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Information about knee pain causes and treatment
Knee pain is an extremely common complaint, and there are many causes. It is important to make an accurate diagnosis of the cause of your symptoms so that appropriate treatment can be directed at the cause. If you have knee pain, some common causes include:
Arthritis--Arthritis is among the most common causes of knee pain, and there are many treatments available.
Ligament Injuries--Ligament injuries commonly occur during athletic activities and can cause discomfort and instability. Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injury Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Injury
Cartilage Injuries | Meniscal Tear--Cartilage tears are seen in young and old patients alike, and are also an extremely common cause of knee pain.
Patellar Tendonitis--Tendonitis around the joint is most commonly of the patellar tendon, the large tendon over the front of the knee.
Chondromalacia Patella--Chondromalacia causes knee pain under the kneecap and is due to softening of the cartilage. It is most common in younger patients (15-35 years old).
Dislocating Kneecap--A dislocating kneecap causes acute symptoms during the dislocation, but can also lead to chronic knee pain.
Baker's Cyst--A Baker's cyst is swelling in the back of the joint, and is usually a sign of another underlying problem such as a meniscus tear.
Bursitis--The most common bursa affected around the joint is just above the kneecap. This is most common in people who kneel for work, such as gardeners or carpet layers.
Plica Syndrome--Plica syndrome is an uncommon cause of knee pain, and can be difficult to diagnose. The diagnosis is usually made at the time of arthroscopy.
Osgood-Schlatter Disease--Osgood-Schlatter disease is a condition seen in adolescents and is due to irritation of the growth plate just at the front of the joint.
Osteochondritis Dissecans--Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is another condition seen in adolescents due to the growth of the bone around the joint.
Gout--Gout is an uncommon cause of knee pain. However, in patients who have a diagnosis of gout, it must be considered as a cause for new onset knee pain.
When do you need to call your doctor about your knee pain?
If you are unsure of the cause of your symptoms, or if you do not know the specific treatment recommendations for your condition, you should seek medical attention. Treatment of knee pain must be directed at the specific cause of your problem. Some signs that you should be seen by a doctor include:
- Inability to walk comfortably on the affected side
- Injury that causes deformity around the joint
- Knee pain that occurs at night or while resting
- Knee pain that persists beyond a few days
- Locking (inability to bend) the knee
- Swelling of the joint or the calf area
- Signs of an infection, including fever, redness, warmth
- Any other unusual symptoms
What are the best treatments for knee pain?
Treatment depends entirely on the cause of the problem. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that you get a proper diagnosis and evaluation with one of our doctors before staring care. Some of the treatment options are:
- Rest: The first treatment for most common conditions that cause knee pain is to rest the joint, and allow the acute inflammation to subside. Often this is the only step needed to relieve knee pain. If the symptoms are severe, crutches may be helpful as well.
- Ice and Heat Application: Ice packs and heat pads are among the most commonly used treatments for knee pain.
- Physical Therapy / Rehabliitation: This is an important aspect of treatment of almost all orthopedic conditions. We may use different modalities and exercises to increase strength, regain mobility, and help return patients to their pre-injury level of activity.
- Anti-Inflammatory Medication: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, commonly referred to as NSAIDs, are some of the most commonly prescribed medications, especially for patients with knee pain caused by problems such as arthritis, bursitis, and tendonitis.
- Cortisone injections: Cortisone is a powerful medication that treats inflammation, and inflammation is a common problem in patients with knee pain.
- Surgery: Very few patients require surgery to relieve knee pain. For the vast majority of patients, a combination of rest, medication, chiropractic care and physical therapy will relieve knee pain. Surgery may be necessary if you have a torn meniscus, or ligaments and in cases of severe arthritic conditions.