Knee Pain

Expert Knee Care & Tailored Treatments

The knee is the largest joint in the entire body. It bears the majority of your weight, which makes the bone susceptible to injury. Each year millions suffer severe knee pain in their bones, cartilage, ligaments and tendons. The orthopaedic specialists at the University of Chicago Medicine's Musculoskeletal Center offer comprehensive non-operative, arthroscopic and joint replacement care for patients with knee injuries and knee pain.

Common Knee Pain Causes

Every year, people experience sports injuries, arthritis, falls, vehicle collisions and more. UChicago Medicine orthopaedic and sports medicine specialists will partner with you to create a care plan to eliminate your knee pain and restore your mobility. Common causes of knee pain include:

• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears
• Meniscus injury
• Problems affecting the kneecap (patella)
• Sprained or strained knee
• Knee tendonitis
• Torn knee cartilage
• Knee arthritis
• Runner's knee
• Jumper's knee
• Knee bursitis

We also treat patients experiencing chronic knee pain or disability as a result of:

• Cancer
• Deformities
• Failed joint replacements
• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Traumatic injury

Knee Injury Symptoms

Depending on the location and severity of your knee condition, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• Knee pain
• Swelling of the knee
• Knee stiffness or aching
• Weakness, instability or decreased flexibility of the knee
• Redness around the knee and warm to the touch
• Popping sound from the knee
• Limited motion, such as not being able to fully extend the knee

Knee Pain Relief to Recover Faster, Walk Sooner

We encourage our patients to try self-care remedies — rest, ice, compression, elevation and over-the- counter anti-inflammatory medications — before seeking medical treatment for minor knee pain after an injury. If your pain persists after these measures, or if the injury is severe, our knee specialists can evaluate the problem and offer the best treatment options for your condition.  

Many of our patients are up and walking within a day of surgery. We offer a multifaceted program for knee arthroplasty that includes minimally invasive surgery, specialized anesthetic techniques, multi-modal pain management and rapid-recovery physical therapy for better knee surgery recovery time.

Nonsurgical Knee Pain Treatment

Many knee injuries can be treated through:

• Immobilization. Your doctor may recommend a brace to stabilize your knee. If you have a fractured bone, a cast or brace may hold the bones in place while they heal. You may also be given crutches to keep you from putting weight on your leg.
• Physical therapy. Specific exercises help restore function to the knee and strengthen the leg muscles.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs). Drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen reduce pain and swelling.