Knee Pain Specialist
Interventional Pain Management Services
Pain Management located in St. Louis, MO
If your knees buckle unexpectedly or chronic knee pain is interfering with your usual routine, it may be time to seek an evaluation at Interventional Pain Management Services, with two offices in St. Louis and one in Granite City, Missouri. Whether your knee pain is due to an injury or degenerative disease, the pain management specialists offer comprehensive care to help alleviate pain and restore functionality in your knee joint. Learn more about your options for relieving knee pain by calling the office nearest you or booking an appointment online today.
Knee Pain Q & A
What causes knee pain?
Knee pain can be the result of underlying medical issues or direct injuries to the bones or soft tissues of your knee joint. While people of any age can develop knee pain because of overuse injuries or direct trauma, your risk for knee problems increases as you get older.
Age-related degeneration causes the cartilage and bones of your knee joint to wear out, affecting your range of motion and causing pain.
In addition to wear-and-tear on the knee, you may develop chronic pain from:
- Sprains
- Arthritis
- Infection
- Inflammation
Chronic knee pain is also common with ACL injuries. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the ligament in your knee that connects your thighbone to your shinbone, keeping your knee joint stable.
When should I seek medical help for knee pain?
If you have knee pain that lasts for more than a week and doesn’t get better with rest and over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatories, schedule an evaluation at Interventional Pain Management Services to help prevent additional knee damage.
You should also seek medical help for knee pain that is accompanied by severe swelling or fever. If you’re unable to put weight on your knee or have pain even when resting, schedule a visit.
How is knee pain diagnosed?
During your assessment, your Interventional Pain Management Services specialist reviews your medical history and the activities you were doing when the pain started.
The pain management specialists also perform a physical exam of your knee, checking for swelling and joint abnormalities.
To confirm a diagnosis or rule out underlying medical conditions, your Interventional Pain Management Services physician may order imaging tests, like X-rays.
What treatment options are available for knee pain?
If rest and home care aren’t enough to alleviate your knee pain, your Interventional Pain Management Services physician may suggest a steroid injection intended to reduce inflammation and pain. Following an injection, you may have more range of motion in your knee and enjoy pain relief for several weeks.*
Physical therapy may also be beneficial for strengthening the muscles that support your knee joint, and home exercises can also improve your knee flexibility.
If you have serious damage to your knee ligaments, such as a torn or ruptured ACL, you may need surgery to repair the injury.
Find out more about available treatments for chronic knee pain by calling the Interventional Pain Management Services office nearest you or booking an appointment online today.