant make much movement like dancing and jumping like crazy. do it before its too late
Yea, i have those issues also, im in softball soccer and track. i dont know why i have them, but i do know that it is normal. My doctor said that when i get them[[every couple weeks for a few days]] that its just ur mucles tellling you to slow down. Let it rest and, put ice or icy hot works for me too. Also check out the doctors, if it gets worse, you might need a shot.
my mum had the same problem, except hers was from when she was a teenager and played netball and tennis. it turned out that she'd completely knackered her knee up and had to have an operation and has been told that she'll have it for the rest of her life. i can't remember what it's called, but go to the doctors and hope it isn't as bad as what it sounds.
it could also just be a sprained knee - had plenty of them myself :)
ACTIV-ON
You need to see an orthopedic specialist, He will order some x-rays to see what is happening and then probably send you physical therapy. It takes time to get into a specialist so call now,
Sometimes if there is a slight weakness in the joint in a particular spot ,say a certain area of a ligament or tendon, a step at a certain angle could create a slight misalignment of the joint causing two surfaces that would not ordinarily rub together to do so. The resulting effects could be pain followed by a certain amount of fluid build up from the inflammation. Leg extensions should help the ligaments around the joint stay strong and thus keep the knee in proper alignment. So if it happens again I would ice it, take some anti-inflammatory and wear wrap. Then get into those extensions. Good luck.
There are three conditions that joint problems are categorized into:
The first and possibly the most well known is arthritis. Although there are many forms or arthritis, athletes are usually plagued by the variant known as osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis becomes apparent when cartilage in the joints is worn down so that friction between the bones increases. If this condition is untreated, the condition cannot heal and the affected joints will only further deteriorate. Osteoarthritis has ended many athlete's careers. Symptoms of osteoarthritis are a dull to sharp pain, depending on how advanced it is, stiffness, and swelling of and around the bone and joints.
The second condition is bursitis. Bursitis is characterized by pain caused by damage to the fluid-filled sacs of the joints known as bursae. Possibly the most painful, bursitis must be treated quickly. It usually effects the joints of the elbows, shoulders, and sometimes the wrists, so this condition may not be related to you. Symptoms of bursitis include pain that grows especially sharp when moving the joint, limited movement, or swelling and redness around the area of the joint.
The third condition is known as tendinitis. Tendinitis results from heavy training and overuse of particular muscles which puts strain on the tendons causing inflammation, and the pain becomes apparent in the joints. Symptoms include pain not only when moving the joint, but when using the muscle attached to that joint, mild swelling, and a weakness of the muscle that can lead to the muscle giving out when it is exerted.
Before I talk about treatment options, let me mention a few bad habits that can lead to join pain.
1. Warming up / Cooling down - Preparing the muscles and joints for the stress of an important workout is worth far more than the time it costs. By gently warming up, blood and fluid flow are increased to the muscles and joints, carrying nutrients and filling the fluid sacs that provide for smooth activity. Cooling down by stretching and light activity such as walking releases the pressure in those sacs as they begin to revert to their calm state.
2. Rest - Just like muscles, joints must be given time to recuperate from a workout. In many high schools/collages, the programs don't allow sufficient time for students to let their bodies recuperate and many suffer some degree of damage. If you are a student in this situation, this problem is probably out of your control.
3. Weight / Form - Check with your coach to see if your running form is even slightly from perfect. An imperfect form when running can lead to severe joint problems in the hips and knees. When lifting weights, be careful not to load a weight that is too heavy. If you cannot successfully complete your set with good form (this includes the last few reps), then the weight you are using is too heavy.
4. Nutrients - Joints are a part of the body that must cope with very heavy physical stress, possibly more than the muscles themselves. Because of this, you must be sure that an adequate amount of nutrients flow to the joints. Water is probably one of the most important. A dehydrated body reduces the effectiveness of the joint structures. Also, just like any athlete, you must be sure that you are consuming an adequate amount of protein, but especially foods containing high amounts of the proteins proline and glycine, the proteins that make up much of the bulk of the joint structures. Foods that contain high amounts of those proteins are fish and legumes (beans, lentils, peas, etc.). Vitamin C and calcium are two other nutrients that are important to bone and joint health. Essential fatty acids (EFAs), such as those found in fish, flaxseeds, hempseeds, avocados, and some nuts, are important to joint health because they neutralize some of the chemicals in the body that are responsible for joint deterioration. Increase food intake of EFAs or supplement with 5-10 grams or more per day. An additional benefit of EFAs is the dramatic reduction of overall body inflammation, including inflammation in the joints. Flaxseed oil is particularly effective for this purpose.
Treatment:
If you are positive that all the above problems are solved, then you can treat joint pain by using anti-inflammatory drugs. These range from mild forms, such as ibuprofen (not recommend) to steroids. It is obvious that prevention of joint problems is ideal, so try your best to adjust all possible aspects before taking medications. Medications and topical applications are just a cover-up, a bandage, for bad habits and over-training, and constant use can destroy your joints without you knowing. Don't let the problem get that far, because then your options aren't much more than joint replacement.