When struggling with knee pain, no single treatment works for all. Dedicated to helping you get long-term pain relief, Noble Pain Management in Columbia, Missouri, focuses on finding and treating the root cause of your pain. Bradford R. Noble, DO, FAOCPMR, specializes in interventional pain management and skillfully diagnose and treat your pain condition. Call the office or book an appointment online today.

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When should I see a pain specialist for knee pain?

You may assume creaky knees are just a typical result of aging, but symptoms that interfere with your daily function should be examined. These include:

  • Knee weakness or instability
  • Redness or feelings of heat from the joint
  • Popping or crunching noises in the joint
  • Stiffness or swelling
  • Inability to straighten the knee

You might feel knee pain in several locations around the joint, including the front, back, and side of your knee.

What causes knee pain?

Knee pain can be caused by injury, disease, tears in the tendons, cartilage loss, or degeneration, such as osteoarthritis. A dislocated kneecap, inflammation of your iliotibial band, or an altered gait can cause pain.

Noble Pain Management offers advanced diagnostic tools, such as X-rays and MRIs, to help determine the root cause of your knee pain. Knee injections can be an effective solution for patients who have already tried physical therapy and want to try surgical alternatives.

What can be done for knee pain besides surgery?

In many cases, pain management is possible without surgery. Other treatment options include:

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy as part of a comprehensive physical rehabilitation program can help improve knee function. If you’re carrying extra pounds, achieving a healthy weight can help reduce pressure on the joints. You may also benefit from knee braces or arch supports.

Epidural steroid injections

Noble Pain Management may perform an epidural steroid injection for knee pain, back pain, and neck pain caused by inflamed or pinched nerves. Sometimes, they recommend pain-reducing injections administered directly to your knee joint.

These injections include corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and hyaluronic acid to lubricate the joint. Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance in your body, but production decreases as you age; reintroducing it directly to the joint can improve mobility.

What can I expect after a knee pain injection?

Cortisone shots for knee pain commonly cause a temporary flare in pain and inflammation for the first 48 hours after your injection. After that, pain and inflammation of the affected joint should decrease, and results can last up to several months.

Make sure to protect the injection site for a day or two, and do not use a bathtub, hot tub, or whirlpool for two days (showering is okay). Keep an eye out for infection, including any increased pain, redness, and swelling lasting more than 48 hours.

Noble Pain Management may recommend repeating the injection every three months so you continue to get the pain-relieving benefits.

For more information about how Noble Pain Management can help you overcome knee pain, call the office or request an appointment online today.