What are the symptoms of knee injury?
Knee injury symptoms vary in severity depending on where in the knee the injury occurred and how. People with knee injury typically complain of:
- An inability to fully straighten the leg
- Pain when moving
- Swelling
- Stiffness
- A feeling of instability
- Crunching or popping noises
- Redness
Walking around on a knee injury can make it worse. If you experience any of these symptoms, schedule an appointment with Dr. Perlman.
What causes knee injury?
A knee injury is any occurrence that affects the tendons, ligaments, bursae, cartilage, or bones that form the knee joint or surround it. Because of the way the knee joint moves and the amount of use it receives, the knee is one of the most frequently injured body parts. Common knee injuries include:
Torn meniscus
The meniscus is the cartilage between the shin (tibia) and thigh (femur) bones, which acts as a shock absorber, cushioning the two. If you twist your knee sharply, the meniscus can tear. This is a common injury for snowboarders.
Fractures
The knee comprises three bones: the knee cap (patella), thigh, and shin bones. Any of these can shatter or crack under impact, such as a fall or vehicle collision.
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury
The ACL is a ligament connecting the shinbone to the thigh bone. Sudden changes of direction, like when playing basketball, can cause it to tear.
Knee bursitis
The bursae are small fluid-filled sacs that sit along the outside of the knee joint, allowing tendons and ligaments to glide over it. Knee bursitis is inflammation in the bursae.
Arthritis
Arthritis, or joint inflammation, affects the knee in several ways, depending on the type of arthritis you have. Osteoarthritis causes wear and tear to the cartilage, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, septic arthritis causes infection in the knee, and pseudogout causes calcium crystals to build in the knee joint.
Dr. Perlman has years of experience in treating knee injuries using minimally invasive treatment methods.
What is the treatment for a knee injury?
Dr. Perlman assesses your knee injury and prescribes a treatment program tailored to your needs. It may include:
- Knee injections, such as corticosteroids,
- Regenerative therapy, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
- Pain-relief medication
- Physical therapy
- Lifestyle changes
Ignoring a knee injury only makes it worse. Call Kai Sports Medicine LLC today or request an appointment through this website.
