Say Goodbye to Burning Knee Pain: Explore Treatment Options
What is Burning Knee Pain? | Non-Surgical Knee Pain Treatments | Minimally Invasive Options | Surgical Treatments | How to Choose the Right Treatment for You | When To Seek Professional Help | Conclusion
Experiencing burning inner or back knee pain? Discover a range of effective knee pain treatment options for relief, from non-surgical approaches like exercises and physio tape to advanced medical procedures. Find the solution that best suits your needs and regain your mobility.
What is Burning Knee pain?
Burning knee pain is a common complaint caused by various factors. It often occurs in the inner or back of the knee, but it can also affect other areas of the joint.
Knee pain, whether from injury, arthritis, or just getting older, can really damper your day-to-day life. Inner knee pain, in particular, can make walking and everyday activities a challenge.
From struggling to walk comfortably to feeling limited in your favourite activities, knee pain can make even simple movements feel like a chore.
But here’s the good news: there are plenty of treatment options out there to help you get back on your feet (literally!).
Conservative Knee Pain Treatments (Non-Surgical)
For most people, the first step in dealing with inner knee pain is to try simple, non-surgical treatments. These options focus on reducing pain, improving mobility, and avoiding further damage to your knee.
So let’s get into some of the most common non-surgical treatments you can try.
Rest and Activity Modification
Sometimes, the best thing you can do for your inner knee is to give it a break. Resting your knee and avoiding activities that worsen the pain (like running or jumping) can give it time to heal.
But don’t worry—you won’t need to be stuck on the couch forever. Once the pain improves, you can start slowly reintroducing activity.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is often a great option if you want a long-term solution to inner knee pain. A physical therapist can design a personalised pain relief exercises plan to elongate and strengthen the muscles around your knee, such as adductor stretches.
As a result, stronger muscles provide better support for your knee joint, which can help reduce pain and prevent future injuries. Plus, it’s great for improving flexibility and balance!
Physio Tape for Knee Pain
Physio tape, also known as kinesiology tape, can be a valuable tool for managing burning knee pain. When applied correctly, physio tape can provide support to the knee joint, reduce inflammation, and alleviate pain.
It works by gently lifting the skin, improving blood flow, and reducing pressure on the affected area.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture can be an effective way to manage knee pain. By stimulating specific points on the body, acupuncture can help reduce inflammation, improve blood flow, and promote healing. Therefore, this ancient practice can be a valuable tool for those seeking natural and drug-free pain relief.
Sports Massage
Sports massage can be an effective way to manage knee pain by targeting specific muscles and tissues. Some of the numerous benefits of sports massage include: reduce inflammation, improve flexibility, and promote healing.
This type of massage is great for treating overuse injuries, muscle strains, and other conditions that can cause knee pain. Find ultimate relief for knee pain with our combined medical acupuncture and sports massage treatments.
Knee Pain Relief Exercises
Incorporating gentle exercises into your routine can be valuable in managing knee pain and finding relief. Activities like swimming, cycling on a recumbent bike, and yoga can help strengthen the muscles surrounding the knee, improve flexibility, and reduce inflammation.
Medications
Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can be your go-to for quick relief. They help reduce pain and inflammation, making it easier to go about your day. If these don’t do the trick, your doctor might prescribe something stronger.
Assistive Devices
Knee braces, compression wraps, or even crutches can give your knee much-needed support while it heals. These devices help take the pressure off your knee and provide stability so you can move around with less pain.
Lifestyle Changes
Simple changes in your daily routine can make a big difference in how your knee feels.
For example, losing a bit of weight can take a lot of stress off your joints. Also, opting for low-impact exercises like swimming or cycling can keep you active and help you to find relief without aggravating your knee pain.
These conservative methods often work wonders, but if they don’t give you enough relief, there are more advanced treatments to explore.
Minimally Invasive Knee Pain Treatments
If your knee pain isn’t getting better with rest and therapy, don’t worry; there are still plenty of options before jumping straight to surgery. Minimally invasive treatments can provide relief without the long recovery times that come with major surgeries.
Steroid Injections for Burning Knee Pain
Steroid injections might be a good option if you're dealing with inflammation. A doctor injects a corticosteroid directly into your knee joint to calm down the inflammation and provide relief.
This option can help relieve pain quickly, but the effects are temporary, usually lasting a few months.
