What are some common causes of knee pain?

Your knees enable you to stand upright, move in all directions, and bend as needed. They also help absorb shock when you walk or run. Each knee joint is comprised of a network of bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues. Damage to any of these components can lead to knee pain. 

Some common causes of knee pain include:

• Traumatic injury
• Sports injury
• Fracture
• Torn meniscus
• Torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
• Patellar tendinitis
• Iliotibial band syndrome
• Arthritis

These are just a few of the possible sources of knee pain. Determining the exact cause of your pain is the first step in creating a treatment plan. 

Why is it important to treat knee pain?

Knee pain is your body’s way of letting you know that something is amiss within your knee joint. Though some minor cases of knee pain will resolve themselves within a couple of days, lingering or severe knee pain deserves prompt attention. 

Left untreated, the condition causing your knee pain can worsen. That can make your eventual treatment path far more complicated. 

Furthermore, knee pain can prevent you from being physically active. This can lead to a cascade of negative health effects that range far beyond knee pain. 

What are some treatment options for knee pain?

When you’re ready to explore treatment options for knee pain, the team at Tazewell Orthopaedics & Arthritis Clinic is here to help. Book your appointment online today, or call the office to check appointment availability. 

The Tazewell team will work to find the least invasive treatment option possible. Physical therapy can help some people find relief by strengthening the knee joint. Joint injections are another option and help reduce swelling within your knees. 

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections have been shown to relieve knee pain by promoting your body’s natural healing power. PRP is made in-house from a small volume of your own blood and then injected into your knee joint. 

In some cases, surgical intervention is the best treatment path. Some procedures can be performed arthroscopically, using only a few small incisions and very slim medical instruments. ACL reconstruction and meniscus tears can often be repaired using this minimally invasive approach. 

Full or partial knee replacement is also an option. Advancements in medical technology have made these procedures far easier to recover from than in decades past. A knee replacement can give you back your mobility and independence. 

When you’re ready to learn more, call the office to set up a visit. Online scheduling is also available and allows you to book your visit from home any time of day or night.