Occasionally in life, you will experience knee pain. It’s usually nothing more serious than sore knees after a long day of hard work or physical activity. In these cases, you can usually treat your knee with some rest and simple home remedies. However, there are many causes of knee pain that require professional treatment.
When to see a doctor for knee pain
The trick to getting professional help for knee pain is to know the difference between sore knees and serious symptoms. If you’re displaying any of the following symptoms, you may need to see a doctor for treatment:
- Excessive swelling
- Limited range of motion
- More severe pain than usual
- Redness and tenderness
- Fever
Conditions that cause significant knee pain
Several conditions can cause knee pain that requires professional medical treatment. If you are experiencing significant pain in the knee, you may have one of these common conditions:
- Arthritis — Arthritis is the degradation of cartilage in your joints. When this happens in the knee, friction increases in the joint, which causes pain, loss of motion, and damage to the bones.
- Bursitis — The bones and tendons in your knees are cushioned from friction between each other by the bursae. Inflammation of the bursae, known as bursitis, can cause pain and swell in the knee.
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) Injury — The ACL is a ligament in the knee that connects your shin and thigh bone. A sudden twisting motion or bending the knee in the wrong direction can cause the ACL to tear. This is painful and affects the stability of your knee.
- Torn meniscus — The meniscus is a piece of cartilage that cushions the thigh bone and shinbone where they connect at the knee. An impact to the knee or a sudden twisting motion can cause one of the menisci to tear, which is painful and limits the use of your knee
Visit the iRISE Spine and Joint Institute for knee pain treatment
If you’re displaying symptoms of knee pain that are beyond the normal kind of soreness you can experience after hard work, you should visit a doctor for treatment. At the iRISE Spine and Joint Institute, our team can evaluate the condition of your knee and give you the treatment you need. Contact us today to learn more about knee pain treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.
