Understanding Knee Pain

Most people will experience knee pain at some point in their lives. The knee joint (where the tibia, femur, and patella bones meet) is the largest joint in the body, and it is critical for everyday movements like walking, running, and jumping.

The location of your knee pain is an important clue that will help your doctor diagnose your issue. Knee pain may occur in the front of the knee (anterior), in the area closest to your hand (lateral), on the inside of the joint (medial), or behind the kneecap (posterior). Conditions causing knee pain can affect one knee (unilateral) or both knees (bilateral).

What Causes Knee Pain?

Many different conditions can cause knee pain. For example, collisions or falls that happen when participating in high-impact sports or physical activities can lead to torn ligaments or other acute injuries to the knee joint. Genetics, arthritis, and disease are also some of the leading causes of chronic knee pain. When discussing knee pain solutions with your doctor, it's important to provide a thorough and accurate medical history, so they can recommend the best possible treatment.

When Should You See an Atlanta Knee Specialist?

While some instances of minor knee pain are temporary and do not require a visit to the knee doctor, it can often be difficult to judge whether your injury needs further medical attention. We recommend scheduling an appointment with a Resurgens Atlanta knee specialist if you:

• Experience severe pain in or around the knee joint

• Hear a popping noise and feel your knee give out at the time of injury

• Cannot move the knee

• Begin limping

• Have swelling in or around the knee joint

• Experience lingering or nagging knee pain that lasts longer than a week

Your knee is an elaborate and complex hinge joint with many moving parts, so a thorough, accurate diagnosis is critical for your overall treatment plan. Generally, this process starts with your knee physician performing a physical examination and reviewing your medical history.

Our Atlanta knee specialists use cutting-edge equipment and techniques, including EMG, MRI scans, CT scans, and nerve conduction studies, to help diagnose your knee condition with precision and confidence. This equipment is operated by certified technologists who receive regular training in the latest diagnostic imaging techniques and procedures.

After evaluating your knee condition, your physician will be able to determine your best treatment option. At Resurgens Orthopaedics, we offer a full range of non-surgical and surgical options and will always prioritize conservative procedures before considering knee surgery.

Non-Surgical Treatments

Non-surgical treatment for knee pain can include casting, bracing, various types of injections, physical rehabilitation, dedicated knee therapy, or some combination of these treatments.

Surgical Treatments

While our knee specialists will not advocate for surgery unless all conservative options have been tried, sometimes it is necessary. In those cases, surgical options can range from arthroscopic meniscus repair to partial or total knee replacement.

No two people or injuries are the same, and every Resurgens patient receives a unique treatment plan. If your knee condition has already been diagnosed, we encourage you to learn more about the full spectrum of knee treatments available at Resurgens Orthopaedics.