Knee Doctor Damascus, MD

Knee Doctor Damascus, MD

If you are struggling with knee pain, contacting I Hate Knee Pain’s knee doctor Damascus, MD patients recommend may be the most appropriate way to take action. The knee is fragile and inflexible, meaning that, unfortunately, knee injuries are common. However, by accessing our unique approach, our knee doctor serving Damascus, Maryland, may be able to help you not only manage your pain but prevent surgery and the risk of future injuries. We are here to assist you in reducing your symptoms so that you can live your life free from pain. Call I Hate Knee Pain to schedule an appointment with a member of our team today. 

The Knee is Fragile

The knee is a complicated joint within the body. Not only does it hold the majority of a person’s body weight, but it also is made up of several ligaments, muscles, and tendons. Should problems arise with the knee, our Damascus, MD doctors will tell you that the knee can become unstable, resulting in injuries. There can be several factors contributing to problems or weakness within the knees, such as carrying extra body weight, everyday wear, and tear that comes with age, and engaging in regular physical activity. Sometimes, even the most ordinary task can cause problems, even injuries. Things like added stress from carrying heavy items or improperly turning the knee can lead to disastrous outcomes.

The fragility of the knee means injuries are common. Some examples of knee injuries are much more common than others. While by no means an exhaustive list, knee doctors in Damascus, MD, are especially familiar with these frequently-occurring knee injuries:

• ACL Injury: The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the tendons that connect your shin bone to your thigh bone. This connection helps stabilize your knee joint, but it is commonly damaged by sudden stops and starts, or rapid changes of direction. ACL injuries can cause a loss of your range of motion, and you might only be able to move your knee a small amount without causing pain.
• Fractures: The patella (kneecap) is made of bone, and like all other bones, it can fracture. Whatever the cause, a fractured kneecap is painful and debilitating, and although it may heal on its own, seeking professional medical attention from a knee doctor in Damascus, Maryland, should be your first priority in the event of a severe injury.
• Bursitis: You have several fluid-filled sacs near the knee joint called bursae. These prevent excess friction and can cushion the moving parts (bone, tendon, muscles) in the knee. When the bursae become painfully inflamed, the condition is known as bursitis. Aside from being painful, bursitis can limit your mobility.
• Patellar tendinitis: The patellar tendon connects your kneecap to your shinbone. It works in concert with the muscles around your knee to allow you to kick and jump effectively. Patellar tendinitis occurs when tiny tears form and intensify in the patellar tendon, causing pain and eventual loss of mobility.
• Dislocated kneecap: The patella is not supposed to move freely. When it becomes displaced, it can damage the tissue that is meant to keep it in place. A dislocated kneecap is very painful, and if left untreated can cause even more serious knee injuries.
• Loose body: Whatever the reason, you might have a loose body moving around in your knee area. A loose body is a disconnected mass – it could be a piece of bone or other material – that isn’t supposed to be there. If a loose body is present in the knee, it can cause damage to tendons and ligaments, as well as muscle tissue and bone. If a loose body gets stuck in the right place, it can also prevent movement.
• Gout: While gout primarily affects the big toe, it can affect the knee as well. Gout is caused by an excess of uric acid, and causes excessive, sudden pain. There are many different factors behind gout, and it can be difficult to manage. You may also notice inflammation or redness of the affected area.

The list of causes goes on, and the list of reasons behind knee pain is just as lengthy. From sports injuries to age, from diet to previous injuries, the root causes behind knee pain are endless. While certain knee injuries are more common with certain activities, others are seemingly random, and hard to identify.

When you settle on medical care, you might want to go straight to expensive and invasive surgeries. However, you shouldn’t have to put your life on hold, and there are other ways to get through your knee pain.

Contacting I Hate Knee Pain can give you a way out. We’ll help you develop a recovery plan that avoids surgeries and invasive procedures, and we’ll be with you every step of the way. No matter the injury and no matter the cause, we’ll work with you to help you overcome your knee pain without going straight to major surgery.

If you’re looking for a knee doctor in Damascus, MD, contact I Hate Knee Pain today.

