How Can Chronic Knee Pain Be Treated?

Posted on Fri, 5 May 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 5 May 2017 Answered on

Mon, 29 May 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : I have been dealing with chronic knee pain since about 25. I am now 32 and the pain seems to get worse each year. It isn't from an injury and it doesn't hurt when I am walking, at night, sitting, morning. I only have pain it feels under my kneecap when I walk upstair, downstairs, or run. I've tried resting it and not running but it starts up again right when I start running. I hear a click and sometimes pop when I squat, and I can feel a slight grinding. I can run if I take short strides and don't push it. I am 6' 230 pounds. I've done two marathons in the past and a few years ago was going to try to do a third but the pain got too much on my long runs. I've taken months off of running so I am convinced it isn't "healing from an injury". As stated, this has been going on for several years.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Can be due to chondromalacia patella(patellofemoral pain)

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
From description it seems your knee pain might be due to chondromalacia patella(patellofemoral pain).Chondromalacia patella is weakening and softening of the cartilage on the underside of the kneecap (patella).
Chondromalacia patella is one of the most common causes of knee pain, especially in young.
Treatment of patellofemoral pain often begins with simple measures. Rest your knee as much as possible. Avoid any activities that increase the pain, such as climbing stairs. Specific exercises can strengthen the muscles that support your knees and control limb alignment, such as your quadriceps, hamstrings and the muscles around your hips.
Use proper running form. Lean forward and keep your knees bent. Also, try to run on a clear, smooth, resilient, even, and reasonably soft surface. Never run straight down a steep hill. Walk down it, or run in a zigzag pattern.
For now my advice would be-
1. Take a break from jogging for few days and do walking.
2. Take balanced diet rich in calcium (1000mg/day) and vitamin D (1000 i.u. /day) along with vitaminB12, B6.
3. Take Ibuprofen to reduce pain and may do ice fomentation for few days. If you like you may have nutritional joint supplement like glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar