Knee Pain

Knee pain can range from annoying to excrutiating Knee pain usually falls into several categories. They are

-traumatic
-nontraumatic or mechanical
-referred
-swelling
- chronic or recurrent

Traumatic knee pain due to an accident usually requires an orthopedist. The injury may cause a fracture, ligament tears, or bleeding into and swelling of the joint. If a fracture is not found, attention is focused on possible ligament damage as the cause of the pain.

In nontraumatic knee pain the cause could be referred pain or mechanical pain. In older patients, mechanical pain most often results from degenerative conditions such as arthritis. Xrays help with the diagnosis. In young active people, the knee pain may be due to repetitive flexing and extending of the knee with weight bearing i.e. running, climbing, jumping. Xrays yield little findings in this condition.

Referred pain is pain occuring in one area, but sending pain symptoms to another area. An example is lumobsacral radiculopathy. A long word meaning low back pain radiating to another area, usually the back of the knee. DJD (degenerative joint disease ) of the hip can refer pain to the knee. A blood clot behind the knee can present as knee pain.
These are just a few examples.

Swelling of the knee in many cases should be aspirated ( a small sample removed with a needle) for further studies if the diagnosis has not been made. Treatment depends on findings.

Recurrent or chronic knee pain may require arthroscopy. This is a minimally invasive procedure. Several small incisions are made over the joint and a fiberoptic camera with light is inserted. The joint cavity can now be seen.This procedure aids in diagnosis and treatment. Repairs can be done through "the scope". Recovery is quicker than with older procedures.

I hope this review is helpful.