Taming knee tendinitis; 6 signs it's time for a new joint.

Tips to stop knee and hip pain and get moving again.

September 4, 2014 September 4, 2014 The trouble with tendinitis of the knee Tendinitis of the knee — inflammation of the tendons, the tissue that connects muscle to bone — has stopped many an athlete short. Whether you are a weekend warrior on the basketball court or training for a marathon, tendinitis can creep up on you and interfere with routine activities, let alone recreational ones. Get your copy of Knees and Hips Do your knees or hips hurt? Most people will at some point have knee or hip pain because these large joints have a demanding task: they must bear the full weight of your body while at the same time allowing for a wide range of motion. Wear and tear, injury, and simple genetic predisposition can all contribute to knee or hip pain. This report covers a wide range of knee and hip conditions and describes in detail treatments, preventive strategies, and surgeries. Symptoms of tendinitis include: Pain above or below the kneecap, where the tendons attach to the bone Swelling Pain that recurs with particular activities and eases with rest In severe cases, pain that no longer improves with rest In some cases, a constant ache that disrupts sleep. Tendinitis usually results from overuse and is more common in people who engage in high-intensity activities on a regular basis. Excess weight puts additional stress on the tendons of the knee and can contribute to tendinitis. With age, tendons become stiffer and more prone to becoming inflamed, while supporting muscles become weaker and less able to provide protection. Tight hamstrings and quadriceps make you more susceptible to knee tendinitis. During the first few days of feeling pain in your knees, you should rest, ice your knees, take over-the-counter pain relievers, and use a knee support. Rehabilitation for tendinitis includes exercises to improve flexibility and address muscle imbalances that place extra stress on the tendons. Talk to your doctor or a physical therapist about which exercises are right for you. Once the pain and swelling are gone, you can resume normal activities (usually in a few days) and get back to more demanding athletic pursuits in a few weeks, after you have regained muscle strength. If pain doesn’t improve, see your doctor. She or he may recommend additional treatments and, in rare cases, surgery. For more information on recognizing and treating knee tendinitis, as well as other knee conditions including ligament issues, tissue tears, and osteoarthritis, buy Knees and Hips, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School. Share this story: 6 signs that it may be time to have a joint replaced An ailing knee or hip can make life miserable. Even if your doctor recommends it be replaced, you need to carefully weigh the risks and benefits before agreeing to this major surgery and understand that it will require significant rehabilitation to get back on your feet. The most important factor in choosing to have a knee or hip replaced is how much it hurts and how much it is affecting your life. Here are six signals that it’s time to have a knee or hip replaced: You can no longer complete routine daily tasks without help. You have significant pain, like pain that keeps you awake at night despite the use of medications, pain that keeps you from being able to walk or bend over, pain that isn’t relieved by rest, or pain that isn’t helped by non-surgical approaches. Your doctor says that less-complicated surgical procedures are unlikely to help. You have osteoarthritis and feel the disease is wearing you down physically, emotionally, and mentally. You are suffering severe side effects from the medications for your painful knee or hip. Tests show advanced arthritis or significant joint damage. Finding the right surgeon and hospital can make a big difference to the success of your operation. In general, you’re likely to have a better result and fewer complications if your surgeon performs the operation at least 100 times a year and operates in a hospital where replacements are routinely done. If it’s clear that joint replacement is a good choice, the questions below can help you decide whether a particular surgeon is right for you: Are you board-certified in orthopedic surgery? Are you fellowship trained? How often do you perform this surgery? What kind of results would you expect for someone in my condition? May I speak with any of your patients who have had this surgery? What complications occur most frequently, and how do you deal with them? Do you usually work with a particular physical therapist or rehabilitation center? For more on strategies for pain-free knees and hips and a special bonus section on knee and hip replacement, buy Knees and Hips: A troubleshooting guide to knee and hip pain by Harvard Medical School. Share this story: Featured in this issue Knees and Hips Featured content: • Knees in motion • Hips on the ball • Testing for knee and hip problems • Nonsurgical treatments for knees and hips • Special section: Knee and hip replacement •  ... and more! Click here to read more » Harvard Medical School offers special reports on over 50 health topics. Visit our website at http://www.health.harvard.edu to find reports of interest to you and your family. PHONE ORDERS - please call our toll-free number: 1-877-649-9457. You are currently subscribed to HEALTHbeat as BrendaModica252@gmail.com. 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