Knee Pain

Interventional Pain Management serving San Antonio, TX

Knee Pain services offered in San Antonio, TX

Knee pain can keep you from walking comfortably, climbing stairs, or enjoying activities you love. At South Texas Pain Institute in San Antonio, Texas, Shyam Purswani, MD, diagnoses the source of your knee pain and develops treatment plans that address the underlying problem. Dr. Purswani evaluates how your knee functions, identifies which structures are damaged, and creates strategies to reduce pain and improve mobility. Call the office or book online to schedule your knee pain evaluation.

Knee Pain Q & A

What causes knee pain?

Your knee absorbs the weight and force of your upper body with every step you take. Over time, or from sudden injury, the cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and bones that make up this joint can wear down or become damaged. You may have knee pain from:

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common sources of chronic knee pain. The cartilage that cushions your knee joint gradually breaks down, causing swelling and pain from bones rubbing together.

Meniscus tears

Meniscus tears happen when the cartilage pads between your thighbone and shinbone tear from twisting or impact.

Ligament injuries

Ligament injuries like the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) tears often result from sports injuries or accidents.

Other conditions that create knee pain include:

Patellar tendonitis from repetitive jumping or running
Bursitis creating swelling around the kneecap
Iliotibial (IT) band syndrome causing pain on the outer knee
Fractures
Gout or rheumatoid arthritis

These conditions can develop gradually or appear suddenly, depending on the cause.

How is knee pain diagnosed?

Dr. Purswani asks about when your pain started, what activities make it worse, and whether you’ve injured your knee before. He examines your knee for swelling, warmth, tenderness, and range of motion. Specific maneuvers test the stability of your ligaments and the integrity of your meniscus.

X-rays show bone spurs, fractures, and joint space narrowing from arthritis, while MRI scans reveal soft tissue damage like torn ligaments, meniscus tears, or cartilage degeneration. In some cases, Dr. Purswani may order additional imaging or blood tests to rule out inflammatory conditions.

What treatments are available for knee pain?

Treatment depends on what’s causing your pain and how severe your symptoms are. Dr. Purswani may recommend:

Injections to reduce inflammation and lubricate the joint
Multiwave Locked System (MLS) laser therapy to promote healing
Physical therapy to strengthen the muscles supporting your knee
Bracing to stabilize the joint during activities
Medications to manage pain and inflammation
Weight management strategies to reduce stress on the joint

The sooner you address knee pain, the better your chances of keeping a minor issue from worsening.

To schedule your knee pain evaluation, call South Texas Pain Institute or book your appointment online today.