What causes knee pain?

Common causes of knee pain seen at Dearborn and Livonia Orthopedics & Sports Medicine include:

Meniscus tears 

Knee joints have two c-shaped cushions of cartilage called menisci. An injury to one of these cushions is called a meniscus tear. Twisting your knee suddenly, squatting, and heavy lifting can cause a meniscus tear. 

In addition to knee pain, you might feel a popping sensation and have problems straightening your leg. The knee might swell, stiffen, and lock in place.

Osteoarthritis  

Osteoarthritis causes more chronic knee pain than anything else. It tends to affect older people due to years of joint wear and tear. The bones in your joints lose the slippery covering of cartilage that protects them, so they rub together. The result is chronic pain, stiffness, and weakness that gets steadily worse.

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (runner’s knee)

Patellofemoral pain syndrome affects the tissues around your kneecap. It causes a dull aching that worsens after long periods of sitting, walking down stairs, or squatting. Your knee might catch, pop, or grind.

Quadriceps tendon tear

The quadriceps tendon attaches your thigh muscle to your kneecap. A tear is a painful injury that can cause swelling, bruising, cramping, tenderness, an inability to straighten the leg, and difficulty walking.

Ligament injuries

Each knee has four large ligaments — the anterior cruciate, medial collateral, posterior cruciate, and lateral collateral. They connect the bones and stabilize the joint. Injuries to these ligaments are common, especially when playing sports.

How is knee pain treated?

Initially, most causes of knee pain respond well to conservative treatments. Depending on the cause and severity of your condition, options at Dearborn and Livonia Orthopedics & Sports Medicine might include: 

• Rest and activity modification
• Ice
• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Physical therapy
• A knee brace
• Weight loss to relieve stress on the joint
• Immobilization in a cast or brace
• Taping
• A knee sleeve
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
• Corticosteroid injections
• Lubricating injections

These treatments are effective for most patients with knee pain. However, if they don’t work, you might benefit from surgery. Surgery is also necessary at an earlier stage for injuries like fractures and complete ligament ruptures.

What surgery might I need for knee pain?

Dearborn and Livonia Orthopedics & Sports Medicine surgeons can perform a variety of procedures to relieve knee pain, including:

• ACL and MCL reconstruction
• Partial meniscectomy
• Quadriceps tendon repair
• Tibial fracture repair
• Partial (unicompartmental) knee replacement
• Total knee replacement

Following surgery, you undergo specialized physical therapy to ensure your optimal recovery.

To find the cause of your knee pain and its solution, call Dearborn and Livonia Orthopedics & Sports Medicine today, or book an appointment online.