Causes of Knee Pain " Eileen a 58-year-old female "

Case study ( 14249 views as of March 19, 2024 )

Eileen, a 58-year-old female, complains of increased pain in the right knee over the last eight months. She has a history of pain in the right knee, which started last summer when she started walking in the evening with her husband to lose weight. She has given up walking regularly and now finds she is limping and having trouble going up and down stairs. Last week she saw her doctor to determine the cause of her knee pain. Her doctor ordered X-rays of the knee and told her she has advanced arthritis and will eventually need a knee replacement. The only advice she was given by the doctor was to lose weight. Eileen wants to avoid knee surgery, and she is thinking of paying privately for an MRI as her doctor says there is 'no indication' to have an MRI.

The rheumatologist advises her to confirm the correct diagnosis with standing X-rays. If standing X-rays show she has complete loss of the cartilage, also known as 'bone on bone', her doctor may be right about having advanced arthritis. It is important however, to rule out other causes of knee pain. More likely, she has either early to moderate osteoarthritis of one of the standing compartments of the knee, usually the medial or inner distal thigh. However, it is very common to have pain in the front of the knee, known as patellofemoral pain. It tends to come on when doing stairs (particularly down) or getting in and out of a chair. It also usually improves with quad strengthening exercises. A doctor might suggest a local physiotherapist that can help.

Eileen's concerns include what medications should she take, and whether it is really that important to lose weight. The rheumatologist advises her that acetaminophen is usually the first line of medication. Her doctor might suggest this if there are no contraindications. Losing weight has many health advantages, but the doctor is right about the importance of weight reduction if she has arthritis of the knee. Even an extra 10-20 pounds can cause a force several times that weight across the joint because of the "lever effect". The lever effect explains why a small child can lift an adult on a teeter-totter. A combination of weight reduction and quad exercises may put off knee surgery for years.

Eileen may also wish to consult with a registered dietitian and/or exercise professional who can assist her with developing an appropriate exercise program and healthy eating plan to support her weight loss efforts, and avoid injuring her knee.

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Conversation based on: Causes of Knee Pain " Eileen a 58-year-old female "

Causes of Knee Pain " Eileen a 58-year-old female "

