Your knee is a complex joint consisting of bones, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, protective padding, and more. While it’s strong enough to help bear the weight of your body, your knee can be vulnerable to the stress from everyday activities like bending and lifting; if you participate in sports or high-impact activities like running, the joint may be even more susceptible to tears, damage, and other pain.

While knee pain can cause a significant disruption in your everyday life, it doesn’t have to control you. With cutting-edge knee treatments from NJ Spine and Wellness ranging from conservative to surgical, we can effectively diagnose and address your knee pain to help you Get Better Faster. To meet with one of our knee specialists and relieve your knee pain, schedule a consultation at one of our New Jersey locations in:

What Are the Causes of Knee Pain?

There are numerous conditions that result in knee pain; some of the most common causes include arthritis, injuries, and overuse.

Arthritis

As you age, arthritis can form in your knee, causing your joints to swell and resulting in discomfort and pain. Different types of arthritis can affect the knee, including:

  • Osteoarthritis: Caused by a breakdown of cartilage in your knee; being overweight can exacerbate this issue
  • Rheumatoid arthritis: An autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the joints

Injury

A sudden injury or other trauma can damage your joints. While typically seen in athletes, knee injuries can affect just about anyone. Common types include:

  • Kneecap dislocation
  • Meniscus tear
  • Bursitis
  • Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury or medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury

Overuse

Overuse injuries generally occur from repetitive activities like bending, jumping, or running. The most common ones include:

  • Tendonitis: Swelling of the tendon that causes pain, tightness, and discomfort; with knee pain, the quadriceps or patellar tendon is typically involved
  • Osgood-Schlatter disease: Affects children and adolescents, causing pain below the kneecap
  • Patellofemoral pain (runner’s knee): Swelling around or under the kneecap

Conservative Treatments for Knee Pain Relief

Before deciding on which knee treatment is right for you, your NJ Spine and Wellness specialist may perform a series of tests — including x-rays, MRIs, ultrasounds, or a computerized tomography (CT) scan — to properly diagnose your condition. From there, conservative treatments and knee therapy exercises can be recommended, including:

Medications

One or a combination of medications may be prescribed, such as:

  • Over-the-counter medications, like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs
  • Opioid pain relievers like oxycodone and hydrocodone
  • Lidocaine patches or prescription creams to reduce pain and inflammation

Injections

Depending on your case, your NJ Spine and Wellness doctor can recommend injections for knee pain treatment. Options generally include:

 

  • Corticosteroids: Can help reduce swelling and other symptoms associated with an arthritis flare-up
  • Hyaluronic acid: This thick fluid resembles the fluid in your joints and can help provide additional lubrication and reduce pain

Physical Therapy for Knees

Another nonsurgical approach, physical therapy, may also be recommended for your knee. Your specialist can help create a customized plan for your specific condition, including stretches, exercises to strengthen knees, and more. By combining these knee therapy exercises and maintaining a healthy body weight, you can reduce the stress on the joint and reduce pain in the process.

Surgical Treatments for Knee Pain Relief

If conservative approaches can successfully provide relief for your knee pain, surgical intervention may be necessary; your specialist can consult with you on which procedures may be best suited for your condition. At NJ Spine and Wellness, we feature state-of-the-art knee treatments, like:

  • Meniscus repair
  • Meniscus replacement
  • Microfracture
  • Patellar tendon repair
  • Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction
  • And more

Knee exercises, stretches, and other forms of therapy may also be recommended after your surgery; these can help to strengthen your knee and prevent further injury.

Contact Us Today for More Information

Chronic knee pain can be a debilitating condition, but it doesn’t have to sideline your entire life. At NJ Spine and Wellness, we provide effective knee treatment options to help you regain control of your pain to Get Better Faster. For more information or to schedule a consultation at one of our New Jersey locations in East Brunswick, Freehold, Matawan, or Old Bridge, contact us today.

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