Knee Pain

Strenuous activities and years of wear-and-tear take a toll on your knees, making these joints a common source of pain. If you have mobility problems because of knee pain, Naveen Reddy, MD, and Maziar Massrour, MD, of Apex Pain Specialists, can help. At their offices in Chandler, Arizona, the board-certified pain medicine experts specialize in injectable treatments and nonsurgical interventions to relieve knee pain. Find out how you can heal your knees and give them a new lease of life by visiting Apex Pain Specialists. Call or book an appointment online today.

What causes knee pain?

Knees have to work very hard, supporting most of your body weight and frequently bending and twisting. When you run and jump, they come under even more strain, so it’s not surprising that knee pain is such a common problem.

Acute injuries account for a lot of knee pain. You can damage the structures in your knees during any physical activity, but playing sports is a particular risk. Auto accidents also result in knee injuries, or you could simply trip and fall at home.

Overuse often damages the knees. It tends to cause pain that develops more slowly as the tissues suffer multiple tiny injuries and inflammation increases.

Injuries and overuse cause knee conditions like:

• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears
• Medial collateral ligament (MCL) tears
• Meniscus tears
• Patellar (kneecap) instability
• Iliotibial (IT) band injuries
• Patellofemoral syndrome
• Patellar tendinitis
• Fractures
• Dislocations
• Bursitis
• Articular cartilage injuries

Overuse conditions and poorly healed injuries can also cause chronic knee pain. Another leading cause of chronic pain is arthritis, a collection of disorders affecting the joints. The most common kind is osteoarthritis, where the cartilage in your joints wears away over the years, leaving the bones unprotected.

How is knee pain diagnosed?

To diagnose knee pain, your Apex Pain Specialists provider reviews your medical history and completes a thorough physical exam. They assess the movement in your joints and discuss your symptoms with you.

Depending on what they find, you might need one or more diagnostic imaging procedures such as an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI. In addition to confirming their preliminary diagnosis, your provider can see the joint damage in more detail. This helps them design a suitable treatment program.

How is knee pain treated?

Fractures and badly damaged ligaments or tendons might require surgery. However, most knee conditions heal very well with less invasive approaches.

Potential treatments for knee pain include:

• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Physical therapy
• Steroid injections
• Genicular nerve blocks
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Peripheral nerve stimulation

Apex Pain Specialists uses state-of-the-art fluoroscopy (moving X-ray) or ultrasound-guided technology to administer knee injections. This ensures the medication goes to the right place without damaging nerves and tissues in the joint.

Call Apex Pain Specialists today or book an appointment online for effective, nonsurgical relief from knee pain.