Gaithersburg MD Knee Doctor

Common Knee Injuries

At the Pain & Arthritis Relief Center, we have a Gaithersburg MD knee doctor on staff who may perform a thorough diagnostic exam and offer non-surgical solutions for most common knee injuries. If you are suffering from a knee injury, we encourage you to call our office today to make an appointment for an exam.

Knee pain can happen to anyone, regardless of age, for a number of reasons. Knowing why you are having knee pain can help you seek treatment, relieve pain, and regain mobility to get back to your normal routine. If you are having knee pain that is affecting your daily or favorite activities, you should contact a trusted knee doctor from the Pain & Arthritis Relief Center in the Gaithersburg, MD area.

The knee is the joint situated between your upper and lower leg bones. It lets your leg bend while also providing stability to support your body weight. It is also an aid in what allows for you to walk, run, jump, crouch, and turn.

The parts of the knee which allow for it to do its job, include:

Bones
Tendons
Ligaments
Muscles
Cartilage

Any of these parts are vulnerable to injury and disease, which can cause knee pain.

A Gaithersburg knee doctor at the Pain & Arthritis Relief Center can diagnose your knee injury and offer a comprehensive treatment plan. Our facility is state-of-the-art, and our licensed wellness experts offer traditional, as well as alternative, medical treatments. If you are experiencing pain, discomfort, swelling, or loss of movement, call us immediately to schedule an appointment with a trusted Gaithersburg MD knee doctor. These symptoms can indicate a serious knee injury caused by any of the following conditions:

Dislocated knee. This occurs when the knee bones are completely or partially knocked out of place. When the tibia, patella, or femur are pushed out of alignment or out of place, the resulting dislocation can be extremely painful. They can also occur for people with a knee that is abnormally structured. For others, it can be caused by trauma such as a fall, sports related injury, or an auto accident. A Gaithersburg MD knee doctor at Pain & Arthritis Relief Center may offer non-surgical options for treatment of a dislocated knee.
Knee fracture. The patella, which is a bone around the knee, can break or fracture. In addition to the patella, where the tibia and femur meet to form the knee joint is another area susceptible to fracturing. Auto accidents and falls from heights are frequently the cause of knee fractures.
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee injury. An ACL injury is most commonly associated with professional football players but can occur to almost anyone. Sports enthusiasts are especially susceptible because this type of injury typically happens when a person suddenly changes direction or lands hard from a jump. Nearly 50% of all ACL injuries happen in conjunction with additional injuries to the meniscus, articular cartilage, or other ligaments in the knee area. A complete exam by a Gaithersburg MD knee doctor from Pain & Arthritis Relief Center may determine the full extent of your knee injury.
Posterior cruciate ligament injury. Most often this particular injury is caused by a forceful blow to the front of the knee while it’s in the bent position. This is an especially common injury in auto accidents due to the driver’s and passengers’ sitting position in the vehicle. A knee doctor in Gaithersburg MD may treat it, but very often this type of injury can heal on its own because it concerns only a partial tear of the posterior cruciate ligament.

Common Causes of Knee Pain

Trauma

Gaithersburg, Maryland knee doctors will explain that the knees are viewed as one of the joints which is most prone to injury. Most knee injuries typically take place because of a tear in one of the three main ligaments in the knee: posterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament, and the anterior cruciate ligament. Athletes are the most common to have an injury to these ligaments take place.

Knee trauma can also come from overstretching or overworking a tendon. Running, lifting heavy objects, and jumping are activities that can cause tendon injuries. If a tendon is severely ruptured, it will require surgery in most instances. If the injury is less severe, a splint can be used to keep the knee in a fixed position while healing.

Fractures

If you suffer from a collision or a fall, there can be fractures in the bones of the knee. There are multiple bones in the knee that are able to break. If someone has osteoporosis or another degenerative disorder that causes the bones to weaken, knees can be fractured very easily. Severe fractures often require surgery, however, some knee fractures only need physical therapy to heal.

Dislocated Kneecap

In some injuries, the kneecap can actually move out of its correct place. In most instances, a Gaithersburg, MD knee doctor is able to put the kneecap back in its correct location without any problem. The patient would have an X-ray to see if there are any additional fractures around the knee. The patient could have a splint to allow for the tissue around the knee to heal and get stronger. In rare instances, a patient would need surgery to prevent another dislocation from happening in the future.

Talk to a Knee Doctor

A trained knee doctor from our Gaithersburg, MD area office will perform tests to figure out the cause of your knee pain. It is important to discuss the following topics so your doctor has a clear picture of what is causing your pain:

How and when did the knee pain begin?
Was there an injury associated with the pain?
How severe is the knee pain?
Has the pain changed at all?
What makes your knee feel better or worse?
What treatment have you already tried?
Have you ever had this pain before?

By speaking openly with your trusted Gaithersburg, MD knee doctor about your knee pain, your doctor will be able to recommend the best course of treatment for your pain. Contact an experienced Gaithersburg, MD knee doctor from the Pain & Arthritis Relief Center today to schedule a consultation.

