630 S Wickham Rd
Suite 101
West Melbourne, FL 32904
Se Habla Español
Office Hours
Mon, Wed, Thur: 8am - 6pm
Tue: 8am - 3pm
Fri: 8am - 12pm
Knee Pain Relief
At Injury Care Clinic in Brevard County, we specialize in treating all types of knee injuries and conditions that affect your mobility, stability, and quality of life. Our experienced team welcomes patients with knee pain caused by traumatic injuries such as auto accidents. Our comprehensive approach focuses on identifying the root cause of your knee pain and developing a personalized treatment plan for lasting relief.
Understanding Knee Pain
The ankle is a complex joint that bears your entire body weight with every step you take. It consists of bones, ligaments, tendons, and muscles that work together to provide stability and mobility. When any of these structures are injured in an auto accident, the resulting pain and limitations can significantly impact your ability to walk, stand, drive, and perform daily activities.
This complexity also makes the knee vulnerable to a wide range of injuries. When structures in the knee become damaged, inflamed, or misaligned, the resulting pain can significantly impact your ability to work, exercise, or perform everyday activities.
Knee pain can present in many ways, including:
- Localized pain in the front, back, sides, or deep within the knee
- Sharp or stabbing pain with certain movements
- Dull, aching pain that persists even at rest
- Swelling and inflammation around the joint
- Stiffness and reduced range of motion
- Instability or a feeling that your knee might “give out”
- Clicking, popping, or grinding sensations
- Difficulty bearing weight or walking
- Pain that worsens with stairs, squatting, or kneeling
At Injury Care Clinic, we specialize in diagnosing and treating all types of knee injuries and conditions, from acute trauma to chronic degenerative problems.
What To Expect During Your First Visit
When you come to Injury Care Clinic for knee pain, we begin with a thorough evaluation to identify the root cause of your symptoms:
- Comprehensive Medical History – We’ll discuss your symptoms, when they started, what makes them better or worse, and any relevant injuries or activities.
- Physical Examination – We assess your posture, knee mechanics, range of motion, muscle strength, and areas of tenderness.
- Orthopedic Testing – We use specific tests to identify ligament injuries, meniscal injuries, tendon injuries, instability, or other structural problems.
- Neurological Assessment – We will evaluate nerve function if you have numbness, tingling, or radiating symptoms.
- Functional Movement Assessment – We observe how your knee performs during real-world movements.
- Diagnostic Imaging Review – If you have recent X-rays or MRIs, we’ll review them; if needed, we can arrange for diagnostic imaging.
- Clear Diagnosis and Explanation – We’ll explain exactly what’s causing your knee pain in easy-to-understand terms.
- Personalized Treatment Plan – We will create a customized approach based on your specific condition, severity, lifestyle, and goals.
- Treatment Goals and Timeline – We provide realistic expectations for your recovery and symptom improvement.
We believe in transparent communication and shared decision-making. You’ll understand your condition, why we’re recommending specific treatments, and what results you can expect.
Common Knee Injuries and Conditions We Treat
Knee Contusions
A knee contusion, commonly known as a bruise, occurs when a direct blow or impact to the knee causes damage to the underlying soft tissues and small blood vessels without breaking the skin. While contusions may seem minor, they can be quite painful and may indicate deeper damage to the joint structures.
Knee contusions commonly result from falls, sports collisions, dashboard impacts in auto accidents, or striking the knee against a hard object. The direct trauma causes blood vessels to rupture, leading to bleeding within the soft tissues.
Symptoms of knee contusions include:
- Pain and tenderness at the site of impact
- Visible bruising and discoloration (which may appear hours after injury)
- Swelling around the knee
- Stiffness and difficulty bending the knee
- Pain with weight-bearing or movement
- In severe cases, difficulty walking
Knee contusions are typically classified by severity. Mild contusions (Grade 1) involve minimal pain and bruising with little impact on function. Moderate contusions (Grade 2) cause more noticeable swelling, bruising, and discomfort. Severe contusions (Grade 3) can involve significant tissue damage, substantial swelling, and marked functional impairment.
It’s important to have knee contusions properly evaluated, especially after auto accidents or significant trauma. What may appear to be a simple bruise could be masking more serious injuries such as bone fractures, ligament damage, or internal joint injuries. Our thorough examination helps identify any underlying damage that needs attention.
Our treatment approach focuses on reducing pain and swelling, promoting healing of damaged tissues, and restoring normal knee function. We also ensure that there are no associated injuries requiring additional care.
Meniscal Tears
The menisci are C-shaped pieces of cartilage that act as shock absorbers between your thighbone (femur) and shinbone (tibia). Each knee has two menisci – the medial meniscus on the inside of the knee and the lateral meniscus on the outside. These structures distribute weight evenly across the knee joint, provide stability, and help with smooth joint movement.
A meniscal tear is one of the most common knee injuries and can occur from acute trauma or degenerative changes. Athletes who play contact sports or activities involving cutting, pivoting, and twisting movements are particularly susceptible to meniscal tears. However, degenerative tears can also occur in older adults as the cartilage weakens and becomes more prone to tearing with age.
