The only was to know for sure what’s happening with your knee is to seek treatment for your knee pain. If you are experiencing discomfort, it critical to identify a knee pain specialist in NJ. The board certified doctors at Pain Treatment Specialists are experts in interventional pain management techniques that can both identify the source and cause of your knee pain, while also creating treatment plans that promote healing and pain relief. However, it is important to understand what the potential causes of your knee pain are, as well as what treatments for knee pain are available before you schedule an appointment.
Knee Pain Specialist in NJ Identifies Symptoms of Knee Pain
Knee pain occurs more often than you think! Not only does it affect people of all ages, it is a common complaint heard by doctors.Knee pain can center around your kneecap (patella), the knee joint (tibia or femur), knee cartilage (meniscus), or various tendons and ligaments that surround the knee. Some warning signs of knee pain include:
- Localized swelling or stiffness of the knee
- Redness and warmth
- Instability or general weakness while standing
- Crunching or popping sounds
- Inability to fully straighten your leg
- Knee feels like it is “giving out” while you stand, walk, or run
If any of these symptoms apply to you, it’s time to seek treatment for knee pain. The interventional pain doctors at Pain Treatment Specialists are top knee pain specialists in NJ, creating treatment plans designed to return you to enjoyable daily activities. Living with knee pain doesn’t need to be permanent, and our board certified doctors are here to make your pain manageable.
Causes of Knee Pain
When you are suffering from knee pain, one of the first areas that your interventional pain doctor will focus on is the cause of your knee pain. By identifying both the specific symptoms, as well as the cause, your knee pain specialist in NJ can begin to craft a treatment for knee pain that is tailored to meet your specific needs. The causes of knee pain fall into one of three categories:
- Acute Injury: When you hit, bump, or twist your knee and then experience pain, it is likely that you have experienced an acute knee injury. More specifically, an acute injury can affect fall under the following areas:
- Ligamentous Injury: This is a tear that affects the ligaments which stabilize the knee and can lead to pain and joint dysfunction. For example, an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear is common among athletes because it is one of the ligaments connecting your shin bone to your thigh bone.
- Fracture: This injury is commonly experienced during the trauma of a car accident or fall. The bones of the knee, including the kneecap, can fracture or break.
- Torn Meniscus: This is the “shock absorber” between your thigh bone and shin bone. A torn meniscus occurs if you’ve made a sudden twist while also putting pressure on your leg.
- Chronic Conditions: A chronic condition is one that can occur from overuse or through repetitive motions of your knee. Some examples of chronic conditions include:
- Patellar Tendonitis: Also known as “jumper’s knee”, this pain is typically felt while running downhill or descending stairs. Stress on the patella tendon while running, jumping, or kicking causes this type of tendonitis.
- Bursitis: Bursa are tiny, fluid-filled sacs near your joints, and either through aging or repetitive motions the sacs become inflamed.
- Medical Conditions: A medical condition, which is diagnosed by a general physician, can lead to knee pain. Some common conditions that lead to knee pain include:
- Rheumatoid Arthritis: An autoimmune disease that causes swelling of the joints along with severe pain.
- Gout: This form of arthritis is extremely painful during flare-ups.
- Septic Arthritis: This type of infectious arthritis can affect the knee joint and cause swelling and localized pain.
Treatments for Knee Pain to Promote Healing
Because the causes of knee pain are vast, it is important to seek a knee pain specialist in NJ who is trained to identify a knee injury as well as chronic knee pain. At Pain Treatment Specialists, our board certified interventional pain doctors have a wide variety of cutting-edge treatments designed to promote healing and provide treatment for your knee pain. Some of the available treatment plans include:
- Steroid Knee Injection: Also known as corticosteroids, this medication can be administered in a variety of ways to reduce knee inflammation and knee pain. This fast-acting injection provides immediate relief of irritated and inflamed joints, bursa, and tendons
- Genicular Nerve Block: This cutting-edge procedure (also known as “G Block”) blocks the sensory nerves that transmit pain to the brain. It can also be used as a diagnostic tool to identify the progression of arthritis.
- Physical Therapy: The goal of physical therapy is to improve mobility, relieve pain, and target specific exercises that strengthen your knee. Also known as rehab, this treatment for knee pain can address both knee injuries as well as chronic knee pain.
Don’t let your knee pain prevent you from enjoying your morning workout. Schedule an appointment with top knee pain specialists in NJ at Pain Treatment Specialists to find a treatment for knee pain that works for you.