Pain on Side of Knee

This article summarizes the possible causes for the pain on side of knee and the treatments present for it.

The knee joint is one of the most important and one of the largest joint of the body. Our almost each and every daily activity requires the use of knee. From crawling to running everything is possible only with the help of the knee. Still we are least bothered about our knee making it the most susceptible to injuries. Knee injuries can result in serious mobility problems. It can make people disable for their lifetime. Any pain on side of knee or within the knee should be taken seriously and should be taken care of before the problem turns worse.

The anatomy of the knee will help us understand how the knee works and what makes it the most important part of our body. The thigh bone and the lower leg bones meet at knee. Nerves connect the upper part of the leg that is the thigh and the pelvic area with the lower part of leg that is the foot, ankle through knee. These bones make a hinge joint and fit into each other and facilitate the movement of the leg. This joint is covered by a knee cap or patella in the front. Ligaments, tendons and cartilages support the knee joint. An injury to any of these parts will result in pain on side of knee or maybe within the knee if the injury is severe.

There may be many reasons behind the pain on side of knee. The diagnosis of the cause of the pain is very important for its treatment. Generally it is difficult to conclude at the cause of the knee pain. Only an expert would be able to find out the right cause of the pain. The pain may arise due to a post traumatic injury which affects the bone of the knee joint. It may be due to mechanical problems or arthritis. The common injuries which occur in a knee is meniscus tear, the ACL injury particularly in athletes involved in basketball and skiing, tendonitis commonly in cyclists and runners. Mechanical problems can include dislocation of the knee cap, locking of the knee due to cartilage damage, damage to the pelvic bones or foot. Arthritis is a degenerative disease affecting mostly people who are above 40 years.

Other reasons for pain on side of knee are chondromalacia patellae common in young athletes. The itbs that is iliotibial band syndrome common in runners, Osgood- schlatter disease which is associated with a bony overgrowth near the joint and osteochondritis dissecans which occurs after injury in young people. The online forum healthcentral provides information and methods to prevent the knee pain. Its service not only includes discussion on knee problems but also helps people in fighting with their knee problems.

There are now treatments available for pain in joints. Anti-inflammatory drugs are available over the counter which helps in reducing the pain and the swelling in the knee. some of the very easily available drug is azdu (azidurine) provides quick relief. Only when the pain on the side of knee becomes unbearable and the pain does not subside even by the drugs and the mobility of the patient is limited doctors recommend for the surgery. It is important that we take care of our knee from the time we are a child.