Common causes of meniscal tears include:
- Sudden twisting or rotating of the knee while the foot is planted
- Deep squatting or kneeling
- Lifting heavy objects
- Direct contact or impact to the knee
- Age-related degeneration making the meniscus more fragile
- Combination movements involving pivoting and cutting
Symptoms of a meniscal tear include:
- A popping sensation at the time of injury
- Pain along the joint line (inside or outside of the knee)
- Swelling that develops within 24-48 hours
- Stiffness and difficulty straightening the knee fully
- A catching or locking sensation when moving the knee
- Feeling of the knee “giving way” or instability
- Pain with twisting, pivoting, or squatting
- Difficulty climbing stairs or getting up from a chair
Meniscal tears can vary in type and severity. Common tear patterns include horizontal tears, vertical tears, radial tears, flap tears, and bucket-handle tears. The location, size, and pattern of the tear all influence symptoms and treatment options.
The outer portion of the meniscus has a better blood supply and may heal with conservative treatment, while tears in the inner portion (which lacks blood supply) are less likely to heal on their own. Many meniscal tears can be successfully treated without surgery through our comprehensive conservative care approach.
Our treatment protocols focus on reducing inflammation, improving knee mechanics, strengthening the surrounding muscles to provide better joint support, and gradually returning you to full activity. We work to restore normal function and prevent further damage to the meniscus or other knee structures.
Ligament Injuries
The knee is stabilized by four major ligaments that connect the bones and prevent excessive or abnormal movement. Ligament injuries are among the most common and potentially serious knee injuries, particularly in athletes and individuals involved in high-impact activities.
The four major knee ligaments:
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)
- Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL)
- Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL)
- Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL)
ACL Injuries:
ACL tears are among the most well-known knee injuries, especially in sports requiring sudden stops, changes in direction, or jumping and landing. ACL injuries often occur during non-contact movements such as pivoting, cutting, or landing awkwardly from a jump. They can also result from direct contact, such as a tackle in football.
Symptoms of an ACL tear typically include a “pop” sensation at the time of injury, immediate swelling, severe pain, inability to continue activity, instability or feeling that the knee will “give out,” and difficulty bearing weight.
PCL Injuries:
PCL tears are less common than ACL tears and typically result from direct trauma to the front of the knee, such as dashboard injuries in car accidents or falling on a bent knee. PCL injuries may cause less instability than ACL tears, and symptoms can be more subtle, including mild swelling, pain at the back of the knee, difficulty walking (especially downhill or stairs), and a feeling of instability.
MCL Injuries:
MCL sprains typically occur from a force that pushes the knee inward (valgus stress), such as being hit on the outside of the knee in contact sports. The MCL is the most commonly injured knee ligament.
Symptoms include pain and tenderness along the inner side of the knee, swelling, stiffness, and potential instability when pushing off or pivoting. MCL injuries are graded from Grade 1 (mild stretch) to Grade 3 (complete tear).
LCL Injuries:
LCL injuries are less common and usually result from a blow to the inside of the knee that forces it outward. Symptoms include pain and tenderness along the outer side of the knee, swelling, instability (particularly when pushing off or cutting), and potential numbness or tingling if the nearby peroneal nerve is affected.
General ligament injury symptoms:
- Immediate pain at the time of injury
- Swelling (may be immediate or develop over hours)
- Instability or feeling that the knee might “give out”
- Reduced range of motion
- Difficulty bearing weight
- Tenderness along the ligament
- Bruising around the knee
Ligament injuries are classified by severity: Grade 1 (mild sprain with minimal fiber damage), Grade 2 (moderate sprain with partial tearing), and Grade 3 (complete ligament tear).
While severe ligament injuries may sometimes require surgical reconstruction, many ligament sprains and even some partial tears can be successfully treated with conservative care. Our comprehensive treatment approach focuses on reducing inflammation, restoring stability through muscle strengthening and proprioceptive training, improving range of motion, and gradually returning you to activity.
Early and appropriate treatment is crucial for ligament injuries to prevent chronic instability, reduce the risk of additional injuries to other knee structures (like the meniscus or cartilage), and optimize long-term knee function.
Additional Knee Conditions We Treat
Beyond the primary injuries listed above, we also treat other knee conditions that can cause pain and dysfunction, including:
- Patellar tendonitis (jumper’s knee) – inflammation of the tendon connecting the kneecap to the shinbone
- Patellofemoral pain syndrome – pain around or behind the kneecap
- Iliotibial (IT) band syndrome – inflammation of the band of tissue running along the outside of the thigh to the knee
- Bursitis – inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that cushion the knee joint
- Osteoarthritis – age-related wear and tear of the knee cartilage
- Patellar dislocation – when the kneecap slips out of its normal position
- Baker’s cyst – fluid-filled swelling behind the knee
- Chondromalacia patella – softening and breakdown of cartilage on the underside of the kneecap
How Knee Pain Affects Your Daily Life
Knee pain doesn’t just limit your mobility – it can have a profound impact on every aspect of your life:
- Work and productivity – difficulty standing for long periods, climbing ladders, or performing job duties
- Exercise and fitness – restriction from running, sports, and activities that maintain your health
- Daily activities – trouble with stairs, getting in and out of cars, or kneeling for household tasks
- Recreation and hobbies – inability to participate in hiking, cycling, dancing, or other activities you enjoy
- Independence – increased reliance on others for help with mobility
- Sleep quality – difficulty finding comfortable positions and pain disrupting rest
- Emotional well-being – frustration, anxiety about instability or re-injury, and depression from activity limitations
We understand that knee pain affects your entire quality of life, which is why we’re committed to helping you achieve comprehensive relief and return to the activities that matter most to you.
