What Does It Mean When Your Left Knee Hurts?
Body pain of any kind can be quite concerning, especially when it impacts commonly used areas of the body such as the knee. But, what does it actually mean when you experience pain in your left knee?
According to WebMD, keeping the joints in and around your knees active is generally very beneficial. However, accidents do happen, and some of the most common causes of knee pain can be attributed to meniscus tears, tendinitis, sprained ligaments, runner's knee, and old knee injuries that weren't properly treated at the time.
Per Mayo Clinic, some other potential causes of knee pain include an ACL injury, which occurs when one of the ligaments that connect your shinbone to your thighbone is torn, a fracture of bones in the kneecap such as the patella, a condition known as loose body, which occurs when bone or cartilage of the knee breaks off into joint space, and, in more serious cases, a dislocated kneecap, which occurs when the bone that covers the front of your knee moves out of place.
Here's when you should see a doctor for your knee pain
Per WebMD, the pain someone experiences in their knee can vary depending on the root cause. However, symptoms of knee pain often include discomfort when trying to bend or straighten the knee, swelling, an inability to put weight on the knee, experiencing problems when trying to move the knee, and suffering from knee buckling.
In less serious cases, you can treat your knee pain effectively by resting the area for a few days, applying ice to the knee for 15 to 20 minutes every few hours, compressing the knee with an elastic bandage, straps, or sleeve, taking anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen or naproxen, practicing stretching and strengthening exercises, and by elevating your knee with a pillow placed underneath your heel.
Per Mayo Clinic, methods to prevent potential knee injuries in the future include maintaining a healthy weight, keeping active through exercise, and keeping your body strong and flexible through stretching and knee strengthening workouts. It is advised you seek medical attention if the pain in your knee persists and worsens over time.