What Causes Joint Damage & Who Is At Risk?

Knee and hip pain can vary from a minor nuisance to a debilitating injury that disrupts an active lifestyle. Without a medical consultation, it’s often difficult to tell what the source of the pain is and if you’re doing more harm than good by not seeking rehabilitation or other treatment for your discomfort.

That’s where the specialist physicians at Mendelson Kornblum step in with an expert diagnosis and plan for recovery that can include rest, physical therapy and surgical procedures.

Knee Joint Damage

The knee is one of the most complex joints in the body as multiple bones, ligaments, tendons and the patella meet at a pressure bearing point. The complications can be many, including arthritis, bursitis or structural damage that requires partial or total knee replacement.

Pain in the knee joint can affect people of all ages. Typical risk factors include:

Biomechanics: Frequent use and a change in movement of the joint can launch pain. A subtle difference in the length of a patient’s leg or a change in walking style can manifest in the knee.

Overuse during repetitive motions: This can occur at work due to persistent movement associated with job responsibilities or during recreational activities like running or playing basketball. Cartilage can break down and lead to localized pain with the repeated pounding.

Lack of muscle flexibility or strength: Tight or weak muscles don’t absorb the stress of the activity exerted on the knee joint.

Excess weight: Additional weight on a patient’s frame leads to increased stress on the knee joint, possibly speeding the breakdown of the joint and resulting in osteoarthritis.

A visit to Mendelson Kornblum should be scheduled immediately if your knee pain does not stop with rest. Warning signs include:

  • Swelling
  • Inability to bend
  • Deformity
  • Unable to walk or discomfort and pain while walking

Our doctors will diagnose and treat your condition after conducting a full range of motion review that can reveal the source of the pain, check for stability of the ligaments and examine any potential bone fractures.

Contact Mendelson Kornblum today and our specialists can get you back on your feet.

Hip Joint Damage

Hip joints – like our knees – are a crucial part of our anatomy that bears the body’s weight and allows us to move through our day pain free when all is aligned and working properly. Mendelson Kornblum doctors also know the hip is a common source of pain and suffering, torment that can be have multiple causes requiring an experienced specialist’s diagnosis.

The most frequently cited areas of pain experienced by patients with hip problems are:

  • Back
  • Thigh
  • Inside and outside of the hip joint
  • Buttocks

Typical problems identified by Mendelson Kornblum doctors include:

Rheumatoid arthritis: This chronic inflammatory disorder is a condition when your immune system attacks your own body’s tissues. It affects the joint lining and causes swelling that can lead to bone erosion and deformity.  Left untreated, severe rheumatoid arthritis can cause physical disabilities.

Osteoarthritis: Cartilage wears down over time and leads to increased discomfort around the hip joint. Mendelson Kornblum specialists will advise on how to slow the damage of this condition, often through exercise care plans, healthy weight and other treatments.

Broken or fractured hip: Often caused through traumatic falls, fractures in the hip can also be the result of prolonged arthritis, osteoporosis and obesity. The risk for broken or fractured hips increases with age and a lack of proper nutrition.

If you are experiencing pain in your hip, contact Mendelson Kornblum today to help restore your quality of life.