Common Knee Injuries

There are four common knee problems, from arthritis to "road rash." Three of them require a doctor's diagnosis. The fourth, the scraped knee, may need to be checked out, especially if the person who has the scrape is older. Here are some explanations and tips to help you deal with them.

1) Arthritis: There are several types of arthritis that can affect your knee, but osteoarthritis is one of the most common. This can be the result of thinning bones or just the wear and tear that comes with advanced years.

It's important to find out which type of arthritis you have, as some of the treatments are different. Medications can reduce any swelling and help with the pain. Hot wet wraps can also be beneficial, and there are many different over the counter pain relievers. If you choose capsaicin based medications, test it on a small area of skin first. If you're skin is sensitive, it may cause burn blisters.

2) Torn Ligaments/Tendons: These are also very common, particularly if you are involved in sports. Sometimes these injuries can heal on their own, with proper care. At other times, you may require knee surgery to repair the joint. For home treatment, your doctor may recommend RICE, rest, ice, compression and elevation. These can help reduce the pain and heal the injury.

3) Broken Patella: I can tell you from personal experience that this is not an easy injury to deal with. It is likely to mean at least one surgery, possibly more. You'll have to walk on it some, usually with crutches or a walker, as part of the healing process. However, the home care rules are similar. Rest, icing, compression and elevation will be needed.

4) Scraped Knee: Most kids will fall and scrape their knees several times over the course of their childhood. Usually, this just means time and neosporin will heal it. However, particularly bad falls or a fall by someone over age 20 might need a trip to the doctor. Under that scrape could be a cracked or broken bone.

Knee injuries, even something minor such as a scrape, are unpleasant. They do remind us to take better care of them when we've healed. However, avoiding the problem is usually the best answer.