Knee pain: Getting you back to everyday activities

When a knee injury or knee pain keeps you out of the game or makes life difficult, UW Health can help. We have a team of specialists who focus on knee problems. Some are experts in sports medicine. They’ve got you covered if a chronic or sudden injury puts you on the sidelines. Others specialize in knee replacement surgery. Their expertise helps you get back to everyday activities pain free.

When you come to us, you’ll get some of the best care available. We offer a full range of treatments for knee pain and work to find the one that’s best for you.

Symptoms

Knee problems or injuries often come with many symptoms. Besides pain, you might have a hard time straightening your knee. The knee could also feel warm to the touch. Other possible symptoms include:

• Instability

• Popping or crackling noises

• Stiffness

• Swelling

These resources may help you learn more about knee problems that can cause these symptoms and how we treat them.

Knee conditions and treatments

• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear

• Collateral ligament sprains

• Dealing with knee pain

• Fat pad impingement

• Iliotibial band friction syndrome and greater trochanteric bursitis

• Knee rehabilitation

• Patellar tendinitis (Jumper’s knee)

• Meniscal injuries

• Meniscus tear

• Non-surgical options for knee pain

• Osgood-Schlatter disease

• Osteoarthritis

• Osteoarthritis of the knee 

• Osteochondral injuries

• Patellofemoral stress syndrome

• Patellofemoral pain syndrome

• Posterior cruciate ligament ruptures

Knee replacement procedures

• Robotic-assisted partial knee replacement

• Robotic-assisted total knee replacement

• Partial knee replacement

• Total knee replacement

• Rehabilitation and physical therapy after partial knee replacement

Bilateral knee replacement: It is not uncommon for people to have arthritis in both knees. Depending on your situation, you might be able to have knee replacement surgery on both knees at the same time.

Outpatient knee replacement: Advancements in medical technology and pain management have made it possible for some people to have knee replacement surgery and go home on the same day. If you are in good general health, do not smoke, are motivated and have a good support team at home you might be able to have this surgery.

Knee replacement surgery

Considering knee replacement surgery? Follow one patient's journey from the start to the post-operative process in this brief video series. Watch Beth's story

We have a team of caregivers ready to help when you have knee pain. Many of them specialize in certain conditions or treatments. Their expertise helps ensure that no matter what your knee problem, you’ll get care tailored to your needs.

Our sports medicine research group works on ways to prevent knee injuries in athletes of all ages.  We also work to continue to refine robotic-assisted surgery techniques in joint replacement and our regenerative medicine and stem cell work may eliminate the need for joint replacements in the future.