Knee injuries can happen to anyone at any time. Athletes get hurt on the court, and we all can slip, twisting our knee and causing a sprain or a more complicated injury.
Treatment for a knee injury may require repairing bones, ligaments, cartilage, tendons, muscles and joints. The fellowship-trained and board-certified orthopedists at Norton Orthopedic Institute specialize in rehabilitation strategies as well as arthroscopic surgery and other minimally invasive procedures that are used if necessary. Our aim is to help you return to the activities you enjoy most.
ACL Tear
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) connects your thighbone (femur) to your shinbone (tibia) and runs under your kneecap (patella). A sprain or tear is most common during activities involving sudden starts and stops or sudden changes in direction. It’s very common in activities such as basketball, football and soccer, but can affect nonathletes as well.
Pain on the Outside of the Knee
Lateral pain, or pain on the outside of the knee, can be sharp and defined, come and go, and change over time. It can be caused by several different reasons including:
- Activities such as running or cycling long distances every week, or when you suddenly increase distance or frequency of running or cycling
- Injury, especially one that pushes the knee outward from the opposite leg
- The way you walk, as it may be putting strain on the outer knee
- Arthritis, bursitis or tendinitis in the area
Pain on the Inside of the Knee
Medial pain, or pain on the inside of the knee, can be sharp and defined, come and go, and change over time. Inner knee pain is often the result of deteriorating cartilage in the joint, but there are other causes as well, including:
- Activities such as running or cycling long distances every week, or when you suddenly increase distance or frequency of running or cycling
- Medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury — the MCL runs along the outside of the inner knee and can be strained or torn
- The way you walk, as it may be putting strain on the inner knee
- Arthritis, bursitis or tendinitis in the area
Nonsurgical Treatment for Knee Pain
Minor knee pain often can be treated at home. The first home remedy is the “RICE” method:
- Rest the knee.
- Ice the area three or four times a day for about 20 minutes at a time.
- Compress the knee using an elastic compression bandage.
- Elevate the knee with pillows or blankets to the same level or higher than your heart.
You also may take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen to reduce swelling and pain.
If symptoms worsen over the next few days, or if the above remedies don’t make you feel better, see your health care provider.
You may need an assistive device such as a brace or crutches. Or your provider may prescribe physical therapy to help strengthen and stabilize the knee.
Other nonsurgical treatments include injections such as corticosteroids.
If you do not respond to nonsurgical treatments, your doctor may recommend knee surgery to repair or replace the knee joint or surrounding tissue, ligaments or tendons.
Surgical options can include:
- A tiny camera and tools can be inserted into your knee in a minimally invasive procedure. With the camera providing detailed visibility, your orthopedist can trim damaged cartilage, remove loose debris, irrigate the inside of the knee and even repair an ACL tear or other damage.
- Joint damage can be treated by removing a small amount of bone from the top of the shinbone or the bottom of the thighbone. Bone is cut and reshaped to shift weight off the damaged side of the knee.
- Partial knee replacement. The surgeon removes either the inside or outside of the knee joint and replaces it with artificial parts.
- Total knee replacement. The surgeon will replace the ends of the femur (both inside and outside parts of the joint) and tibia with metal and plastic pieces. The surgeon may place a plastic button on the back of the kneecap to replace worn-out cartilage.