Our Comprehensive Treatment Approach for Knee Pain
At Injury Care Clinic, we believe in a conservative, patient-centered approach to knee pain relief. Our treatment options are designed to reduce pain, restore proper joint function, improve stability, and help you return to normal activities without relying on surgery when possible.
Our treatment options may include:
- Chiropractic Care – gentle adjustments to improve joint alignment and reduce compensatory strain patterns
- Physical Rehabilitation – targeted exercises to strengthen the muscles supporting the knee, improve flexibility, and enhance stability
- Manual Therapy – hands-on techniques to improve joint mobility and reduce muscle tension
- Therapeutic Modalities – including ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and cold laser therapy to reduce pain and inflammation
- Kinesiology Taping – supportive taping techniques to provide stability and reduce stress on injured structures
- Gait Analysis – assessment of walking and running patterns to identify and correct biomechanical issues
- Functional Training – sport-specific or activity-specific exercises to prepare you for return to your activities
- Corrective Exercises – personalized programs to address muscle imbalances and prevent future injury
- Ergonomic Counseling – advice on proper body mechanics, footwear, and activity modifications
- Collaborative Care – coordination with orthopedic specialists when necessary for comprehensive treatment
Our multidisciplinary team works together to create a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to your specific condition, symptoms, and recovery goals. We take the time to thoroughly evaluate your condition, explain your diagnosis in terms you can understand, and empower you to take an active role in your recovery.
Why Choose Injury Care Clinic for Knee Pain Relief?
When you’re dealing with knee pain, you need a healthcare provider who listens, understands your concerns, and develops a treatment plan designed for your unique needs. At Injury Care Clinic, we pride ourselves on:
- Specialized Expertise – extensive experience treating all types of knee injuries and conditions
- Comprehensive Evaluations – thorough examinations to identify the root cause of your pain, not just treat symptoms
- Evidence-Based Treatment – utilizing proven therapies supported by research and clinical outcomes
- Personalized Care Plans – customized treatment protocols for your specific injury, lifestyle, and activity goals
- Advanced Techniques – modern equipment and current best practices in knee injury rehabilitation
- Convenient Scheduling – flexible appointment times to accommodate your busy life
- Patient Education – empowering you with knowledge about your condition, proper form, and injury prevention
- Compassionate Care – a team that genuinely cares about your wellbeing and recovery
- Return to Activity Focus – helping you safely return to the sports, work, and activities you love
We understand that living with knee pain is frustrating and limiting. That’s why we’re committed to providing effective, conservative treatment that addresses the underlying problem and helps you achieve lasting relief.
Common Questions About Knee Pain
When should I seek treatment for knee pain?
You should seek evaluation if your knee pain is severe, persists for more than a few days, is accompanied by significant swelling or instability, follows an injury or trauma, prevents you from bearing weight, or if you heard a “pop” at the time of injury.
Can knee injuries be treated without surgery?
Yes! Many knee injuries, including meniscal tears, ligament sprains, and contusions, respond well to conservative treatment. We focus on non-surgical approaches that promote natural healing and restore proper function. Surgery is typically reserved for severe injuries that don’t respond to conservative care.
How long does treatment take?
Treatment duration varies depending on your specific injury, severity, and how quickly your body heals. Minor contusions may improve within a few weeks, while ligament injuries or meniscal tears may require several months of rehabilitation. We’ll provide a realistic timeline during your initial evaluation and adjust as needed based on your progress.
Should I use ice or heat for knee pain?
In the first 48-72 hours after an acute injury, ice is typically recommended to reduce swelling and inflammation. After this acute phase, heat may be helpful for chronic stiffness or before activity. We’ll provide specific guidance based on your condition.
Can I continue exercising with knee pain?
This depends on your specific injury and symptoms. While complete rest is rarely beneficial long-term, modifying activities and avoiding movements that aggravate your pain is important. We’ll guide you on appropriate activity modifications and provide exercises that support your recovery rather than hinder it.
Take the First Step Toward Knee Pain Relief
Don't let knee pain limit your lifestyle any longer. Whether you're dealing with a recent injury, chronic instability, post-traumatic pain, or difficulty with activities you once enjoyed, the team at Injury Care Clinic is here to help.
Contact us today to schedule your comprehensive evaluation and discover how we can help you find relief from knee pain. Your journey to a pain-free, active life starts here.
We offer flexible scheduling to accommodate your needs.