111-29 Queens Blvd, Forest Hills, NY 11375
111-29 Queens Blvd, Forest Hills, NY 11375
Knee pain is a common complaint that can result from injury, overuse, or medical conditions affecting the knee joint. It may involve the bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, or muscles that support the knee. The pain can range from mild discomfort to severe, affecting mobility and quality of life. Your doctor knows how to uncover what’s causing your knee pain. Only then can treatment begin.
You may have the early warning signs of knee pain. That’s actually the best time to visit a knee specialist. You’ll minimize the pain in your knee with early intervention and self-care strategies.
Your pain management doctor talks about prevention during your very first visit. Even your physician emphasizes preventative care. But if your knee already hurts, we have testing capability to discover exactly what’s causing your knee pain.
Knee pain can be classified based on its cause, location, or the structure involved. Below are the main types:
Occurs suddenly, often due to an injury or trauma:
Ligament Injuries:
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear: Common in sports involving sudden stops and pivots.
Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) tear: Often caused by a direct blow or fall.
Medial and Lateral Collateral Ligament (MCL/LCL) injuries: Resulting from impact or twisting.
Meniscus Tears: Damage to the cartilage that cushions the knee joint, often caused by twisting motions.
Fractures: Breaking of bones such as the patella (kneecap).
Dislocation: The kneecap or joint moves out of place.
Develops gradually and may persist over time:
Osteoarthritis:
Degeneration of joint cartilage, common with aging.
Pain worsens with activity and improves with rest.
Rheumatoid Arthritis:
An autoimmune condition causing inflammation and joint pain.
Tendinitis:
Inflammation of the tendons, often from overuse (e.g., Jumper’s knee affecting the patellar tendon).
Bursitis:
Inflammation of the bursae (small fluid-filled sacs) that cushion the knee.
Gout or Pseudogout:
Accumulation of crystals in the knee joint, leading to pain and swelling.
Knee pain originating from another part of the body, such as the hips or lower back.
Most knee pain is caused by an injury or repetitive motion. If you run, hike or work in situations that require constant bending, you can end up with knee pain. Aging — and the consequences from years of wear and tear — take its toll on your knees.
Underlying conditions such as arthritis and obesity often have a direct impact on the health of your knees. Preventing knee pain starts by taking your pain management doctor’s advice to:
Risks for developing knee pain include:
Diagnostics, such as x-rays and digital scans, reveal the extent of the damage to your knee. Whether due to a sports or work-related injury or accident, your doctor determines the cause of your pain. It may be a:
When self-care and at-home treatments don’t provide sufficient relief, your pain management doctor in Queens, NY may send you to physical therapy to rebuild your knee strength and train you to move in ways that don’t cause further injury.
Your doctor monitors your physical therapy to ensure your specific needs are met. Some of the tools and techniques available include:
Depending on the severity of your pain and the effectiveness of your lifestyle changes and physical therapy sessions, your pain management doctor may decide to try a more invasive technique. Even minimally invasive surgery is put off until you know the other treatments haven’t worked for you.
Medex Diagnostic and Treatment Center