Possible Causes of Knee Pain

Your knee bears the brunt of your body weight in all of your everyday movements and activities. This is the reason why it is vulnerable to a variety of injuries and painful conditions.

If you’ve been dogged by knee pain and wondering what could be causing it, here are some of the possible causes.

Kneecap Fracture

The kneecap is the most commonly fractured bone of the body. Patella fractures are usually caused by falling, a direct blow to the knee, or a collision, and can be mild or severe in nature.

Prompt evaluation by a physician is necessary to determine the severity of the break. You will need a cast or splint to keep your knee immobilized.

Kneecap Dislocation

A kneecap (patella) dislocation occurs when it slips completely out of its groove on the end of your thigh bone. This type of injury is often caused by high-energy trauma, such as falls, traffic-related crashes, and sports-related contact.

Knee Arthritis

Gout, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis are common types of arthritis that are notorious for causing knee pain.

Osteoarthritis

Also referred to as degenerative arthritis, osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee occurs when the cartilage in your knee deteriorates with age and constant use.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition and the most debilitating type of arthritis. RA occurs when your immune system attacks the lining of your joints, resulting in inflammation and eventual damage of the cartilage.

RA can affect almost any joint in your body, including your knees.

Gout

Gout occurs when uric acid crystals build up in your joints. Gout most commonly affects your knees, large joints of your big toe, and those in your ankles, wrists, and elbows.

Tendinitis

Your tendons connect your bones to your muscles. Activities that involve repetitive movement can cause your tendons to become inflamed and swollen, a condition referred to as tendinitis.

The patellar tendon connects the bottom of your kneecap to the top of your shinbone. Patellar tendinitis, also known as jumper’s knee, occurs when there is repetitive stress on your knee, creating tiny tears in the patellar tendon and gradually inflaming and weakening it. Patellar tendinitis is prevalent among athletes whose sports involve repetitive jumping, such as basketball and volleyball.

First-Rate Knee Pain Treatment in Central Maryland

Don’t let knee pain stop you from doing the things that you love. See us at the Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland for a comprehensive evaluation.

At the Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland, our board-certified orthopedic specialists have decades of experience in providing nonsurgical and surgical treatment for various conditions and injuries that affect the knee. We make sure to exhaust all non-surgical options before recommending surgery, and if need be, we have on-site physical therapists whom you can trust to provide you with high-quality pre and post-surgical rehabilitation.

To make an appointment with any one of our orthopedic specialists, call our clinic at (410) 644-1880, toll-free at (855) 4MD-BONE, or use our online request form now.