Knee Pain

What causes knee pain?

Knee pain has multiple causes, as your knee absorbs a lot of stress and loading with activity.  Whether its standing, walking, climbing stairs, or running and jumping, our knees are constantly moving and active. Some of the common conditions that cause knee pain include:

• Meniscal tears
• Arthritis
• Bursitis
• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries
• Medial collateral ligament injuries
• Patellar tendonitis/tendinopathy
• Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries
• Quadriceps tendonitis/tendinosis
• Runner’s knee (patellofemoral pain)
• Stress fractures
• instability

Ligament injuries like ACL tears are a frequent traumatic cause of knee injuries, especially for athletes and people who are physically active. Other overuse injuries affecting the patella and knee tendons are common in all ages and activity levels.  Knees absorb force that is proportional to our weight, so maintaining a healthy weight can help protect our knees.  Whereas being  overweight can increase our risk of knee pain.

How is knee pain treated?

Initially, knee pain treatments are likely to be non-invasive therapies like medication, heat or ice, exercise based interventions like physical therapy, and activity modification. You might need to wear a knee brace to support healing tissues.

While these treatments are often successful, if they aren’t, interventions can help.  Interventional orthopedic options may include steroid and anesthetic medications to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. 

Viscosupplementation injections containing hyaluronic acid can help by reducing pain, stiffness, and lubricating the joints.

Injuries like meniscal tears and ligament ruptures often fail to heal on their own, and knee surgery might be suggested as your only option. Degeneration from arthritis can result in knee replacement surgery, which is the most common type of joint replacement.

Some surgeries may speed up the degeneration that leads to osteoarthritis and worsens the biomechanical problems that initially led to surgery.

At Sports Health Northwest, Inc, you have another option – orthobiologics

How does regenerative medicine help with knee pain?

Orthobiologic treatments include PRP (platelet-rich plasma), alpha 2 macroglobulin (A2M) injections, and stem cell therapies, which contain the substances your body makes when it needs to heal itself. 

Dr. Westerdahl may utilize platelets from your blood or stem cells from your bone marrow, then inject them into your affected joint in a concentrated form.

You may feel a meaningful difference in your knee pain after just one treatment. However, some patients require a series of treatments to experience the full effects of these orthobiologic treatments. 

Find out more about regenerative medicine treatment for knee pain by calling Sports Health Northwest, Inc today or booking an appointment online.