Knee Pain Relief

Kelsey-Seybold Orthopedic specialists are experts in alleviating knee pain. Their goal is to help you return to your daily activities as quickly and safely as possible using both surgical and nonsurgical treatments, as needed.

Your knee is a complex joint made up of bone, cartilage, ligaments, and fluid. Muscles and tendons help your knee to do everyday activities such as walking or running. When one or more of these components of your knee is damaged, it can cause severe pain or long-term knee problems. Many knee problems are a result of the aging process and continual wear and stress on the knee joint. Other knee problems are a result of an injury or a sudden movement that strains the knee. Knee conditions are very common and occur in patients of all ages.

Knee Conditions We Treat

Some of the acute and chronic knee conditions our Orthopedic specialists treat include:

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis that affects the knee. It's a degenerative process in which the cartilage in the joint gradually wears away. Osteoarthritis may be caused by excess stress on the joint, such as repeated injury or being overweight.

Kneecap dislocation

Kneecap dislocation occurs when the patella bone covering the knee moves or slides out of place due to a sudden change in direction when your leg is planted. This puts your kneecap under stress, causing swelling, stiffness, pain, knee buckling, or creaking sounds during movement.

Tendonitis

Inflammation of the tendons may result from repetitive overuse of a tendon during certain activities, such as running or jumping, where the force of hitting the ground after a jump strains the tendon. Symptoms may include irritation, swelling, pain, and discomfort.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction

ACL reconstruction is surgery to rebuild the ligament in the center of your knee. The ACL keeps your shin bone (tibia) in place. A tear of this ligament can cause your knee to give way during physical activity.

Meniscus repairs and grafting (torn cartilage)

Meniscus tears are among the most common knee injuries. When people talk about torn cartilage in the knee, they're usually referring to a torn meniscus. The meniscus is a tough, rubbery, wedge-shaped ligament that acts as a cushion between the femur and tibia where they meet with the patella. The meniscus can tear in different ways and is treated with nonsurgical or surgical approaches.

How Knee Problems Are Diagnosed

In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination, diagnostic procedures for knee problems may include:

• X-ray
• MRI
• CT scan
• Bone scan
• Arthroscopic surgery

Treating Knee Injuries and Conditions

If you've suffered any knee trauma, it's important to seek treatment right away. Failure to do so risks further complications, such as chronic instability, weakness, deformity, or pain. Treatments for the knee vary widely, depending on the severity of the injury, location of the injury, and a patient's overall health. In some cases, proper therapy and activity adjustment can help reduce pain and discomfort. If the problem isn't severe, your doctor may recommend RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation). If initial treatment methods don't provide relief, your Orthopedics specialists may recommend surgery only after conservative, nonsurgical options have failed.

Surgery for Knee Conditions

If prescribed medication or various therapy options don't resolve your persistent knee issues, our knee experts will discuss your surgical options and help you decide which option is best for you. At Kelsey-Seybold, our physicians are highly experienced in a range of different surgeries, including:

• Knee arthroscopy
• ACL reconstruction
• PCL reconstruction
• MCL reconstruction
• LCL reconstruction
• Meniscus surgery
• Knee reconstruction