Achy knees

Osteoarthritis – Osteoarthritis is one of the most common causes of achy knees, believed to affect as many as 37,000,000, to 50,000,000 men and women in the United States alone. Osteoarthritis is also known as "degenerative joint disease," because it causes your joints to become inflamed and damaged over time. Osteoarthritis is caused by a combination of aging, wear and tear, and hormones – although researchers are still trying to locate the direct link between these conditions and achy knees. Osteoarthritis is not deadly or dangerous, but it does increase pain in your joints over time and can be debilitating if left untreated.

Rheumatoid Arthritis – Rheumatoid arthritis is different than osteoarthritis. While osteoarthritis generally effects specific joints and can be managed without medicine, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that causes your body to essentially attack its own joints as though they are a germ, despite no germ or disease being present. Rheumatoid arthritis generally starts mild, but becomes more severe over time and often affects nearly all moving joints.

Bursitis – Bursitis is a unique condition that may be caused by osteoarthritis, overuse, infection, or injury, but results in more overall knee pain at a faster pace. Bursitis occurs when the fluid filled sacs that surround knee joints and cushion them from injury suffer from inflammation. Most bursitis not caused by any underlying condition will clear up on its own, but the pain itself can be somewhat debilitating while the bursitis occurs.

Gout – Gout is another condition that can affect the knee. Although not generally described as "achy knees," gout occurs when the knee has too much uric acid. Eventually it causes a rush of pain and a burning sensation. It's also likely to be warm to the touch and occur somewhat without warning.

Other Knee Conditions – Besides injury, it's also possible for the knee to develop certain rare cancers. Cancer in the knee is very uncommon, and shouldn't be your first assumption if you have knee aches. That said, if you're experience knee pain at a younger age or you've been to the doctor and your knee pain doesn't appear to be related to aging, it may be a good idea to check for any rare forms of cancer.

Osteoarthritis – Osteoarthritis is generally treated with nutritional supplements. Look for supplements that contain glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM – the three most common ingredients for delivering enough nutrition to the joints in the knee. Proper nutrition is the best way to keep the effects of osteoarthritis under control. 

Rheumatoid Arthritis – Rheumatoid arthritis cannot be cured. Supplements used to manage osteoarthritis may be beneficial, but are not necessarily enough. Your doctor may prescribe some type of medication to reduce inflammation and slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis, including NSAIDS, and steroids. Surgery may be necessary if the disease has progressed beyond achy knees. 

Bursitis – Rest and pain medications may be all you need to treat bursitis of the knee. Because bursitis may be caused by osteoarthritis, additional supplementation may be beneficial. If there is an infection, bursitis may require antibiotics. You may also need the fluids of the knee drained if the bursitis has become too problematic. However, rest and care alone may be enough. 

Gout – Corticosteroids may be used to stop a gout attack. Over the counter painkillers may also help, but some – like aspirin – can actually increase the pain. Gout can go away temporarily on its own, but you may want to take advantage of available treatments instead, as there are several suitable options for controlling gout and achy knees. Your doctor may also prescribe a medicine that reduces the buildup of uric acid in order to prevent future gout attacks. Diet change may also be enough to control gout. 

Other Knee Conditions – When your achy knees are caused by something more serious, it's important to see a doctor. Natural medicine has come a long way towards treating osteoarthritis and related health issues, and for most achy knees rest and relaxation are enough. But in the case of more severe knee conditions like cancer or infection, it's important to visit a doctor and see what they recommend in terms of treatment.