Knee Pain Relief in Madison, WI
Knee Pain Keeping You From Doing What You Love?
Knee pain can make simple things harder—walking, climbing stairs, exercising, kneeling, getting out of a chair, traveling, working, or keeping up with the people and activities that matter to you.
The first step is understanding what is causing the pain and what can be done about it.
Arc of Life Medical Center evaluates knee pain and creates an individualized treatment plan based on your condition, goals and examination findings.
Personalized care. Honest guidance. A clear path forward.
Where Does Your Knee Hurt?
Front | Inside | Outside | Back
The location of your pain and symptoms can provide clues, but an examination is often needed to determine the actual problem.
Pain in the Front of the Knee: Pain around or behind the kneecap can be associated with patellofemoral pain syndrome, patellofemoral osteoarthritis, patellar tracking or alignment problems, chondromalacia of the patella, patellar tendinopathy, quadriceps tendinopathy, prepatellar or infrapatellar bursitis, patellar instability or previous dislocation, Osgood-Schlatter disease in younger patients, and osteochondral or cartilage injury. Front-of-knee pain is often aggravated by stairs, squatting, kneeling, running, prolonged sitting, or standing from a chair.
Pain on the Inside of the Knee: Pain along the inside, or medial side, of the knee can be associated with medial-compartment knee osteoarthritis, medial meniscus injury, degenerative meniscus tears, meniscus root tears, medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries, pes anserine bursitis or tendon irritation, and cartilage or bone injury. Inside-knee pain is often aggravated by walking, stairs, squatting, twisting, prolonged standing, weight-bearing, or getting up from a chair.
Pain on the Outside of the Knee: Pain along the outside, or lateral side, of the knee can be associated with lateral-compartment knee osteoarthritis, lateral meniscus injury, lateral collateral ligament (LCL) injuries, iliotibial band irritation, tendon or muscle irritation, cartilage injury, and certain types of knee instability. Outside-knee pain may become more noticeable with walking, running, stairs, squatting, side-to-side movements, or prolonged weight-bearing.
Pain Behind the Knee: Pain, pressure, or tightness behind the knee can be associated with a Baker's cyst, knee joint swelling or effusion, meniscus injury, hamstring tendon irritation, calf or other soft-tissue injury, posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury, knee osteoarthritis, and other posterior knee conditions. Pain behind the knee may be aggravated by bending or straightening the knee, walking, squatting, prolonged standing, or activities that place increased stress on the back of the knee.
Our
Story
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Pain & aching
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Swelling & stiffness
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Pain walking or using stairs
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Clicking, catching or locking
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Buckling or giving way
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Loss of strength or motion
These symptoms tell us something is happening. The next question is why. Find out what is causing your knee syptoms.
Knee Pain Symptoms
Knee Pain Has Many Possible Causes
Finding the right treatment starts with understanding the right problem
Knee Osteoarthritis
Changes in the knee joint can cause pain, stiffness, swelling, and make walking, stairs, or staying active more difficult.
Meniscus Tears
A meniscus tear can cause joint-line pain, swelling, catching, clicking, or difficulty bending and straightening the knee.
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Patellofemoral Pain
Pain around or behind the kneecap can make stairs, squatting, kneeling, running, or sitting for long periods uncomfortable.
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Ligament Injuries
Injuries to the ACL, PCL, MCL, or LCL can cause pain, swelling, instability, and loss of confidence in the knee.
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Knee Tendon Injuries
Tendon irritation or injury can cause pain with walking, stairs, jumping, exercise, or repeated activity.
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Knee Bursitis
Irritation of a bursa around the knee can cause localized pain, tenderness, and swelling that can make kneeling or movement uncomfortable.
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Knee Swelling & Baker’s Cyst
Extra fluid in or around the knee can cause swelling, stiffness, pressure, or a fluid-filled cyst behind the knee.
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Knee Instability
A knee that buckles, shifts, or gives way can interfere with walking, stairs, exercise, and confidence in movement.
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Cartilage & Osteochondral Injuries
Damage to the cartilage or underlying bone can cause pain, swelling, catching, or difficulty with weight-bearing and activity.
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Other Causes of Knee Pain
Not every knee problem fits neatly into one category. Knee pain can also come from inflammatory conditions, bone injuries, tissue irritation, referred pain, and other medical problems. -Gout & Pseudogout- Crystal buildup inside the knee joint can cause sudden pain, swelling, warmth, redness, and significant tenderness. -Inflammatory Arthritis- Conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis can cause inflammation, stiffness, swelling, and pain in one or both knees. -Knee Fractures & Bone Injuries- Fractures of the kneecap, tibia, or femur, as well as stress injuries and bone bruises, can cause pain, swelling, difficulty bearing weight, and loss of function. -Osteonecrosis- Reduced blood supply to an area of bone can damage the knee joint and cause increasing pain, especially with walking or weight-bearing. -Plica Syndrome- Irritation of a fold of tissue inside the knee can contribute to pain, clicking, catching, or discomfort with repeated bending. -Osteochondritis Dissecans- A condition involving the bone and overlying cartilage inside the knee can cause pain, swelling, catching, or locking. -Pediatric & Adolescent Knee-Conditions- Children and teenagers can develop knee problems such as Osgood-Schlatter disease, growth-plate injuries, patellar instability, overuse injuries, and sports-related ligament or meniscus injuries. -Referred Pain From the Hip or Low Back- Pain felt around the knee does not always begin in the knee. Problems involving the hip, nerves, or low back can sometimes refer pain toward the knee. -Joint Infection- An infection inside the knee joint can cause severe pain, swelling, warmth, redness, and sometimes fever. A hot, swollen, painful knee with fever requires prompt medical evaluation. Not Sure What Is Causing Your Knee Pain? The location of your pain and the symptoms you experience can provide clues, but they do not always identify the problem by themselves. At Arc of Life Medical Center, we evaluate what is driving the problem, explain the findings, determine which options fit and which do not, and recommend a personalized path forward.