The journey from strain to strength begins with knowledge. Your knee is a marvel of biological engineering, involving bones, cartilage, ligaments, and fluid. It’s designed to handle a considerable amount of stress, but it’s not indestructible. Various factors contribute to knee discomfort, from acute injuries to chronic conditions. Recognizing the early signs of knee discomfort and seeking professional help promptly can make a substantial difference in your recovery process.
What Knee Pain Means
Knee pain can stem from a myriad of sources, each with its unique set of challenges. The common causes of knee discomfort are as diverse as the individuals who experience them, but they often fall into several primary categories. Traumatic injuries, such as those acquired through sports or accidents, can lead to conditions like anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears or fractures.
Degenerative conditions also play a significant role in knee pain. Osteoarthritis, for example, is a wear-and-tear disease that erodes the knee’s cartilage over time, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. Similarly, rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disorder, can inflame the knee joint and cause significant discomfort. Even everyday activities, if performed incorrectly or excessively, can lead to pain. Overuse injuries, such as runner’s knee, can afflict even the most seasoned athletes. Other degenerative conditions in the spine can also lead to knee pain. As the spine starts to deteriorate and degenerate it leads to damage to the nerves that control the knee joint, specifically the second and third vertebrate of the lumbar spine.
One of the most commonly overlooked conditions that leads to knee pain is peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy is where the nerves in the legs, feet, and sometimes arms and hands become damaged to the point of losing function. Often, we see patients with underlying metabolic conditions like insulin sensitivity, type 2 diabetes, and gout which leads to increased inflammation. The increased inflammation damages and destroys the nerve tissue, resulting in numbness, tingling, pain, and ultimately loss of function.
Recognizing the Symptoms of Knee Injury
Identifying knee pain goes beyond acknowledging discomfort; it’s about understanding the symptoms that accompany it. Your knee might swell, indicating inflammation or fluid build-up. You may hear popping or crunching noises, a sign that there’s something amiss within the joint. Stiffness is another common symptom, often most pronounced in the morning or after a period of inactivity.
Pain intensity can vary from a constant, dull ache to a sharp, incapacitating sensation that flares up with movement. Sometimes, the pain might be localized to a specific area of the knee, while other times, it may be more diffuse. Instability or weakness in the knee is also a red flag; you might feel as though your knee is giving way beneath you, which can be particularly concerning.
How Knee Pain can be Cured
Chiropractic care for knee pain typically involves a thorough evaluation of your entire musculoskeletal system. Chiropractors understand that knee pain can be influenced by imbalances elsewhere in the body. They may employ techniques such as adjustments, mobilization, and soft tissue therapy to alleviate pain and improve joint function. By restoring proper alignment and movement patterns, chiropractic care can reduce stress on the knee joint, which can be particularly beneficial for conditions like osteoarthritis.
Shockwave therapy is an innovative treatment that uses acoustic waves to promote healing and regeneration in injured tissues. It can help to reduce inflammation, alleviate pain, and stimulate collagen production, which is essential for repairing damaged tissue. Additionally, shockwave therapy can break up calcifications that can form around the knee joint, leading to an improved range of motion and function. This treatment is particularly effective for chronic conditions such as tendinopathies and is a great alternative to steroid injections and even knee replacement surgery.
Cold laser therapy is another treatment for knee pain that helps to stimulate cellular repair. When the light photons penetrate the skin, they are absorbed by the mitochondria within cells, leading to an increase in cellular energy production. This energy boost can enhance the cells’ ability to repair themselves and reduce inflammation, leading to a decrease in pain and improved function in the knee joint.
Why Choose Omega Functional Health for Knee Pain Management
At Omega Functional Health, our focus is you. We understand that you want your pain gone fast and want to get back to living your life as fast as possible. We want that for you too. Our care is focused on addressing your specific needs to get you results as quickly as possible so you get back to doing things you love.
If you are experiencing knee pain discomfort or for further guidance on effective treatment options, schedule a consultation with our professionals at Omega Functional Health in our Wheat Ridge, Colorado, office (serving West Denver). Please call (720) 667-3650 to book an appointment today.