Knee Pain
Common Knee Problems
A common knee problem could be patellar chondromalacia. This chronic pain is due to softening of the cartilage beneath the knee cap. Pain is from mild to complete erosion of the cartilage in the back of the knee cap. It causes pain in the front of the knee. It occurs more in young people. It becomes worse from climbing up and down stairs. Treatment for patellar chondromalacia usually includes therapy and NSAIDS. Another common knee problem could be Patellar Bursitis. This is characterized by pain and inflammation over the front of the kneecap. This occurs when the bursa becomes inflamed and fills with fluid at the top of the knee. It causes pain, swelling, tenderness, and a lump in the area on top of the kneecap. Lateral Collateral Ligament Rupture usually occurs as a result of sports activities. Medial Collateral Ligament Rupture is an injury to the ligament on the inner part of the knee. It is the most commonly injured knee ligament. Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear involves valgus stress to the knee. Usually the patient will have swelling and hematoma. It can be diagnosed by MRI or a positive Lachman’s test. Patellar Tendonitis is characterized by inflammation and pain located inferior to the knee cap area. The meniscus is a cusion that protects the cartilage of the knee. A meniscal injury will cause pain of the medial or lateral side of the knee. The outer 30% of the meniscus has blood supply. Meniscal tears can be diagnosed by MRI or a positive McMurrays test.
Patient with meniscal tears typically have a history of locking, swelling, and instability of the knee. Arthritis of the Knee Joint is characterized by progressive wearing away of the cartilage of the joint. The knee is a common part of the body that is most affected by arthritis. Knee arthritis causes decreased joint space. A Baker’s Cyst causes swelling in the back of the knee filled with synovial fluid. The cyst is between the semimembranous and medial gastrochnemius muscles. Gout is a type of arthritis or joint inflammation caused by an excessive level of uric acid in the blood. It can affect any joint especially the big toe. The gout crystals look like needles and have a negative birefringence.