General Pain in the Knee
Below are knee ailments characterized by pain throughout the knee system. Bursitis, the first condition reviewed here and commonly called "housemaid′s knee," affects many people whose daily work keeps them on their knees–housekeepers, carpet layers, and electricians, for example. In contrast to the gradual toll taken on knees by these careers, unexpected injury in athletics or the impact against a dashboard in a car accident can also cause bursitis. Another familiar condition, commonly called "water on the knee," also causes generalized pain, but it is accompanied by swelling and may require surgical intervention. Other conditions characterized by overall pain are fractures and tumors.
Bursitis
Problem
A bursa, or empty sac, can, after repeated pressure or use of the knee, fill with fluid and become irritated or inflamed (the -itis in bursitis). Playing football, laying carpet, installing plumbing, or keeping house–any activity or occupation that requires repeated kneeling–can cause the bursa in front of the kneecap to become irritated. When it does, the condition is called bursitis or housemaid′s knee.
Symptoms
Bursitis causes localized swelling, redness, tenderness, and pain. A physician may be able to feel fluid in the sac.
Solutions
If the bursa is extremely irritated, the knee must be immobilized. If it gets redder or hotter and red streaks ascend from the knee, the bursa is infected and antibiotics are needed. In less severe cases, a support or wrap around the knee may ameliorate the condition. Patients can use heating pads and anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve the pressure from the built-up fluid. Addressing the cause of the ailment by reducing the time spent on the knees, using a low rolling stool, or using knee pads (either soft or hard) available at the hardware store will help eliminate or reduce bursitis.
Another solution to an uninfected painful joint is a supplement produced from the antlers of deer. It is relatively new to the U.S. supplement market. Deer velvet, a traditional medicine long used in Asia, is marketed today primarily by producers in New Zealand, where researchers have found trends in data indicating the agent′s ability to improve strength and endurance. Available in a powder and a freeze-dried extract, deer velvet has been used to relieve pain and accelerate healing. The annual winter shedding of antlers by deer produces a natural opportunity for harvesting the velvet, causing no harm to the deer.
This is a section from Dr. Jack E, Jensen’s book The One Stop Knee Shop. Read the next section Water on the Knee.