Almost everyone experiences knee pain at some point. These complaints can develop gradually or occur acutely, for example, due to a sports accident. Recognizable symptoms in knee complaints are pain, stiffness, swelling, and limitation of movement. OrthoDirect’s specialized orthopedist will gladly help you with a tailor-made knee treatment.
-Experienced orthopedist specialized in knee surgery
-Customized treatment
-Immediate help: no waiting times
-Usually reimbursed by your health insurer
Would you like to have your knee pain remedied? Make an appointment online with our orthopedist or contact us for more information. We are happy to talk to you.
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“After a nasty turn during hockey, I immediately knew that something was wrong. My anterior cruciate ligament turned out to be torn. The orthopedic surgeon from OrthoDirect made me feel very comfortable and after a long period of rehabilitation, I can enjoy my favorite sport again. Thank you very much!”
Amber Holbir from Amsterdam
Knee Anatomy
The knee is the joint that connects the thighbone, kneecap, calf, and shinbone. The knee joint consists of muscles, ligaments, nerves, and capsules. Together, these structures provide a stable knee that can move well. The most well-known structures in the knee are the cruciate ligaments (anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments), the meniscus (inner and outer meniscus), the inner and outer ligaments, and the cartilage. Complaints can arise from all these structures. This can concern acute and chronic complaints and specific and non-specific complaints.
-Acute complaints: often caused during sports, a wrong movement or fall.
-Chronic complaints: with complaints that have been present for three months or longer.
-Specific complaints: complaints where the cause is clear.
-Non-specific complaints: complaints where the cause is not exactly clear.
Common knee complaints
Almost everyone experiences knee pain at some point. Any pain in the body is annoying, including knee complaints. Many knee complaints arise during sports or in the elderly due to arthritis and tear. It is important to have your complaints resolved in time to prevent them from becoming chronic. Discover below common knee complaints with their causes, symptoms, and the right treatment.
Knee treatment
The knee pain banding depends on the type of knee problem you are experiencing. If you suffer from knee arthritis, a prosthesis offers a solution. Do you experience instability in the knee during forwarding and backward movements? Then your anterior cruciate ligament may be torn. During an operation, we replace the worn cruciate ligament with a new one. If your stability is sufficient but you still experience pain in your knee after exercise, you may have torn your meniscus. We remedy this condition by training the knee or by operating. Pain in the front of the knee is treated with physiotherapy or surgical treatment. Read more about the various conditions and the associated treatments below.
Fast to:
-Knee arthritis
-Torn anterior cruciate ligament
-Meniscus tear
-Anterior Knee Pain
-Cartilage injury
-Osteoarthritis of the knee
Knee arthritis
In elderly patients with advanced arthritis and tear on the knee, knee replacement may be necessary. We replace the entire knee joint.
Symptoms
Pain when climbing stairs and standing still for a long time.
Starting pain: stiff knee when you start moving again after sitting or lying for a long time.
Movement restriction: stretching becomes difficult.
Causes
Advanced arthritis on the knee.
Knee treatment
A prosthesis is needed to remedy the complaints of a worn knee. During surgery, the orthopedic surgeon cuts in the front of the knee. He removes the worn joint surface and adapts the bone to the shape of the prosthesis. He then fixes the metal parts in the upper and lower leg with cement. In between comes the plastic disc and, if necessary, the kneecap button. This way you can move your knee smoothly again.
If you have been experiencing pain in your knee for a long time, you may need a knee replacement. Our orthopedic surgeon will be happy to explain everything about it to you.
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Torn anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament, together with the posterior cruciate ligament, is responsible for the stability of the knee in forwarding and backward movements. Rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament is a common problem and often occurs in sports accidents.
Symptoms
-Severe pain.
-Immediately a swollen knee due to bleeding in the joint.
-Sag feeling.
Causes
-Often occurs during sports due to a twisting of the knee.
-You will often feel something snap or pop in the knee.
Knee treatment
In young patients who suffer from instability, we often opt for surgery. During this procedure, we replace the torn cruciate ligament with a new cruciate ligament. We use this part of the patellar tendon or part of the hamstring tendon. If you do not experience instability problems, are not active in sports, or are a bit older, muscle strengthening and stabilizing exercises are the right solutions to remedy your complaints. Even if a cruciate ligament is only partially torn, surgery is not always necessary.
It is not wise to go on for a long time with the complaints that come with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Make an appointment with our orthopedist immediately.
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Meniscus tear
The meniscus is a crescent-shaped triangular disc located on the inside and outside of the knee. We also call this the inner meniscus and outer meniscus. The meniscus is responsible for the smooth movement of the knee joint and also has a shock-absorbing effect. Twisting your knee forcibly can cause a meniscus tear. This often happens during exercise, but the meniscus can also tear when there is wear and tear.
Symptoms
-A lot of pain on the side of the knee at the joint space.
-Thick-knee due to fluid build-up: immediately or after some time.
