Your knee is the largest joint in your body — larger even than your hips and shoulders. This complex joint connects the thigh bone (i.e., femur) to your shinbone (i.e., tibia) so you can bend your leg while walking, running, jumping, or sitting.
In addition to the complex muscles, tendons, cartilage, and ligaments found in all joints, your knee joint has an extra bone component known as the kneecap (i.e., patella). When one or several of the tissues that make up your knee joint get injured or degrade with time or overuse, you may find it difficult to make it through your day.
If you have knee pain, our expert medical providers at the Rheumatology Center of New Jersey, conduct a thorough examination — including imaging studies — to find out why. We then design a customized treatment plan at our Monroe, Flemington, or Somerville, New Jersey, office.
Is your knee ready for professional help? Here are five signs that it is.
If your knee has been painful or stiff for three months or more, it’s time to see a rheumatologist. We consider pain that persists for weeks after an initial injury or its first appearance to be chronic pain.
You may have osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or another inflammatory condition that puts your knee at risk for permanent damage. If you haven’t been able to resolve your knee pain on your own, find out what’s causing it with a medical diagnosis and customized treatment plan.
If you injured your knee, you may have heard a popping or snapping sound. That could be a kneecap shifting out of place, or a tendon stretching or breaking.
Your first instinct likely is to rest your knee: That’s great, but if it didn’t improve with rest, icing, compression, or elevation (i.e., the RICE protocol), you should come to our office. Consult us if you have problems with your knee’s function, including:
You may have torn or stretched important supportive tissues within your knee. Treatment may include bracing, injections, regenerative therapies, or even surgery.
If your knee is swollen and red and you also have a fever, you may have an infection. Call us right away to get the treatment you need.
In addition to repairing your damaged knee, we may need to prescribe a course of antibiotics. You must finish the entire course of antibiotics, even after you start to feel better, to avoid building up resistance to the medication.
If your knee or your leg looks markedly different from your other knee and leg, contact us right away. You may have broken the bones in your knee or dislocated your kneecap, or you may have a tumor.
If you injured your knee and it’s extremely painful when you try to stand or when you use it, don’t delay medical care. You gain nothing by trying to push through the pain. The sooner you get expert help, the sooner your knee begins to heal.
When you come to us with knee pain, we get to the bottom of it. In addition to a physical exam and medical history, we may use imaging studies, such as:
We use the information we gather to come up with an accurate diagnosis for the source or sources for your knee pain. We then customize a treatment plan. This could include everything from rest and lifestyle changes to medication and surgery.
Don’t just wish away your knee pain. Find out what’s causing it and how to get relief by calling our expert staff or requesting an appointment online today. We serve Monroe, Flemington, and Somerville, New Jersey, and surrounding areas.
