Have you been experiencing knee pain? Damaged knee cartilage is a possible reason why you may be feeling this. The knee is the largest joint in our body and is used for our everyday activities such as walking, standing, sitting, and running. The knee is also quite easy to get injured as well. Dealing with knee pain can prevent you from enjoying your hobbies or just completing functional tasks. At Dines Orthopedics, you will have a knee doctor in Uniondale NY, to get treatment for your damaged knee. We understand that this is a stressful time, and our main goal is to get you healed. Please continue reading to learn more about damaged knee cartilage and treatment!
Knee Cartilage Damage
The knee consists of bones, ligaments, cartilage, and tendons. Cartilage is a connective tissue that is all over the body. Cartilage acts as a cushion between the joints of bones. When cartilage is damaged, individuals will typically feel inflammation, swelling, or joint pain. Cartilage does not have a blood supply compared to other types of tissue in our body. The lack of blood supply makes the healing process for cartilage take a lot longer. A few causes of knee cartilage damage are wear and tear or trauma to the cartilage. A knee doctor in Uniondale NY will review the symptoms you’ve been experiencing. Some symptoms you can have if you suffer from knee cartilage damage are:
- Knee stiffness
- Locking sensation when bending knees
- Difficulty bearing weight
- Popping noise when walking or going up and downstairs
- Knee Swelling
The types of knee cartilage damage are:
- Meniscus tears: Very common knee injury for individuals of all ages. The meniscus is one type of cartilage in the knee. Meniscus tears occur when there is a forceful twist in the knee. Some may need surgery depending on where the tear occurred on the meniscus (i.e., outer one-third). If this is left untreated, it can lead to arthritis.
- Articular tears: Articular cartilage is another type of cartilage in the knee, and this is damaged through trauma to the knee. If this is left untreated, this can lead to osteoarthritis.
Treatment of Damaged Knee Cartilage
There are high risks of leaving your damaged knee cartilage untreated. It is important to seek medical attention if you feel like experiencing any of these previously mentioned symptoms. You will have an experienced knee doctor at our facility in Uniondale NY. The knee doctor will do a physical exam to test your tenderness to touch, joint pain, swelling, and much more. You will be able to discuss your symptoms and concerns with your physician to aid in your diagnosis.
An X-ray will be completed to rule out arthritis. Lastly, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will be performed to see any soft tissue damage such as meniscus and articular tears. After your diagnosis has been made, your knee doctor in Uniondale NY will prepare a treatment plan. Everyone has different severity levels. Therefore, they will have different treatment options. Below are some examples of how to treat damaged knee cartilage:
- RICE Method: Rest, ice, compression, and elevation of the knee
- Anti-inflammatory drugs
- Arthroscopic meniscus repair: Connect the ripped meniscus
- Partial meniscectomy: Cutting out the damaged connective tissue and leaving only the healthy parts
- Total meniscectomy: Complete removal of the meniscal tissue
- Total knee replacement: Articular tears benefit from this procedure. This is done when the physician has seen profound bone degeneration.
Schedule An Appointment with our Knee doctor in Uniondale NY
If you’re struggling with your knee pain and need help, visit our office today. Knee cartilage damage is a very common issue for several age groups. Our knees play a major role in our everyday lives, so you must treat them immediately. If your cartilage damage is left untreated, it can lead to arthritis. The sooner you get treated, the better prognosis you’ll have. Contact us to schedule an appointment today!