Knee pain is an ailment that affects many people on a daily basis; the correct diagnosis is essential to stopping the pain that hits so many people at some time in their lives.

Many health conditions can cause knee pain. Conditions that cause knee pain include Arthritis; ligament injuries; Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury; Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injury; Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Injury; cartilage tears; tendonitis around the joint, most commonly the patellar tendon, the large tendon over the front of the knee; Chondromalacia, which causes knee pain under the kneecap and is due to softening of the cartilage; dislocated kneecap; a Baker's cyst or swelling in the back of the joint; bursitis, just above the kneecap; Plica syndrome, which is rare and hard to diagnose; Osgood-Schlatter disease, a condition seen in adolescents and is due to irritation of the growth plate at the front of the joint; Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), seen in adolescents; Gout.

Those who do not know the cause of their joint pain symptoms or how to treat them should see a doctor; particularly if the patient experiences an inability to walk comfortably on the affected side; an injury that causes deformity around the joint; knee pain that happens at night or while resting; knee pain that lasts longer than a few days; or locking, an inability to bend the knee; swelling of the joint or the calf area; signs of an infection, including fever, redness, warmth; any other uncommon symptoms.

These could be indicators of a serious condition, and should not be ignored. Whether due to an injury or illness, this type of pain should not be ignored.
Treatment of knee pain depends on its cause, and a physician should always be advised.

Common treatments for knee pain include rest and, in severe cases, the use of crutches, ice packs and heat pads; muscle and tendon stretching, performed according to a regular routine; physical therapy; anti-inflammation medication (NSAIDS) or cortisone injections. Again, only a physician can determine the cause of joint pain and possible treatments.Knee pain can affect your life in a number of ways. It can affect your mobility, your comfort and your overall life.

The good news is that most varieties of knee pain can be easily and quickly resolved; with the aid of a trained physician you can be walking your way to more improved health in no time, getting a knee up on the competition.