Knee Pain Doctor Collegeville, PA
Anyone suffering from knee pain can attest to how much this pain can interfere with daily life. Patients in Pennsylvania who suffer from burning knee pain describe it as something sharp jabbing into the knee to feeling like the knee joint itself is on fire. This pain can also cause patients to lose sleep, which only makes the problem worse since fatigue always worsens pain. A knee pain doctor in Collegeville, PA can diagnose the cause of the pain and develop a comprehensive treatment plan. Some of the more common causes of burning knee pain include the following.
Arthritis
There are two types of arthritis that can cause burning knee pain, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is chronic and causes the joints to swell, leaving the joints feeling stiff, hot, and in pain. There are often other joints affected in addition to the knee. Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis come and go, with patients suffering through painful flare-ups, and then the symptoms will go into remission.
Osteoarthritis develops because of the erosion of the cartilage and knee bones. It may affect both knees or just one, however, it only affects the knees. No other joints develop osteoarthritis. The typical patient develops the painful condition after the age of 65.
Bursitis
Bursae are small fluid-filled pockets that are between bone and soft tissues which reduce friction, helping to keep movements smooth. Bursae are located throughout the body. There are 15 bursae placed around the knee. Whenever there is inflammation of any of these bursae, the result is burning knee pain. This is usually accompanied by swelling. The most frequent knee bursa that develops issues include:
- Iliotibial bursitis (outer side of the knee)
- Infrapatellar bursitis (just below the knee)
- Pes Anserine bursitis (inner side of the knee)
- Prepatellar bursitis (front of the knee)
- Semimembranosus bursitis (behind the knee)
Gout
Gout is caused when a patient has high amounts of uric acid in their blood, causing inflammation to joints. Many sufferers describe the pain as their knee feeling as if it is on fire, with the knee becoming swollen and red and feeling hot to the touch. Many patients who have gout also have a hard time walking. Although flare-ups usually last a few weeks, they often return just months later.
Infection
Although not as common as other causes of burning knee pain, infections in the knee joint can cause the same type of pain. A Collegeville, PA knee pain doctor would refer to this as septic arthritis. In addition to burning pain, there is often swelling and redness around the knee. Patients also complain of not feeling well and are often running a high temperature. Usually, only one knee joint is infected.
Trauma
Certain types of trauma to the knee joint can also cause burning knee pain. When there has been a trauma, there are often other symptoms the patient may complain about, such as instability, locking, popping, or stiffness. Some of the more common traumas are falling, twisting, or hit to the joint which can cause fractures, torn cartilage, or soft tissue, leading to bleeding around the knee. This bleeding puts pressure on the nerves in this area which results in burning knee pain.
ACL Injuries and Knee Pain
There are many different types of knee injuries, all with a variety of causes – but fortunately, a knee pain doctor in Collegeville, Pennsylvania can help. Knee pain can be a result of age, accident, or just plain bad luck, but it always gets in the way of living your best life. If you think you need medical attention for your knee pain, read on and see how Premier Osteoarthritis Centers of Pennsylvania can ease your pain and get you back on track.
It’s important to understand the root cause of your knee pain before seeking treatment that may be invasive, painful, expensive, and ineffective. If you’re unsure about the cause of your knee pain, you should get in touch with a specialist as soon as possible. The right knee pain doctor can go over your medical history and the nature of your knee pain to better determine why your knee is suddenly painful – or why it’s been painful for a long time.
One of the more common knee injuries is a torn ACL. While torn ACLs are more common in the sports world, it can happen to anyone, doing any kind of activity. Without proper medical care and attention, a torn ACL has the potential to put you out of commission for a long time, so it’s essential to learn about this frequently occurring source of knee pain.
What is an ACL, and How Can I Tear It?
ACL stands for Anterior Cruciate Ligament. It runs down the front of your leg, connecting your femur (your thigh bone) to your shin. Because the ACL connects your femur to your shin, it has to thread through the knee joint. And because this ligament runs through your knee joint, it’s in danger of tearing during strenuous or sudden activity.
