What causes knee pain?
Your knee is a complex joint with bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage that all work together to support mobility and body weight. Knee pain may develop from any damage or disease that affects one or more of the structures in your knee.
Some of the typical causes of knee pain include:
- Sprains and strains
- Arthritis
- Bursitis
- Dislocation
- Fracture
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear
- Meniscus tear
- Tendonitis
You may also develop knee pain if you have problems with other supportive joints in your body, such as your ankles, hip, or spine, that place additional stress on your knees.
What are the symptoms of knee pain?
Knee pain symptoms vary, depending on the underlying cause. With knee pain, you may have:
- Dull, aching sensation in the knee
- Sharp, severe pain
- Inflammation and swelling
- Difficulty bearing weight on the knee
- Obvious deformity
- Weakness
- Popping or crunching sound
- Inability to straighten the knee
In some cases, knee pain is an acute problem that resolves with at-home care. However, if you have ongoing knee pain, severe knee pain, or your pain is getting worse, it’s time to schedule an appointment at New Jersey Advanced Pain Management Center.
What happens during a knee pain evaluation?
When you visit New Jersey Advanced Pain Management Center for help with knee pain, Dr. Kumar conducts a comprehensive evaluation to find the root cause of your pain and provide the right treatment.
He asks detailed questions about your pain condition, including when it started, the underlying cause of your knee pain (if known), the type of symptoms you feel, and the activities that may worsen your discomfort.
Dr. Kumar reviews your medical history, performs a physical, and runs diagnostic tests to confirm or rule out a diagnosis. Testing may include blood work, X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs.
How is knee pain treated?
Dr. Kumar creates customized treatment plans for knee pain based on the cause of your pain, the severity of symptoms, usual activities, and overall health.
Initially, Dr. Kumar may recommend conservative treatments to alleviate your knee pain, such as:
- Activity modification
- Rest, ice, compression, and elevation
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Pain medication
- Bracing, splinting
- Physical therapy
- Steroid injections
- Viscosupplementation injections
If conservative treatments fail to alleviate your knee pain, Dr. Kumar may suggest a surgical evaluation.
Knee pain may affect your active lifestyle. To get relief from your pain so you can get back to doing what you love, call New Jersey Advanced Pain Management Center, or book an appointment online today.
