By cobaltmoe | June 22nd, 2021 |
The Basic Anatomy of Our Knees
The knee is one of the most complex joints in the body and is primarily composed of bones, ligaments, and cartilage. These components are interspersed with bursae or fluid-filled sacs that help smooth the movement of the knee. An overview of the other basic parts of the knee can be found below.
Bones
- Femur (thigh bone)
- Tibia (shin bone)
- Fibula (beside the tibia)
- Patella (knee cap)
Ligaments
- Anterior cruciate (prevents femur from sliding backward)
- Posterior cruciate (prevents femur from sliding forward)
- Medial and lateral collateral (prevent the femur from sliding from side to side)
Cartilage
- Medial menisci (cushion between the femur and tibia)
- Lateral menisci (additional cushion between the femur and tibia)
Common Underlying Causes of Knee Pain
The causes of knee pain can be divided into three broad categories:
- Acute injuries
- Medical conditions
- Overuse injuries
Below, you can find examples of the sorts of injuries and conditions that can lead to knee pain.
I. Acute Injuries
- Broken bones — including the femur, tibia, and patella, otherwise known as the thigh bone, shin bone, and kneecap, respectively.
- Torn ligaments — a tear in the tissue connecting muscle to bone.
- Cartilage tear — a rip in the cartilage of the knee that can become stuck in the joint.
- Dislocated kneecap — the kneecap slides out of position, leading to pain and swelling.
II. Medical Conditions
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) – This is one of four ligaments that keep rotational stability and cushions the upper and lower leg from impacting one another.
- Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) – This ligament is behind the knee, and it keeps the tibia from moving too far backward.
- Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) – Tears that occur between the femur and tibia.
- Infections — infection of the joint caused by the spread of germs from elsewhere in the body or a puncture wound.
III. Overuse Injuries
- IT band syndrome — inflammation of the band of tissue running from your hip to knee, common amongst runners.
- Patellar syndromes — pain of and around the knee during physical activity.
- Tendinitis — inflammation of the tendons, the tissue connecting your muscles and bones, caused by excessive and repetitive exercise.
- Bursitis — overuse leads to irritation of the sac of fluid that prevents joint friction on the top of the knee.
Top Causes of Acute Knee Injuries
A person’s lifestyle can certainly put them at risk of a knee injury, but some types of knee injuries are unforeseeable and thus unavoidable. Below, you can find some of the types of events that are most likely to result in a knee injury:
- Direct blows
- Sprains
- Overstretched ligaments
- Penetrating injury
- Overextended limbs
- Bad falls
It is important to receive initial treatment for your injury at a local hospital first for any knee pain you may be suffering from. After that, looking for a pain management clinic should be your next step to help you cope with any residual knee pain.
Reliable Pain Management Doctors Relieving Knee Pain
Knee pain can affect every facet of a person’s life, from their ability to walk to simply being able to sleep soundly. If you’re struggling with knee pain following an injury, specialists at 911 Pain Management can work with you to discover the cause of your suffering and create a minimally invasive pain treatment, non-narcotic method to manage that pain. From trigger point injections to medication management, our experienced staff of pain management doctors can help determine the treatment you need to find relief.
Pharmacological Therapy
Pharmacological therapy is a method of treating pain with medication. With plenty of non-narcotic options to treat your knee injury at our pain management clinic, our staff will work with you or your client to find a medication that meets your particular needs and relieves your pain.
Trigger Point Injections
Trigger point injections are used to relieve knots of muscle in the knee that won’t relax. Injections often result in an immediate alleviation of pain and may be used in several sites during the same visit.
Nerve Blocks for Treatment and Diagnosis
A nerve block is an injection used by a pain management specialist to numb a particular nerve or group of nerves. Nerve blocks can be used to treat pain or to verify the location of the pain-carrying nerves. Your physician may conduct a series of injections to determine the best course of action for you.
Caudal Epiduralysis and Epidural Steroid Injection
Caudal Epiduralysis and epidural steroid injections can treat lower back, leg, and knee pain by injecting medication into the space surrounding the spinal cord. Caudal Epiduralysis is used to break up adhesions that cause nerves to become irritated, while an epidural injection is used to reduce inflammation around the nerves.
Sacroiliac Joint Injections
Some leg and knee pain can be caused by over or underuse of the joints at the bottom of the spine, also known as the sacroiliac joints. Injection into these joints can help determine the cause and relieve pain.
Sympathetic Blocks
Sympathetic blocks are injections of medication around the sympathetic nerve roots along the spine. Injections into this area are used to relieve pain due to a lack of blood flow, pain in the “trunk” of the body, the organs and thorax, and burning or shooting pain.
