Knee Pain Specialist

What are the causes of knee pain?

Knee pain is a frequent issue for people of all ages. Although the knee appears to be a simple joint that just flexes and extends, its role can be quite complex. The joint has to absorb the impact of your foot, ankle, hip, and spine and accommodate the way your leg rotates, all of which have an impact on the function of your knee joint.

Conditions affecting the knees that Dr. Flanagan sees regularly at Naples Regenerative Institute include:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Osteoarthritis
• Pes anserine and suprapatellar bursitis
• Tendinitis
• Baker’s cyst
• Hoffa’s fat pad inflammation
• Bony lesions
• Tears of the medial and lateral meniscus

The meniscus is knee cartilage that helps protect and cushion the joint. The medial meniscus is on one side of your knee, and the lateral meniscus is on the other side.

Ligament tears are also a frequent cause of knee pain and often result from playing sports. These injuries include sprains or tears of the MCL (medial collateral ligament), LCL (lateral collateral ligament), ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), and PCL (posterior cruciate ligament).

What treatments can help with knee pain?

Dr. Flanagan finds that conservative treatments like physical therapy, rest, and activity modification are often all patients need to resolve their knee pain. An acute injury could also benefit from the occasional use of ice packs, and raising the leg can help minimize swelling.

Some patients need a brace or walking aid to support and protect the knee while it heals. Viscosupplementation (injections of hyaluronic acid) can ease the pain of osteoarthritis by lubricating the joint. For some patients, steroid injections might be necessary. Dr. Flanagan favors low-dose treatments that reduce the potentially toxic nature of steroids.

Dr. Flanagan also offers cutting-edge regenerative medicine treatments, including PRP (platelet-rich plasma) and stem cell therapy. These injectable substances use cells and growth factors harvested from your blood, adipose (fatty tissues), or bone marrow to help your body heal itself.

Dr. Flanagan uses state-of-the-art fluoroscopy or ultrasound imaging technology to guide the delivery of all injectable treatments.

Would I need surgery for knee pain?

There are times when knee replacement surgery is necessary. However, Dr. Flanagan helps you manage your knee pain with the aim of preserving the joint if possible.

He is an expert in evaluating body mechanics and identifying issues with parts of your knee other than the cartilage, and his experience in relieving knee pain using non-surgical methods is unmatched.

After exhausting all the viable non-surgical options, Dr. Flanagan can easily refer you to a surgical specialist for knee repair or replacement when that’s your best option.

To find the relief you need from knee pain, call Naples Regenerative Institute today or book an appointment online.