In India, knee pain is common among older people, mainly due to today's active lifestyle and increasing work demands. Knee problems are considered significant musculoskeletal issues with various causes and treatments.

When knee pain becomes unbearable, it's important to consult with a specialist orthopedic doctor immediately to prevent further degeneration. The right way to start a treatment is to get a proper diagnosis before the treatment. A good orthopedic doctor will initiate treatment only after finding the exact cause of the knee pain.

Some knee pains can be cured by conservative treatments like physiotherapy, medicines, injections, etc., but some conditions may require total or partial knee replacement surgery. If you live near Delhi, NCR, you should come to Delhi for the best treatment. Total knee replacement surgery in Delhi is performed by highly qualified orthopedic surgeons. In Delhi, you can find many hospitals that are best for orthopedic treatments and surgeries.

Understanding Knee Function

The knee is like a special hinge in your leg that lets you move around. It is one of the biggest joints in our body which is made of bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons, which let you bend and straighten your knee and twist it a little bit in different directions.

A healthy knee can go from completely straight to bending a lot, like when your calf touches your thigh. When it's bent, you can also turn it a bit towards your other leg or away from it. Together with the hips and ankles, our knee joint is responsible for bending, straightening, and supporting 90% to 95% of our body weight.

Components of the Knee Joint

The knee joint comprises four key bones:

• The femur (thigh bone)
• The tibia (lower leg bone)
• The patella (kneecap)
• The fibula (besides the lower leg bone)

Importance of Ligaments

Our bones are joined together by dense fibrous bands called ligaments. They play an important role in maintaining knee stability. The knee joint relies on four primary ligaments:

• Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) provides front-to-back and rotational stability.
• Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) provides front-to-back and rotational stability.
• Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) provides inner-to-outer stability.
• Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) provides inner-to-outer stability.

Tendons in the Knee Joint

• Tendons help your muscles connect with the bones.
• The quadriceps tendon links the front thigh muscle to the patella.
• The patella's tendons help connect the tibia bone with the patella.
• Together with the quadriceps muscle, these tendons enable leg straightening.

Importance of Cartilage

In our knees, there's a tough layer of cartilage that acts like a cushion between the thigh bone at the top of our knee and the shin bone that goes down to our ankle. When our cartilage gets damaged our knees start hurting because of the friction between the bone ends.

Bursae for Cushioning

Fluid-filled sacs called bursae also contribute to cushioning and stabilizing the knee joint. There are three sets of bursae in the knee:

• Suprapatellar bursa: (located between the quadriceps tendon and the femur)
• Prepatellar Bursae: (located in front of the patella)
• Pes Anserine Bursae: (positioned on the inner side of the knee, about 2 inches below the joint)
• Infrapatellar Bursae: (found beneath the patella)

 The Treatments That You May Choose to Manage Your Knee Pain:

To cure knee pain in old age, you may consider the following treatments:

Ice: Applying ice to the knee for 20-30 minutes, 2-3 times daily, can reduce pain and inflammation.

Physical Activities: Engage in regular exercise, particularly activities that strengthen the thigh muscles, as this can delay the development of knee problems.

Posture and Support: Maintain good sitting posture, avoid low chairs, and take breaks from prolonged sitting to prevent joint stiffness. Your posture and sitting matter in your overall health.

Balanced Diet and Weight Loss: If you are overweight, shedding excess weight can reduce knee pain. Always try a healthy diet filled with fruits, nuts, seeds, and vegetables. Try to avoid meat and fried food. If you love non-vegetarians, eat fatty fish, which is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D3.

Medications: Consult a doctor for medications like NSAIDs or pain relievers to manage knee pain effectively. Make sure that you are consulting with an orthopedic doctor, not a local family physician.

 Massage: Massaging the knee joints, including self-massage, can provide pain relief and reduce stress.

Aromatherapy Preparations: Some essential oils used in massage may help alleviate pain and improve knee function.

Heat & Cold Measures: Both heat and cold therapies can be effective in treating knee pain. Heat relaxes muscles, while cold reduces pain and swelling.

Physiotherapy: Yes, it’s true that sometimes physiotherapy is highly beneficial for pain, it doesn't matter whether you have chronic pain from osteoarthritis or injuries.

Acupuncture Therapy: Acupuncture may be beneficial for individuals with knee osteoarthritis.

Tai Chi: Tai chi, a meditative exercise, can help improve knee symptoms and overall quality of life.

When to Get Professional Help for Knee Pain:

 If knee pain persists despite trying these treatments or if you experience severe symptoms such as inability to bear weight, fever, redness, or other concerning signs, it's essential to consult with an experienced orthopedic doctor. Quick action is very important to prevent further complications. Hospitals in Delhi NCR have experienced orthopedic surgeons ready to address all osteoarthritis-related issues.

The cost of knee replacement surgery in Delhi is affordable. Do proper research before finalizing the surgery, whether it is in Delhi or in your city. It is important to know how they will perform the surgery, what the experience of the doctor is, which implant they will be using, etc.

When to Visit a Hospital for Knee Pain?

Consider visiting a hospital in the following situations:

• Inability to put weight on your knee
• Feeling weak
• Experiencing a fever
• Redness and heat in the knee area
• Swelling, especially if you are on blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder
• Unbearable pain
• Puncture wounds
• Pain that wakes you up at night
• Persistent pain that doesn't improve with rest
• Large wounds

Conclusion

Certain knee pain, fractures, infections, and severe injuries may require immediate attention, and delaying professional help can hinder the healing process. Take knee health seriously, consult only with a professional orthopedic surgeon who has years of experience performing orthopedic surgeries. Doing good research will help you find a good surgeon.