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Exploring the Possible Causes of Chronic Knee Pain

When you look at the causes of knee pain, you will find that it is often separated into acute and chronic. With a knee specialist, you will be able to get help in determining which category they fall into and what the ultimate cause of their pain is. This can help to ensure that you are going to receive the right treatment so that you can work toward alleviating your discomfort and restoring your activity level.

Osteoarthritis

While this is a condition that can affect anyone, it is most often seen in people who are over age 50 years old. In those who are older, the cause is usually wear and tear due to aging. This condition occurs when the cartilage in your joints is worn away from years of active use. Without the cartilage in the joint, the bones that comprise it are left to rub together. As you can imagine, this can cause an array of discomforts, including pain, stiffness, and a reduction in your overall range of motion.

It is important to note that there are other types of arthritis that can cause pain and issues with overall joint mobility. While osteoarthritis is the most common, rheumatoid arthritis is also being diagnosed more frequently. This type is an autoimmune disease, however, and not associated with wear and tear.

Tendonitis

There are tendons that are part of the joint makeup and there are times when these become inflamed, resulting in tendonitis. Tendons are a band of tissue and with overuse or repetitive use, inflammation can happen. If the tendons in the knees are affected, the pain that occurs with this condition tends to be a lot worse when you are walking up a flight of stairs, climbing, or walking on an incline.

Bursitis

This issue is similar to tendinitis is that it is an issue that is marked by inflammation. Like tendinitis, it also often results from overuse or repetitive use of the affected joint. It is not uncommon for the knee, when it is affected, to become painful and swollen. Stiffness is another symptom that many people experience. When you do not properly rest the affected knee, you might notice that your symptoms become worse until it gets sufficient rest.

You can see that if you have chronic knee pain, you do not want to delay seeing a knee specialist in Green Bay. They have the knowledge needed to determine what the cause is so that you can get on the road to recovery. The sooner you start treatment, the sooner you can reduce your discomfort and get back to enjoying your life.

Get Started

Request a consultation with one of the knee specialists at the Orthopedic & Sports Institute. Call (920) 560-1000 or request an appointment online.

OSI has convenient locations to serve you. The campus in Appleton includes clinics, a surgery center, MRI, physical therapy, and a skilled nursing facility, as well as a walk-in clinic that provides care for new orthopedic injuries.

OSI has outreach clinics in New London, Ripon, Shawano, Waupaca, and the newest location serving the Green Bay area, inside the NOVO Health Clinic in De Pere.

OSI is a proud member of NOVO Health.