When To Be Concerned About Knee Grinding
Knee grinding, also known as knee crepitus, is a rough crunching sound and sensation from the knee joint. It can be something as harmless as gas trapped under the kneecap, or it could be a symptom of a serious condition or injury.
Here’s when to be worried about your knee grinding and when to schedule an appointment with an orthopaedic knee expert.
Possible Causes of Knee Grinding
If knee grinding is not accompanied by any pain, swelling, or instability, it is most likely harmless. In most cases, this occurs for one of two reasons:
Rubbing of the cartilage on the soft tissue of the knee joint during bending.
Air bubbles seeped into the soft tissue around the joint that pop when the knee stretches or bends.
However, painful knee grinding is a sign of damage to the joint. If it happens after a trauma or alongside other knee problems, it is time to be evaluated by a physician.
At Dr. Sterett’s practice with Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery, painful crepitus is commonly a symptom of one of the following knee conditions:
Osteoarthritis: Knee grinding is a common symptom of knee arthritis, a degenerative condition in which the cartilage in the joint has worn down and results in bone rubbing on bone.
Meniscus Tear: The meniscus is the c-shaped cartilage in the knee. A sudden twisting of the knee can cause this cartilage to tear and create painful grinding as well as swelling and stiffness in the knee.
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFS): Also known as runner’s knee, this condition occurs when the nerves around and in the knee’s tendons become inflamed due to repetitive motions.
These conditions, if diagnosed early enough, can often be treated nonsurgically. In more severe cases, Dr. Sterett and his team may recommend surgery.
Treatment for Knee Crepitus
Dr. Sterett’s goal is to treat your painful knee grinding so that you can get back to doing the activities you love. After a thorough evaluation, which will include a physical exam and imaging tests, Dr. Sterett will diagnose the cause behind your knee symptoms and recommend a treatment plan that’s right for your lifestyle.
Conservative treatment for crepitus can include all or some of the following:
Rest
Ice
Elevation
Compression
Anti-inflammatory medication
Activity modification
Bracing or tapping
Physical therapy
Steroid injections
If nonsurgical methods do not impact your symptoms or if your condition is severe, Dr. Sterett may recommend surgical intervention. This is especially true if there is damage to the knee joint structure.
Below are the surgical treatments for knee conditions that commonly cause knee crepitus:
Osteoarthritis: There is no cure for knee osteoarthritis. However, the disease progression can be slowed, and the symptoms can be treated. Depending on the amount of cartilage that has worn away, Dr. Sterett may recommend a knee cartilage translate or refer you to a joint replacement specialist.
Meniscus Tear: If the meniscus is damaged in an area lacking blood flow or the tear is complex, it will need to be repaired via knee arthroscopy. During this procedure, Dr. Sterett will make a small incision and insert a camera into the knee. Dr. Sterett will then examine the inside of the knee joint and repair the damaged area.
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: Surgery for PFS is necessary to remove damaged cartilage, bone, and tissue fragments from the kneecap. Then an alignment will be performed to realign the joint and relieve pressure on the cartilage, nerves, and tissue at the front of the knee.
No matter your condition, Dr. Sterett and his team will work with you to design a personalized treatment plan that gets you back on your feet!
Painful Knee Sensations? Contact Dr. Sterett Today!
With over 30 years of expertise, Dr. Sterett is the go-to knee orthopaedic physician in the Vail Valley. Contact Team Sterett today if you are experiencing grinding or other painful knee symptoms!
Schedule your appointment by calling (970) 476-7220 or submitting an online appointment request form.