Don't let nagging hip and knee pain dictate how to live your life. Whether it's a torn ACL or osteoarthritis, Valdosta Orthopaedic Associates offers comprehensive knee and hip pain treatment in Valdosta, Georgia, providing the specialized care you need to regain an active lifestyle. Call or book online today to start your journey back to an active, pain-free lifestyle with our expert team.

How Problems in One Joint Can Trigger Pain in the Other

At Valdosta Orthopaedic Associates, we understand that hip and knee pain are one of the most common types of pain to affect people of all ages,  significantly altering your life,

Our board-certified specialists understand the complex network of muscles, bones, and joints that make up the hip and knee area. We are familiar with cases where hip discomfort can trigger knee pain and vice versa. Understanding these correlations allows us to implement more effective strategies for treating hip and knee pain and helping patients regain their active lifestyles.

Call or book online NOW to rediscover pain-free living with our expert team.

Understanding How Hip and Knee Issues Influence Each Other

Hip-to-knee pain patterns: When hip arthritis causes you to limp or walk differently, it creates abnormal strain on your knee joint, often leading to secondary knee pain and problems.

Knee-to-hip pain patterns: Knee injuries force you to change how you walk and bear weight, which causes extra pressure on your hip joint and creates new sources of hip discomfort.

Top Three Ways Hip and Knee Pain Are Interrelated

1. Tight hip flexor muscles: When hip flexors lack flexibility, they create tension that extends to the lower back, causing lumbar spinal pain. As your body adapts to this altered movement, it changes how you move and walk, adding stress and strain on the knees and associated knee pain.

2. The Iliotibial band (IT band): The IT band is a dense strip of connective tissue that spans the outer thigh from the hip to the knee. When this band becomes restricted or inflamed, it can create pain in both the hip and knee regions. This problem, known as IT Band Friction Syndrome, often affects runners and cyclists, simultaneously creating pain in multiple areas.

3. Weight-bearing joints: Hip and knee joints are as crucial as weight-bearing joints, carrying the body's weight while enabling balance and movement and creating mobility. When these joints are subjected to prolonged strain, whether from carrying weight or through repetitive, intense activity, they slowly deteriorate over time and manifest in degenerative conditions like osteoarthritis. This breakdown results in chronic hip and knee pain, which highlights the connected nature of joint discomfort.

Common Hip & Knee Related Issues and Their Possible Causes

You may need to see a knee or hip specialist at Valdosta Orthopaedic Associates if you answer yes to one or more of the following:

Do you have knee or hip swelling?

Does your knee or hip feel warm to the touch?

Does your knee or hip look distended or otherwise misshapen?

Do you have knee or hip stiffness or other mobility issues?

Does knee or hip pain disrupt your daily activities?

Is bearing weight on the affected leg uncomfortable or difficult?

Did your knee or hip pain start with an accident or injury?

Did you hear a pop in your knee or hip at the time of injury?

Do you experience hip pain that radiates to your groin or thigh?

Do you have difficulty getting up from chairs or climbing stairs?

Does your hip or knee give out or feel unstable when walking?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, it may be time to see an orthopedic specialist. Book HERE.

Underlying Conditions

Knee and hip pain can develop from numerous underlying conditions, including:

Ligament and Soft Tissue Injuries:

An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears

Meniscal tears (cartilage damage)

Hip flexor strains (pulled hip muscle)

Patellar tendinitis (jumper's knee)

IT band syndrome (runner's knee)

Arthritis and Inflammatory Conditions:

Osteoarthritic joint degeneration

Rheumatoid arthritic inflammation

Gout-related crystal deposits

Bursal sac inflammation

Structural Issues:

Bone fractures and breaks

Kneecap dislocation

Piriformis syndrome (deep hip muscle irritation)

Bone tumor growth

Risk Factors

Several contributing factors may elevate your risk of experiencing knee and hip discomfort, such as carrying excess weight, being over 55 years old, repeatedly overusing these joints, and using tobacco products.

Treatment Options for Hip and Knee Pain:

● Minimally-invasive approach: A minimally-invasive approach includes oral medication, cortisone injections, lubrication injections, and activity modifications to alleviate pain and treat conditions with surgery.

● Surgeries and surgical repair: Common procedures include total hip replacement, total knee replacement, partial knee replacement, ACL reconstruction, meniscus repair, arthroscopic debridement, cartilage repair procedures, and ligament reconstruction. These surgical interventions are intended to restore joint function, repair damaged tissues, and provide long-term pain relief when conservative treatments are no longer effective.

● Medications: Medications for hip and knee pain include pharmaceuticals, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen, or opioids prescribed by a doctor to manage and alleviate pain from hip and knee-related conditions or injuries.

Knee-d relief? We've got you covered with personalized orthopedic care. Call or book online today! 229-247-2290