Knee Pain
Knee pain affects approximately 25% of adults. It may be the result of an injury, deterioration, or genetic predisposition. While in many cases it can be treated with at-home measures, a doctor will always be the best help to guide into relieving or even curing knee pain.
Common Causes of Knee Pain
Knee pain occurs when you feel discomfort in or around your knee joint, which is where the thigh connects to your lower leg. As the biggest joint in your body, it absorbs all kinds of impacts and supports your body weight as you move. Because of this, it is prone to injuries and deterioration.
Knee pain can be acute or chronic and might come and go. For instance, you may feel pain when going up stairs or bend the knee, and feel better when you rest. Some people feel pain when the weather is more humid, or after exercising, when the muscles cool down.
The most common causes of knee pain include:
- Injuries. Repetitive strain, trauma (falls, blows), or tears, for example, can cause acute or chronic pain if not treated properly. Some examples of injuries include:
- An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear
- A posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tear
- Patellar fracture (broken kneecap)
- Meniscus tear
- Kneecap dislocation
- Arthritis. This condition causes your joints to be inflamed and therefore, pain, swelling, or stiffness.
- Overuse. Repetitive movements and impacts to the knee can cause inflammation and pain.
From the time you arrive at Ashford Orthopedic Specialists, Dr. Ashford will answer your questions and address your needs relating to your diagnosis and treatment. He will provide you with an accurate diagnosis and an individualized care plan.
Understanding the knee joint
The knee joint allows for flexion and extension and is formed by articulations between the patella, femur and tibia.
The knee consists of two articulations:
- The tibiofemoral joins the distal femur to the proximal tibia.
- The patellofemoral allows the tendon of the quadriceps femoris to be inserted over the knee and thus increase the efficiency of the muscle.
As mentioned, the movements that the knee joint permits are:
- Extension, produced by the quadriceps femoris.
- Flexion
- Lateral rotation, produced by the biceps femoris.
- Medial rotation, produced by the muscles.
Lateral and medial rotation can only happen when the knee is flexed (if the knee is not flexed, the medial/lateral rotation occurs at the hip joint).
“Dr Ashford has been great to work with throughout my procedure. My experience has been better than I expected. I am very pleased with Ashford Orthopedics and have and will recommend Dr Ashford for any orthopedic needs.” —Charles R.
Finding the Right Diagnosis
During your consultation with Dr. Ashford at Ashford Orthopedic Specialists, he will analyze your medical records and perform a thorough medical examination. You should be candid about any pain, stiffness, tingling, or numbness you might be feeling. In order to evaluate your knee mobility, he may ask you to carry out particular movements.
Following the physical examination, Dr. Ashford might suggest running diagnostic tests such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or X-ray imaging.
In some cases, a minimally invasive procedure called knee arthroscopy might also be able to provide a definitive diagnosis for your shoulder pain. A knee arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure performed on the knee using an arthroscope, an endoscope which is inserted through a small incision. Thanks to the endoscope, doctors can view the knee joint from the inside and therefore diagnose a wide range of issues.
Knee Pain Treatment Options
When patients see professionals for their knee pain, their concerns might go unheard and the pain only worsens. At Ashford Orthopedic Specialists, Dr. Ashford offers comprehensive care that includes surgical and non-surgical treatments to relieve your knee pain, improve your mobility, and make necessary repairs.
Your individualized knee pain treatment plan might involve:
Steroid Injections
Cortisone shots (steroid injections) deliver a dose of medication directly to the knee which can help reduce inflammation. They can be helpful in treating conditions like arthritis, tendinitis or bursitis.
Viscosupplementation
Viscosupplementation consists of an injection of hyaluronic acid directly into your knee. Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in the fluid surrounding joints. It acts as a lubricant that enables bones to move smoothly over each other and works as a shock absorber for joint loads.
Knee Arthroscopy
Thanks to knee arthroscopy, Dr. Ashford is able to safely diagnose and treat conditions or injuries affecting your knee joints.
If you need surgery to repair tendons, ligaments or cartilage, Dr. Ashford uses specially designed tools that are smaller than traditional ones. Thanks to the camera footage, Dr. Ashford can be guided during the procedure and repair and reconstruct soft tissues by stitching them together.
As part of the comprehensive plan that Dr. Ashford will create for you, physical therapy and gentle home care might be included.
Only after careful assessment will you know which approach is best for your injury and knee pain.
If you are experiencing knee pain or have a knee injury, call Ashford Orthopedic Specialists or book a personalized appointment online today.