Knee pain is an incredibly common problem for people of all ages. The knee is a complex and mobile joint that bears weight, absorbs shock and facilitates movement for daily activities like walking, standing, running, jumping, crouching, bending, turning and lifting. Because the knee joint is a crucial component for so many of our daily functions, it’s incredibly vulnerable to pain and injuries. 

Knee pain could stem from multiple causes, including an acute injury or a medical condition. Some causes of knee pain are obvious — like experiencing pain after falling and hitting your knee — but sometimes knee pain appears without injury or apparent cause. If you’re experiencing acute or chronic knee pain, keep reading to learn more.    

What Causes Knee Pain?

The knee joint facilitates movement and bears weight, which makes it one of the most injury-prone structures in the body. Knee pain can be the result of:

• Acute traumatic injury from a fall, car accident or sports accident
• Acute traumatic injury from taking a direct blow to the knee or twisting suddenly while bearing weight
• Overuse or repetitive use injury from activities like running, jumping, lifting heavy objects or performing a physically demanding job
• Natural wear and tear from years of walking, running, bending and sitting
• Degenerative joint disorders
• Mechanical imbalances
• Infections

The primary risk factors for developing knee problems include age, obesity and participation in sports or other high-impact activities.   

5 Common Knee Conditions and Injuries

The knee joint is made up of three bones — the tibia (shinbone), femur (thighbone) and patella (kneecap) — that are connected and supported by surrounding muscles, ligaments, tendons and cartilage. Any part of the joint listed above can contribute to knee pain or a knee injury. Here are some of the most common types of injuries and conditions (this list is not exhaustive):

1.) Ligament tears. The knee contains three ligaments: the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), medial lateral ligament (MCL) and the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). Tears occur during a sudden change in direction or twist while weight bearing. ACL, MCL and PCL tears are common injuries among athletes. 

2.) Tendon inflammation. Overworking or overstretching the knee tendons can cause them to become inflamed and irritated — a condition called tendinitis. Without treatment and rest, an inflamed tendon could rupture, causing severe pain and loss of movement.    

3.) Cartilage tears. The meniscus is a type of rubbery cartilage that sits between the bones of the knee. It provides cushioning and shock absorption for the joint. The meniscus can tear during a sudden change in direction or twist while weight bearing. Meniscal tears are a common knee injury among athletes who play contact sports.

4.) Bursitis. Bursae are fluid-filled sacs that cushion the bones, tendons and muscles surrounding the knee joint. Repetitive use of the knee joint or frequent kneeling or sitting on the knees can cause the bursae to become inflamed and irritated. 

5.) Arthritis. Arthritis is a leading cause of knee pain. The most common form of arthritis — osteoarthritis — develops from natural wear and tear on the joint over time and causes the articular cartilage covering the ends of bones to fray and wear off. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition that damages and weakens the cartilage, underlying bone and connective tissues of the joint. A history of multiple knee injuries (like ligament or meniscal tears) increases your chances of developing knee arthritis. Another form of arthritis — rheumatoid arthritis — is an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation in the lining of the knee joint. Like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis damages and weakens the entire joint.      

Signs and Symptoms to Know

Signs and symptoms of knee problems vary based on the type of injury. However, if you have knee pain accompanied by any of the following symptoms, it’s time to make an appointment with your doctor.

• Swelling
• Tenderness
• Redness and warmth
• Stiffness
• Instability or a “giving out” feeling when weight bearing
• Inability to bear full weight on the knee
• Inability to fully straighten or bend the knee
• A “locking up” feeling
• Popping, crunching or grinding noises

How Is Knee Pain Treated?

Your treatment plan for knee pain will vary, depending on the exact cause of pain. Most likely, your doctor will recommend non-operative treatments first. Conservative methods may include: 

• Resting the knee and avoiding or modifying activities that aggravate pain.
• Wearing assistive devices like wraps and braces to support and stabilize the knee. Wraps and braces are not a long-term treatment, but they’re effective for acute pain and flare-ups. Long-term immobilization can lead to pain, stiffness and weakness. 
• Using hot and cold compresses to reduce pain and swelling. 
• Taking analgesics (pain relievers) or anti-inflammatory medications to reduce inflammation, pain and swelling. For an underlying condition like rheumatoid arthritis, your doctor may prescribe disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to slow the progression of the disease.
• Undergoing physical therapy to strengthen the surrounding muscles, improve flexibility and balance, and increase range of motion. If your knee pain stems from a sports injury, physical therapy exercises can help correct imbalances and improve your form.
• Receiving injections to reduce pain and inflammation. Corticosteroid injections temporarily reduce pain and inflammation for people with arthritis or joint injuries. Hyaluronic acid injections lubricate damaged joints to reduce pain and improve mobility.
• Making lifestyle changes like losing excess weight to take stress and pressure off the knees. 

If conservative treatments aren’t effective, or if you have a severe injury or damage, your doctor may recommend surgery. The type of surgery you need will depend on your injury. Arthroscopic procedures are performed to remove or repair torn cartilage and repair torn ligaments. Partial and total knee replacements are performed to treat severe bone or joint damage that can’t be repaired. 

In many cases, knee pain responds well to nonoperative and operative treatments. However, degenerative knee conditions like arthritis cause chronic pain, progressive damage and loss of movement, even with conservative management. A history of overuse injuries, ligament tears or meniscal tears may increase your chances of developing arthritis in the future. The downside of the traditional treatments listed above is that they only address the symptoms of arthritis and don’t treat the underlying joint, bone and tissue damage.     

iO-Core Treats Chronic Joint Pain

If you’re experiencing chronic pain and loss of movement from arthritis or another degenerative condition, then the iO-Core™ procedure may be a viable treatment option for you. iO-Core™ is a minimally invasive procedure that combines orthopedics and biologics to treat degenerating cartilage and underlying bone and tissue damage caused by arthritis. Treating the underlying damage and not just the surface layer of cartilage has shown better results in decreasing pain and improving mobility for many patients. Many people who were told they needed a total joint replacement surgery have found long-term pain relief from iO-Core™ instead.  

Contact us today to see if you qualify for the iO-Core™ procedure.