Knee pain

Knee pain can make everyday activities more difficult, affecting your ability to walk, exercise, work, and stay active. Whether pain develops gradually over time or occurs after an injury, knee conditions can impact mobility, strength, and overall quality of life.

At Wisconsin River Orthopaedics, our specialists use advanced diagnostic tools and personalized treatment plans to identify the source of your knee pain and provide effective care. We treat a variety of conditions including arthritis, ligament injuries, meniscus tears, tendon injuries, overuse conditions, and sports-related injuries.

Our goal is to relieve pain, restore function, and help you return to the activities you enjoy as safely and quickly as possible. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Knee

What are the common causes of knee pain?

Your knees take a beating every day – they absorb one and a half times your body weight with every step you take on flat ground, and more if you’re on an incline or running. As a result, you can develop injuries or degenerative conditions such as:

  • Arthritis
  • Baker’s cysts
  • Bursitis
  • Fractures
  • Kneecap dislocations
  • Ligament tears
  • Meniscus tears
  • Patellofemoral syndrome
  • Sprains
  • Tendinitis

Knee injuries are common sports injuries. Colliding with another player or equipment, as well as rapid changes in direction and speed, increase your risk of painful knee injuries.

Your risk of knee pain is also higher if you’re overweight, lead a sedentary lifestyle, or have a physically demanding career.

When should I talk to a doctor about knee pain?

You shouldn’t ignore knee pain. Unless you have a severe acute injury and need immediate medical attention, you can try to treat your knee at home with rest, ice, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication.

If your knee pain persists, gets worse, or limits your range of motion or ability to walk, make an appointment at Wisconsin River Orthopaedics.

How is the cause of knee pain diagnosed?

The orthopaedic surgeons provide thorough exams and diagnostic testing to identify the cause of your knee pain. They begin by reviewing your symptoms, lifestyle, and medical history, before moving on to a physical exam.

Wisconsin River Orthopaedics offers in-site, open MRIs, as well as X-rays and diagnostic arthroscopy, to examine your knee. These tests provide valuable information, allowing your physician to identify and evaluate your knee issue.

How is knee pain treated?

Wisconsin River Orthopaedics provides customized treatment programs to relieve knee pain and repair joint damage. Depending on your needs, they may recommend conservative treatments such as physical therapy, anti-inflammatories, or joint injections.

In more severe cases, you might need surgical repair of torn ligaments or cartilage. Our team of surgeons also provides partial and total knee replacement surgeries if your knee is damaged or degenerated beyond the point of repair.

ACL

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the major ligaments that helps stabilize the knee joint. ACL injuries are common, especially in athletes participating in sports that involve cutting, pivoting, jumping, or sudden changes in direction, such as football, basketball, soccer, and skiing.

ACL injuries can range from mild sprains to complete tears and often occur during sudden movements or direct impact to the knee. At Wisconsin River Orthopaedics, our sports medicine and orthopaedic specialists provide comprehensive care for ACL injuries, including advanced diagnostics, personalized treatment plans, rehabilitation, and surgical options when needed. Our goal is to restore stability, improve function, and help patients safely return to activity. 

What is the ACL?

The ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, is one of the key ligaments in the knee that connects the femur (thigh bone) to the tibia (shin bone). It helps control knee movement and provides stability during activities involving twisting, pivoting, and sudden directional changes. 

What are the types of ACL injuries?

At Wisconsin River Orthopaedics, the team calls all ACL injuries a sprain. However, sprains are graded based on the severity of the stretch, or tear, in the ligament.

Grade 1 sprains
With a grade 1 ACL sprain, you have a slight stretch in the ligament and no instability in the knee joint.

Grade 2 sprains
A grade 2 ACL sprain means your ligament is loose. A grade 2 sprain also means you have a partial ligament tear.

Grade 3 sprains
With a grade 3 ACL sprain, you have a complete tear in the ligament. Your ligament is split in two and you have joint instability.

