Knees take quite a beating throughout our lives. From our earliest months, we crawl on them, walk on them, run with them, and use them to jump. We skin them, cross them and expect them to carry our weight - no matter what size we become. As a result, knee problems are very common, and they occur in people of all ages.

Knee pain may be due to an injury or it may be the onset of arthritis. With osteoarthritis, the cartilage - the soft tissue that cushions and protects the bones in the knee - gradually wears away. When this happens, there's pain and increased difficulty with the daily activities we used to take for granted. Injuries may hasten that process or cause other problems.

The orthopedic surgeons at the Citrus Memorial Orthopedic Center will take the time with you to properly evaluate your knee condition and determine the right kind of treatment to get your knees moving again. Many treatments can be non-surgical, such as with medications, physical therapy, injections, and bracing. Surgical options can include arthroscopy, which is often conducted as same-day surgery, while partial or complete knee resurfacing or joint replacement will require a hospital stay.

Scheduling an evaluation

If you've had enough of the constant knee pain and want to finally determine the cause and the treatment plan best for you, contact the Citrus Memorial Health System Physician Referral Line at (352) 637-3337 or call one of our orthopedic surgeons.