If you are dealing with or have dealt with pain in your knees, you know how debilitating it can be. Those knees of your are what keep you walking and active. They are, in fact, two of the most active and important joints in your entire body. They are also injury-prone. Knee replacement surgery is common, that’s true. But, hopefully, a surgery you can avoid. Read on to learn more about what may be causing your painful knees:
- Arthritis is a main cause of not only knee pain and range of motion, but pain in the other joints of the body as well. Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disease that causes the tissues around the knee joint to become inflamed. Post-traumatic arthritis is commonly the result of a serious knee injury. Osteoarthritis is a progressive wearing away of the cartilage in the joint of the knee.
- Above the knee joint, under the skin, is a fluid-filled sac called the bursa. When the knee is overused, the bursa becomes irritated, causing the pain and swelling associated with what is known as Bursitis.
- Cartilage is the tough, flexible tissue covering the inside and outside of the knee. When it’s torn it’s called a “torn meniscus,” an injury that can be surgically repaired.
- It’s not uncommon for cartilage to break loose because of a knee injury. When this happens, the pieces of cartilage become lodged in the knee joint, leading to pain and swelling.
- A dislocated kneecap, also called patellar dislocation, can be very painful, as the kneecap has become dislocated from its usual position.
- Old knee injuries that weren’t properly treated can rise again in the form of constant or intermittent pain and swelling.
It’s not necessary to struggle with painful knees. We invite you to call our office to schedule a consultation appointment. At that time, we can evaluate your pain, discuss the flexibility of your knees and discuss your treatment options: St. John: (219) 365-0220; Crown Point: (219) 661-8661; Lowell: (219) 696-6353.
