Knee Pain Clinic

Most people experience knee pain at some point in their lives, it is one of the most common physical injuries and has many possible causes. There are many reasons you may be experiencing knee pain, and we are equipped to accurately diagnose and effectively treat all of them.

Common causes of knee pain include the gradual wearing down of the knees, such as that caused by arthritis, and acute injuries, such as a torn meniscus. Left untreated, many knee problems can hinder movement, worsen over time, or eventually require surgery.

Sports, exercise and other activities can cause muscle strains, tendinitis, and more serious injuries to ligaments and cartilage in the knee. The location of the knee pain can vary depending on which structure is involved.

Knee Pain Treatments

Any time you experience knee pain, you should consider treatment. However, there are a number of symptoms that signal a need to seek immediate medical treatment. If you are unsure of the cause of your knee pain symptoms, or if you do not know the specific type of treatment for your condition, you should seek medical attention. Treatment of knee pain must be directed at the source cause of your knee pain, not just the symptoms.

Some signs that you should be seen by a professional 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

Knee Pain Treatment Options

Knee pain can be caused by a sudden injury, an overuse injury, or by an underlying condition, such as arthritis. Treatment will vary depending on the cause. Symptoms of knee injury can include pain, swelling, and stiffness.

Most people will not need knee surgery but, in many cases, surgery may be effective in minimizing or eliminating your knee pain when other treatment methods have failed.

Arthroscopy

Often the first surgical treatment for knee osteoarthritis is arthroscopy, a procedure used to see, diagnose, and treat problems inside the joint. Arthroscopy typically involves inserting a small camera into the knee and then treating identifiable problems.

Cortisone Injections

Corticosteroid injections have been used for a very long time. Their anti-inflammatory and pain relief properties have made its use become very common practice within the medical community and society as a whole. They have been shown to be effective in decreasing the inflammation and pain of ligament injuries for up to 8 weeks. Conditions with inflammation causing pain such as arthritis can be treated effectively and usually bring a return to normal activity functions in short order, thereby postponing or eliminating invasive procedures such as joint replacement surgery.

Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy is different from traditional medical treatments. It is part of an exciting branch of medicine called Regenerative Medicine. It uses the power of our own body to heal an injured tissue. This injured tissue could be a torn tendon in the shoulder, a torn meniscus in the knee, damaged cartilage in osteoarthritis, or a damaged tendon in in the tennis elbow or plantar fasciitis.

Platelets rush to the site of inflammation releasing a variety of healing growth factors. This results in accelerated repair of the injury. Pain relief and functional recovery is significant. Most importantly in most cases we can avoid the use of medications and in some cases avoid surgery. Recovery time is minimal with most patients working during the treatment.

Surgical Treatment

Many fractures and injuries around the knee require surgery to fully restore function to your leg. In some cases, such as many ACL tears, surgery can be done arthroscopically using miniature instruments and small incisions. Many major injuries require open surgery with a larger incision that provides your surgeon with a more direct view and easier access to the injured structures.