Osteoarthritis of the Knee

The knee is one of the most common joints affected by osteoarthritis (OA), so it goes without saying that the knee is one of the joints we inject the most.

Having a diagnosis of knee OA doesn't mean you should stop doing activities you enjoy or are part of your daily life. We know through research that keeping your knee active and strong is a very important part of managing knee OA.

Often a course of physiotherapy can help relieve symptoms substantially and we strongly support this. We can help offer specialist support in this area.

However if your symptoms are failing to settle despite trying physiotherapy then a knee injection may be the right option for you.

Common Symptoms you might notice with knee OA

The main symptom that causes people to seek help is usually pain in the knee joint- this is usually felt on the inside, outside or kneecap but can include all 3 areas!

Your knee may swell up, this may be all the time or get more noticeable with activity such as walking.

Often people get night pain, this is particularly difficult to cope with, as lack of sleep often makes your knee pain worse. So you can end up in a vicious cycle of increased pain.

Having a reduced ability to walk as far as you used to or go up stairs. Even standing still can increase your pain.

Having less movement in your knee and feeling stiffness, especially after rest can often be noticed.

Some people notice giving way and locking or a catching sensation can also occur. You may also notice that your knee has changed shape, maybe it has become more bow-legged or knock-kneed.

How to tell if I need a knee injection for knee OA? 

If your symptoms are having a negative impact on your life, you can't bring them down to a level you feel happy with and physiotherapy hasn't helped then a knee injection may be a good option for you. It could be that you get pain that wakes you at night, maybe you can't walk as far as you used to because your pain stops you, you've started to notice your knee is swelling with a small amount of activity or it just hurts all the time!

Research supports the use of corticosteroid and hyaluronic acid (Durolane) injections for treating symptoms associated with OA and we can help you work out which is the most appropriate option for your knee. 

Meniscal Tears

Each of your knees has two C-shaped pieces of cartilage that act like a cushion between your shinbone and your thighbone, helping to absorb shock and load. Meniscal tears are tears to this cartilage. The tears can vary enormously in size and how complex they are.

Meniscal tears can often be assymptomatic- meaning they don't cause symptoms. In fact research shows meniscal tears exist in a high percentage of knees that have no symptoms, with the person able to carry out every day life with no problems. However, sometimes they can become problematic and start to cause symptoms that can affect your quality of life.

They can affect both young sports people - usually with an injury and older people- usually less of a traumatic injury and may be something as simple as twisting your knee or walking on an uneven surface.

The first line of treatment is to allow time for your symptoms to settle followed by a course of physiotherapy. However if symptoms don't settle, then an injection may be a good option for you. 

Common symptoms you might notice with a meniscal tear

Symptoms may include specific pain over your knee joint line which is worse with turning or twisting. You may notice some swelling and giving way of your knee. It's important to recognise a locked knee- where you are unable to fully straighten your knee- as this may mean a piece of the meniscus has flipped and got stuck in your knee joint.  You should get it checked out by a healthcare professional as this may be a sign you have a more complex tear.

How to tell if I need a knee injection for a meniscal tear

As we mentioned earlier it's important to give time for symptoms to settle - it can take up to 2 years for pain associated with meniscal tears to reduce. However if you need help with pain relief because it's affecting every day activities, hobbies or limiting your ability to do physio, then an injection could be a good option.

Research supporting injection therapy for knees suggests corticosteroid injections and hyaluronic acid (Durolane) are effective methods for relieving symptoms from meniscal tears and we can help you work out which is the most appropriate option for your knee. 

Pes Anserine Bursitis

This condition is much less common than knee OA and meniscal tears. It causes pain on the inside of your knee, about 2 inches lower than your knee joint. It is caused by the fluid-filled sac (bursa) that sits between the bone (tibia) and three muscles that attach to this part of the bone becoming inflamed.

Pain usually comes on gradually and is often due to over use of the muscles attaching to the bone. The bursa can also become painful with a direct hit to this area. You may notice some swelling in this area too.

The two most common groups affected by it are athletes and middle-aged women. 

How to tell if I need a knee injection for Pes Anserine bursitis

If you have tried resting from the activities that you know cause pain, taking over the counter anti-inflammatory medication and physiotherapy but your symptoms aren't changing, then a cortisone injection may help reduce your symptoms.

For more information take a look at this link:

Pes Anserine Bursitis