Trying to complete your daily tasks when you have joint instability and knee pain can be frustrating. Sometimes the pain may be too severe, making it difficult to move your leg. Fortunately, the skilled team at Integrity Orthopedics offers excellent treatment techniques for Knee pain that will leave you feeling energetic.

Factors contributing to knee pain

Everyone experiences knee pain due to an injury like a torn cartilage or ruptured ligament or medical conditions like gout and arthritis. Most knee problems are associated with continuous wear and tear on your knee and the aging process. Your knee is responsible for supporting your upper body weight when standing, running, kneeling, or walking. These life aspects can strain your knee significantly, leading to knee pain. Medical conditions that can result in knee pain include:

  • Arthritis

There are several forms of arthritis; however, the most prevalent form is osteoarthritis. It occurs due to the continuous wear and tears in your joints. Another common type is rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disorder resulting in chronic knee pain.

  • Meniscus tears

The meniscus is a part of your cartilage that prevents friction between your bones, facilitates motion in your knee, supports your weight, and stabilizes your knee joint. You may develop a meniscus tear due to sudden movements or awkward twisting.

  •  Runner’s knee

Patellofemoral pain syndrome, also known as runner’s knee, results from weak muscles, overuse, trauma, or misalignment. The disorder causes pain behind the knee cap that worsens when you run, kneel or walk.

When to consult your doctor about knee pain

You may experience knee pain due to fatigue or a minor injury, but it should resolve with adequate rest and home remedies. However, sometimes the pain may persist for more than a week or worsen over time, interfering with your daily activities. In such cases, you should consider informing your doctor.

Apart from pain, other symptoms you may notice include crunching or popping noises, stiffness and swelling, instability or weakness, and redness on the affected knee. Don’t hesitate to call the Integrity Orthopedics team if you notice a deformity in your knee, have a fever, cannot flex the knee, or can’t put wear on the knee.

Treatments that can relieve your pain

During your appointment at Integrity Orthopedics, the team discusses your symptoms. They also conduct several tests, including an X-ray, CT scan, or arthroscopy, to determine the root cause of your discomfort. They may then share the diagnosis and recommend the appropriate treatment to restore the quality of your life. Your provider may begin treatment with conservative approaches before advancing to aggressive treatment options. Your doctor may recommend platelet-rich plasma injections, physical therapies, anti-inflammatory medication, wearing a knee brace, or steroid injections.

Pain that persists with conservative treatments may respond to genicular radiofrequency ablation. The minimally invasive procedure utilizes radiofrequency energy to prevent the transmission of pain signals by destroying the knee’s nerve. The team only recommends surgery when all the other treatments fail. But the Integrity Orthopedics team utilizes minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques during knee surgery to minimize complications.

Call the Integrity Orthopedics office or book an appointment online to benefit from the various knee treatments.