-The feeling that your knee is locked: suddenly not being able to fully extend or bend.
-Climbing stairs, twisting, and squatting are painful.
-Unstable feeling: afraid of bending the knee.
-With prolonged overload, the symptoms are often less obvious.
Causes
-A twist in which the knee is bent and the foot remains firmly on the ground. In many cases, a popping sound or sensation occurs.
-Due to wear or overload of the knee.
Knee treatment
Once the swelling and pain in your knee subside, it’s time for further testing. On average this takes a week. We use an MRI scan to determine the size and location of the tear. At that time, we determine whether we will remove your complaints conservatively or surgically. In the conservative method of treatment, we emphasize training the condition of the knee with the help of physiotherapy. If this does not give sufficient results, surgery is required. We remove part of the meniscus or the entire meniscus with keyhole surgery. After the operation, you can withstand a heavier load on the knee after an average of six weeks to three months.
Anterior Knee Pain
With anterior knee pain, the front of the knee is painful. Often a problem with the cartilage at the level of the back of the kneecap is the cause. Because the knee and the kneecap slide less smoothly over each other, pain arises in the knee.
Symptoms
-Pain in the front of the knee.
-Increasing pain when bending or straining the knee.
-Climbing stairs and getting up from the squat is tricky.
Causes
- Overpressure at the back of the kneecap as a result of insufficient muscle tone or an abnormal shape of the back of the kneecap.
- In some cases, cartilage injury is the cause of anterior knee pain.
Knee treatment
With an MRI scan, we find out whether there is cartilage damage. If this is the case, we opt for surgical treatment. In many cases, however, there is no cartilage damage. The treatment then consists of physiotherapy with adapted exercises that you perform at home. Cycling with limited resistance is especially good for knee recovery. In addition, it is important to avoid the following movements as much as possible: cycling hard against resistance, squatting deeply, kneeling, and walking downstairs. It is important that you adhere to these recommendations to allow the excess pressure at the back of the kneecap to disappear as quickly as possible.
Do you recognize the above complaints? Please contact us.
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Cartilage injury
Cartilage is a covering layer over the bone in a knee joint. It ensures that both parts of the joint slide smoothly over each other. When cartilage is damaged, it leads to problems.
Symptoms
-Pain complaints.
-Lock problems in the knee because a piece of loose cartilage is stuck.
-Regular swelling.
-Impairment in daily activities and during sports.
Causes
-An accident.
-Common in young adults and athletes.
-Due to the condition osteochondritis dissecans.
Knee treatment
With an MRI scan in which we inject contrast fluid, we discover the location and severity of the cartilage injury. We determine the correct treatment method based on the degree of damage. In almost all cases, we perform keyhole surgery on the knee anyway to further investigate the injury. During the operation, we remove any loose pieces of cartilage. In addition, we can apply various techniques during an operation for the best possible recovery of the knee.
“When I stood still for a long time, I always experienced a lot of pain in my knee. Secretly I was already a bit afraid that I needed a new knee. This also turned out to be the case. Afterward, I should have done it much sooner. OrthoDirect’s orthopedist is very specialized and explained everything well. It feels great to go through life without pain again!”
Jannet Doorns from Amsterdam
Osteoarthritis of the knee
The ends of the bones in the knee have a layer of cartilage. This layer should be smooth for easy bending, extension, and rotation of the knee. In osteoarthritis, however, this layer of cartilage is irregular and thin, so the inside of the knee joint is lined with a mucous membrane. In the case of osteoarthritis, this mucous membrane is chronically inflamed, resulting in stiffness and pain.
Symptoms
-Pain and stiffness in the knee.
-The pain is especially noticeable when you start moving again after rest. We also call this starting pain.
-Climbing stairs is often painful.
-Stiffness makes it harder for you to bend and straighten your knee.
-Varying complaints: periods with a lot of pain and less pain alternate continuously.
-Over time, your knee may change shape. Often the knee widens.
Causes
-The exact cause of osteoarthritis is unknown. It often occurs with:
-Persons from 45 years old
-Women
-Overweight
-People with a common family history of osteoarthritis
-People who have an occupation where they put a lot of stress on the knee joint
Knee treatment
Complaints of osteoarthritis can go away on their own and stay away. If this is not the case, an injection or surgery may be the solution. However, surgery is rarely necessary.
Costs and reimbursement for knee treatment
During the first consultation, we will inform you in detail about the costs and reimbursement of the treatment. In many cases, you will be reimbursed by your health insurer. However, this is at your own risk. View our rates page for an indication of the costs.
“I am very satisfied with OrthoDirect. My knee had been bothering me for a long time, but no one knew the cause. dr. Fortunately, Turner knew what to do with my knee. I can walk long distances again without pain. Thank you!”
Jannie Doorn from Amsterdam
Make an appointment to remedy your knee complaints
Make an appointment with OrthoDirect to remedy your pain with a tailor-made knee treatment. Call 035 622 8329 or fill in the online appointment form. We are happy to help you!
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