Knee Pain Treatment at North East Joint and Wellness

Knee Pain is felt by patient in fort wayne as he holds knee

Do you have a “bad” knee giving you a bad time? Do both of your knees suffer from ever-increasing pain and stiffness? Have you recently injured a knee in a sporting event or at your workplace? Knee pain is all too easy to encounter, but once you have it, you may have trouble shaking it. Fortunately, you have non-surgical options for treating most of the underlying causes of knee pain. Here at North East Joint and Wellness in Fort Wayne, we can provide you with natural, non-invasive knee pain treatment that succeeds where painkillers fall short.

Knee Pain Causes and Symptoms

The human knee may seem like an ordinary “hinge joint” at first glance, but there’s nothing ordinary about the amount of work it has to do on a daily basis. Your knees must support every pound of your body weight that rests on top of them while still permitting free motion so you can walk, stand, or run without losing your balance. These requirements can make the many delicate components that make up the knee joint vulnerable to injury, inflammation or degeneration. Knee pain is commonly caused by:

  • An acute twisting or impact injury that tears muscles or connective tissues
  • Osteoarthritis, or progressive degeneration of the knee joint cartilage
  • Rheumatoid arthritis, an inflammatory condition created by an autoimmune dysfunction
  • Bursitis, inflammation of the friction-reducing sacs that surround the knee joint
  • Tendinitis or chronic muscle strain caused by repetitive motion and overuse of the knee joint

Common Knee Injuries

young female sitting on the ground due to a knee injury

At North East Joint and Wellness, we see a number of common knee injuries. In addition to contusions, sprains, and strains, we also see people who come in with ligament tears. When someone has been diagnosed with a ligament tear, it is common to have questions or concerns. There are a handful of key points that everyone should remember.

Runner’s Knee

It is important for everyone to do what they can to stay in shape. Those who are looking to burn calories and improve their cardiac endurance often turn to running. While running is a great sport, this can also lead to pain and irritation in the lower limbs. One of the most common locations in which people feel pain in their knee. While many people associate knee injuries with team sports and ligament tears, knee injuries can also occur in solo sports, such as running. When someone feels pain in their knee after running, they might have developed a condition called runner’s knee. This is a painful condition that might make it hard for someone to run regularly and stay in shape. Fortunately, with the right medical team, everyone can make a full recovery from runner’s knee.

What is Runner’s Knee?

male runner holding his right knee due to pain

Runner’s knee is a broad term that is used to describe any number of conditions involving the kneecap and the muscles, ligaments, and tendons that surround it. Runner’s knee is used most often to refer to a condition known as patellofemoral pain syndrome. The kneecap rests on top of the knee. This bony structure is used to protect the important structures underneath. These include the ligaments and tendons that connect to the femur, the tibia, and the fibula. All of these structures work together to allow the knee to function properly. If any of these structures become inflamed, it can cause the kneecap to shift slightly. This is sometimes called patellofemoral misalignment. If the kneecap is not properly aligned, or if any of these structures are irritated or inflamed, this can cause someone to be diagnosed with something called runner’s knee.

How is Runner’s Knee Treated?

When someone has been diagnosed with runner’s knee, it is important to know that different treatment options are available. First, it is important for everyone to take a break from running. The ligaments, tendons, and muscles are inflamed and need a chance to rest. While some people might think that pills will help them recover more quickly, rehabilitation and regenerative medicine is a more reliable option. With rehabilitation, an individual can strengthen the knee itself to prevent this from happening again. In addition, regenerative medicine can use procedures such as stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy to help the body restore its pre-injury form. There are several benefits that come from relying on regenerative medicine that people should familiarize themselves with.

What are the Benefits of Regenerative Medicine for Runners Knee?

patient receiving regenerative medicine injection on their knee

When someone has suffered an injury, the body often heals and replaces this damaged tissue with something called scar tissue. Unlike native tissue, scar tissue is merely a placeholder. It does not function as well as the original tissue. Because of this, people might have trouble getting back to their pre-injury level of functioning. In order to avoid this problem, many people have turned to regenerative medicine. Stem cell therapy and PRP therapy encourage the body to regenerate and restore native tissue instead of scar tissue. Therefore, instead of malfunctioning scar tissue, individuals with runner’s knee will be able to recover more completely. For this reason, everyone should think about using the healing powers of regenerative medicine when they have sustained an injury.

