What Age-Related Issues Can PRP Treat?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a revolutionary treatment for many issues, including age-related joint pain and injuries. Read on to learn what other issues PRP can treat as you age.
5 Common Injuries That Cause Chronic Knee Pain
Knee pain is a real drag that often leads to missing out on your normal activities. Sometimes, knee pain goes away on its own, while other types of pain stick around for the long haul.
If you suffer a knee injury, you must get evaluated as soon as possible to prevent long-term issues. Some knee injuries lead to chronic pain if you don’t treat them.
If you require a quick evaluation and expert treatment, the team at Alpha Orthopedics & Sports Medicine is here to help. Our team comprises six orthopedic specialists specializing in all orthopedic problems, including chronic knee pain.
Common knee injuries
Knee injuries happen for various reasons, including sports or falls. Overuse injuries are also common in your knees, as they bear much of your weight daily.
When you’re active, knee injuries are more prone to happen. Some knee injuries are minor and require home care, while others are more severe and need expert treatment.
Specific knee injuries cause issues later on and chronic pain when not treated. Some of the common knee injuries that you may experience include:
1. ACL injuries
Your ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, is one of the essential structures in your knee joint. It provides critical stability in your knees but is prone to significant injury, especially if you play sports.
2. Meniscus tears
You have two menisci in each knee, supporting your thigh and shin bones. Your menisci are pliable pieces of cartilage that can injure during sports or due to the normal aging process.
3. Fractures
Your kneecap, or patella, is one of your knee’s most commonly broken bones. You may suffer a patellar fracture from a traumatic injury like a car accident or significant fall.
If you have osteoporosis, you’re also at an increased risk for a patella fracture.
4. Dislocations
Knee dislocations happen during contact sports or significant trauma. The injury causes the bones in your knee joint to move out of alignment, which can damage other vital structures in your joint.
5. Tendon tears
Your tendons attach the muscles around your knee joint to the bones. Your patellar tendon is one of your knee joint’s most commonly affected tendons. If you play contact sports and suffer a direct hit to your knee, you may end up with a torn tendon.
Symptoms of a knee problem
Usually, you'll know if you’ve injured your knee right away. When you play sports, for example, you may hear a popping noise or notice immediate pain in your joints. Other common symptoms of knee injuries include:
- Stiffness
- Swelling
- Instability
- Weakness
- Decreased range of motion
- Warmth
- Redness
You may feel your knee will give out after a knee injury. This is common with ligament tears and tendon injuries.
Your symptoms vary depending on the type of injury you have and the severity of the damage. The pain may be constant or come and go with varying levels of discomfort.
When to seek treatment for knee pain
If you think you’ve injured your knee, you must seek help as soon as possible. Untreated knee injuries can cause significant problems in your joint if you leave them untreated.
Chronic pain is one of the many problems with specific knee injuries. If you experience any of the following, you must get help from our team:
- Inability to straighten your knee
- Problems flexing your knee
- Have a deformity around your knee
- Notice extreme swelling
- Have significant pain after an injury
- Trouble putting weight on your leg
Any of these signs can signal a severe injury in your knee joint. If you want to avoid issues down the road, our expert team helps you figure out the problem and provides you with a customized treatment plan.
To get expert treatment for a knee injury or chronic knee pain, call our team at one of our three locations in McKinney, Prosper, and Sherman, Texas, to schedule a consultation with our team. You may also request an appointment on the website.
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