Why Does My Knee Hurt?
&srotate=0)
If you suffer from chronic knee pain or have had an acute knee injury in the past, you know just how debilitating it can be. Knee pain is often reported as one of the most severe and frustrating joint conditions that one can experience, as it dramatically limits a person’s mobility and often intensifies with time and continued use. Unfortunately, aside from becoming wheelchair bound, it is nearly impossible to rest your knee and take pressure off of the join for more than a few hours at a time. This leads many people to seek professional help to get relief from their symptoms.
Dr. Christopher Williams and the experienced team at Interventional Orthopedics of Atlanta are committed to providing the most exceptional level of patient service and care, starting with identifying the cause of a patient’s symptoms so that it can be treated. The underlying root of knee pain can oftentimes be misleading, so it is important to be evaluated by a qualified and highly experienced professional in order to avoid a misdiagnosis and getting treatment which may potentially exacerbate your symptoms. Some of the most common conditions that cause knee pain include:
Knee injury
There is a long list of knee injuries that can result in acute or chronic damage and pain to the joint.
Ligament sprains and tears
The ACL, PCL, and MCL are all ligaments in the knee and can experience sprains, tears, and other trauma as a result of sports injuries and other accidents. Something as simple as a quick change in direction or a sudden stopping and starting of movement can cause a traumatic ligament injury. Keep an eye out for these symptoms if you suspect that you may have torn or sprained one of the ligaments in your knee:
- Severe knee pain that comes on suddenly
- Swelling of the knee
- Pain with walking or pressure on the knee
- A popping sound in the knee
- Spontaneous failing, or giving out, of the knee
Meniscus tears
Two of the most important structures in the knee joint are the medial meniscus and lateral meniscus. These menisci are part of the knee’s cartilage, a crucial tissue that covers and protects the ends of the bones. Older patients are somewhat more susceptible to a meniscus tear, because the cartilage begins to weaken as we age, but the injury still occurs across nearly every age group. A sudden movement, such as a twist or pivot, is arguably the most common cause of a meniscus tear.
Arthritis
While arthritis can occur in almost any joint in the body, it is actually most commonly found in the knee. The three types of arthritis that typically develop in the knee include:
- Rheumatoid arthritis: an inflammation of tissue around the knee joint that is more common in women and can result in complete loss of knee cartilage
- Post-traumatic arthritis: a condition that develops over time following an injury, such as a broken bone or torn ligament, which wears down the surface of the knee joint
- Osteoarthritis: the wearing down of the knee’s cartilage, usually caused by bone-on-bone contact over a long period of time
What options do I have for knee pain relief?
Fortunately, modern medicine offers a wide variety of options for treating many of the conditions that cause acute or chronic knee pain and ultimately helping patients find relief from their symptoms. In the case of ligament and meniscus tears, surgery is often one of the initial recommendations. While there are certainly cases when surgery is beneficial and necessary, Dr. Williams and the knowledgeable team at Interventional Orthopedics of Atlanta are proud to offer the innovative and cutting-edge Regenexx family of procedures as an alternative to many orthopedic surgeries. Regenexx Stem Cell and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) procedures are breakthrough, non-surgical treatments that can be highly effective in the treatment of some of the most common causes of knee pain, including meniscus tears, ACL/MCL tears, cartilage damage, and even arthritis.
How can I get relief from my knee pain in Atlanta, GA?
If you are tired of suffering with daily knee pain that makes even routine activities uncomfortable or impossible, it may be time to look into your options. Call our state-of-the-art Interventional Orthopedics of Atlanta location to schedule your consultation with Dr. Christopher Williams today, and take the first step toward regaining your mobility, your freedom, and your life!