Knee Pain

Knee pain can be as a result of an injury, overuse or age-related degeneration. In relation to an injury, this can cause meniscus tears, sprained ligaments, tendonitis, torn tendons.

Age related degeneration affects the tendons, ligaments, meniscus but also the bony joints causing arthritis usually osteoarthritis but knees can also be affected by rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.

Symptoms

Swelling, stiffness, sharp pain, stabbing, dull ache, inflammation, dull ache, heavy sensation, knee locking, redness and heat radiating from the knee as well as clicking and even the knee giving way.

Knee conditions

Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Runners knee
Bursitis
Baker’s cyst
Gout
Cartilage injury
Meniscus injury
Jumper’s knee

Diagnostics

X-ray: help diagnose any bone abnormalities

MRI: can check for soft tissue damage to ligaments, tendons or cartilage

Blood tests:  for gout or rheumatoid arthritis

Treatments

Non Invasive treatments

NSAIDS help with inflammation

Acupuncture

Ice or warmth applied can help with pain or inflammation

Lose of weight, can help if overweight less pressure on the knee/s

Gentle exercise, helps keep the knee mobile

Exercise to strengthen the quadriceps, glutes and hamstrings to support the knee/s

Physiotherapy, practitioner will give exercises to support knee/s

Osteopathy, helps with joint mobilisation, soft tissue massage, myofascial release and rehabilitation exercises.

Corticosteroid injections

Invasive treatments

Arthroscopy, clear the joint of any debris and repair cartilage

Partial knee replacement

Full knee replacement

Osteotomy, a procedure which uses bone from thigh bone to align the knee, particularly in arthritis

Knee pain relief with acupuncture

Acupuncture research supports the use acupuncture in reducing swelling, inflammation, pain as well as stiffness.  However, in relation to arthritis it cannot reverse damage to the knee joint.

Below is a link to an analysis of the research carried by 39 trials involving 20,827 patients. It found that 10 clinical trials were carried out in relation to osteoarthritis of the knee, of which 8 trials found that acupuncture was superior to advice/exercise.

Acupuncture for Chronic Pain Update of an Individual Patient Data Meta Analysis

Post surgery

A number of studies support the use of acupuncture as proven to be helpful in relation to post op knee surgery.  It may help short term knee pain, reduce swelling and needing less pain relief medication.