When a patient suffers a knee injury due to sports, an accident, mechanical wear and tear, or the effects of medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, surgery is usually considered as an option after more conservative treatments have failed to yield results. Conservative treatments include icing, rest, the use of NSAIDS like Advil or Tylenol, and allowing the injury or inflammation to heal on its own over time. Certain injuries, like an ACL or more severe meniscal tears, will require surgery to repair.
Dr. Eric Millstein is an orthopedic surgeon and regularly performs knee surgery in Los Angeles to help his patients recover from a range of injuries and problems with pain, inflammation and mobility that can also arise from arthritic conditions like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
The knee and knee joint are made up of a series of ligaments, tendons, bones, bursae (the fluid filled sacs that surround the knee joints), and cartilage, and an injury to any or a combination either from sports or forceful impact can cause problems and lead to pain, inflammation, and in some cases, limited range of motion in the joint.
Some of the more common knee injuries are an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear, a meniscus tear, knee bursitis, and patellar tendinitis. Other conditions that cause pain and inflammation and have the potential to lead to further joint damage are loose bone or cartilage fragments in the joint space, IT band syndrome, and a dislocated kneecap. Certain medical conditions (like rheumatoid arthritis) can cause chronic pain and inflammation and lead to degeneration of the joint over time.
Next, read more about ACL Reconstruction.
