What is knee pain?
Knee pain is an uncomfortable feeling in your knee joint, which is the joint that connects your lower leg to your upper leg. The joint contains muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. You might experience:
- Dull, aching pain
- Sharp or shooting pain
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Instability
- Weakness
- Decreased range of motion
- Swelling
- Stiffness
- Redness
- Warmth
- Crunching or popping sounds
Knee pain can range in severity from mild to severe or debilitating. If your pain is severe or doesn’t go away with at-home treatments, visit Interventional Pain Consultants for an evaluation.
Which type of knee injury do I have?
To find the root cause of knee pain and develop a treatment plan, your pain specialist reviews your medical history, discusses your symptoms, and examines your knee joint. They might press on certain parts of your knee or ask you to move the joint.
Diagnostic tests your provider may recommend include blood tests, MRIs, CT scans, X-rays, or ultrasounds.
What causes knee pain?
Common causes of knee pain include:
- Arthritis
- A dislocated kneecap
- Fractures
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries
- Strains
- Sprains
- Knee bursitis
- Torn meniscus
- Patellar tendinitis
You might injure your knee by stepping on uneven surfaces, playing sports, being in a car accident, or undergoing normal wear and tear associated with aging or arthritis.
Risk factors for knee pain include previous knee injuries, being overweight or obese, and lack of strength and flexibility.
What are my knee pain treatment options?
Common knee pain treatments your specialist might recommend include:
At-home remedies
At-home remedies that help reduce knee pain include rest, ice or heat packs, elevation, and wearing a compression knee brace.
Genicular nerve blocks
Injecting an anesthetic into targeted nerves in your knee (using X-ray guidance) can block pain signals from reaching your brain.
Steroid injections
Steroid injections into your knee joint can reduce inflammation and the pain associated with it.
Hyaluronic acid injections
Injecting hyaluronic acid into your knee joint can lubricate it, ease pain, and improve your range of motion and mobility.
Regenerative medicine
Stem cell and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are holistic treatments that stimulate cell regeneration and your body’s natural healing ability.
Radiofrequency ablation
During radiofrequency ablation, your provider uses a needle to emit radio waves and block pain signals from reaching your brain.
Don’t let knee pain diminish your mobility and quality of life. Schedule an appointment with Interventional Pain Consultants by phone or book online today.
