Orthopedic regenerative sports medicine: info@austinorthobio.com
Knee pain can, and sometimes should, stop you in your tracks. Pain is one way your body lets you know there’s a problem that needs some attention. Kelly Cunningham, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who leads the team at Austin Ortho + Biologics in Austin, Texas. He’s a recognized expert in knee pain and the conditions that cause it. Don’t do further damage to your knee by “working” through the pain. Instead, call Dr. Cunningham today for an appointment or book your visit online.
The causes of knee pain are as diverse as the patients experiencing it. Dr. Cunningham uses a detailed review of symptoms to help identify the cause, which includes where and when you experience the pain and what relieves your pain.
For instance, the pain felt at the anterior or front aspect of your knee may be due to problems with your kneecap (patella), such as patella tendinitis. When your pain is at the back of your knee, you may be experiencing hamstring tendonitis that’s causing discomfort in your knee region.
Dr. Cunningham also completes a comprehensive knee exam as well as diagnostic tests, such as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other advanced imaging studies, to further determine what condition(s) may be causing your symptoms.
Other common causes of knee pain include:
Signs and symptoms that may indicate a problem with your knee and might occur with or without significant pain include:
You may also experience pain with kneeling, running, or walking that decreases when you rest your knee. Sometimes arthritis can cause stiffness in the morning that gradually decreases as you get up and move around. Problems in your feet or ankles can throw your gait out of alignment, which can cause knee, hip, and lower back pain.
Dr. Cunningham recommends treatment based on the nature and severity of your knee pain, as well as the joint damage he notes on exam and testing.
When you experience sudden knee pain during an activity, Dr. Cunningham recommends his patients follow the P.R.I.C.E. protocol, which stands for:
