Knee Pain

What causes knee pain?

Knee pain can affect any person at any age, and it can develop as the result of a medical condition or injury, such as:

Bursitis

Knee bursitis causes inflammation of the bursae, the small sacs of fluid that add cushion and comfort to your knee. When these bursae are inflamed, friction can occur amongst your knee joint, muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

ACL injury

Any tearing of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which connects your thigh to your shinbone, can cause severe knee pain. It is most commonly found in athletes, especially those who play high-impact sports like soccer, basketball, and football.

Torn meniscus

The meniscus is a long piece of cartilage that absorbs shock between your shinbone and thigh bone. Another common sports injury, a torn meniscus often results from sudden twisting movements.

Tendinitis

Patellar tendinitis occurs when the patellar tendon, which connects the front of the thigh to the shinbone, grows inflamed and irritated. This condition tends to develop in athletes who put stress on their knees, such as skiers, cyclists, and runners.

Arthritis

Both rheumatoid arthritis — an inflammatory autoimmune disease that can occur at any age — and osteoarthritis — commonly known as a “wear and tear” type of arthritis — can cause knee joint pain.

Dislocated kneecap

A severe injury to the knee may cause your kneecap to dislocate. This painful injury is common in athletes and dancers, though it can happen to anyone. While the kneecap itself takes about six weeks to heal, further treatment may be needed to expedite your recovery.

What are my treatment options?

If you’re suffering from knee pain, Dr. Bulczynski will inspect your knee for tenderness, inflammation, and redness before checking your movement and range of motion. Should you require further examination, he will recommend imaging tests such as a computed tomography (CT) scan, X-ray, ultrasound, or magnetic resonance imaging. These tests help Dr. Bulczynski determine what is causing your knee pain.

Once you receive a diagnosis, there are a number of treatments Dr. Bulczynski can recommend, depending on your condition. He may recommend one or more of the following treatments:

• Pain management medications
• Physical therapy
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy to promote healing
• Hyaluronic acid injections to stimulate mobility and relieve pain
• Corticosteroids to reduce arthritis symptoms
• Arthroscopic surgery to repair cartilage
• Total knee replacement surgery

If you suffer from chronic knee pain, call Andrew Bulczynski, MD, or book an appointment online to schedule a consultation.