Knee Pain

Knee pain is a disabling problem because your knees are critical to so many of your daily activities. Whether you’re a competitive athlete with a torn meniscus or a weekend warrior with osteoarthritis, SOAR Spine and Orthopedics can help. With offices in Santa Clara and Redwood City, California, the skilled general orthopedics and sports medicine specialists at SOAR can help resolve your knee pain by providing a range of effective nonsurgical therapies for knee pain and minimally invasive surgical options. Call the practice today to find out more, or book an appointment using the online form.

What causes knee pain?

Knee pain can be caused by a multitude of activities or reasons. Acute injuries and chronic tissue degeneration are the most likely causes of knee pain – though in some cases, an acute knee injury that doesn't receive proper treatment can develop into a chronic problem over time. Likewise, a chronic deterioration of connective tissues such as ligaments and tendons can cause acute injuries if the tissue weakens too much.

Arthritis is the leading cause of chronic knee pain. Your knees are particularly vulnerable to arthritis due to the weight they support every day and the number of movements they make. The most common type — osteoarthritis — develops if the cartilage that protects the ends of the bones in your knees wears away, so bones rub together.

Sports injuries are also common in knees. If you do any kind of intense exercise, especially if you play sports and do a lot of training, your knees can come under a great deal of strain. Movements such as jumping and turning at speed ask a lot of your knees. If you land awkwardly or twist your legs, it can overstrain the connective tissues to a breaking point.

You can also injure your knees as a result of slips, trips, and falls in everyday life, or sometimes in auto accidents.

What types of injuries cause knee pain?

Knee injuries that the team at SOAR Spine and Orthopedics treat most often include:

• Fractures (tibia, fibula, patella)
• Dislocation
• Strained tendons
• Sprained ligaments
• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear
• Medial collateral ligament (MCL) tear
• Meniscus tear 
• Patellar tendinitis (runner's knee)
• Patellofemoral pain syndrome
• Iliotibial band syndrome
• Articular cartilage injuries 

As the causes of knee pain are so numerous, it's essential that you get an accurate diagnosis so you receive the appropriate treatment. A specialist orthopedic surgeon, like those at SOAR Spine and Orthopedics, has the expertise and experience to identify the cause of your knee pain and ensure you receive the optimal treatment.

How is knee pain treated?

After the team diagnoses the cause of your knee pain, they create a personalized treatment plan for you. Your plan could include treatments such as:

• Knee brace
• Anti-inflammatory medication
• Physical therapies 
• Cortisone injections
• Viscosupplementation injections
• Biologic medication

If surgery is the best solution for your pain, the expert staff can carry out procedures like:

• Articular cartilage transplantation
• Knee arthroscopy
• Total knee replacement
• Partial knee replacement

They are also equipped to perform ligament reconstructions, including hamstring and patellar tendon graft reconstruction of the ACL. If your knees are a source of pain or weakness, get the right diagnosis and the most effective treatment by calling SOAR Spine antoday or booking an appointment online.