Knee Specialists

Knee pain and injuries can significantly impact your quality of life, limiting your ability to perform everyday activities and enjoy sports or exercise. Our knee specialists at Precision Orthopaedic Specialties provide personalized treatment plans that not only provide pain relief but also restore function and improve your overall well-being. On this page, you will learn about common causes of knee pain and the treatments we offer.

Our knee specialists in Chardon and Middlefield, Ohio, at Precision Orthopaedic Specialties, are dedicated to diagnosing and treating various knee conditions to help you return to your normal activities and improve your quality of life. Contact our office today!

Topic at a Glance

Knee pain can develop from injuries, osteoarthritis, overuse, or mechanical problems that affect the joint’s stability and movement.
Common knee conditions include ACL tears, meniscus tears, bursitis, tendonitis, and osteoarthritis.
Persistent pain, swelling, stiffness, instability, or difficulty walking may indicate a need for evaluation by an orthopaedic knee specialist.
At Precision Orthopaedic Specialties, we offer personalized knee care, including physical therapy, injections, bracing, arthroscopic surgery, and knee replacement when appropriate.

Understanding the Knee

The knee is one of the most complex joints in your body. The joint needs to support your weight and, at the same time, allow movement. Composed of bones, cartilage, muscles, ligaments, and tendons, this joint plays a critical role in your ability to walk, run, jump, and engage in daily activities.

The knee joint includes the femur (thighbone), tibia (shinbone), and patella (kneecap), along with the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and other crucial ligaments that stabilize the joint.

What Causes Knee Pain and Problems?

Knee pain can result from many injuries and conditions, each presenting with unique symptoms and requiring specific treatments. Here are some common causes of knee pain:

Our Specialties

Knee Injuries

Knee injuries can affect any of the structures that make up the knee. Some common knee injuries include the following:

ACL Tear: The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of four ligaments that support the knee. Tears often occur during sports activities involving sudden stops and direction changes.
Knee Bursitis: These small fluid-filled sacs cushion the knee as tendons and ligaments slide over them. Knee injuries can cause the bursae to become inflamed.
Fractures: Breaks in the knee bones, such as the kneecap, can result from trauma or falls. Osteoporosis can also make the bones so weak that simply stepping wrong can cause a fracture.
Meniscus Tears: The meniscus is cartilage that cushions the knee joint between the thigh and the shin bone. Damage is often due to twisting or turning quickly.
Tendonitis: This is inflammation of the tendons surrounding the knee. It most commonly occurs in the patella tendon that connects the patellar to the shin bone. It often occurs through overuse in sports that involve running and jumping.

Knee Arthritis

There are many different types of arthritis. Some of the common forms of arthritis that affect the knee include the following:

Mechanical Problems

Mechanical problems can sometimes cause knee pain. These include:

Dislocated Kneecap: The kneecap can sometimes dislocate, sliding over to the outside of the knee. You would normally be able to see the dislocation.
Iliotibial Band Syndrome: The iliotibial band is a tough band of tissue that extends from the outside of your hip to the outside of your knee. This band can tighten and rub against the outer portion of your thigh bone. It can cause pain in both the hip and knee. Those who do distance running or cycling are at risk of developing iliotibial band syndrome.
Loose bodies: Pieces of bone or cartilage can break off when the knee is injured or through degeneration. These pieces or loose bodies float in the joint space and can cause pain or interfere with the movement of the knee.
Referred pain: If you have pain in your hip or feet, you may adjust the way you walk. This change in movement can strain your knee and cause pain.
Patellar pain syndrome: This refers to general pain behind the kneecap. It is often caused by misalignment of the kneecap as it moves during activity.

When Should You See an Orthopaedic Knee Specialist?

Determining when to seek professional help can be crucial for timely and effective treatment. Consider seeing an orthopaedic knee specialist if you experience any of the following:

Persistent Pain: Pain that doesn’t improve with rest and home treatments.
Swelling and Stiffness: Chronic swelling or stiffness in the knee joint.
Limited Range of Motion: Difficulty in bending or straightening your knee.
Instability: Feeling that your knee is giving way or can’t support your weight.
Difficulty Performing Daily Activities: Challenges in walking, climbing stairs, or participating in sports.

At Precision Orthopaedic Specialties, our orthopaedic surgeons are ready to provide comprehensive care for knee pain and injuries, helping you to relieve pain and improve mobility.

Treatments Offered by Knee Specialists

Our knee specialists at Precision Orthopaedic Specialties employ a range of treatments, from non-surgical options to advanced surgical procedures, to address knee conditions and injuries.

Non-Surgical Treatments

Physical Therapy: Our physical therapists can provide tailored exercises and stretches to strengthen the muscles around the knee, improve flexibility, and restore range of motion.
Medications: We can provide anti-inflammatory drugs and pain relievers to manage symptoms.
Injections: We can provide injections to treat knee pain. Corticosteroid injections are powerful anti-inflammatory medications that reduce swelling. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections contain growth factors that promote healing.
Bracing and Supports: We can provide devices to provide stability and alleviate pressure on the knee.

Surgical Treatments

At Precision Orthopaedic Specialities, we provide knee surgeries to address conditions that conservative measures cannot treat. This includes the following:

Arthroscopic Surgery: A minimally invasive knee surgery using a small camera to diagnose and repair knee issues, such as meniscus tears or ligament injuries.
Knee Replacement Surgery: Joint replacement surgery can be done as a partial or total replacement of the knee joint. An artificial joint can relieve pain and restore function, typically for severe arthritis or significant joint damage.
Ligament Repair or Reconstruction: We provide surgical intervention to repair or reconstruct torn ligaments, such as the ACL, to restore stability to the knee.

Our board-certified orthopaedic surgeons are skilled in these and other surgical techniques, ensuring that you receive the best possible care tailored to your specific condition.

Choose Precision Orthopaedic Specialties Today

At Precision Orthopaedic Specialties, we offer personalized, comprehensive care for knee conditions. Our team of board-certified orthopaedic surgeons and physical therapists are committed to providing the highest quality care to help you relieve pain and restore function.

If you’re experiencing knee pain or have suffered a knee injury, don’t wait to seek professional care. Contact us at Precision Orthopaedic Specialties in Northeastern OH, to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced knee specialists! We’re here to help you get back on your feet and back to doing the things you love.

FAQs About Knee Specialists

What are the most common causes of knee pain?

Knee pain can result from sports injuries, meniscus or ligament tears, bursitis, tendonitis, osteoarthritis, and problems involving the kneecap. Identifying the underlying cause helps guide treatment.

When should I see an orthopaedic knee specialist?

Consider seeing a specialist if knee pain persists, swelling or stiffness continues, your knee feels unstable, or you have difficulty bending it or performing everyday activities. Seek prompt medical attention for a serious injury or inability to bear weight.

What nonsurgical treatments are available for knee pain?

Treatment may include physical therapy, medications, injections, and knee braces or supports. At Precision Orthopaedic Specialties, we recommend options based on the cause of your pain and your individual needs.

When is knee surgery necessary?

Surgery may be considered when a knee injury or joint condition does not respond adequately to nonsurgical treatment. Options include arthroscopy, ligament repair or reconstruction, and partial or total knee replacement, depending on the problem.

How can Precision Orthopaedic Specialties help with knee pain?

At Precision Orthopaedic Specialties, our orthopaedic surgeons and physical therapists evaluate knee conditions and develop personalized treatment plans to relieve pain and improve mobility.