Knee Pain Treatment in Sulphur Springs, TX

Knee pain can show up on the stairs, in a squat, on a run, or when you stand up from a chair. It is one of the most common joint complaints we see, and most knee pain improves with a plan built around strength and smart hands-on care.

Common causes

  • Knee arthritis. Stiffness and achiness, often worse after sitting or at the end of the day.

  • Kneecap pain. An ache around or behind the kneecap with stairs, squats, or sitting a long time.

  • Patellar tendon pain. Pain just below the kneecap, common in jumpers and runners.

  • Meniscus tears and sprains. Pain, swelling, or catching after a twist, or wear over time.

  • IT band pain. Pain on the outside of the knee, often during runs or bike rides.

  • Pain from the back or hip. Sometimes the problem starts higher up.

What helps

People with knee arthritis who had physical therapy with hands-on care and exercise had less pain and better function at one year than people who got a cortisone shot (Deyle et al., 2020). For kneecap pain, experts recommend exercise for both the hip and the knee, and say mobilization on its own is not enough (Collins et al., 2018). Middle aged adults with a worn meniscus tear who did 12 weeks of supervised exercise did about as well over two years as those who had knee scope surgery (Kise et al., 2016).

How we can help

A sore knee is like a car with good brakes and a weak engine. Hands-on care and needling ease off the brakes, and strength work builds the engine so the knee can carry you. Your plan may include:

If you need imaging, we can write the order and refer you to a trusted imaging center.

Common questions

Do I need an MRI for a meniscus tear? Not always. Many people start with a rehab program. If your knee locks, keeps giving way, or does not improve, we can order one and refer you out.

Should I avoid squats and stairs? Usually not forever. We adjust how deep and how much you do so your knee can handle more over time.

When to seek emergency care

Most knee pain is not an emergency. Please seek emergency care if you cannot put weight on your leg after an injury, if you feel a pop with fast swelling, if your knee locks and will not straighten, if the knee is hot, red, and swollen with fever or chills, if your knee looks out of shape after an injury, or if your calf is swollen, warm, red, or painful (this can be a blood clot).

Book a visit

If your knees are keeping you off the stairs, the field, or the trail, we would be glad to help. Book Online or call 903-629-5126.

Pacheco Spine and Sport, 1067 Gilmer Street, Suite C, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482.

This page is for general education and is not a substitute for a personal medical exam.

Sources

Collins, N. J., Barton, C. J., van Middelkoop, M., Callaghan, M. J., Rathleff, M. S., Vicenzino, B. T., Davis, I. S., Powers, C. M., Macri, E. M., Hart, H. F., de Oliveira Silva, D., & Crossley, K. M. (2018). 2018 consensus statement on exercise therapy and physical interventions (orthoses, taping and manual therapy) to treat patellofemoral pain: Recommendations from the 5th International Patellofemoral Pain Research Retreat, Gold Coast, Australia, 2017. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 52(18), 1170-1178. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2018-099397

Deyle, G. D., Allen, C. S., Allison, S. C., Gill, N. W., Hando, B. R., Petersen, E. J., Dusenberry, D. I., & Rhon, D. I. (2020). Physical therapy versus glucocorticoid injection for osteoarthritis of the knee. New England Journal of Medicine, 382(15), 1420-1429. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1905877

Kise, N. J., Risberg, M. A., Stensrud, S., Ranstam, J., Engebretsen, L., & Roos, E. M. (2016). Exercise therapy versus arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for degenerative meniscal tear in middle aged patients: Randomised controlled trial with two year follow-up. BMJ, 354, i3740. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i3740