Our Unique Approach

Working with I Hate Knee Pain provides Damascus, MD residents with experienced knee doctors and staff. Have you recently been injured? Are you struggling with knee pain or a limited range of motion? Has regular daily activity become challenging? If this is the case, you will want to consider taking advantage of the unique approach that I Hate Knee Pain offers to patients. We will work tirelessly to provide you with treatments that are minimally invasive and may even help you to avoid surgeries. At I Hate Knee Pain, you can expect our Damascus, MD knee doctors to deliver you with services that are customized to fit your needs:

• Our patients are our primary focus; we will take the time to listen to you, the pain you are experiencing, and your needs. 
• We will take the time to gather a detailed history of your health to get a full picture of how you can fully benefit from treatments provided by our team.
• Conduct an intensive exam to learn how your injury has impacted your range of motion, strength, and get a sense of your pain levels.
• We will access diagnostic testing to get an accurate picture of your condition.

At I Hate Knee Pain, we know that there is no one size fits all strategy. This is why our knee doctors serving Damascus, MD, will take the time to gather as much information about your injury as possible. This will allow our team to not only accurately diagnose your condition but provide you with a treatment plan that could include a combination of treatments offered here at I Hate Knee Pain.

Contact I Hate Knee Pain

Our knee doctors in Damascus, MD, have seen firsthand the devastating impact a knee injury can have on our patients. At I Hate Knee Pain, we are dedicated to helping our patients recover from their injuries by providing them with treatments that help to avoid invasive surgeries and move forward with pain relief. Contact our Damascus, MD knee doctor today so that we can help you to address the issue by providing you with the education and treatment you deserve.

How to Lose Weight and Alleviate Osteoarthritis Symptoms

Though weight loss is not always necessary to alleviating knee pain symptoms, our knee doctors in Damascus, MD recommend eating well and maintaining a healthy weight to put you in the best position for a pain-free life. Specifically, we recommend consuming anti-inflammatory foods to help ease stiffness and other pain in your knee.

The following foods may help alleviate your knee pain symptoms:

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids that assist in reducing inflammation and pain. These fatty acids can be found in fish, such as tuna or salmon, and can help you when you’re feeling sore and achy in your joints. Omega-3 fatty acids can also be found in flaxseed, walnuts, olive oil, as well as Omega-3 supplements. We recommend eating one serving of Omega-3 fatty acids a day.

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are superfoods that provide you with essential vitamins, minerals, and natural chemicals found in plant foods. These superfoods will not only help ease your joint pain and swelling, but also make you feel better overall. Our rule is to fill your plate with a variety of colors for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Raspberries, blueberries, carrots, and spinach are several good examples of fruits and vegetables with anti-inflammatory properties.

Spices

Spices add flavor to any dish, but you may not have known that certain spices have anti-inflammatory benefits. Spices, such as ginger, turmeric, dried chili peppers, and cinnamon can help ease knee pain symptoms. These spices help reduce stiffness and swelling, so make sure to add them in at every meal. 

Vitamin D

Vitamin D can be found in foods, such as eggs, mushrooms, and fortified orange juice. You can also get over-the-counter Vitamin D supplements that you can take every morning or night to receive the same benefits. Vitamin D, like the other foods mentioned above, will help ease your knee pain symptoms.

In addition to foods we recommend, our knee doctors in Damascus, MD also recommend limiting certain foods to avoid further knee pain and other health-related complications.

Processed Foods

Virtually any diet you try will tell you to stay away from processed foods. Foods including monosodium glutamate (MSG) or nitrates may lead to inflammation in your body. MSG can be found in certain frozen dinners, as well as hot dogs. 

Trans fats and saturated fats

Though certain foods are healthy for us, such as avocado, olive oil, and walnuts, trans fats and saturated fats should be avoided as much as possible. These type of harmful fats are often found in packaged baked goods and fast food French fries. 

Aspartame

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that contains certain chemicals that increase pain perception by triggering neurons in your brain. This artificial sweetener can be found in a range of foods, including ice cream, soft drinks, and sometimes even yogurt. If you are going to use sugar, try to limit the amount of artificial sweetener that you consume.

If you don’t have the time to get all your key nutrients from the foods mentioned above, you may try taking supplements to ease knee pain. However, it’s always best to consult your knee doctor to make sure taking supplements is appropriate for you and can assess whether the supplements will interact with medications or other supplements you’re currently taking.

Glucosamine and chondroitin

These supplements help relieve knee pain, swelling, and stiffness. Glucosamine can help re-build cartilage and chondroitin helps keep cartilage healthy. However, there have been mixed results on these supplements and we recommend consulting your doctor first. Contact your local Damascus, MD knee doctor to see if taking these supplements is the best course of action for you.