If you suffer from chronic knee pain, you understand just how much this pain can interfere with the quality of life. Knee pain can disrupt daily activities, cause many sleepless nights, and even make going to work every day difficult.
Determining what is causing the pain and finding the right course of treatment can be something a dedicated knee pain doctor can help you with, leading you to the road of recovery and getting your life back.
Patients who are suffering from knee pain frequently also suffer with swelling around the knee, hot skin, and instability. The following are some of the common medical issues that cause knee pain that a doctor for knee pain can help you with:
Arthritis
For anyone over the age of 70, one of the most common causes of chronic knee pain is arthritis. This is caused by the wear and tear on the joints, which damages cartilage and bone. All of this irritates the joint and causes swelling and pain. Symptoms of knee arthritis can range from mild to severe and are typically treated with medication, diet, exercise, and knee supports. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary.
Tears of Ligaments
When a patient complains of severe knee pain that is accompanied by swelling, a knee doctor may look for damage to one of the knee ligaments. Ligaments are tissues that connect bones to the body. The knee is made up of four ligaments:
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) connects the thigh bone to the shin bone.
- Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) also links the thigh bone to the shin bone in the knee.
- Lateral collateral ligament (LCL) connects the thigh bone to the fibula on the outer side of the knee.
- Medial collateral ligament (MCL) links the thigh bone to the shin bone on the inside of the knee.
There are three grades of ligament tears:
- Grade 1: Only a few fibers of the ligament is torn. Symptoms include mild pain and swelling. There is no instability
- Grade 2: Although more fibers are torn, the ligament is still intact. Symptoms usually include moderate to severe pain and swelling, accompanied by some instability.
- Grade 3: The entire ligament is ruptured. Symptoms include severe pain and swelling, along with much instability.
Tearing of the Meniscus
The meniscus is a special layer of cartilage that protects the knee joint. If this cartilage tears, the result can be severe knee pain and swelling. There is often limited knee movement, all caused by inflammation and bleeding in the knee joint.
A meniscus tear can occur because of wear and tear, causing the cartilage to become thin and fray. This type of tear is usually related to age or arthritis. Another way the meniscus can tear is because of some type of twisting motion with the knee, causing the tear. In addition to the pain and swelling, another symptom of a possible meniscus tear is if the knee joint locks up, leaving the patient unable to move their knee.