I had a patient quite recently who is in her fifties. She was experiencing pains in both knees, one a lot more than the other. Sent her for an x-ray, the results – degeneration in one, and the extremely painful one made her a candidate for knee replacement. Sitting at home isn’t going to determine that. You need to see someone who can diagnose and assist in getting the required help. Depending on the extent of the issues, and based on diagnostics, there are varied pathways to reduction or alleviation of pain and discomfort.

Another patient in her forties presented with genu valgum (knock knees), and was diagnosed with osteoarthritis. As a result of the structural “abnormality”, there was more wear and tear on the knee joints, contributing to the diagnosis. On the flip of that, an eighty-something year old patient presented with genu varum (bandy or bow legs), and she too had knee joint pain. Structural “abnormality”, along with expected degeneration in the joint, has contributed to this. One leg is more bowed than the other, and naturally it is the more painful joint.

I’ll never forget the fight I had with a teacher in her thirties; she wore poor footwear, stood a lot as a result of her profession, and had young children at home to run around after. Her primary complaint was what I diagnosed as Plantar Fasciitis in one foot, with the secondary complaint being knee joint pain in one knee. She agreed to the treatment plan for the primary condition; however, fought with me because I refused to accept the knee joint pain was arthritis as every other Trini had indicated. I told her I was pretty sure it was due to compensation with the foot pain. I advised that once the foot pain was gone, the knee pain would dissipate. In a few weeks she returned insisting that I write a script for an x-ray; I stated what I initially advised but wrote the note. She returned a few days later to report that the x-ray results showed no indications of any issues. A few weeks later the knee pains were gone.

Falls, sports injuries, vehicular accident injuries, overuse injuries, condition or disease – I have pooled these together to say that they all can cause pains or discomfort. However, in some instances rest is required; in others, physiotherapy or aqua therapy is needed. Look into injuries, don’t ever assume no bleeding or bone sticking out, so no problem. Don’t ever assume that an injury from twenty-three years ago can’t rear its head again. Swelling or dislocation of a joint is also a sign that something is not right.

Steps to take for Your Pain Symptoms

• Visit your GP, Podiatrist or Orthopaedic Surgeon to be guided when signs or symptoms pop up. Appreciate that not ALL pains are arthritic pains.
• Don’t do activities or exercises/ stretches unless approved, as these may further aggravate the region.
• Don’t wear knee pads constantly; they are NOT a cure to knee pains. Instead, they can contribute to the joint becoming dependent on it.
• There are different types of arthritis, so if diagnosed, inquire about the type.
• If a specialist indicates that therapy is required, see a Physiotherapist as they are trained to give you structured activities to improve your condition.

Other Considerations

Footwear is a critical factor in many problems. If you do not wear appropriate footwear – too high or too flat can lead to further problems. Therapies can range from steroidal injections to plasma platelet injections; changes in footwear (wearing orthopaedic footwear);  physiotherapy to aqua therapy, to surgery.

Losing weight helps most conditions, so it is a consideration as well. If the pains are bad, or there is the fear of falling, it is best to use a walking aid or walker. Falls can lead to fractured joints, particularly broken hips; so be safe rather than sorry whilst being mobile.

The takeaway is, check out any pains or discomforts; never assume you know what it is, or that it is nothing!

Your feet mirror your general health . . . cherish them!