Knee pain is one of the most common types of pain encountered today and can occur in all age groups. In younger individuals, it often arises due to accidents, overuse, or injuries affecting ligament tissues and menisci. In older adults, degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis and gonarthrosis are more frequently observed.
Causes of Knee Pain
There can be many causes of knee pain. In the younger age group:
- Accidents and Injuries: Sports injuries, falls, and other traumas.
- Overuse: Repetitive movements and excessive physical activities.
- Ligament and Meniscus Injuries: Tears and wear in the ligament tissues and menisci.
In the older age group:
- Osteoarthritis: A degenerative joint disease caused by the wear and tear of cartilage tissue in the joints.
- Gonarthrosis: Osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
These conditions can significantly affect the quality of life across all age groups. While athletes may face situations that lead them to quit their sport, elderly patients may experience difficulty walking. Surgery is often recommended for patients seeking treatment for knee pain. However, depending on the severity of the damage, the patient’s adherence to treatment, and the body’s healing capacity, some patients may recover after a single session, whereas others may require a longer treatment process.
Treatment Methods for Knee Pain
Various methods can be used in the treatment of knee pain. Broadly, patients can be divided into two groups:
1. Patients with Connective Tissue Injuries
Prolotherapy is an effective method for treating ligament injuries. If the ligament is not completely torn (i.e., no rupture), prolotherapy injections can stimulate regeneration in the affected ligament tissue. If prolotherapy injections alone are insufficient, blood-derived injection therapies may be applied. When these treatments are supported with prescribed exercises or combined with manual therapy and physical therapy, they can promote the formation of stronger ligament tissue after healing.
2. Patients of Advanced Age with Degenerative Diseases such as Gonarthrosis
In this group of patients, a more complex picture is present, including cartilage damage in the knee, joint space narrowing, and ligament tissue injury. Prosthetic surgery is often recommended for these patients. However, if they seek treatment at an early stage, non-surgical treatment options may also be possible.
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- Intra-articular Hyaluronic Acid Injections: They increase joint mobility and reduce pain.
- PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) Treatment: This therapy involves injecting platelets obtained from the patient’s own blood into the damaged area, helping to repair cartilage damage.
- Stem Cell Therapy: Treatment involving the injection of stem cells obtained from abdominal fat, promoting the regeneration of joint and connective tissues.
- Prolozone Therapy: This treatment method, combining prolotherapy and ozone therapy, accelerates the healing process by increasing cellular oxygenation.
- Neuroprolotherapy: It heals nerve tissue and reduces pain.
