Human beings are always on the move. Irrespective of the different dynamics of each individual’s lifestyle, they most certainly have to move to get things done. However, the unfortunate part that no one initially realizes is that at one point, our bodies will not always be able to move the way they can right now. This is because time catches up with everyone.
If you aren’t cautious, you will most likely experience the same fate. Since our bodies are always moving, our joints are continuously being worked and put under pressure. Out of the lot, our knee joints are probably the ones that have to withhold the greatest amount of pressure. Hence, they are more prone to getting damaged than our other joints because, unlike them, our knees have to bear our entire body’s weight.
Like every other joint, the knee joints have cartilage that protects the long bones at their ends from which they would rub against each other if not for this layer of elastic tissue that separates them. Cartilage is very resilient, which ensures that the bones move smoothly in their correct motion. It is also a great shock absorber, which means it prevents the joints from experiencing forces they would not handle.
However, in some cases, the cartilage can get damaged, which leaves the knee extremely vulnerable. When the protection layer is no more, the bones meeting at the ends will come into contact with each other. This can be quite problematic because any movement at the site of damage will most probably give an excruciating amount of pain. If left untreated, the situation may worsen because the joint space keeps on getting narrower, and the range of motion keeps on getting more limited.
There are numerous factors that can lead to the bone on bone knee pain. The most common reason is that people tend to suffer from certain diseases such as osteoarthritis, which harm the cartilage in the knee.
As the cartilage layer gradually wears off, there will no longer be any friction-free movement in the knee. The symptoms that usually occur due to such diseases are stiffness of the knee joint, tenderness of the tissue surrounding the joint, and swelling if you continue to use your knee in the same manner as you would normally do. It becomes difficult to even stand with time because that too would put pressure on the affected knee joints. Inflammation of the knee will lead to pain because the joint’s tissue will keep increasing the pressure on it as it becomes more swollen.
Bone spurs that unknowingly develop in the knee are another major reason that can cause severe pain. These are bits and bone pieces that may develop around the joint and can feel like hard bumps in the knee. When these bits of bone rub against the joint, it leads to pain and stiffness. Bone spurs are the body’s response to damage to the knee joint.
When the body tries to add bone mass back to the joint, it so happens that the bone grows back in an unnatural manner. Because of this, you end up with unwanted pieces of bone in the knee, which can actually do more harm than good.
If you do have bone on bone knee joints, it is crucial to take the right measures to prevent your condition from getting worse. The most crucial step would be to maintain your weight at an ideal point. However, if you are obese, one of the best things you can do to be kind to your knees is to lose some weight and take off a good part of the pressure constantly on them. The advisable thing would be to avoid foods that consist of sugar, saturated fat, or refined carbohydrates. Not only do these foods make you gain weight more quickly, but they also stimulate inflammation in the body, which would worsen the condition of your knees.
Bone on bone knee pain can become unbearable at specific points, and this is where you have no choice but to visit the doctor. The treatment always depends on any bone spurs that may have developed and the amount of cartilage that is still left in the knee joint. Pain medication dramatically reduces the pain, but it is only for temporary relief, and it doesn’t really address the root of the problem. Certain physical therapies and chiropractic techniques help strengthen the knee joint and evenly distribute the pressure on it. It also helps increase the range of motion in the knee and decrease the level of inflammation.
Stem cell therapy is a new kind of treatment that has recently been introduced in the treatment process for this knee complication. Stem cells of the bone marrow are introduced at the affected area to help repair the knee’s cartilage tissue. Experiments have shown that this treatment reduces pain and improves knee mobility. However, it does not regrow the cartilage that has already been lost. If you have tried every other treatment and the pain still doesn’t go away, it is wise to consider having a surgery. Knee replacement surgery will remove a part of the joint and the knee will be fitted with an artificial joint instead. It may take months to recover from surgery, but the relief might just last you a lifetime if performed successfully.
Final Thoughts
When you live with bone on bone knee pain, your body happens to be in a constant inflammatory state where your condition can worsen very easily if you aren’t careful. That being the case, it is necessary to take preventive measures to ensure that you don’t let anything of the sort happen. In the scenario where your knees are in a better condition because of your active efforts, you will be thanking yourself.
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