Knee Pain Care

Knee pain can affect your ability to walk up the stairs, live an active lifestyle, or simply enjoy a walk around the neighborhood. Discover how our knee specialists can help treat your conditions, relieve your pain and improve your quality of life.

Signs and Symptoms of Knee Conditions

Knee pain can start for a number of different reasons. It could be from an injury, like a ligament tear or torn cartilage. It could happen from everyday wear and tear or caused by arthritis. Or maybe you overdid it running after your grandkids in the park.

But if you've been experiencing persistent pain, it might be time to connect with a specialist.

Schedule an appointment if your injury is caused by a forceful impact or is accompanied by:

• Significant pain or swelling that does not improve within 48 hours
• Persistent tenderness or warmth around the joint
• Increasing swelling or redness around the joint

Seek immediate treatment at an urgent care or emergency room if you:

• Can’t put weight on your knee or you feel your knee is going to give out
• Are unable to flex or fully extend your knee
• Heard a popping noise when your injury occurred
• See a deformity around the joint
• Have intense pain or sudden swelling

Types of Knee Conditions

At Virtua, our experienced team of knee specialists can evaluate, diagnose, and treat a variety of knee conditions, including:

• ACL injuries
• Ligament tears
• Fractures
• Dislocations
• Tendinitis
• Meniscus tears, where forceful twisting or rotation of the knee causes tissue to tear
• Bursitis, or inflammation in the fluid filled pads that act as cushions in your joints
• Osteoarthritis, or inflammation in your joints
• Rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic inflammatory disease that affects your joints

Our Approach to Knee Pain at Virtua

During your initial consultation, our specialists will perform a thorough physical exam of your knee. We'll inspect your knee for pain, swelling, tenderness, and visible bruising. We'll measure your range of motion and gauge the integrity of your knee.

From there, we might recommend additional testing to confirm a diagnosis, including:

• CT scan: This test allows us to capture clear images of bones, muscles, and fat in your knee.  CT scans are helpful in detecting severe knee injuries, like bone fractures, dislocations, and other serious conditions.
• MRI: Here, we use large magnets and radio frequencies to capture images of your tendons, ligaments, vessels, and nerves in your knee. MRIs can help us detect injuries and abnormalities in these soft tissues.
• Ultrasound: We might order an ultrasound to see how your blood is flowing through your knee.  They are also used for evaluating and diagnosing soft tissue injuries.
• X-ray: We typically use them to assess knee arthritis or to confirm fractures and breaks. They are often used as a first step to evaluate several other knee conditions as well.

Knee Pain Treatment at Virtua

Your knees are one of the most complex joints in your body. They absorb shock and stress each and every day, which can make injuries and conditions incredibly common.

At Virtua, we develop personalized treatment plans based on your goals, lifestyle, and individual needs. Depending on the severity of your knee pain, here's how we might approach your care:

• Rest: We might start with a period of rest, ice, and moderate activity. How your knee responds could impact next steps.
• Medication: Anti-inflammatory medications could ease swelling and help with arthritis-related knee symptoms and several other knee conditions. We can also help manage and modify prescriptions as needed.
• Physical therapy: Our team of therapists will develop exercises and strength-building activities designed to improve motion and relieve pain.
• Arthroscopic surgery: From injured ligaments and tendons to cartilage and labral damage, surgery might be the best option, mainly if conservative treatments are no longer effective. At Virtua, our surgeons specialize in minimally invasive arthroscopic procedures to address your unique needs.
• Knee replacement: Most commonly used for the treatment of knee arthritis, if your knee pain is unresponsive to conservative treatment methods, surgery might be the best option. At Virtua, our surgeons provide various knee replacement options to help you feel your best again.