Knee and Leg Pain Treatment in Manhattan Beach

Problems within the knee and leg can be caused by aging (osteoarthritis), injury or other trauma (such as a fall). The orthopaedic physicians at Golden State Bone and Joint Clinic are specialists in treating knee and leg conditions, and offer an extensive mix of conservative, advanced orthobiologic, and surgical treatment options.

Contact us today for a consultation »

leg and knee pain treatment CA knee surgery

Patella Tendinitis or Tendinosis

These conditions involve acute inflammation of the patellar tendon that connects the kneecap to the leg bone. They are common injuries for athletes who participate in sports that require frequent jumping, such as basketball and volleyball. The first line of treatment for patella tendinitis or tendinosis is nonoperative including activity modification, and physical therapy. Orthobiologics have been shown to work for some patients as well. In some cases, a surgery may be indicated to remove a portion of the diseased tendon and help relieve pain in the knee and leg.

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Also known as PFPS, is a broad term to describe pain in the anterior part of the knee around the kneecap (patella). It is one of the most common causes of knee pain and can cause knee and leg pain with daily activities including going up and down stairs, kneeling, squating, and even sitting for prolonged periods of time. There are multiple factors that can contribute to the development of PFPS including a sudden increase in activity, change in running surface, muscle imbalances, and improper use of workout equipment. The mainstay of treatment is a multimodal nonoperative course including anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy to address any muscular imbalances, potential bracing and taping of the knee and activity modification.

Meniscus Tear

The knee has both a medial and lateral meniscus that is responsible for shock absorption and increased stability. Menisci tears can occur from acute injuries as well as degenerative aging. Menisci tears can cause pain, swelling, difficulty squatting, and catching and locking in the knee. A tear is best diagnosed with an MRI and can be treated nonoperatively versus operatively depending on the tear pattern, location, patient symptoms, and condition of the remainder of the knee.

Sprained or Strained Ligaments

Usually caused by trauma to the knee or an abnormal twist of the knee, a sprained or strained ligament can result in pain and inflammation, as well as difficulty walking. Most often this involves a ligament on the inner portion of the knee called the medial collateral ligament (MCL). Typical treatment is nonoperative and includes, rest, brief period of immobilization of the joint, medication, physical therapy, and possible arthrocentesis (aspiration of the joint to remove synovial fluid) to help with pain.

Contact us today for a consultation »

ACL Tear

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the main ligaments of the knee that is responsible for anterior and rotatory stability. It is more often injured in female athletes, and commonly occurs in soccer, basketball, football, gymnastics, and skiing. When torn, patients often feel a pop in their knee, have a high level of pain in the knee and leg, almost immediate swelling, and difficulty walking. An ACL tear can be suspected during a clinical exam, but is confirmed torn on MRI. For patients looking to return to cutting and pivoting sports, the recommendation is surgical treatment to reconstruct the ACL with a new tendon or potentially repair the ACL in the appropriate clinical settings.

Osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative condition that causes progressive loss of articular cartilage. It can cause pain, especially at night, swelling with activity, stiffness, and difficulty walking. Osteoarthritis is best diagnosed on x-ray. Initial treatment is conservative and includes oral and topical anti-inflammatories, physical therapy, activity modification, weight loss, possible bracing, and injections including steroids, hyaluronic acid, platelet rich plasma (PRP) and bone marrow concentrate (BMC). When nonoperative treatment is no longer helping control the pain, the ultimate surgical treatment is for a total knee replacement to alleviate knee and leg pain.

If you are interested in learning more about Golden State Bone and Joint services and knee and leg surgical and non-surgical treatments, contact us today!