Knee Pain
Knee pain treatment in Thane. The cause of knee pain depends on your age, how it started and exactly where it hurts, and most knee pain improves without surgery.
Why Does My Knee Hurt?
Knee pain is one of the most common reasons people see an orthopaedic surgeon. The knee carries your weight with every step, bends deeply when you sit on the floor or squat, and twists when you turn. In Indian daily life, floor sitting, squatting, stairs in buildings without lifts and long hours standing all ask a lot of it.
The good news is that most knee pain can be eased a great deal without an operation, once the cause is clear.
Which of These Sounds Like You?
- “My knee aches and is stiff, especially on stairs, and it has been getting slowly worse for months or years.”Arthritis
- “My knee pain limits my walking and sleep, and medicines and physiotherapy no longer help.”Total Knee Replacement
- “The pain is mainly on the inner side of my knee, and the rest of the knee feels fine.”Partial Knee Replacement
- “I twisted my knee, heard a pop, it swelled up within hours and now it gives way.”ACL Tear
- “My knee catches, locks or clicks, and hurts on the inner or outer side when I twist or squat.”Meniscus Tear
- “I fell or had an accident, and my knee is very swollen and painful to stand on.”Fracture & Trauma Care
Common Causes by Where It Hurts
Front of the Knee
Pain around or behind the kneecap, worse on stairs, squatting or after sitting for long. Common in teenagers, runners and people with weak thigh muscles. Strengthening exercises usually help.
Inner Side of the Knee
The most common place for osteoarthritis to start in older adults. A meniscus tear can also cause pain here, especially after twisting.
Whole Knee, With Swelling
Arthritis, an injury inside the knee, or, rarely, an infection or gout. A hot, red, swollen knee with fever needs urgent attention.
After a Twisting Injury
A pop and fast swelling suggest a ligament tear, such as the ACL. Catching or locking suggests a meniscus tear.
Common Causes by Age
- Children and teenagers: kneecap pain, growth-related pain below the kneecap, sports injuries.
- Adults who play sport: ligament and meniscus tears, tendon pain, kneecap problems.
- Over 50: osteoarthritis is the most common cause, sometimes with a wear-related meniscus tear.
How Knee Pain Is Diagnosed
Dr. Gadkari asks how and when the pain started and what makes it worse, examines the knee’s movement, ligaments and meniscus, and arranges standing X-rays. An MRI scan is useful when a ligament or meniscus tear is suspected, but many knee problems can be diagnosed without one.
Treatment Options
Step 1 of 6
Self-Care at Home
Rest from what aggravates it, ice or heat, a chair instead of floor sitting for a while, and staying gently active.
Step 2 of 6
Exercise and Physiotherapy
Strengthening the thigh and hip muscles takes load off the knee and is one of the most effective treatments for most knee pain.
Step 3 of 6
Weight and Activity
Every kilo lost takes strain off the knee. Swap high-impact activities for walking, cycling or swimming.
Step 4 of 6
Medicines and Injections
Painkillers and anti-inflammatory gels for flare-ups, and sometimes an injection into the knee.
Step 5 of 6
Keyhole Surgery
For some meniscus and ligament injuries, arthroscopic (keyhole) surgery can repair or reconstruct the damaged part.
Read about keyhole surgeryStep 6 of 6
Knee Replacement
For advanced arthritis that no longer responds to other treatment.
Read about knee replacement
Dr. Gadkari explains exactly what is causing your knee pain and starts with the simplest treatment that is likely to work. He recommends surgery only when it will clearly improve your life, and if it does, he explains whether a repair, a partial replacement or a total replacement suits your knee.
Understand Your Diagnosis
He goes through your X-rays and scans with you, so you know exactly what is wrong and why.
Try Non-Surgical Care
Medicines, physiotherapy, weight and activity changes come first, for as long as they help.
Operate When It Helps
Surgery is advised only when it will clearly improve your pain and daily life.
Protecting Your Knees Every Day
- Use a chair or a low stool rather than sitting cross-legged on the floor for long periods.
- Use a western toilet, or a raised seat, if squatting is painful.
- Take stairs one step at a time if they hurt, and use the handrail.
- Stay active: walking, cycling and swimming keep the joint moving and the muscles strong.
- Do simple thigh-strengthening exercises every day, such as straight leg raises.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an MRI for knee pain?
Not always. Many knee problems can be diagnosed with an examination and an X-ray. An MRI is useful when a ligament or meniscus tear is suspected, or when the cause is still unclear.
Should I exercise if I have arthritis?
Yes. Regular, gentle exercise strengthens the muscles around the joint, eases stiffness and helps control weight. Walking, cycling, swimming and specific physiotherapy exercises are good choices. Pain that lasts more than an hour or two after exercise means you should do a little less.
Can an injection help my arthritic knee?
A steroid injection can calm a painful flare for some weeks or months. It is not a cure, and injections are usually limited to a few a year. Dr. Gadkari will tell you whether an injection is likely to help your knee.
Do I need surgery?
Not necessarily. Many joint and bone problems improve with medicines, physiotherapy, a brace or an injection. Dr. Gadkari starts with the simplest treatment that will work, and recommends surgery only when it will clearly improve your pain and daily life.
Book a Consultation
Talk to Dr. Gadkari about knee pain. Message the clinic on WhatsApp or call, and they will find a time and place that suits you.
Pending Medical Review: Dr. Gadkari has not yet approved this page.