What is Knee Pain?
- Generalized knee pain may be multifactorial
- Pain may come from other areas (i.e. your hip or back) referring pain to your knee
Symptoms of Knee Pain
- Most patients will experience pain in the knee area
- In addition to having knee pain, the pain may be referred up or down the leg
- Pain from the hip in some cases can refer pain to the knee area
Diagnosis of Knee Pain
Dr. Jennings and his team will evaluate your condition based on the following
- Your medical history
- A physical examination of the knee region
- X-rays
- And other diagnostic test as needed (i.e. MRI, CT scan)
What is Inflammatory Arthritis of the Knee?
- Inflammation arises when the smooth lining called cartilage at the ends of bones wears away.
- The joint inflammation is caused by an overactive immune system.
- Although there are many exceptions, inflammatory arthritis generally starts earlier in life than osteoarthritis.
- The disease may often have a symmetrical pattern affecting multiple joints at the same but some conditions may affect only one joint at a time
- Some examples of inflammatory arthritis include:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Gout and pseudogout
Symptoms of Inflammatory Arthritis of the Knee
- Joint pain and stiffness after periods of rest or inactivity, particularly in the morning.
- Inflammatory arthritis affecting the hip will typically present with groin pain
- Many joints may be symmetrically affected (i.e. hips, knees, shoulders, hands)
- The disease is characterized by “flares” and remission in many cases.
Diagnosis of Inflammatory Arthritis
Dr. Jennings and his team will evaluate your condition based on the following
- Your medical history
- A physical examination of the hip and thigh region
- X-rays
- And other diagnostic test as needed (i.e. MRI, CT scan)
- Dr. Jennings can assist with coordination of your care with a Rheumatologist if the diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis is suspected
