Knee and Back Pain

Knee pain is a very common complaint that affects people of all ages. Knee pain may be of different types and arise from a number of different causes. Knee pain can be caused by injuries, mechanical problems, types of arthritis and other problems. The location and severity of knee pain may vary depending on the cause of the problem.

Some common causes of Knee pain include:

1. It may be the result of an injury, such as a ruptured ligament or torn cartilage. Some of the more common knee injuries include: 
1. An ACL injury is the tearing of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), common in sports players and athletes.
2. The bones of the knee, including the kneecap (patella), can be fractured during motor vehicle collisions or falls. 
3. Dislocated kneecap occurs when the triangular bone (patella) that covers the front of your knee slips out of place. 
4. When you have hip or foot pain, it may cause you to change the way you walk to spare these painful joints. But this altered gait can place more stress on your knee joint.
2. Medical conditions including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout and infections can also cause knee pain. Not all knee pain is serious. But some knee injuries and medical conditions, such as osteoarthritis, can lead to increasing pain or joint damage and disability if left untreated. Along with that, having a knee injury — even a minor one — makes it more likely that you'll have similar injuries in the future. Knee pain maybe treated in a number of different ways.
3. Relieve arthritis knee pain with exercises that are specifically designed to strengthen the knee and help you feel better.
4. Injections and other palliative procedures may also help relieve knee pain
5. Wear cushioned, flat shoes that support your feet and help prevent exacerbating your pain.
6. Medications for treatment of knee pain and arthritis are also used to treat such pain.
7. If your knee pain persists, surgery may be an option. 

You can usually prevent some, but not all, of the possible causes of knee pain. However, it is not possible to prevent chronic knee pain. There are certain things you can do to alleviate the pain somewhat. Mostly, you need to make lifestyle changes to help treat the pain or manage it better.

Back pain is a commonly cited reason for absence from work and for seeking medical treatment. It can be uncomfortable and debilitating. Back pain often occurs because something is not right in the way your spinal joints, muscles, discs, and nerves fit together and move. Pain occurring in the lower back (lumbago) is particularly common, although it can be felt anywhere along the spine, from the neck down to the hips. Back pain often develops without a specific cause that your doctor can identify with a test or imaging study.

1. Lower back pain is a common cause of complaints and visits to the doctor. Lower back pain may be linked to the bony lumbar spine, ligaments around the spine and discs, discs between the vertebrae, spinal cord and nerves, abdominal and pelvic internal organs, lower back muscles and the skin around the lumbar area.
2. Nerve and muscular problems, degenerative disc disease and arthritis can also result in back pain. 
3. Osteoporosis may also result in back pain. This occurs when the vertebrae of the spine can develop compression fractures if your bones become porous and brittle. 
4. Back pain is more common as you get older, starting around age 30 or 4
5. Smoking can keep your body from delivering enough nutrients to the disks in your back, causing pain.

Back pain symptoms may be relieved in many ways:

1. It is commonly cured with pain medication or pain killers, especially anti-inflammatory painkillers, such as ibuprofen.
2. Using hot or cold compression packs for short-term relief. 
3. Exercises and stretches for back pain; other activities such as walking, swimming, yoga and pilates may also be helpful in reducing the pain. 
4. It is possible to take measures to prevent or relieve most back pain episodes.
5. It is possible to avoid back pain or prevent its recurrence by improving your physical condition and learning and practicing appropriate body mechanics. VI. Use proper body mechanics to prevent facing the problem - Stand smart, Sit smart, Lift smart.

In most cases the pain isn't caused by anything too serious and will usually get better over time. Usually, people who manage to stay positive despite their pain tend to recover quicker. If the prevention methods do not work out, simple home treatment and remedies along with proper body mechanics often will heal your back within a few weeks and keep it appropriately functional for the long haul.


Written by Kazi Shoyeb Imteaz for Northern Arizona Social