Knee Pain: Causes, Treatments, and Tests

“Being able to WALK pain-free is a blessing. Being able to walk without showing the pain is a skill” – Kylie McPherson

What is Knee Pain?

Knee pain can be caused by a number of different factors. Most commonly, knee pain is due to inflammation either because of arthritis or an injury. Knee pain can be in the joint, bursa (fluid-filled sac), tendons, or ligaments around the knee.

Most often, knee pain is due to an imbalance of the muscles surrounding the knee. Usually, the thigh muscles (quadriceps) are stronger than the muscles at the back of the thigh (hamstrings) and this causes uneven torque on the knee cap.

Diagnosing Knee Sprains, Strains & Tears

The difference between a sprain, strain, and tear is usually quite subtle and these terms tend to be used interchangeably. A sprain is damage to a ligament whereas a strain is damage to a muscle or a tendon. Ligaments connect bones to other bones and tendons connect muscle to bones. Both sprains and strains can result in tears. Both are painful and result in swelling and bruising and should be treated early.

I have Knee Pain. What should I do?

There are many causes of knee pain and a proper assessment by an athletic therapist is the best way to know how to move forward. At Mobility on Mainway, we will do a full assessment of the range of motion of your knee joint and help you with strengthening and rehab exercises to help your knee pain.

What do you do for your Chronic Knee Pain?

Your doctor may manage chronic knee pain with cortisone injections for pain, anti-inflammatory medications,  and/or bracing. If your knee pain is due to your gait, custom orthotics can make a big difference. Mobility on Mainway can do a thorough assessment and can help determine if a foot custom orthotics will assist you. Make an appointment today!

Why do my Knees Hurt when the x-ray is Normal?

X-rays will only show bone deterioration and arthritis-related issues. You could have muscular issues in the knee and an x-ray will not pick it up.

How to know if I should get an MRI scan for my knee?

If the injury to your knee is suspected to be ligament-related, you should get an MRI of your knee or the impacted area.

Do I need an MRI for KNEE with and without contrast?

You don’t necessarily need an MRI with contrast for your knee. Depending on your pathology your doctor will let you know, but most knee ligament injuries are seen perfectly clearly without contrast.

Do Canadians Really wait 11 weeks for an MRI?

Yes, this is possible for sure to have to wait for an MRI depending on the severity of your injury. Sometimes you can get lucky and get a midnight or an early am last minute appointment time, but generally, there is a wait. Most often it is within 2-3 months but it could be more.

At Mobility on Mainway, our team of experienced clinicians can diagnose and treat your knee pain along with many other foot conditions such as painful bunions, foot pain, tendonitis, and more.

Call us today to book an appointment at 289-245-6624