What is knee pain?
Knee pain affects your knee joint, which connects your lower leg to your upper leg. This joint is made up of cartilage, muscles, bones, ligaments, and tendons.
Symptoms you might notice with knee pain include:
- Stiffness
- Weakness
- Instability
- Decreased range of motion
- Reduced mobility
- Popping sounds
- Sharp or severe pain
- Dull, aching pain
- Warmth
- Redness
If knee pain puts a halt to your active lifestyle and is severe or long-lasting, see the Orthopaedic Institute of Henderson team for an evaluation.
What causes knee pain?
The many causes of knee pain include:
- Fractures
- ACL injuries
- Inflammation
- Torn meniscus
- Tendinitis
- Kneecap dislocation
- Arthritis
- Sprains
- Other sports injuries
Common knee pain risks include lack of muscle strength and flexibility, obesity, playing sports, a job requiring repetitive knee stress, and previous knee injuries.
How does my doctor diagnose the cause of my knee pain?
To figure out the cause of knee pain, your orthopedic specialist reviews your symptoms and medical history. They examine your knee joint to look for signs of injury or disease and might recommend blood tests, CT scans, MRIs, X-rays, ultrasounds, or other imaging procedures.
What are common knee pain treatments?
Depending on what kind of injury or disease you have and how severe it is, your orthopedist will recommend one of the following knee pain treatments:
Home remedies
Your specialist could recommend some at-home remedies, including ice or heat packs, elevation, compression, and rest. You could be asked to wear a knee brace while the injury heals.
Physical therapy
Physical therapy stretches and exercises can strengthen your knee joint tissues, relieve pain, improve healing, and reduce your risk of further injuries.
Anti-inflammatory medications
Some medications can reduce knee inflammation and the pain associated with it.
Injections
Steroid, hyaluronic acid, and other pain-relieving injections can reduce inflammation and discomfort while increasing knee joint lubrication.
Regenerative medicine
Stem cell injections can stimulate your body’s natural healing response and new cell generation. This treatment is a natural way to help your knee joint heal.
Surgery
In some cases, your orthopedist recommends knee surgery to fully restore your knee’s function and structure. The Orthopaedic Institute of Henderson offers arthroscopic surgery, total knee replacement, and partial knee replacement to remove, repair, or replace tissues in your knee.
Don’t let knee pain undercut your zest for life. Schedule a consultation with the Orthopaedic Institute of Henderson by phone or book online today.
