Knee Pain in the Elderly
Many elderly individuals are troubled due to long standing knee pain that hampers their daily life.
Knee Pain can be experienced by both men and women of all groups. Pain may occur immediately after an injury or may occur as an extension of a chronic medical condition.
Knee Pain in older individuals may be an indication of another health issue which may directly or indirectly involve the joints or bones. Pain may also occur due to the weakened bone structure, particularly in the old age period.
Knee joint problems can occur due to injuries to the bones, ligaments, muscles, cartilages of the joints and tendons.
Knee Pain can be due various reasons.
- Infection in the joint space causing fever and pain which needs urgent care.
- Longstanding pain due to wear and tear of the joint leading to Osteoarthritis of the knee
- Pain due to inflammation of the tendons which is a thick chord attaching the bone and muscles called as Tendinitis.
- Inflammation of the sac between bone,muscle,tendon and skin filled with lubricating fluid called as Bursitis
- Inflammation due to accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joint called as gouty arthritis Pain due to softening of the knee cartilage called as Chondromalacia
- Inflammation of the knee and other joints due to Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Pain due to injuries causing Fracture of the knee bone.
- Injuries causing dislocation of the joints and ligament tears
Among these Osteoarthritis of the knee is the commonest cause for knee pain in the elderly population.
Lifestyle modification measures to reduce body weight if obese has been proved to reduce knee pain.
Regular exercise is adviced to strengthen the muscles around the knee .
Consult your doctor before taking pain killers to avoid side effects caused due to them.
