Knee Pain

What does knee pain feel like?

Your knee joint connects your upper and lower leg bones. It’s made up of ligaments, bones, muscles, tendons, and cartilage. Knee pain could feel like:

• Severe discomfort
• Dull, aching pain
• Weakness
• Instability
• Burning pain
• Pain with movement
• Stiffness
• Limited mobility

The pain might be mild or severe. It may prevent you from staying active or completing simple everyday tasks. See the Northeast Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine team at the first sign of a problem.

What are the risk factors for knee pain?

Knee pain is common and can happen to anyone, but the following factors increase your risk of experiencing it:

• Aging
• Arthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Other chronic conditions
• Infections
• Cysts
• ACL injuries
• MCL injuries
• Fractures
• Meniscus tears
• Tendonitis
• Bursitis 
• Being overweight
• Dislocations
• Lack of strength or flexibility 
• Previous joint injuries

You might injure your knee working at a physically demanding job, falling down, playing sports, or being in a car accident.

Maintaining a healthy weight, adopting healthy habits, and training properly for sports can reduce the risk of knee problems and pain. Wearing comfortable shoes helps too.

How does my provider diagnose the cause of knee pain?

To find the cause of knee pain, providers at Northeast Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine discuss your symptoms and medical history with you. They check your vital signs and examine your knee joints. Providers could recommend MRIs, X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, or other imaging procedures, as well as blood tests, to diagnose your condition and treat it properly. 

How is knee pain treated?

The Northeast Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine team tailors each knee pain treatment to your needs, preferences, and lifestyle. They could recommend:

Home remedies

Ice, rest, elevation, compression, and wearing a brace are things you can do at home to reduce knee discomfort. 

Medications

Taking medications can reduce pain, inflammation, or other underlying causes of knee pain. 

Joint injections

You might need hyaluronic acid injections to lubricate your knee joint, steroid injections to reduce inflammation, or an anesthetic to relieve pain. Stem cell and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections enhance your body’s natural ability to regenerate cells and heal. 

Physical therapy 

Physical therapy improves strength and flexibility, thereby reducing the risk of future knee problems. It also helps you recover after joint surgery.

Surgery 

Joint repair, tissue removal, and partial or total joint replacement are surgeries that can restore joint function and relieve ongoing discomfort. 

To find out what’s causing knee pain and get treated for it, call the nearest Northeast Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine office, or book an appointment online today.