Contact North East Joint and Wellness Regenerative Medicine for Runner’s Knee

North East Joint and Wellness consists of a team of experienced medical providers who are willing to provide the most cutting-edge treatment options to all of the individuals and families in the Fort Wayne, IN area. We place the needs of our patients ahead of our own and would be willing to do the same for you and your family. Please take a look at our practice online to learn more about our services. Then, call us at (260) 245-0460 to schedule an appointment with our staff!

Knee Ligament Tears

young male visiting the doctor due to his knee pain There are several common knee ligament tears that someone may suffer. Some of them include:

Torn Meniscus: The meniscus is one of the unique knee structures in that this acts more like a cushion than a connective ligament. each knee joint has two C-shaped pieces of tissue between the shin and thigh. This is the meniscus. If the doctor suspects that someone has a torn meniscus, he or she will do a meniscus tear test. This often involves applying pressure to the bottom of the foot in a grinding manner. If this causes pain, then the meniscus tear test has diagnosed the injury. 

Torn ACL:  The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the most common ligament tears. This injury occurs when someone suffers a blow to the knee at an angle, typically while trying to change direction. A torn ACL is typically diagnosed using either the anterior drawer test or Lachman test. In these tests, the top of the knee is demonstrated to move too far over the bottom of the knee due to the absence of the ACL.

Torn PCL: A torn PCL is another common ligament tear. The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is commonly torn in car accidents. When someone smacks their knee on the dashboard, the top of the knee is forced backward relative to the bottom of the knee. This will tear the PCL. A torn PCL is typically diagnosed using the posterior drawer test. This test shows that the knee can move too far back due to the lack of a PCL.

Causes, Symptoms, and Complications of Meniscus Tears

A torn meniscus typically develops from any activity that causes someone to grind or twist their knee. If this is done repeatedly, or with extreme force, this can lead to a torn meniscus. Some of the most common symptoms include:

  • A feeling that something in the knee has popped
  • Swelling, pain, and stiffness
  • The discomfort that gets worse when the knee is rotated
  • Problems extending the knee
  • A feeling that the knee repeatedly gives way

The most common complications that develop from a torn meniscus include pain, discomfort, and a generalized lack of mobility; however, over time, this can also lead to inflammation of the joint surface

Regenerative Medicine for a Torn Meniscus

3d artistic image of a stem cell for stem cell Regenerative medicine, such as stem cell and PRP therapy, can provide effective meniscus tear treatment. The goal of regenerative medicine is to help the body regenerate native tissue to replace damaged cells. Two of the effective treatment options include:

Stem Cell Therapy: Stem cell therapy takes advantage of the healing powers of young cells. These cells have not yet divided into their final forms. Therefore, they can become meniscus cells, replacing broken or damaged tissues.

PRP Therapy: PRP therapy stands for platelet-rich plasma. Plasma is a powerful liquid that is part of the body’s bloodstream. By injecting plasma into the meniscus, the knee joint is encouraged to heal and regenerative new meniscus cells. This can be used to help someone recover from a torn meniscus without surgery.

Why Choose North East Joint and Wellness

For more than ten years, patients in the Fort Wayne, IN area have been choosing North East Joint and Wellness for all of their healthcare needs. We provide free patient consultations and same-day appointments because we place the needs of our patients first. We will work hard to tailor all of our treatment plans to meet the individual needs of our patients. This allows us to give our patients the ability to take control of their own healthcare.

It’s Time to Talk to Our Fort Wayne Knee Pain Doctor

Our Fort Wayne knee pain doctor at North East Joint and Wellness incorporates these amazing healing technologies into unique, personalized healing and pain management programs for each individual’s needs. Give your knees this high level of surgery-free care today by calling (260) 245-0460 and scheduling an evaluation. We can help you conquer your knee pain and move through your daily life more easily!