Trauma to the knee, while playing a contact sport like rugby or from falling off a bike and onto a hard surface for example, can damage the knee and cause pain.
Ligaments in the knee may be damaged or torn when the knee is twisted violently. This may happen when you make a quick turn while playing a game of football or, more mundanely but equally damaging, from stepping off the pavement at an unusual angle.
Other than obvious trauma to the knee, one of the most common causes of knee pain is arthritis. In its more advanced stages, you may be in terrible pain and hardly able to bend your knee.
Many patients at this stage assume they will need a total knee replacement. However, if the arthritis is at an early or moderate stage, there are other treatment options that may be beneficial without the need for major surgery.
Physiotherapy may be enough to improve your symptoms. Steroid injections can also be of benefit, and these can be administered by your consultant your where appropriate.
At The Manor, we provide a range of treatments for the knee, including:
- Total knee replacement – the knee joint is removed and replaced with an implant
- Partial knee replacement – damaged parts of the joint are removed and replaced with an artificial implant
- ACL reconstruction – keyhole surgery to repair a damaged or torn anterior cruciate ligament
- Osteotomy – knee realignment surgery
In addition, biological therapies are a new and innovative addition to knee treatments. These include Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections and Shock-wave therapy (SWT). Your consultant will be able to discuss these more with you if they would potentially be of benefit to you.