Knee tendonitis is a medical condition characterized by the inflammation of the tendons that join the muscles in your thigh to your kneecap. It is a prevalent ailment that can affect individuals of all ages, although it is more common among athletes and people who engage in high-impact activities that put a strain on their knees, such as running, jumping, and squatting.
If left untreated, this condition can lead to chronic pain, and in severe cases, it may require surgical intervention. Many people use medical treatments to help their bodies, but many prefer home remedies because they think they will be more useful.
Symptoms of knee tendonitis
The symptoms of knee tendonitis can vary depending on the severity of the injury. However, some common symptoms include:
- Pain in the front of the knee, especially when bending or straightening the knee
- Swelling and tenderness around the kneecap
- Weakness in the knee
- Difficulty walking or running
Best Ways to Reduce Knee Tendonitis Pain
Finding the best treatment for knee tendonitis can be difficult sometimes, but overcoming this common condition affecting athletes and weekend warriors is necessary. Also known as jumper's knee or patellar tendonitis, this condition happens when the tendon connecting the patella to the shinbone develops small tears.
Because of its reputation among athletes, many people suffering from knee pain have self-diagnosed themselves with this condition, which often leads them to seek out treatment (either medical or at home) that may not work for their specific case.
To avoid this mistake, it's important to learn about possible ways to treat knee tendonitis in addition to success stories about others who have successfully treated their cases. Read on for more information on eliminating your symptoms without additional complications!
Home Treatment
With the pain of the knee and tendonitis comes a lot of frustration. You can't do anything about it because your body is healing itself. Many people use medical treatments to help their bodies, but many prefer home remedies because they think they will be more useful.
RICE
Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation, also known as RICE, is a famous acronym for treating patients with soft tissue injuries and tendon problems.
Rest
Knee tendonitis is typically caused by overuse. The tiny tears in the tendons don't have time to heal because, between extreme exercise and overzealous use, blood circulation reduces, which causes them to be damaged even more severely than if you gave yourself a break from it. Resting gives these torn tendons time to heal and is an essential treatment often overlooked.
Ice
Icing your knees will give you temporary pain relief by numbing the area. It also reduces inflammation by minimizing fluid accumulation in the surrounding tissues. Always wrap a cold therapy pack in a towel before applying to any sensitive area, for example, your knee, because extremely cold temperatures can cause serious skin injuries.
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SACKSY THYME Cold Therapy Pack reduces pain and inflammation with a soft, comfortable fabric that's easy to use. Ideal for at-home knee tendonitis pain management.Compression
Compression is used to facilitate the fragile joint, reduce swelling, and support ligaments that have been stretched. You can wrap your knee with a reusable elastic bandage, sleeve, or brace.
Reducing the volume of plasma in your knee will ensure that you continue to heal properly and reduce any pain you might have in the interim. Just ensure your compression isn't so tight that it impedes blood flow to the area.
Elevation
Just like a cold pack, elevation is a convenient and easy way to reduce swelling in the knee. Your doctor may suggest an elastic bandage or flexible knee brace, but these options tend to make regular walking difficult.
It may be more comfortable for you to try the conventional home remedy of propping your leg up on a few pillows when at rest and taking breaks from movement throughout the day.
Stretches and Exercises
Your knee joint is supported by strong tendons and the many muscles that make up your leg. Strengthening exercises for your hamstrings and quadriceps will help curtail further injury, rebuild muscle tissue, and support your joints for the long term.
Stretching exercises are also important to prevent injury and ease strains on overworked muscles in your leg. Wait until the pain has subsided before you start exercising. Once this has happened, carefully complete a low-impact exercise routine every day or every other day to stretch out those sore muscles!
Medication
Naproxen and Ibuprofen are medications commonly sold over the counter for reducing inflammation, pain, swelling, and fever. These products are relatively inexpensive and can be found at any pharmacy or even online. Before you begin taking a new product of this kind, it's important to consult your doctor or chemist to ensure everything is fine before moving forward with the next step.
