The Mayo Clinic reports that nearly one in three Americans over the age of 45 suffers from knee pain. Knee pain can be caused by injury, overuse, infection, arthritis, or other disease processes. Properly identifying and treating knee pain is important to resolve the discomfort and prevent further damage.
Symptoms of Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis can affect all the joints in your body, and according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, it is the leading cause of disability in the United States. Cartilage, a fibrous substance that helps cushion the bones, is broken down because of normal wear and tear, injury, or infection. The lubrication of the join is also decreased, creating more discomfort.
The Mayo Clinic reports that people with osteoarthritis often experience differing degrees of pain throughout daily activities, such as swelling, creaking or popping sounds, loss of flexibility in the knee, and stiffness in the mornings following activity.
Symptoms of Patellar Tendonitis
Patellar tendonitis is also referred to as "Jumper's Knee" because it is commonly attributed to overuse during jumping and sprinting activities. The patellar tendon connects the patella to the tibia, or shin bone, and when it is overused, it becomes inflamed and irritated. The Cleveland Clinic reports that symptoms of pattelar tendonitis include: pain where the tendon meets the knee cap; stiffness of the knee; pain while going down stairs, and cracking noises when the knee is flexed in a squatting position.
Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Knee
Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of arthritis that can affect almost every joint in the body. When rheumatoid arthritis attacks the knees, a person may experience stiffness upon waking or not using his knees for short periods of time. Symptoms also include pain, warmth, or swelling in both knees. The United States National Library of Medicine reports that knees affected by rheumatoid arthritis will lose their range of motion and become deformed. Also, individuals with rheumatoid arthritis are also likely to suffer systemic symptoms, such as profound fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, fever, and weakness.
