5 Common Causes of Chronic Knee Pain

Occasional knee pain that goes away usually isn’t a concern. However, when your knees seem to hurt every day and nothing helps the pain, you may have a chronic condition. Treatment depends on what’s causing the pain, meaning you’ll need to seek expert care for your knees.

At our facility in Coral Springs, Florida, Dr. Steven J. Svabek offers specialized orthopedic care when your knees are bothering you. Dr. Svabek and his team provide compassionate service and cutting-edge technology to find out what’s causing your pain. He then gives you the personalized treatments you need to finally get rid of your knee pain.

Signs of knee trouble

Knee pain can come on suddenly or creep up on you slowly over time. It’s sometimes caused by overuse of your joint, or from an injury due to trauma. Either way, it’s important to understand the signs of knee trouble early on.

Pain is typically one of the first indications of a problem. However, there are other worrisome signs and symptoms that signal a need for treatment as well. These symptoms include:

Swelling of the joint
Stiffness in your knee
Weakness
Instability
Warmth or redness
Inability to bear weight
Trouble straightening your knee
Popping or crunching noises

Anytime you have these symptoms, and they don’t go away with home remedies or rest, it’s vital that you seek treatment. The longer you let your knee pain go, the worse the condition gets over time.

5 prevalent causes of knee pain

There are many causes of chronic pain in your knee. Identifying the problem without an expert like Dr. Svabek is nearly impossible, especially when it comes to chronic issues. A few of the most prevalent reasons you have knee pain include:

1. Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis happens when wear-and-tear causes destruction of the cartilage that lines your joint. This leads to pain, inflammation, and other uncomfortable symptoms.

2. Tendinitis

Tendinitis is inflammation of one of the tendons in your knee. This often causes pain near the front of your knee, making it hard to climb stairs or walk uphill.

3. Bursitis

Bursa sacs are fluid-filled clusters that provide cushioning and prevent friction in your joint. Bursitis occurs with chronic overuse of your knee, causing pain and inflammation.

4. Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis happens when your immune system mistakenly identifies the lining of your joint as a threat. This causes it to attack your joint, causing damage along with inflammation and chronic pain.

5. Chondromalacia patella

A traumatic injury or damage from overuse leads to chondromalacia patella. This happens when there’s damage to the cartilage that’s found under your kneecap, or patella. The cartilage damage may be minor or severe, leading to severe pain and inflammation.

Any of these conditions can be brought on by factors such as your job, lifestyle, obesity, or an injury that goes undiagnosed or treated.

How is knee pain diagnosed?

When your knee pain is affecting your daily activities, it’s a good time to seek treatment from Dr. Svabek and his team. At your initial appointment, Dr. Svabek discusses your symptoms with you, and asks about your past medical history.

Once Dr. Svabek has a good idea of what’s been going on, he offers other diagnostic tools, including:

Physical exam

Dr. Svabek has you point to where your knee hurts, so he can examine that area. He asks you what makes the pain better or worse, and palpates your knee to try and find any abnormalities.

Imaging studies

If Dr. Svabek is concerned about a problem in your joint, he orders imaging studies to see what’s going on. Typically, an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan is used to find damage within your joint space. These images help Dr. Svabek come up with a treatment plan.

Arthroscopy

If you receive conservative treatment and your pain continues, Dr. Svabek suggests a minimally invasive procedure called an arthroscopy. During this procedure, Dr. Svabek uses an arthroscope, which has a camera and light attached to it. This allows him to see within your joint on a screen in the operating room.

During the arthroscopy, Dr. Svabek can not only diagnose any problems within your knee, but also use small instruments to fix problems with your tissues or joint.

Sometimes the arthroscopy is all you need to take care of the pain in your joint. However, if pain persists, Dr. Svabek offers other methods of treatment to provide you with relief.

Don’t continue to suffer from debilitating knee pain — our team can help. Call the office in Coral Springs today at 954-466-9140 or request an appointment on the website using our convenient scheduling tool.