Knee pain is one of the most common complaints a specialist like Dr. Peter Candelora sees at his practice, Coastal Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in New Port Richey, Florida. Like most joints, the knee is very complex. Pain may be the result of direct damage to the joint or something affecting the soft tissue around it. The severity of knee pain differs from person to person, as well. Dr. Candelora makes a proper diagnosis and then creates a targeted care plan to manage the pain. Let Dr. Candelora fix your knee pain by scheduling your consultation online, or by calling for your appointment today.
The knee works a lot like a hinge on a door. There are two bones that join together and allow the knee to fold over the same way a hinge does. On top of these two bone ends is another smaller piece that helps stabilize them. That is what most people call the kneecap. Of course, that is a very simple explanation of what is a very complex mechanical structure. The bones have a series of prominences known as condyles and grooves to accommodate them that give the knee its fluid movement.
The knee is the largest joint in the body and one of the most vulnerable to injury and disease, as well, especially for people who are active in sports. Dr. Candelora specializes in sports medicine, so he is uniquely qualified to treat knee injuries often associated with sports like a meniscus tear. Some other typical problems leading to knee pain include:
Any one of these problems might be the source of the pain. Knee joint pain can also be referred, meaning you feel pain in the knee even though the injury is somewhere else, usually in the hip.
Certainly, chronic, persistent pain should be looked at by a specialist like Dr. Candelora. You should also make an appointment when the joint is:
Consider going to the ER with a knee injury if the joint:
These symptoms indicate a more serious knee injury that requires immediate medical assistance.
It will start will a full evaluation of the joint. Dr. Candelora will do a physical examination and is likely to order imaging tests to see what is going on with your knee.
Once he has a diagnosis, the treatment plan may include anything from ice and immobilization to arthroscopic surgery depending on the type and extent of the damage.
