Knee Problems Specialist
-
- Tweet
Suffolk Spine & Joint Medical
Mike M. Pappas, D.O.
Physiatrist & Sports Medicine and Pain Management Specialist located in Riverhead, NY & Northport, NY
Form the moment you get out of bed until you put your head back down at night, your knees are constantly working to provide you with support, balance, and mobility. When something goes wrong and you’re left with knee pain, the effect can be seriously limiting. At Suffolk Spine and Joint Medical, Mike M. Pappas, DO, has considerable experience helping his patients in Riverhead, Northport, and Ronkonkoma, New York, find relief from knee pain. To learn more, call one of the three locations or fill out the online form to set up an appointment.
Knee Problems
What is the anatomy of the knee?
Your knees are the largest joints in your body, which makes sense given all that they’re responsible for. Not only do they carry your weight, but your knees provide balance, a range of motion, shock absorption, and mobility.
Making all of this happen are:
- Three bones: the patella, femur, and tibia
- Articular cartilage
- Ligaments
- Menisci
- Tendons
Each of these components in your knees enables you to walk, run, jump, and twist, so when knee pain strikes, your movement can be limited.
What are the most common causes of knee pain?
Your knees are some of the hardest-working joints in your body, which means they’re more vulnerable to pain. The most common causes of knee pain include:
- Arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
- Fractures and dislocations
- Meniscal injuries
- Ligament tears
- Tendon tears or tendinitis
- Bursitis
While knee pain can develop after an acute trauma, such as a sports-related injury, many times it comes on the heels of degenerative and wear-and-tear problems.
How is knee pain treated?
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for knee pain since it can stem from a variety of different issues. The first order of business is to have Dr. Pappas diagnose your knee pain, which he does through an examination and advanced imaging, such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans.
Once he narrows down the problem, he comes up with a treatment plan to relieve your pain and restore your mobility as quickly as possible. To do this, Dr. Pappas may turn to one or more of the following:
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Steroid injections
- Ultrasound-guided joint injections
- Viscosupplementation
- Physical therapy
Dr. Pappas prefers to take a more conservative approach to knee pain that avoids surgery. With an emphasis on reducing inflammation and building up the muscles and soft tissue that support your knee, he helps you overcome knee pain both now and in the long term. This approach is especially beneficial if you want to maintain an active life, including participating in sports.
If you want relief from your knee pain, please call Suffolk Spine and Joint Medical or use the online scheduling button to set up a consultation.
