Knee Pain Specialist

Knee Pain Q & A

What causes knee pain?

Knee pain can arise from injury to any of the structures within your knee, or degenerative conditions that cause the joint to degrade. Knee injuries that don’t receive the appropriate treatment can become chronic complaints, and overuse of the affected knee is likely to accelerate the development of the wear and tear that causes conditions like osteoarthritis.

Your knees endure a great deal of strain carrying you around and enabling you to move, and are often one of the first joints to develop degenerative joint disease, even in people who don’t have arthritic problems in other joints.

Knees are also particularly vulnerable to injury if you play sports or take part in energetic forms of exercise. During these kinds of activities, your knees are put under extra stress and often asked to support your weight as you turn, twist, jump, and stop, sometimes suddenly or awkwardly. Falls and motor vehicle accidents can also cause severe knee injuries.

What are the structures that make up the knee?

Your knees are a meeting point for bones, tendons, ligaments, and muscles that all need to be working properly in order for the joint to function optimally. The main components of the knee include:

• Femur (thighbone)
• Tibia (shinbone)
• Patella (kneecap)
• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
• Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)
• Medial collateral ligament (MCL)
• Lateral collateral ligament (LCL)
• Medial and lateral menisci (cartilage)
• Patellar tendon
• Bursae (fluid-filled sacs)

The ends of your femur and tibia form the joint with the patella. Ligaments hold these bones in place, and tendons attach the bones to your muscles. The bursae, along with cartilage on the ends of the bones, prevent damage and cushion the joint.

What injuries are most likely to cause knee pain?

The knee injuries you’re most likely to sustain include:

• Fractures of the tibia, fibula, or patella
• Dislocation of the joint
• Strained tendons
• Sprained ligaments
• ACL tear
• MCL tear
• Meniscus tear
• Patellar tendonitis (runner’s knee)
• Articular cartilage injuries

If you sustain an injury to your knee, it’s important to visit Orthopedic Specialists to get an accurate diagnosis as there are many possible causes, most of which require expert treatment to heal properly.

How is knee pain treated?

Once your physician at Orthopedic Specialists makes a diagnosis, there are several treatments they may recommend depending on the cause of your knee pain. Potential treatments include:

• Supporting the knee with a brace
• Physical therapy
• Cortisone injections
• Viscosupplementation (“gel/lubricant”)  injections
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
• Stem cell therapy

If conservative treatment options aren’t improving your knee condition, surgery is also an option. The team at Orthopedic Specialists has particular expertise in performing arthroscopic surgery and highly specialized minimally invasive knee replacement.

If you’re suffering from knee pain, call Orthopedic Specialists or book an appointment online today.