  • Enteropathic Arthritis usually affects the joints of the lower limbs and the spine but any joint can be affected. It can also cause debilitating body aches similar to a disease called fibromyalgia. The specific symptoms of Enteropathic Arthritis vary from person to person. Not all people who have an inflammatory bowel disease will get Enteropathic Arthritis. Enteropathic Arthritis belongs to a family of diseases called seronegative spondyloarthropathies that include ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and reactive arthritis. Some with Enteropathic Arthritis experience a flare of joint pain around the same time that their bowel disease flares. In others the arthritis is not associated with flares of bowel disease.
  • Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), also known as anterior knee pain, can indeed be a common issue among cyclists. The repetitive motion of flexing and extending the knee during cycling can contribute to the development of this condition. In cyclists, the pain is typically felt beneath the kneecap and is more likely to be experienced after a long ride rather than during the ride itself. When it comes to treatment, it is important to prioritize rest, ice, compression, and avoiding cycling while experiencing pain. Seeking advice from a sports medicine physician or primary care physician is recommended to guide you in returning to cycling without pain. Knee braces designed to stabilize the patella can be particularly helpful in managing this condition. In some cases, healthcare professionals may notice that you have pronation issues, and the use of semi-rigid orthotics (custom shoe inserts) can provide benefits. Consulting with a podiatrist can be valuable in such situations. Proper bike positioning is also crucial in preventing and managing PFPS. Ensuring that your bike is adjusted correctly and fits you well can help alleviate stress on the knee joint. If you have any further questions or concerns about patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), it is best to reach out to your local general practitioner or primary care sports medicine physician for personalized advice and guidance.
    • It's crucial for individuals prescribed prednisone for an extended period to be aware of these potential side effects and to work closely with their healthcare providers to manage and minimize risks. Physicians often aim to use the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration possible to achieve the desired therapeutic effect while minimizing side effects. If someone is experiencing bothersome side effects or has concerns about long-term use, they should communicate openly with their healthcare provider. It may be possible to adjust the treatment plan or explore alternative medications with fewer side effects in some cases. Regular monitoring of bone health, weight, and overall well-being is essential for those on long-term corticosteroid therapy.
  • Patients are prescribed pain killers to help deal with the pain after knee replacement surgery.
    • The treatment of pseudogout is fairly straightforward. If one has pain and swelling in a single joint, then often, the most effective way of dealing with it is to put a cortisone injection into that joint. Sometimes if it’s in a joint that it’s hard to do, that’s not always feasible. But if you are able to inject the joint, that’s what your specialist will probably do.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most common types of inflammatory arthritis. It’s a chronic, long-term disease that progresses over time. The cause of rheumatoid arthritis isn’t known, although experts believe it’s an autoimmune disease that occurs when your immune system begins to attack the joints.
    • If it’s a number of joints, or it’s difficult to inject the joint, then your doctor will look at other medications to treat the acute inflammation. As with other types of arthritis, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, some medications like ibuprofen and naproxen are very effective in treating the symptoms of acute pain and swelling of pseudogout. And if there are no contraindications to anti-inflammatories, then this may be a very effective treatment to treat your symptoms of pseudogout.
    • If you have chronic knee pain, find everyday tasks such as climbing stairs are difficult or aren’t getting relief from non-surgical knee treatments, it might be time to consult with your primary healthcare provider about knee replacement surgery.
  • I'm wondering if there is anything this patient could have done earlier in life to have prevented this osteoarthritis?
    • It is important for patients to bend the knee after knee replacement surgery regardless of the pain in order to avoid stiffness of the joint.
    • Arthritis is the most common reason that people need knee replacement surgery, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Can a bone infarct in the distal femur and articular cartilage damage in the knee cause severe pain that doesn't go away? Walking on it or completely resting it doesn't change the pain factor. Any suggestions
  • I use a neoprene brace with two good wrapping bands to support my knee during athletics or workouts. It gives me a fair amount of stability and some peace of mind too.
  • Over 4 million Canadians have some form of arthritis. In fact, it's one of the leading causes of long-term disability in Canada today. Appropriate treatment, as well as learning how to manage this chronic condition, can go a long way to help. Find out about the differences between the most common forms of arthritis and what you can do to help manage the symptoms
    • If the arthritis is localized to one of the three compartments of the knee joint, partial knee replacement surgery is an option. Otherwise, a patient will need a total knee replacement.
  • I've seen a few people wearing some kind of supportive tape near joints. What is the purpose of that versus a brace ?
    • Taping and bracing are both meant to support the joint in question, and usually meant to prevent future injuries. There are very differing opinions out there in terms of whether taping or bracing is more effective, and as to whether preventative taping or bracing helps prevent injury, or actually makes the joint more susceptible to injury. I would be hesitant to use taping or bracing without the advice of an athletic therapist or physiotherapist.
  • What are the options for bracing in this type of situation, to help alleviate this woman's knee pain? Would wearing a knee brace help control her pain, and perhaps provide some stability during certain daily activities that could prevent further damage?
    • During knee replacement surgery, the orthopedic surgeon will remove damaged cartilage and bone; position metal implants; potentially resurface the kneecap (patella) and replace with a plastic prosthesis; and insert a spacer.
    • Sometimes a simply stretchy brace can give support.
    • I often wonder what the criteria is for braces. How do you effectively determine what type of brace is best ?