When you tear your ACL, you definitely know it. The first sign of a torn ACL is a loud popping, as well as lots and lots of pain. Once you tear your ACL, you won’t be able to weight on that knee, and you may experience intense swelling. Another sign of a torn ACL is a reduced range of motion, which can prevent you from moving your leg altogether. With plenty of swelling, tenderness, and even a loud popping sound to warn you, torn ACLs typically call for immediate medical attention. But what comes next?
Recovering from Knee Injuries
Recovering from a serious knee injury like a torn ACL is a long and difficult road. You’ll have to work hard and commit yourself to recovery, and it requires input from doctors, physical therapists, and other specialists to finally develop a game plan that works for yourself and everyone else involved in your recovery. In the case of a torn ACL, you might need crutches and a brace, but you may also need to completely adjust how you live your life over the duration of your recovery. It’s a challenge, but the right knee pain doctor in Collegeville, PA can help.
Contact Premier Osteoarthritis Centers of Pennsylvania Today
Whatever the cause of your knee pain, Premier Osteoarthritis Centers of Pennsylvania is ready to help. If you’re experiencing recurring knee pain that is preventing you from living your best life, you don’t have to jump straight to invasive, expensive surgeries: Contact us today and see how we can help, and visit us to see how a knee pain doctor in Collegeville, PA can help you overcome your knee pain and get your mobility back.
What Is Osteoarthritis?
If you’re thinking about connecting with a knee pain doctor Collegeville, PA residents trust because you’ve developed “old knees,” you’re certainly not alone. Starting in middle age and becoming progressively more common during advanced age, many Americans suffer from a degenerative knee condition known as osteoarthritis. Essentially, osteoarthritis develops when cartilage in the a joint – such as the knee – and/or the underlying bone around the joint begin to disintegrate. Although this condition is painful and can cause stiffness and limited mobility, there are opportunities for meaningful treatment that you can take advantage of.
While the medical providers at Premier Osteoarthritis Centers of Pennsylvania treat a number of conditions, there are good reasons why the word “osteoarthritis” is featured in our name. Our team understands this condition and understands how to help you if you’ve developed osteoarthritis challenges in your knees and/or other joints. Read on to learn more about the ways in which we assist patients who are hoping to avoid knee replacement surgery, those who are preparing to undergo knee replacement surgery, and those who are recovering from surgical intervention aimed at addressing their osteoarthritis.
How Is Osteoarthritis Treated?
There are a number of different ways that the Collegeville, PA knee pain doctor team at Premier Osteoarthritis Centers of Pennsylvania may approach treatment and management of your osteoarthritis. It is important to keep in mind that not every approach works for every osteoarthritis patient and not every approach needs to be embraced in a vacuum. For example, you may find that using Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Acetaminophen, and/or Duloxetine helps to alleviate your pain just as it is starting to spike if you “catch it” before it spirals out of control. With that said, you wouldn’t have to rely on medication alone to treat your osteoarthritis, if you were willing to embrace additional and/or alternative therapy approaches.
The Collegeville, PA knee pain doctor team at our practice employs a variety of non-medication approaches to osteoarthritis and management. Many of our patients find that a combination of medication (as needed), physical therapy, occupational therapy, Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) treatment, and/or knee injections help them to remain active and mobile in ways that popping medication alone simply doesn’t allow for.
Know also that if we believe that our treatments either don’t suit your needs or are not meeting your needs, we will do everything we can to assist you with your pain management and recovery if you opt for surgical intervention as opposed to non-surgical treatments only. Some patients find that nothing short of a knee replacement will meet their needs and there is absolutely no shame in that reality. We assist patients before they undergo surgery, those who are hoping to avoid surgery, and patients who have recently benefitted from surgical intervention. If you’re in pain and the experienced medical team at Premier Osteoarthritis Centers of Pennsylvania can be of assistance to you, we will provide you with the support that you require.
FAQ About Knee Pain
Knee pain is extremely common, and it is one of the top reasons why many people see an orthopedic surgeon. However, if you’re suffering from the pain and you probably have questions about your knee pain or you searching for a solution and that’s what we’re here to talk about.
What causes knee pain?
Knee pain has many possible causes, as listed above, from fractures, sprains, strains, arthritis, and more. That is why it is important to ensure that you get your knee pain diagnosed so that you can treat the underlying issue, not just the pain itself. If you do not treat the underlying issue, the pain will continue to get worse.
