At the end of the day, knee pain that occurs or worsens at night is not a mere annoying detail of sleep, but a sign to pay attention to. According to specialists at the Cleveland Clinic, this type of pain can affect both young athletes and older people and ultimately not only affects rest, but also the ability to move freely during the day.
Orthopedic surgeon Kim Stearns explained: “These nighttime complaints are usually caused by inflammatory processes or joint diseases, which, if not treated, have long-term consequences.” He cited this as one of the most common causes Osteoarthritisthe kind of most common arthritiswhich worsens at night due to progressive wear and tear of the cartilage, and rheumatoid arthritisan autoimmune disease that inflames the joint and can worsen at rest.
He also went into detail about it Other medical conditions that can cause nighttime pain: The prepatellar bursitiscausing the front area of the knee to swell; The Overuse tendonitis; He Patellofemoral pain syndrome or “runner’s knee”which leads to discomfort behind the kneecap after intense exercise; the dropwhich causes sudden episodes of pain due to the accumulation of uric acid; and even paintings like Osgood-Schlatter disease in adolescents or trauma-related meniscus tears.
Why does it usually hurt more at the end of the day? Dr. Stearns attributes this to a combination of accumulated wear and tear and lack of movement while lying down. During the day when you move the joint it will stays lubricated; during prolonged rest, Lubrication decreases and the joint “takes its toll.” This reduced lubrication, in addition to the pre-existing inflammation, increases the discomfort when the person lies down.
With this in mind, the main goal of treatment is to control pain and reduce stress on the knee. The specialist emphasized that this was the case It is important to see your doctor if pain interferes with sleep or daily activities.because only an accurate diagnosis allows us to choose the appropriate approach. Even so, Infobae collected a number of Strategies what they can offer Relief upon arrival at the consultation hour.
First, are recommended low impact exercises, as the Swimming or cycling, which strengthen the muscles without putting too much strain on the joint. These movements help with maintenance active knee And lubricatedwhich reduces stiffness. In some cases the use of orthoses (external supports) can be useful for people who suffer from arthritis and need to stabilize the joint.
Secondly, they mention the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), as ibuprofen or naproxen, which help reduce the inflammation responsible for pain. Instead this Acetaminophen only relieved The painful feeling without affecting the inflammatory process. The expert suggested Take them after dinner to cover the night hours, even though he warned against it Anticoagulated people should limit themselves to painkillers, always under medical supervision.
Another important recommendation concerns the Sleep adjustments: Anyone who suffers from arthritis can do this Lie on your side and place a pillow between your legsto prevent the knees from colliding with each other, or face up with a Pillows under the knees to keep them slightly bent And Reduce joint pressure. Proper posture and a pillow that provides good support make all the difference in your nighttime comfort.
Finally, they suggest a change hot and cold applications. He heat helps relieve first the Stiffness, but due to the increase in blood flow it can increase over time promote inflammation. That is why it is advisable to combine it with cold to control them Blood accumulation And Reduce swelling. Anti-inflammatory gels or patches Topical medications can provide local relief.
Finally, the experts came to the conclusion that there was nocturnal knee pain should not be minimized or “endured”.. It is a sign that deserves medical evaluation to protect both peace of mind and quality of life in the long term.
By Jaider Felipe Vargas Morales
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