Knee Pain: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

Expert Knee Care and Tailored Treatments

Dr. Hicks with knee patient — Dr. Hicks meets with a patient suffering from knee pain

From non-surgical treatment to minimally invasive robotic procedures and total knee replacement, orthopaedic specialists at the University of Chicago Medicine's Musculoskeletal Center can help you find the right treatment to move more freely and without pain.

As the largest joint in the body, the knee absorbs a tremendous amount of force with every step, making it susceptible to injury. Millions of people suffer severe knee pain in their bones, cartilage, ligaments and tendons.

Our orthopaedic specialists offer a full spectrum of care, including non-operative therapies, minimally invasive arthroscopy and joint replacement surgery to address the root cause of your knee pain and support long-term recovery.

Video Transcript

Find relief for your joint pain at UChicago Medicine. Your joints are involved in almost every activity you do. When you suffer from hip or knee pain, everyday activities can feel unbearable. Knee and hip pain can be caused by many conditions. At UChicago Medicine, we can help relieve your pain.

You may find relief using nonsurgical treatment options. If these do not provide relief, your doctor might recommend a partial or total joint replacement. In joint-replacement surgery, also called arthroplasty, your surgeon replaces damaged bone and cartilage with an implant that will allow you to move your joint without pain.

At UChicago Medicine, we perform a high volume of joint-replacement surgeries every year. Higher surgery volumes are associated with better outcomes and lower rates of complications. Our orthopedic surgeons are at the forefront of joint-replacement surgery, including using robotic-arm-assisted technology. This technology helps to customize surgery to your unique needs.

Let's take a closer look at a total knee replacement. First, a CT scan of the knee generates a virtual 3D model of your unique joint. Your surgeon uploads this model into software to create your surgical plan. Your surgeon has the flexibility to modify this plan at any time based on your needs.

Your surgeon guides the robotic arm to remove the damaged bone and cartilage from the knee, keeping your healthy bone and cartilage in place. With the diseased bone gone, your surgeon inserts a knee implant into the joint space.

Robotic-assisted technology is just one example of how UChicago Medicine uses less-invasive surgery to help you recover faster. Our orthopedic program includes less-invasive surgery, specialized anesthetic techniques, and rapid-recovery physical therapy. Many of our patients are up and walking with more mobility and less pain within a day of surgery.

Ready to relieve your joint pain? UChicago Medicine is here to help.

Common Knee Pain Causes

Every year, people experience knee pain caused by sports injuries, arthritis, falls, vehicle collisions and more. UChicago Medicine orthopaedic and sports medicine specialists will help create a care plan to eliminate your knee pain and restore your mobility.

Common knee pain causes include:

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears

Meniscus Injury

Patellofemoral Syndrome

Sprained or Strained Knee

Patellar or Quadriceps Tendinitis

Knee Arthritis

Prepatellar or Pes Anserine Bursitis

Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS)

Gout or Pseudogout

We also treat patients experiencing chronic knee pain or disability as a result of:

Cancer
Deformities
Failed joint replacements
Avascular necrosis or osteonecrosis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Traumatic injuries

Knee Pain Symptoms

Depending on the location and severity of your knee condition, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

Swelling of the knee
Knee stiffness or aching
Weakness, instability or decreased flexibility of the knee
Redness around the knee and warm to the touch
A popping sound from the knee
Limited motion, such as not being able to fully extend the knee

When to See a Doctor for a Knee Pain Diagnosis

We encourage patients to try self-care remedies — rest, ice, compression, elevation and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications — before seeking medical treatment for minor knee pain after an injury. If your pain persists or if the injury is severe, our knee specialists can evaluate the problem and offer the best treatment options for your condition.

Knee Pain Treatments

Not every knee injury or condition requires surgery. We prioritize conservative, evidence-based treatments to help you feel better and get moving, without the risks or downtime of surgery.

Many of our patients are up and walking within a day of surgery. Recovery time will depend on your procedure. We offer a multifaceted program for knee joint replacement (arthroplasty) that includes minimally invasive surgery, specialized anesthetic techniques, multi-modal pain management and rapid-recovery physical therapy for better knee surgery recovery time.

Comprehensive Knee Surgery Treatments

Our knee surgery team performs a wide range of treatments for knee pain. Based on your diagnosis and symptoms, we provide a customized treatment plan that will deliver the best outcomes and minimize your recovery time after knee surgery.

Treatments available for knee pain through UChicago Medicine:

Genicular Artery Embolization

Partial Knee Replacement Surgery

Total Knee Replacement Surgery

If you experience severe arthritis or cartilage wear in more than one area of your knee, you may need total knee replacement surgery to restore your quality of life. In many cases, knee replacement can be performed with a minimally invasive approach, with robotic assistance or with smart implant technology. These techniques may allow for less pain, quicker recovery and better outcomes. Learn more about total knee replacement.

Arthroscopic Knee Surgery

Knee arthroscopy is a surgical procedure using a tiny camera to examine and treat the inside of the knee. Your surgeon will make small incisions to insert the camera and small surgical tools for the procedure.

Arthroscopy may be recommended for the following knee problems:

Torn meniscus
Torn or damaged anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)
Torn or damaged collateral ligament
Kneecap (patella) that is out of position or misaligned
Small pieces of broken cartilage in the knee joint
Cartilage restoration

Cartilage Restoration and Repair Surgery

In select cases involving isolated areas of cartilage damage in the knee, restoring articular cartilage can be an effective way to improve pain and function. Our experts offer several innovative procedures designed to repair or regenerate small, localized areas of damaged cartilage.

One approach for treating surface-based cartilage defects involves harvesting healthy cartilage tissue from a non-weight-bearing area of the joint. These cells are then sent to a specialized laboratory, where they are cultured over 2–3 months to produce new cartilage cells. Using your own cells could help promote better integration with existing tissue and may lead to improved long-term outcomes.

Nonsurgical Knee Pain Treatment

Many knee injuries can be treated without surgery. Treatment options feature a combination of the following:

Immobilization. Your doctor may recommend a brace to stabilize your knee. If you have a fractured bone, a cast or brace may hold the bones in place while they heal. You may need crutches to keep weight off your leg.
Physical therapy. Specific exercises help restore your knee function and strengthen the leg muscles.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs). Drugs like naproxen and ibuprofen reduce pain and swelling. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is one of the safest options for most patients.
Knee joint injections. Shots, including steroid or other types of medications, can be given to the knee to reduce pain and inflammation in the joint.

Whether your knee treatment includes a surgical procedure or less invasive options, orthopaedic specialists at UChicago Medicine can ensure you receive an accurate diagnosis and the most advanced knee pain treatment plan tailored to your needs.