Sports Medicine

Knee pain

04/22/2008 04:29PM

Question:

I had a lateral release right knee 2/2007. My knee pops all the time sometimes painful my concern is I can squat with help it`s feel real tight, but I can not get back up to much pain so I have to get help or put all weight on left knee it also hurts going up and down stairs. Any idea what this could be.

Answer:

Symptoms of knee popping, pain with squatting, and pain with stairs are all consistent with patellofemoral pain, or pain involving your kneecap, but to determine the cause of your symptoms, a physical examination, and possibly imaging studies, are necessary. How much did the lateral release help? You should follow-up with your orthopedic surgeon, who should be able to provide you with a diagnosis, as well as further treatment options such as Physical Therapy, a progressive home exercise program including cross-training to build your endurance (without aggravating your knee symptoms in the process), various types of knee sleeves, oral anti-inflammatory medications, topical medications, knee injections, and possibly a change in footwear, among other options.

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Response by:

Brian L. Bowyer, MD
Associate Professor of Clinical PM&R
OSU Sports Medicine and Family Health Center
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
College of Medicine
The Ohio State University