Most people at some point in their life will experience hip or knee pain. These large joints have an extremely demanding task. They carry the full weight of the body while also allowing for a wide range of motions. This puts them at risk for wear and tear. Some common causes of chronic hip and knee pain are osteoarthritis, bursitis, ligament tears, and fractures.
When it comes to your hips and knees, here are 5 symptoms you shouldn’t ignore. If you delay seeing an orthopaedic surgeon, your condition could worsen.
1. Not being able to maintain your normal active lifestyle. If you find yourself unable to do the normal activities you enjoy, such as certain sports, cycling, or walking, you should see an orthopaedic surgeon.
2. Difficulty doing simple tasks. Some patients will experience difficulty putting on shoes and socks or doing other simple activities, such as bending down.
3. Pain that worsens at night and interferes with your sleep. Inflammation can trigger higher levels of pain.
4. Swelling. This could also be a sign that the cartilage in the joint is breaking down. The cartilage may wear out completely if it is left untreated.
5. Catching, popping, or locking. These are signs that the cartilage in the joint has torn or that bits of cartilage have broken off in the joint space. The cartilage may wear away completely if it is left untreated.
Often people delay seeing an orthopaedic surgeon, because they fear that they will require surgery. This generally isn’t the case as conservative measures are often enough.
Generally, the earlier you see an orthopaedic surgeon, the better your outcome. Conservative measures generally involves medication, physiotherapy and rehabilitation. If you require surgery, it is discussed with you and you are in full control of your treatment plan.
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There are several causes for pain in your knees. It can be caused by a sudden incident such as a fall or twisting of the knee. It can also be caused by overuse, or an underlying diagnosis like osteoarthritis. Some common pathology are wear of the cartilage, torn ligaments or muscle imbalances.
Your treatment will depend on the cause and the resultant pathology.
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There are many causes of hip pain. The hip is a large ball and socket joint, surrounded by muscle, ligaments and cartilaginous structures. The surfaces of the joints are lined with cartilage to allow smooth movement. Issues in the joint or the ligaments that hold the joint together can cause pain in the hip. Usually, pain or pathology from the hip joint are felt in the groin region, thigh or buttocks. Some common causes of hip pain include:
• Arthritis – breakdown of the cartilage that cushions the joint • Bursitis – inflammation of fluid sacs between tissues such as bone, muscles and tendons
• Tendinitis – inflammation or irritation of tendons that attach muscle to bone
• Muscle or tendon strains due to overuse
• Hip fractures due to weakened and brittle bones. Weakened bones are more likely to fracture
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The first recommendation is to see an orthopaedic surgeon so that they can assess you, make a diagnosis and recommend appropriate treatment. If you do high impact exercises, consider changing to low-impact exercise, like a stationary bike, rowing machine, stepping machine, yoga or swimming.
Sometimes all you will need is an orthotic insert in your shoe to help distribute weight away from your arthritic joint. Other non-surgical solutions include; oral antiinflammatories medications. Braces can also be helpful, however long-term use can cause muscle wasting. Pain can also be controlled through corticosteroid injections that will decrease the inflammation in that joint. Physiotherapy can strengthen muscles, and as a result improve the range of motion of the joint.
If conservative measures don’t work, surgery may be the best option. In severe osteoarthritis, hip or knee replacement surgery can be considered.
Dr Van der Berg provides a wide range of surgical procedures for the treatment of hip and knee conditions. These include the Arthroscopic surgery, ligament reconstructions and joint replacements.
Dr NM van der Berg Specialist Orthopaedic Surgeon