  • This is a great suggestion, as proper support while walking is very important. Having the proper shoes will take some of the pressure off her knees.
    • Using ice or cold therapy after knee replacement surgery does little to help the pain and swelling.
  • Having the knee assessed by a qualified physiotherapist can really help with determining if its a repetitive motion that is causing the pain and would benefit from localized treatment or an arthritic condition. This will often determine long term treatment needs
    • Great point @Jackson, and a physiotherapist can do a complete functional assessment to see if there are other issues that are contributing to her knee pain (whether it's hip or back-related, etc). A Functional Movement Screen (FMS) could be a good starting point if she can locate a kinesiologist or physiotherapist who is FMS-certified.
    • A physiotherapist would also be able to teach Carla some exercises that would help strengthen her knee and help with the knee pain she is experiencing
  • The case study mentions that Eileen began to experience knee pain after starting walking with her husband in the evenings. She was also advised to lose weight to help with her knee pain. Eileen might benefit from visiting a store to be properly fitted for supportive walking shoes to help alleviate her knee pain while she is working on her weight loss
  • Either during competition, during practice, or play where the kneecap slides to the side, and we call that patella instability or patella dislocation.
    • Is patella instability or dislocation a diagnosis ? Or a symptom of the injury ?
  • Hi Jackson, You are correct in assuming that Osteoporosis may occur in more than one place. Decreased bone density (like osteoporosis and osteopenia) are generally more global in their occurrence (i.e. throughout the body), whereas Osteoarthritis occurs in joints, and usually the weight-bearing joints. Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis are different conditions, and are managed differently. Checking in with your local GP is always a good idea if you are concerned.
    • Is osteoarthritis usually limited to one joint ? Or do people find that it starts in one area and then spread ?
  • @healthymama: yes, it is a realistic way to get a knee strain. If it happened just out of nowhere from walking, it's most likely not serious. Does she have a history of back pain? When mysterious pains in the extremities come out of nowhere, you always want to screen the spine to make sure it's not referring from there. If the spine is clear than the knee pain is possibly due to a strain at the knee. Walking in winter boots may have restricted her ankle mobility and in turn caused strain at the knee joint. Most likely the ankle would have been restricted in dorsiflexion (flexing the foot up) and in turn caused increased flexion (bending) at the knee joint. To reverse this strain, have your mom sit in a chair and straighten her knee to a full locking position repetitively for 30 repetitions. Hold 2 seconds at the top.
  • Dr Wade is absolutely correct when he states that the patient receives the correct diagnosis. As he suggests there can often be several causes of knee pain, and too often when degenerative changes such as Osteoarthritis are seen with imaging studies, it is easy to assume that this must be the cause of the pain. Quite often this is not the case, and the real reason for not being able to walk without pain could be referred pain from the low back or hip, or other structures in the knee such as the patello-femoral joint or meniscus. Many factors could be contributory, such as over-pronation in the foot or ankle, weak hip muscles, compression of the lumbar and lower thoracic spine, as well as others already mentioned like being over-weight. The whole clinical picture must be considered to arrive at the correct plan for this patient, and knowing what the cause of the pain really is cannot be overstressed. If you are seeking physiotherapy intervention for knee pain, make sure your therapist, in addition to having your full history, does a biomechanical evaluation of not only your knee, but also your whole kinetic chain (foot, ankle, knee, hip, pelvis, low back). This will go a long way to developing a specific plan for your knee.
    • Gordon, in people who have done a lot of intense sports in their past, particularly running, is it common to have osteoporosis not only in the knee joints but in other joints of the body as well? ie: ankle, lower back If you do suspect that you may have some osteoarthritis is it best to first consult with your family physician or go right to a physiotherapist? thanks
  • A mechanical assessment of the knee would be helpful. Even though the x-ray shows arthritis, the patient has to be assessed clinically- movement testing on the knee and how movement affects her symptoms. Check how much range of motion she has in flexion (bending) and extension (straightening). Knee pain is commonly caused by the lack of end range extension of the knee. In our daily lives, we do a lot more knee bending then knee straightening (ie. sitting at a desk or car, squating down, climbing stairs) and therefore can cause us to lose end range extension. I have seen many people in my practice like this and they improve completely by addressing this lack of extension range. Regarding the weight loss- it is always better to be on the lighter side- For the sake of your joints and internal organ function. However, trying to lose weight while dealing with knee pain can be discouraging and frustrating. From the patient history, it sounds like her knee pain is provoked by weight bearing activities like walking and climbing stairs, so she should try exercising with non-weight bearing methods, like a stationary bike/upright bike. As long as she is cleared by the PAR-Q to exercise she can even start spinning classes which can burn a lot of calories. Biking will also strengthen the quad and glut muscles greatly which will in turn help to support the knee joint when weight bearing and with stairs.
  • Sometimes when I exercise I can feel a "Pop" in my knee kind of like cracking knuckles. Any idea what this could be?
    • @Theo_M: is the cracking painful? If so, how long does the pain last? If the cracking is not painful, it's usually nothing to worry about. The joints will crack if they need to 'clear' the movement or pass a restriction in the joint, and when this happens pressure is released and that's the crack you here.
  • Trying to live a healthier lifestyle can help reduce the weight we carry around. By doing this there is less pressure on our knees, which in turn will reduce the stress on the joints which cause pain. When experiencing pain dealing with it naturally can be very effective and speaking to a medical professional can give us ideas on how to do this.
    • It's also very important to make sure that our legs are as strong as possible to protect the knee joint from damage
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