Knee Pain

• Your Knee joint is a hinged joint. Pain in your knee can result from a number of different causes. Most commonly it can be from simple overuse or overstretching. This can cause a strain or sprain with associated tendonitis and bursitis. Another common problem is a tear in the cartilage of the knee. You may experience any locking up of the knee or giving out of the knee or falling. Generally there is fairly significant swelling and you may have great difficulty walking. If there is significant swelling use ice, some mild compression with an ace bandage or brace and keep your knee elevated.

• X-rays help to identify osteoarthritis in the knee but depending upon your age the problems may be in the soft tissues. A good clinical exam and history can give good insight into the soft tissues but only an MRI can evaluate the anatomy of the soft tissues i.e. cartilages of the knee.

• When your knee is in acute pain use ice and heat at home as instructed by Dr. Humberstone. If there is swelling always use ice.