Fluid on the knee — a knee effusion, or "water on the knee" — is a painful build-up of fluid in and around the knee joint. We usually treat it with simple measures such as ice, medication, and a compression wrap. But sometimes we need to drain the fluid, a procedure called a knee [...]
Medial collateral ligament tears cause pain and swelling on the inside of the knee. Most MCL injuries settle with a period of bracing and rehab. But sometimes the healing is complicated by calcification of the MCL — known as a Pellegrini-Stieda lesion, or Pellegrini-Stieda syndrome. So what is this disease, and how do we [...]
Most people with knee arthritis or meniscal tears get pain during an arthritis flare. But knee pain in people with arthritis is sometimes due to bone breakdown — an insufficiency fracture. This condition is now usually termed a subchondral insufficiency fracture, though it was previously called osteonecrosis, or SONK. So what is a subchondral [...]
Pain in the back of the knee has several causes. One less common cause of posterior knee pain is low hamstring tendonitis — also called distal hamstring tendinopathy. So what is this condition, and how do we manage it? This is one cause of pain behind the knee — see that hub for the [...]
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in the knee. It increasingly affects younger people. Treatment options include exercise, weight loss, medication, injections, and knee replacement. Arthrosamid — a non-degradable hydrogel — now offers longer-lasting pain relief than other injections for many patients. Dr Masci's Arthrosamid injection cost is £ 2,500 all-inclusive at [...]
Meniscal tears are a common cause of knee pain and swelling. The meniscus is a c-shaped cartilage that sits between the knee bones and cushions the joint. In some people, the meniscus — especially the lateral meniscus — is abnormally shaped, which makes it more prone to injury. So what is a discoid lateral [...]
Pain on the outer side of the knee — lateral knee pain — is common, and pinning down the cause can be challenging. The area contains many structures that cross the joint: tendons, ligaments, nerves, and the joint capsule. So what causes pain on the outside of the knee, and how do we make [...]
Inner knee pain, also called medial knee pain, is common in walkers, runners, and sportspeople. It can come on gradually or suddenly, with or without injury. So what causes pain on the inner side of the knee, and how do we reach the right diagnosis? This is the hub for pain on the inside [...]
Knee clicking or popping is common, and it has several possible causes. The first thing to establish is whether the clicking is painful. Clicking with pain in the knee suggests a more concerning problem, while painless clicking usually has a harmless cause. So what causes knee clicking or popping, and when should you see [...]
Bone marrow oedema is swelling or fluid build-up within the bone marrow. It's usually detected on imaging, particularly MRI. So what is subchondral bone marrow oedema, what causes it, and how should you manage it? What is subchondral bone marrow oedema? The bone marrow is the spongy part at the centre of the bone, [...]
