4 Compelling Benefits of Regenerative Orthopedics
Do you have painful arthritis or a musculoskeletal injury causing persistent pain? If you’ve tried other treatments that haven’t worked, it’s time to consider regenerative orthopedics.
Why You Shouldn't Ignore That Popping Sound in Your Knee
Do you ever feel like your knee is talking to you? Perhaps you hear a snap, crackle, crunch, or even a pop. If you don’t feel any pain, it’s not something to worry about. It may be an air bubble escaping from the fluid in your joint or a rough piece of cartilage moving as you move.
However, if you have pain and hear a sound like a crunch or a pop in your knee joint, it’s time to see a specialist. Our board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Jonathan Shults, with Coastal Empire Orthopedics, explains that it could be one of several types of soft tissue injuries or arthritis. After examining you and conducting imaging tests, Dr. Shults will reveal the diagnosis and discuss a treatment plan with you.
The following are conditions that cause popping or cracking sounds in your knee.
ACL tear
A tear to your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in your knee is associated with a loud popping sound and intense pain. You’ve either severed the ligament or torn it significantly. Your ACL is critical because it stabilizes your knee. When it’s severely torn or severed, you don’t have knee stability; your knee can buckle, causing a fall.
ACL injuries are common in athletes and those who play recreational sports such as tennis, soccer, basketball, or skiing, where quick turns are required. If you want to get back to competitive play after an ACL tear, you’ll most likely need surgery, depending on the severity of the tear.
Meniscus tear
Your meniscus is a type of cartilage in your knee. Most cartilage doesn’t have blood vessels, so it’s hard to repair. Only the outer part of your meniscus has blood vessels.
In younger people, meniscus tears often happen when playing a sport when you twist your knee suddenly and stretch the cartilage beyond what it can bear. Your cartilage may degenerate as you age, so it can tear much more easily. You could experience a meniscus tear from just sitting down or squatting. You may hear a crack or pop when you have a meniscus tear.
Arthritis
The risk of arthritis increases with age. About 20-25% of the adult population in the US has arthritis, but more than 50% of those over age 75 have it.
If you’ve had a traumatic injury to the knee, such as an ACL tear or other problem, you’re at increased risk of developing early-onset arthritis. When you have knee arthritis, your cartilage, the tough tissue cushions your bones, is thinning and breaking down. Sometimes, a piece of cartilage may break off and get caught in your knee joint, causing pain and cracking or popping sound. When you have no cartilage left, you’re “bone on bone” and need a knee replacement.
Arthritis is progressive. Treating it in its early stages can help slow its progression. That’s why seeking treatment is important when you have knee pain.
Kneecap dislocation
When you bend your knee, your kneecap slides up and down in a shallow groove. Sometimes, it can end up partially outside the groove, and you’ll hear a popping sound. You have a partial or complete dislocation. Dr. Shults can move it back into place using gentle movements. If your kneecap continues to become dislocated, you may need surgery.
Call Coastal Empire Orthopedics or book an appointment online today if you have unexplained knee pain or have suffered a knee injury.
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