What is it? Knee pain happen to be a common issue affecting people irrespective of their age. Knee pain can result from injuries, including torn cartilage or a ruptured ligament. Also, medical conditions such as arthritis, infections, or gout can result in knee pain. However, a variety of knee complaints can be handled through self-care. Besides, you can use physical therapy or knee braces to aid in relieving pain. Nonetheless, some complicated cases would require surgical repair.
Symptoms
Severity and symptoms vary depending on what is causing the problem. However, the following are the common symptoms
• Stiffness that may be accompanied by swelling
• Instability while walking or weakness
• Warmth to touch and redness
• Unable to straighten your knee
• Popping noises from the knee
Treatment
The treatment varies mostly depending on what is causing the pain on your knee. Therefore, once you see your doctor, they may prescribe medications, therapy, injections, or surgery, depending on the underlying conditions. At Plano TX you can your knee treated without getting injections or any surgery.
Medications
Upon evaluation at Plano TX the doctor will prescribe medications that can help relieve pains while treating the underlying problem, including gout or arthritis.
Therapy
Therapy, such as the strengthening of the muscles surrounding the knee can help make it stable. Your doctor can recommend such treatment or other ways of strengthening habits depending on the cause of the pain. If you actively participate in sports, you might need to check on your movement patterns, which may affect your knee and observe proper technique while in the games. Exercises help improve balance and flexibility, which is vital.
Arch supports, including wedges can help shift the much pressure from the affected part. Similarly, the conditions will need different kinds of braces to give support and protect the painful knee joint.
Injections
In some instances, your doctor might advocate for injection as part of the medication. Substances are injected directly into the paining joint. For instance:
Hyaluronic acid – it is a thick fluid which lubricates the knee joints; it can be administered to your knee to relieve pain while increasing mobility.
Corticosteroids – they are a drug injected to your knee to help reduce arthritis symptoms and give pain relief for several months.
Platelet-rich plasma- it consists of a concentration of varying growth factors that reduce inflation while promoting healing. This kind of injection tends to work for people with pain resulting from injury, tendon tears, and sprains.
Surgery
If your doctor advises that you need surgery, it is not advisable to get it done immediately. While considering the surgery, think of the pros and cons of surgical reconstruction, which is what you want. The surgery options include:
Total knee replacement- this procedure entails cutting away the damaged bone as well as cartilage by using artificial joint as the replacement.
Arthroscopic surgery- depending on the level of injury, the doctor can repair the damaged tissue using narrow tools and fiber-optic cameras inserted through minor incisions near the knee joint.
Partial knee surgery – it entails replacing the most damaged section of the knee using plastic or metal parts.
Call POSMC today!
To schedule an appointment with one our specialists, contact our scheduling department at 972-250-5700 or request an appointment online.
POSMC is a full-service medical facility specializing in the evaluation and treatment of orthopedic injuries. The practice is led by a group of 12 board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons and a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician. Contact us today!