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Let Us Diagnose Your Knee Pain

Knee pain is characterized by any form of pain, discomfort or tenderness in the knee joint. Common types of knee pain include a gradual, ongoing discomfort or ache to sudden and severe pain.

If you are living with chronic knee pain, or have had a recent knee injury, UPMC's Orthopedics offers individualized care and treatment for knee pain in Wellsboro, Lock Haven, and Williamsport, PA. If you’d like to make an appointment with a specialist, call 570-321-2020.

Knee Pain Symptoms

Symptoms of knee pain may include the following:

  • Redness, swelling or warmth
  • Pain in the thigh, calf, shin or ankle
  • Muscle spasms around the knee
  • Burning or tingling feeling in the knee
  • Locking, grinding, stiffness or buckling

Speak with a skilled orthopedic doctor at UPMC if you have ongoing knee pain, or if pain in your knee is making daily activities difficult.

You should get immediate medical care if you have these knee pain symptoms:

  • Sudden, severe knee pain and swelling
  • Deformity in the knee, thigh or lower leg
  • A popping sound at the moment of a knee injury (often a sign of a meniscus tear)
  • Inability to walk or put weight on your leg

Knee Pain Causes

Causes of knee pain vary widely and may include everyday overuse, progressive joint problems and sports injuries.

The most common knee pain causes include:

  • Arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
  • Bursitis, an inflammation of the sacs that cushion the knee
  • Baker’s cyst, a fluid-filled cyst behind the knee
  • Meniscus tear, which is a tear in the shock-absorbing cartilage of the knee
  • Ligament sprains and tears including ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and MCL (medial collateral ligament) tears
  • Tendinitis, which describes inflammation or irritation of tendons due to overuse or injury
  • Patellofemoral pain syndrome (“runner’s knee”) due to loss of cartilage behind the kneecap

When to Seek Emergency Medical Attention

In rare instances, knee pain can be associated with a life-threatening condition, like deep vein thrombosis. With this condition, a blood clot can travel from your leg to your lung. You should get immediate medical care or call 911 if you have chest pain or difficulty breathing.

Knee Pain Diagnosis

If you need a diagnosis of knee pain symptoms, our Orthopedics team provides the latest diagnostic tests, so you can receive the right evaluation.

To assess your knee pain, your doctor will start by reviewing your medical history, symptoms and any types of recent physical activity. Further testing may be needed to help your doctor get a clear picture of your knee problem.

These tests include:

  • Arthroscopy (minimally invasive surgery to see inside the knee joint)
  • X-ray
  • Bone scan
  • CT scan
  • MRI
  • Joint aspiration (fluid is taken from the knee for analysis)

Once the results of your tests have been reviewed, your doctor will go over the next course of action, including possible treatment options such as exercises at home, physical therapy, and medication for pain and swelling. If you need knee surgery, our orthopedic surgeons perform a variety of minimally invasive procedures to help you get back to doing what you love, with less pain and discomfort.

Orthopedic doctors at UPMC specialize in evaluating and diagnosing all forms of knee pain in Williamsport, Lock Haven, Muncy, and Wellsboro, PA.