KNEE PAIN SPECIALIST IN PLANO, TEXAS

Whenever we treat knee pain, we tend to see the same patterns of cause.

Injuries

• Torn Meniscus - The meniscus is a piece of cartilage that absorbs shock between your shin and thigh bones. If you suddenly twist your knee, you might tear your meniscus. If it is torn, it will lose its shock absorbing abilities. This causes pain and damage to surrounding areas.
• ACL Tear - The ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), is one of four ligaments connecting your thigh and shin. ACL tears are common in athletes. Especially those that play sports requiring sudden changes in direction such as basketball, soccer, or football.
• Bursitis - Bursae are small fluid-filled sacs that cushion bones, tendons and muscles surrounding your joints. In patients with bursitis, bursae become inflamed. This causes pain.
• Patellar Tendonitis - Tendonitis is inflammation of tendons. The patella is the kneecap.
• Fracture - Any number of accidents can cause breaks or fractures to bones near or in the knee. If you have osteoporosis, your risk of fractures is increased.

Structural or Mechanical Problems

Dislocated Joints - If your kneecap (patella) moves, you will almost certainly experience pain.

Pain stemming from other joints. People who have pain in their hips or feet may accommodate that pain by walking in a different way. Altering your gate might cause knee pain.

Arthritis
There are many types of arthritis. The types that tend to cause knee pain are:

• Gout is a painful condition stemming from uric acid crystals that form around a joint. It’s most common in the feet and knees.
• Pseudogout has similar symptoms to gout, but the causes are different. Both conditions stem from crystals around the joints. However, pseudogout comes from calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals.

Rheumatoid arthritis

An autoimmune disorder that can affect joints as well as skin, organs, appetite, nerve tissue, among other things. This happens when the immune system attacks the synovium. This is the lining of the membranes surrounding your joints.

Osteoarthritis

Causes the cartilage that lines the knee joint gets worn out and rough. It’s more common in people over the age of 50.

Septic Arthritis is usually accompanied by a fever. If your knee joint becomes infected, you might experience swelling, redness, and pain. There’s usually no trauma before the onset of pain. Additionally, septic arthritis can quickly cause extensive damage to the knee cartilage. If you have knee pain with any of these symptoms, see your doctor right away.

Behind the knee pain is also known as posterior knee pain. You should always speak to a doctor if your posterior knee pain becomes serious. Especially if you have swelling in your calf. This could indicate you have a clot somewhere in your leg. This is called deep vein thrombosis. It is a serious problem that needs urgent treatment.

Some of the possible causes include:

Cysts

A cyst is an abnormal, non-cancerous growth filled with fluid. The most common type of cyst in this case is a popliteal cyst, also called Baker’s cyst. It is located in a shallow depression behind the knee. Baker’s cyst is often associated with other knee ailments.

Many types of injuries can cause cysts. Cysts in the knee usually stem from heavy blows to the patella, falling forward, or playing contact sports. When cysts burst, some hear a popping sound. Many will feel warmth spreading down the calf. Redness and bruising tend to follow.

Knee Injury

Contact sports frequently cause knee injuries. Knee Injuries also result from poor balance, overweight, falls, and weakened joints.

Arthritis

Knee pain from rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis tends to be concentrated at the front of the knee. However, it is possible that pain may radiate to the back of the knee as well.

Joint Inflammation

Inflammation occurs with any of the previously mentioned causes.

Cancerous or benign growth

This is extremely rare. For many, in addition to pain, there might be swelling at the back of the knee. In some cases, it radiates down the calf. If you’re experiencing swelling and tenderness in your calf, see a doctor. It could indicate a clot in your leg known as deep vein thrombosis. This needs urgent medical attention.

The knee is the largest joint in the body. Since we use our knees extensively every day to walk, climb, or jump, they easily experience wear and tear. Exercises to strengthen the knee do not affect the knee joint directly. Rather, they strengthen the muscles surrounding it. When you have strong muscles in the legs, your knees will be better supported. This, in turn, prevents future knee pain and injuries.

If you strengthen your quadriceps and hamstring muscles, you can reduce pain. This makes it easier to stay mobile. Physical therapy is the best option for most. A physical therapist can create a personalized strengthening regimen. This will target weak muscles that cause your specific type of pain.

Injecting hyaluronic acid into the knee is a simple procedure. It can be performed in the office. Your doctor will inject the hyaluronic acid directly into the area around the joint. Many patients will require more than one injection to treat knee pain. The amount of injections needed depends on the type of hyaluronan preparation used and the severity of the pain. Many people receive one injection per week for anywhere from three to five weeks.

In the event your treatment was effective, some may see positive results within a few days. Many will need more than one injection to eliminate the pain. After a successful course of treatment, relief may last for several months. This is one of the only FDA-approved treatments for people who have osteoarthritis in the knee.

Hyaluronic acid is a substance found naturally in the body. For those with normal, healthy joints, the body produces plenty of hyaluronic acid to lubricate the joints. However, for those with osteoarthritis, there is not enough hyaluronic acid. Some doctors recommend injecting hyaluronic acid into the knee to supplement the body’s natural production.

It can treat people with osteoarthritis. This may be a good option for people who have tried other non-invasive treatments for knee pain.