Knee Pain Specialist

What causes knee pain?

The knee joint is exposed to a wide array of forces and strains every day, and pain in the joint can have many different causes, including injury to the ligaments, tendons, and other soft tissues or to the kneecap, bone spurs or chips, dislocation, foot pain that causes a change in walking pattern or gait, or disease of the joint, including osteoarthritis. Being overweight or obese can also cause knee pain. Dr. McCandless will perform a thorough evaluation of your pain to determine the best way to treat it.

What kinds of symptoms can knee pain cause?

In addition to pain in or around the joint, knee pain can also cause swelling and stiffness in the joint, decreased range of motion in the knee, swelling and redness around the knee, crunching noises when using the knee, and weakness or instability in the joint. Knee pain may also prevent the knee from being fully straightened.

How is knee pain diagnosed?

During your office visit, Dr. McCandless will discuss your symptoms with you and perform an examination of the knee, including simple range of motion tests to determine which types of motion result in symptoms. He may also order imaging tests such as x-ray, MRI or CT scan to see inside the joint and look for clues to the cause of your pain. In a few cases, he may also order lab work or a procedure called arthrocentesis to extract a small amount of joint fluid for examination.

How is knee pain treated?

Depending on the cause of your pain, treatment may include medications to treat pain and inflammation, physical therapy, rest, injections of corticosteroids into the joint, injection of a synthetic lubricant to relieve pain and improve joint function, surgery to address specific causes like bone fragments or torn ligaments, or knee replacement surgery when the joint is severely damaged.