KNEE PAIN
About
The knee is very susceptible to injury due to twisting, over-stretching, hyper-flexion and hyperextension. Pain often roots on sprains or strains, each of them categorized by doctors in three degrees of severity. In grade-one sprains, there is a stretch of the ligament but no tear of fiber. In grade-two there is a partial tear of fibers, and in grade-three there is completely disruption of the ligament with heavy damage.
Common causes for knee pain:
• Direct Blow
• Sprains
• Meniscus Tear
• Strains
• Osteoarthritis
• MCL, LCL, ACL Injuries
- Treatment
- Conservative
- Medications
- Surgery
At South Miami Walk-In Orthopedics and Sports Medicine we offer comprehensive care solutions for patients suffering from knee pain. We count on the vast experience of our doctors who work meticulously to get the proper diagnosis and treatment for our patients. In general, our procedure includes examining the affected area in close detail and designing a personalized plan of treatment that maximizes the chances of a proper and fast recovery.
Conservative therapy focuses on reducing or eliminating the overdone motion that affected the knee in the first place. This type of therapy consists of reducing the usual activities performed by the knee, applying ice and getting proper rest. Additional physical therapies are also recommended in order to improve blood circulation, knee strength, and muscle flexibility.
Pain medications are often prescribed to patients who have swelling or are suffering from high levels of pain. Steroid injections are also given in severe cases. However, these should only be taken as prescribed by a doctor and subsequent follow-ups should be scheduled in order to measure the effectiveness of the medications. Glucosamine Chondroitin, Omega 3 Fish Oil and MSN are the most commonly prescribed medications.
If the injury is intense as is often in the case of athletes, then surgery is the preferred treatment followed by non-surgical therapies. However, some cases require pre-habilitation therapy in order to strengthen the quadriceps and hamstring muscles before proceeding forward with surgery.