Knee Pain & Knee Replacement Surgery
-
- Tweet
Premier Orthopedics of Fort Worth
Board Certified Orthopedic Specialists & Orthopedic Surgeons located in Fort Worth, TX & Granbury, TX
Your knees are one of the strongest and most complex joints in your body. Besides supporting most of your body weight when you stand or walk, they bear a much greater load any time you run or jump. Knee pain can be a common problem, but it’s not one you have to live with. Board-certified orthopedic surgeon Kraig Pepper, DO, PA offers complete knee care, including minimally invasive and custom total knee replacements, to men and women in Fort Worth, Texas and the surrounding communities. Call or schedule an appointment online today.
Knee Pain & Knee Replacement Surgery Q & A
Why do my knees hurt?
When your knees are in perfect working order, they can handle a considerable amount of stress, strain, and everyday wear-and-tear. But as high-use, load-bearing joints, they’re also more prone to injury and long-term damage.
More active people tend to be more susceptible to the kind of stress-related injuries that affect the knee’s stabilizing ligaments. This includes a torn or sprained ACL, MCL, or meniscus, and any other injury caused by twisting, turning, or pivoting too quickly.
Less active people, on the other hand, are more likely to develop chronic knee pain caused by ongoing wear-and-tear, including degenerative conditions like osteoarthritis, tendonitis, and bursitis. Other possible causes of persistent knee pain include:
- Acute sprains or strains
- Patellofemoral syndrome (front knee pain)
- IT band syndrome
- Septic arthritis (knee infection)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Persistent knee pain is often accompanied by other symptoms, including swelling or stiffness, weakness or instability, and popping or crunching noises.
What factors make me more likely to develop knee pain?
Whether knee pain is symptomatic of a mechanical issue, an acute injury, chronic inflammation, or age-related degeneration, certain factors could contribute to the underlying problem or make it worse.
Having an alignment issue with one of your hips or feet, for example, can cause you to alter your gait, place more stress on your knees, and ultimately exacerbate your pain. Other factors that can cause knee pain or make it worse include:
Weak, inflexible muscles
If you’re not physically fit, the muscles that surround your knees might not be able to provide proper joint support. Muscles that lack flexibility are too tight to effectively absorb stress, while muscles that lack strength are too weak to reinforce and stabilize the joint.
Excess body weight
Being overweight increases the amount of pressure your load-bearing joints are under, making simple activities like walking or climbing stairs significantly harder on your knees.
Previous knee injuries
If you’ve suffered a knee injury, the joint is more susceptible to future injury.
How is knee pain treated?
Effective knee-pain treatment always begins with a comprehensive exam to determine the root cause of the problem. Although pain medication, anti-inflammatory injections, and physical therapy can provide substantial long-term relief for many people, knee-replacement surgery can be the best solution in some cases.
Whether you’re a candidate for a minimally invasive arthroscopic knee replacement, a partial knee replacement, or a custom total knee replacement, Dr. Pepper’s overriding goal is to provide you with a pain-free joint that allows you to resume an active life.
To find out if knee-replacement surgery is right for you, call Dr. Pepper’s office today or book an appointment online at any time.
