Knee Pain

Many people of all ages experience some form of knee pain, ranging from mild strains through to more serious conditions caused by injury, arthritis or neurological problems. Unfortunately, because we rely on our knees for so many of our daily functions, persistent pain can cause significant barriers to our mobility and quality of life.

Correctly diagnosing knee pain is a complex process. At Interventus Pain Specialists, we focus on accurately diagnosing the source of your knee pain before developing a comprehensive treatment plan to restore function and relieve your discomfort.

Understanding the anatomy

The knee is the largest joint in the human body and arguably one of the most important since it is responsible for any leg movement or weight bearing. This complex hinge joint allows for extension backwards and forwards with minimal side-to-side motion. The knee comprises the following structures, and damage or injury to any one of these can cause knee pain:

• Four ligaments: Anterior cruciate and posterior cruciate; and medial collateral and lateral collateral
• Three bones: Tibia (shin bone), femur (thigh bone) and patella (kneecap)
• Meniscus: A thick pad of cartilage between the tibia and the femur
• Tendons: That connect the bone to muscles
• Muscles: Quadriceps, hamstrings and popliteus
• Bursae: Small sacs filled with synovial fluid that act like a cushion

Correctly diagnosing the cause of your knee pain

Common injuries that cause knee pain include a torn anterior cruciate ligament or torn meniscus, often sustained during sports like netball and football. Chronic knee pain, or pain that has been present for three months or more, can be caused by a range of factors such as arthritis or osteoarthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, nerve pain from shingles, infection of the knee joint, or referred pain from another part of the body.

Lingering pain can also be experienced following knee surgery. Around one quarter of people who undergo knee surgery such as a knee replacement or even a less-invasive arthroscopy, suffer severe ongoing pain.

Age, an inactive lifestyle, being overweight or engaging in activities that require repetitive knee flexing or twisting can increase your risk of developing knee pain.

To determine the specific cause of your pain, Interventus Pain Specialists use a combination of clinical examinations, investigations such as X-Rays, CT scans and MRIs, and other diagnostic tools such as Prognostic Injections, Radiofrequency Neurotomy or Pulsed Radiofrequency Neuromodulation.

At Interventus, our Brisbane knee pain specialists focus on accurately diagnosing the cause of your pain, before determining which treatment approach is most likely to be successful.