Page 124 - South Mississippi Living - March, 2025

HEALTHY LIVING
124 | March 2025
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
Understanding
KNEE PAIN
story by Dr. Nickie Harris-Ray
We are entering spring, and as the weather warms up, many people engage
in more outdoor activities. These could include skating, running, gardening, or swimming. But as you emerge from the cold weather, you may notice that standing or other movements hurt different joints of the body, often the knee. This important body stabilizer can cause a series of issues that affect your daily life, so you should know what to look for and how to get help.
The knee is the largest joint in the body. It is a hinge joint susceptible to injury from trauma, inflammation, infection, and degenerative changes. Some structures are susceptible to overuse injuries that cause knee pain following repetitive movements. Arthritis of the knees is common after 50 years of age and can develop due to previous trauma, aging, activities, alignment issues, and genetic predisposition.
Overuse or degenerative problems can occur with stress or compression from sports, hobbies, or occupations. Common symptoms of knee issues include:
• Grinding, clicking, or popping with bending
• “Locking” or “catching” when walking
• Swelling of the knee leading to cysts
• Side-to-side “snapping” with flexion and extension of the knee • Pain that worsens with bending and walking downstairs
• Pain that occurs when rising after prolonged sitting
Plain X-rays, CTs, or MRIs are usually helpful in identifying knee issues. X-rays
and CTs are best for bony and hard structures, and MRIs are best for soft tissue. Some people with knee injuries can receive conservative treatment, which includes
analgesics and physical therapy to strengthen and stabilize the core. Depending
on the injury, patients can first receive supervised exercise therapy. If they do not respond to nonoperative treatment, they can undergo surgery. Overall, knee injuries and their outcomes are evaluated and treated based on many factors, including, but not limited to, age, mechanism of injury, overall health, and more.
As we enter spring, if you have knee pain or weakness, see your medical professional for guidance and treatment so you can enjoy a season of pain-free outdoor fun.