Knee Pain

The MetroSouth Medical Center orthopedic team provide advanced solutions for a range of knee conditions.  Knee pain is the cause of more than 12 million visits to physicians’ offices every year. Some common causes of knee pain include:

• ACL tear: The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the main band of tissue that stabilizes the knee, running from the tibia or shin bone to the femur or thigh bone. A sudden change of direction or deceleration can put tremendous pressure on the ACL, causing it to tear. Patients report a popping sensation, and the knee may buckle.

• Arthritis: Inflammation of a joint, usually accompanied by pain, swelling and stiffness.

• Articular cartilage injuries: Damage to the articular or hyaline cartilage, a smooth, hard material that covers the surface of the upper and lower leg bones where they intersect to form the knee joint.

• Bursitis: Inflammation of the bursa, a small, fluid-filled sac that provides a cushion between bones, tendons and muscles around a joint.

• IT band tendonitis: Inflammation and small tears of the tendon that connects muscle to bone, usually caused by excessive physical activity rather than a single incident.

• LCL tear: The lateral collateral ligament is a thin band of tissue that helps connect the thighbone (femur) to the small bone of the lower leg (fibula). Its main function is to stabilize the knee. Damage usually causes instability and pain.

• MCL tear: The medial collateral ligament is one of four major ligaments that hold the knee joint together. A tear in this ligament causes pain and destabilization of the knee.

• Meniscus injuries: The meniscus is a disk of cartilage that cushions the bones in a joint. It sometimes tears in the course of athletic activity.

• Patellar dislocation/subluxation: When the patella or kneecap comes completely out of place, doctors say it is “dislocated.” If it is partly out of the socket but pops back, that’s called “subluxation.”

• Patellar tendonitis: Inflammation of the tendon that connects muscle to bone, usually as a result of too much activity leading to tiny tears in the collagen.

• Patello-femoral syndrome: Pain under or around the kneecap. Pain is often worse after running, climbing stairs, doing squats and other activities that involve bending the knee. Often the knee cracks, and patients find it hard to sit for long periods of time.

• Sprain/strain: This injury occurs when ligaments, tendons or muscles around the knee joint are strained or wrenched.

To schedule an appointment with a MetroSouth Medical Center knee specialist, call 708-489-7925.