How To Protect Your Knees

The knees have a vital role in allowing us to stand, walk, and do other activities. Composed of cartilage, bones, muscles, and ligaments, when the knee gets damaged either from natural causes or an injury accident, it can be difficult to continue having an active and rewarding lifestyle. Thankfully, our team is well-versed in knee health, and offers the following advice on protecting your knees as you age:

Wear Supportive Shoes

Over the years, your foot size may change size, and usually for the bigger. Examine your shoes to make sure they are not too tight or lack support in the arch. Trust us when we say that your knees will be quite pleased if you opt for shoes that offer support and are more flat than angular in design. Consider the shoes you wear on a regular basis. Do you walk often for work, and are your shoes made for walking? And when you get home, do you take your shoes off? Going barefoot whenever you’re at home will reduce the overall stress on your knees as well.

Eat for Less Inflammation

What you eat impacts how you feel and how your body functions. Your diet influences how much inflammation is present in your body at any given time. For instance, foods that are made with sugar and white flour are the main culprits for inflammation. Other ingredients to be mindful of if you struggle with body inflammation include eggs, dairy, and meat. Your knee doctor can evaluate your eating habits and offer suggestions if you wish.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Whenever you stand up and walk, you are adding pressure on joints — and to the knees in particular! If you are overweight, then you are more likely to wear away at the cartilage between joints faster, resulting in pain and discomfort. In fact, each additional pound you carry adds four pounds of pressure to the knees. And if you have to stand or walk around every day, then it’s your knees that will be bearing the brunt of this extra weight. However, always be sure to speak with a knee doctor or other physician about whether you are a candidate for healthy weight loss before engaging in any kind of weight loss plan.

Use Daily Exercises and Stretches
Depending on your ability, moderate exercises are best for protecting yet strenghtening the knee joints. Building muscles that support the knee components will reduce joint pressure. The thighs and calf muscles act as support for the knees to function. If you prefer a non-weight bearing exercise, water aerobics may be a great option for you. If you want more guidance, a trainer can work directly with you on your individual needs and goals. Your knee doctor can also recommend stretches to do at home so that you are protecting the health of your knees as much as possible.

Osteoarthritis: Causes, Effects and Management

If you ask a Gaithersburg MD knee doctor, you’ll find that another common source of knee pain is osteoarthritis. Arthritis generally refers to inflammation, pain or stiffness of the joints. Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, is the degeneration of the underlying bone and joint cartilage. This form of arthritis can occur in any joint, but is most common in the hips, hands, spine, and knees. It occurs gradually over time, as pressure on the joints causes the cartilage on the ends of the bones to wear down, and the process cannot be reversed.

Osteoarthritis affects more than 30 percent of adults over 65. The symptoms can be painful and disruptive to daily life, so it is important to learn more information about this joint disease. At the Pain & Arthritis Relief Center, we often see this condition in our chiropractic clients. If you’re dealing with osteoarthritis, working with a Gaithersburg MD knee doctor might be the key to resolving the pain and inflammation.

Osteoarthritis Causes

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease generally caused by wear and tear that occurs over a long period of time. Your Gaithersburg MD knee doctor can inform you of the many contributing factors that can lead to general arthritis, as well as osteoarthritis. Below are some of those possible causes and contributors:

Pain. The joints may start to hurt during and after movement, exercise or any sort of pressure to the joint. Significant and developing pain affecting your daily life and/or sleep are major signs and symptoms of the disease.
Stiffness. Stiffness and difficulty moving a certain joint is usually most noticeable after waking up or after a period of being inactive. This may also hinder the flexibility and mobility of movement.
Tenderness. The joint may be tender when light pressure is applied to the area

Osteoarthritis Effects

There are many symptoms associated with osteoarthritis, and a Gaithersburg MD knee doctor will tell you that, unfortunately, they can become more severe with the passage of time. Common symptoms and signs of osteoarthritis include:

Pain. The joints may start to hurt during and after movement, exercise or any sort of pressure to the joint. Significant and developing pain affecting your daily life and/or sleep are major signs and symptoms of the disease.
Stiffness. Stiffness and difficulty moving a certain joint is usually most noticeable after waking up or after a period of being inactive. This may also hinder the flexibility and mobility of movement.
Tenderness. The joint may be tender when light pressure is applied to the area.

Managing Osteoarthritis

Although you cannot stop the degeneration process, there are ways to manage the development of osteoarthritis. The following are a few ideas your Gaithersburg MD knee doctor might offer you:

Exercise. Too much exercise can make the condition worse; however, studies show that moderate exercise and activity can reduce some osteoarthritis affects.
Physical or occupational therapy. Therapists will usually use stretches and exercises that can help with your specific condition and affected area.
Medication. Pain relievers such as acetaminophen can help with general joint pain. If the pain is severe enough, some doctors may prescribe a more potent medication.

How a Knee Doctor in Gaithersburg MD Can Help

If you are experiencing osteoarthritis of the knee, there can be numerous reasons for its onset. Whatever the reason, looking into care that not only resolves the problem but also serves as a preventative measure can be enormously helpful; finding a knee doctor Gaithersburg MD trusts should be part of your healing process. At the Pain Arthritis Relief Center, we’re committed to helping our patients find medication- and surgery-free ways to improve their health and flexibility. Be sure to get in touch with us when you’re ready to work with a Gaithersburg MD knee doctor who can help you with any kind of joint pain.

Call Us Today

When left untreated, mild knee injuries can progress to more serious injuries. Depending on the nature of your injury, our physicians at the Pain and Arthritis Relief Center may be able to provide immediate relief. For a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan, make an appointment today with a Gaithersburg MD knee doctor from our office.

Client Review

“Great service! Dr. Bloch went out of his way to help provide care while I was visiting family in the area. ”
Michele C.