You know what? We Indians are more tend to get knee damage than other races as we are used to bend from knees for longer time (e.g., Cross leg sitting position, Position in Indian toilet etc.). Knee problem mainly includes pain, swelling and stiffness. These are associated with each other. We will discuss here why such problem occurs!
It’s a Morning!
Most probably you would feel your knee stiffness in morning. You might be not able to take first step off from bed easily. This is because you were asleep for whole night and the fluid inside the joint was not doing its job. This fluid helps your joint to move easily. Try to move your knee joint and get it lubricated during the day hours.
You have developed grey hair now!
Oh yes! As you are getting older, you are more likely to have damage in your cartilage (a sponge like structure at the end of your both knee bones). This spongy material gets dry and stiff as u grow up. The solution is to be focused about knee movements.
Wear and tear in my knee!
Again! It is obvious that your knee is getting older as you too. Aging process is the main cause of developing arthritis in joints. Wear and tear of cartilage leads to bone friction. This could let you feel knee swelling, pain and stiffness.
Knee cap: Are you serious! This would cause knee stiffness?
The answer is ‘yes’ if you wear it all the time. Knee cap is usually advised for knee stability and to protect it from pain and swelling. But this will weaken your muscles. Use it on and off or wear when you are supposed to walk or stand for longer period.
Other arthritis than osteoarthritis!
This includes:
Rheumatoid arthritis– this is the condition in which your immunity mistakenly attacks your own synovium (A lining around knee joint), causing pain, swelling and stiffness. Anti-rheumatic drugs and proper physiotherapy will make you feel better.
Gout– increased level of uric acid can cause stiffness, swelling and pain.
Infectious arthritis– your doctor will call it septic arthritis. The infection may have started elsewhere in the body and travelled into knee, causing pain and stiffness.
Psoriatic arthritis– though it’s rare for knee. People who have psoriasis and family members who have it are more prone to get this condition.
Any Injury?
Overuse injury might be the cause of joint pain and stiffness.
Bursitis- a condition in which bursa (fluid filled sacs gets damaged, resulting in local pain, swelling and stiffness.
Tendinitis- a condition in which tendon (structure connecting bone and muscle) gets damaged.
Weather is changing!
Had you ever hear your grandparents telling that winter has started because my joints are getting stiff? It sounds funny but it’s true. Change in weather can worse your knee pain and stiffness. It is due to fall in air pressure (barometric pressure).
See what experts suggest!
Hot packs
This is the solution for your morning stiffness. Have a hot pack on the knee or take a hot bath and let your knee be relaxed.
Cold packs
It might be possible that your blood vessels supply less to joint. To improve circulation and also to lower the pain start cold pack placement over the knee. Remember to put it for 20 minutes at a time, not more than that.
Keep moving your joint!
Exercise well to keep yourself active and healthy. Strengthen your muscles to make your knee feel happy. Go with it gradually to protect yourself from damage.
Go straight away to the doctor if;
- Severe pain
- Sudden swelling
- Any injury
- Deformity in joint
- Not able to move
- Warmness over the joint
- Redness over the skin locally
- Symptoms last more than a week or happens frequently in a month
