Knee Pain

Knee Arthritis

Knee osteoarthritis is a very common condition where the hard cartilage on the end of your thigh bone (femur) and the top of your shin bone (tibia) gets worn away eventually causing “bone on bone” rubbing which often results in knee pain and inflammation.

Common Symptoms:

  • Pain
  • Stiffness
  • Swelling
  • Weakness
  • Difficulty walking
  • Difficulty stair climbing
  • Trouble getting out of a low chair/car

Treatment:

  • First Line:
    • Anti-inflammatories such as Ibuprofen, Aleve, Celebrex, Mobic
    • Therapy or home exercise program
    • Weight loss program
    • Assistive devices like a walking stick, cane, or walker
    • Knee brace
    • Minimize activity
  • If the above fails to relieve pain
    • Surgical intervention for total joint replacement

Red Flags:

  • Night pain
  • Fevers, chills, or sweats accompanied by knee pain
  • Redness of the skin around the knee
For more information on arthritis, follow the link below https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/arthritis-of-the-knee/ For detailed exercise program, follow the link below, always consult your doctor prior to beginning any exercise program https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/globalassets/pdfs/2017-rehab_knee.pdf  

Soft Tissue Injuries

Knee soft tissue injuries are a common condition which causes knee pain. The knee has several soft tissue structures including two menisci and several ligaments which can be damaged, usually as a result of an injury.

Meniscus tears:

This is a condition which usually happens as a result of a twisting or pivoting injury to the knee resulting in a tear of the soft tissue which acts as the shock absorber for the knee.

Common Symptoms:  

  • Knee pain after an injury
  • Locking or catching
  • Pain with twisting motions
  • Feeling like your knee is weak or will give out on you
  • Stiffness

Treatment:

  • Anti-inflammatories such as Ibuprofen, Aleve, and Tylenol and ice for pain relief
  • Bracing
  • Rest and elevation
  • Steroid injection
  • Physical therapy
  • Arthroscopy to clean out or repair the tear
For more info on meniscus tears follow the link below: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/meniscus-tears/  

Ligament injuries:

Ligament tears are usually the result of direct injury to the knee either while playing sports or as a result of a fall onto the knee.  These are the structures that support the knee and so injuring them usually results in a lot of knee pain and feeling like the knee is unstable.  It is possible to bruise, sprain, or tear these structures so it is important to get evaluated by a specialist to determine the extent of injury before going back to physical activities

Common Symptoms:

  • Pain and swelling
  • Loss of motion
  • Discomfort while walking
  • Feeling like the knee is not going to support your weight

Treatment:

  • Anti-inflammatories, Tylenol, and ice for pain relief
  • Bracing
  • Rest and elevation
  • Physical therapy
  • Steroid injection
  • Surgical treatment to repair a torn cruciate ligament, although this is not indicated in every patient
  https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/anterior-cruciate-ligament-acl-injuries/ https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/collateral-ligament-injuries/