Hyaluronic Acid Injections
Hyaluronic acid injections are often used for people with osteoarthritis. The gel-like substance is injected into the knee joint to act as a lubricant, helping to reduce friction and ease pain. It’s a good option if your knee feels stiff or “grinds” when you move.
PRP Therapy (Platelet-Rich Plasma)
PRP therapy is a newer, cutting-edge treatment. It uses your own blood to help your knee heal. Blood is drawn and processed to concentrate the platelets (which are full of growth factors that help tissue repair).
These platelets are then injected into your knee, where they can help heal damaged tissues and reduce inflammation.
Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy involves injecting a sugar-based solution into the knee to trigger the body’s healing response. It’s an excellent option for people with chronic knee instability or ligament damage, as it strengthens weakened tissues over time.
These options are perfect for those who aren’t quite ready for surgery but need more than rest and physical therapy to feel better.
Surgical Knee Pain Treatment Options
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, knee pain can become so severe that surgery is the next logical step. Here are a few surgical options to help get you back on your feet when other treatments haven’t worked.
Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery. In this procedure, the surgeon inserts a small camera into the knee joint, allowing him to see inside and make repairs. It’s a common surgery to fix issues like torn cartilage, ligament injuries, or inflammation.
Since it’s less invasive, recovery time is generally quicker than with other surgeries.
Partial Knee Replacement
If only part of your knee is damaged (usually from arthritis), a partial knee replacement might be a good fit. During this procedure, only the damaged area is replaced with an artificial implant, leaving the healthy parts of your knee intact.
It typically has a shorter recovery time compared to a total knee replacement.
Total Knee Replacement
For those with severe arthritis or damage across the entire knee, a total knee replacement may be necessary. In this surgery, the damaged joint surfaces are removed and replaced with artificial materials.
This option can provide long-lasting relief, but the recovery time is longer. Expect several weeks to months of rehabilitation.
Cartilage Repair and Restoration
For younger patients or those with specific cartilage injuries, cartilage repair techniques like microfracture surgery or cartilage grafts can be helpful.
These procedures aim to restore healthy cartilage in the knee joint, delaying or preventing the need for a total knee replacement.
How to Choose the Right Treatment for Burning Knee Pain
With so many knee pain treatment options, how do you know which one is right for you? The best treatment depends on several factors, like how severe your inner knee pain is, your lifestyle, and your long-term goals.
Severity of the Condition
If your inner knee pain is mild, conservative treatments like rest and physical therapy can often do the trick.
For moderate pain that won’t go away, injections or other minimally invasive treatments might provide better relief.
Severe, ongoing pain may require more aggressive treatment, like surgery, to restore function and reduce discomfort.
Age and Activity Level
Younger, more active people may benefit from regenerative treatments like PRP therapy or cartilage repair.
Older adults with arthritis or joint degeneration may find that surgical options like partial or total knee replacement offer the best relief.
Underlying Health Conditions
Preexisting conditions like diabetes or heart disease can affect which treatment options are safest and most effective.
Personal Health Goals
If you’re looking for quick pain relief, non-invasive treatments like medications or injections are great short-term options. But if you’re aiming for long-term recovery, surgical procedures may be more appropriate.
When to Seek Professional Help
Knee pain isn’t something to ignore, especially if it’s affecting your daily life. Here are some signs that it’s time to see a doctor:
Persistent Pain: If your inner knee pain lasts for more than a few weeks and doesn’t improve with rest, it’s time to get it checked out.
Swelling or Instability: Swelling, redness, or a feeling of weakness in your knee can indicate something more serious, like an injury or infection.
Inability to Bear Weight: If you can’t put weight on your knee, seek medical attention right away—it could be a sign of a ligament tear or fracture.
Limited Range of Motion: Difficulty moving your inner knee or stiffness that doesn’t go away could be a sign of joint damage that needs treatment.
Don’t wait too long to seek help. Early intervention can prevent long-term damage and make your recovery faster and easier.
Conclusion
Knee pain can be tough to deal with, but the good news is that there are plenty of treatment options to help you manage and reduce your pain. Whether you’re trying simple at-home remedies or considering surgery, there’s a solution out there that’s right for you.
If your inner knee pain is holding you back, don’t hesitate to reach out to a healthcare professional. With the right treatment plan, whether physical therapy, physio tape, exercises, steroid injections, or PRP knee treatment, you’ll soon find relief and be back to doing the things you love pain-free.
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