Could weight gain contribute to knee pain?
Because the knee is taking all of the force between your body weight in the ground if you do gain weight you may experience some knee pain. It is important to note that your knee joints are able to hold 2 to 4 times your body weight, so the heavier you weigh, the more strain your knee experiences. However, you should understand that gaining weight is not going to be the only cause of knee pain and there may be other underlying causes that need to be explored.
Besides knee pain, what are the other symptoms of injuries to the knee and condition?
If you injured a knee injury then you might experience symptoms such as having an instability of the need, limited mobility of the knee, loss of your balance, snapping or clicking sensation when you move union, stiffness, and even swelling.
Will knee pain go away on its own?
Not all types of knee pain is going to require surgery or physical therapy to treat, however determining whether knee pain is going to go away on its own is going to depend on the condition or injury that you are dealing with. It is important to understand that you started to have your knee pain diagnosed because, with minor injuries such as sprains and strains, the pain is going to go on its own however you should not assume that you simply have a minor injury and wait for the pain to go away because you currently are having a more severe injury are taking care of yourself incorrectly.
When should I see a doctor for my knee pain?
You should see a doctor for your knee pain if you think it is severe, or if the pain is severe. Everyone has different levels of pain that they can tolerate. You should be aware of her pain level and what that is going to translate to you when you have an injury. Pay attention to your body and the pain signals you are feeling. You should see a doctor if you’ve sustained an injury that has caused her to need to swell, and your range of motion has become reduced after this injury. If basic home remedies do not do what European in any way you should see a doctor, if you develop a fever you should see a doctor and if you notice a deformity after the injury you should see a doctor.
How Can You Relive Knee Pain Without Medication?
This is going to depend on what your knee pain doctor Collegeville, PA recommends to you. The way that many people fine relief is in resting the joint. Staying off of your knee can easily help realive your knee pain. You should also consider applying a cold compress to the area after sitting down and wrap your knee with a bandage to redue the likelihood of swelling. You should also keep your foot elevated on pillow while resting so that your knee doesn’t have to work as hard to stablise you body’s weight while you are in bed.
How Can I Prevent Knee Pain?
Preventing knee pain doesn’t have to be difficult. One of the easiest way is to increase your activity level slowly over time. This means when you begin exercising again you should walk rather than run. You need to build up to that. You should also always warm your joints up before exercising and cool them down afterward. This could be by starting with stretching and ending with stretching. You should also replace your sports hoes often. Having the proper shoes on your feet can really help your knees in the long run.
How Do I Know If I Need a Knee Replacement?
There are many reasons that you may need to consider a knee replacement surgery. You may need surgery if you have severe knee pain that isn’t going away and is interfering with your life, swelling that doesn’t get better with medications, knee stiffness, or knee pain that hurts when you rest. While physical therapy can often help then you may need to condsier getting a knee replacement. While it has been shown that physical therapy helps aorund 76% of paitents it doesn’t help everyone but it is worth a try.
How Long Does it Take For Knee Pain to Go Away?
Most knee pain can be treated at home and you should start to feel better after a few days. As we age our joints change and knee pain can become more common. You are also at more risk for knee pain if you are overweight. If you are having knee pain for longer than a few days or it isn’t getting better, then you should contact your doctor. This could easily be a sign that something else is going on and you should get it checked out. If you have swelling that will not go down, then don’t hesitate to reach out to a Collegeville knee pain doctor.
How Long is the Recovery From Meniscus Surgery?
Everyone is going to be different. The recovery time is going to depend on the type of surgery you had to repair your meniscus. It takes longer for a meniscus replari to heal than a meniscectomy. Typically, recovery from this type of surgery can take anyone from six weeks to three months. Your aftercare is often going to involve the RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) method. You should follow your doctor’s instructions as this will allow for the best possible chance that you recover quickly. If you have any more questions reach out to the Premier Osteoarthritis Centers of Pennsylvania and a Collegeville knee pain doctor can help you.
Contact Our Office for Help
If you suffer from knee pain, call Premier Osteoarthritis Centers of Pennsylvania to schedule an appointment with a Collegeville, PA knee pain doctor and find out what treatment options may be available for your condition.