How is an ACL injury diagnosed?

When you come in to see the experts at Wisconsin River Orthopaedics with complaints of knee pain and swelling, your provider conducts a comprehensive exam to determine the cause of your symptoms.

They ask detailed questions about your pain, including the cause and symptoms. Then, they examine the knee. In most cases, the orthopaedic experts at Wisconsin River Orthopaedics diagnose ACL injuries after a physical exam of your knee. To confirm a diagnosis, the team may conduct diagnostic imaging.

Wisconsin River Orthopaedics is a state-of-the-art orthopaedic practice with an on-site open MRI, allowing the team to get clear images of your knee and ACL.

How is an ACL injury treated?

An ACL tear won’t heal on its own, but surgery isn’t always necessary. Treatment for your ACL injury depends on the severity of your sprain and your lifestyle.

Non-surgical treatment like bracing and physical therapy may be recommended if you have a grade 1 sprain and lead a fairly sedentary lifestyle. The team may also take a non-surgical approach for older adults, even if they have a more severe injury.

For grade 2 or 3 sprains, the team performs ACL surgery. The surgeons can’t stitch the torn pieces back together; instead, they rebuild the ligament using a tissue graft.

Meniscus

A meniscus tear is one of the most common knee injuries and can cause pain, swelling, stiffness, and limited movement. The meniscus acts as a cushion between the thigh bone and shine bone, helping absorb shock and stabilize the knee joint.

Meniscus injuries may occur suddenly during sports or develop gradually from wear and tear over time. At Wisconsin River Orthopaedics, our specialists provide advanced evaluation and personalized treatment options designed to relieve pain, restore knee function, and help patients return to daily activities. 

What is a meniscus tear?

The meniscus is a C-shaped disc of rubbery cartilage located between the femur and tibia in your knee.

You have two menisci in each knee – one on each side of your kneecap. They cushion your knees, absorbing shock and prevent your bones from rubbing together when you bend or extend your knee.

A meniscus tear, sometimes called torn cartilage, is a prevalent injury, especially among athletes. However, you don’t have to be athletic to tear a meniscus. Age-related degeneration can also contribute to meniscus damage and tears. Meniscus tears are painful; your knee swells and becomes stiff. You may also have a feeling of instability or a locking sensation in your knee.

What causes meniscus tears?

Meniscus tears are prevalent sports injuries. In many cases, they’re caused by a sudden twisting motion when you pivot while running or collide with another player. Kneeling, squatting, and lifting heavy objects can also cause a meniscus tear.

As you age and your cartilage becomes dry and weak, you can tear a meniscus by getting up from a chair and inadvertently twisting your knee.

How is a meniscus tear diagnosed?

Wisconsin River Orthopaedics offers comprehensive exams and diagnostic imaging studies to identify torn menisci. After reviewing your symptoms, your physician examines your knee to check for swelling or tenderness along the joint line.

They also use the McMurray test, which means bending, straightening, and rotating your knee to put controlled tension on your menisci. Pain, clicking sounds, and clunking sensations indicate a torn meniscus.

When necessary, your orthopaedic provider may recommend an MRI or X-ray to confirm your diagnosis and evaluate the severity of your injury. For your convenience, Wisconsin River Orthopaedics has an on-site open MRI machine.

How is a meniscus tear treated?

The orthopaedic providers at Wisconsin River Orthopaedics develop personalized treatment plans tailored to address the severity of your injury.

If your tear is minor, the team may suggest starting with the rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) method, as your injury may heal on its own. You might also benefit from steroid injections, anti-inflammatory medicine, and physical therapy.

In more severe cases, you may need surgical repair. The team uses arthroscopy, a minimally invasive surgical procedure, to remove or repair the damaged tissue.
They use specialized surgical tools inserted through just a few small incisions in your knee. One of the instruments sends a live video stream to a monitor in the treatment room, allowing your orthopaedic surgeon to see inside your knee.