While these products are generally considered safe, they can sometimes interact with other medications or cause different side effects. One must double-check their research before anything else to ensure their safety and well-being when working with medication in this area.
Here are some additional tips for reducing knee tendonitis pain:
- Wear supportive shoes: Wearing shoes that offer adequate arch support has been proven to decrease knee stress.
- Avoid activities that stress your knees: If you have knee pain, avoid activities that aggravate the pain.
- Strengthen your leg muscles: Strong leg muscles can help to support your knees and prevent injuries.
- Stretch regularly: Stretching your thigh muscles can help keep them flexible and less likely to get injured.
- Listen to your body: If you feel pain, stop and rest. Don't push yourself too hard.
Professional Treatment
When home treatment isn't enough to manage your knee tendonitis, then it's time to seek professional treatment.
Physical Therapy
A physical therapist will evaluate your knee injuries and develop a personalized treatment plan.Often, physical therapists will help guide you through different treatments, routines, and remedies you can take care of at home, making them useful for anyone who needs to rehabilitate their pain easily and conveniently.
Their expertise will also cover modifying your current movements and activities to decrease pain levels and the risk of worsening the injury.
Surgery
Surgery to repair a torn or damaged patellar tendon is often a recommended course of treatment when your condition doesn't respond to non-surgical treatments like steroid injections or physical therapy.
If your knee injury is so severe that it has left you with little more than crippling pain, week after wasted week, you may have worn down the previous options that were available for you.
When this happens, your doctor will refer you to a surgeon who can review your diagnosis and determine what subsequent surgery is required for a surgical resolution.
Arthroscopic surgery
Arthroscopic surgery uses small incisions in the knee to perform the surgery. As opposed to an open surgical procedure, arthroscopy is less invasive. Arthroscopic surgery can increase knee function and decrease pain.
Although the size of incisions is tiny, surgeons use a special tool called an endoscope to be able to see inside your knee joint on a monitor displaying real-time images captured by high-definition cameras.
Then, they can repair any tears or damage that has occurred in your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and any other damaged body parts within your inner knee area.
Post-Surgical Recovery
Although recovery from surgery will depend on the extent of the injury and how much repair the surgeon had to do, in some cases, patients will need to wear a cast during their recovery.
In contrast, others will have an aggressive rehabilitation plan for them. Talk with your surgeon and work closely with a physical therapist to determine your best post-surgical recovery route.
Here are some additional things to keep in mind when trying to reduce knee tendonitis pain:
- It is important to be patient: It takes time for the tendon to heal. Do not expect to feel better overnight.
- Please do not overdo it: Increasing your activity level as you recover gradually is important. Do not try to do too much too soon, or you may re-injure yourself.
- Stay positive: It is important to stay positive and motivated during your recovery. Remember that you will eventually get better.
How to Prevent knee tendonitis?
Here are some things you can do to help prevent knee tendonitis:
- Warm up before exercising: Warming up before exercising can help to prevent injuries.
- Cool down after exercising: Cooling down after exercising can also help to prevent injuries.
- Wear supportive shoes: Shoes that provide good arch support can help reduce knee stress.
- Avoid activities that stress your knees: If you have knee pain, avoid activities that aggravate the pain.
- Strengthen your leg muscles: Strong leg muscles can help to support your knees and prevent injuries.
- Stretch regularly: Stretching your thigh muscles can help keep them flexible and less likely to get injured.
- Listen to your body: If you feel pain, stop and rest. Don't push yourself too hard.
Trying Patellar Tendonitis Treatment Safely
Knee tendonitis hurts a lot. The tearing of tendons can lead to pain for days and be frustrating if you aren't doing it correctly.
It's important not to treat knee tendonitis lightly, though, because it's always best to deal with this type of injury alongside a medical professional who will render the proper treatment, which may include anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, or cortisone injections.
Home treatment should be discussed with your doctor as well.