Knee Doctor Omaha NE
Knee Care Clinic
A Unique Approach To Care. Omaha Integrated Health had its beginnings as a diabetic care clinic and has gradually advanced into a multidisciplinary practice that specializes in finding and treating the underlying causes of disease, pain, and sickness. We focus on Type 2 diabetes, Thyroid dysfunction, like hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s, and problems commonly associated with those conditions, such as gut issues, neuropathy, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, and food sensitivities. We utilize a functional medicine approach to help patients reverse their declining health and restore their overall well-being so that they no longer need to rely on taking drugs loaded with side effects, which, typically, only treat the symptoms of the problem and may even contribute to making their condition worse.
So, what does that have to do with knee pain?
In dealing with both Type 2 diabetes and Thyroid dysfunction, we found that an overwhelming majority of our patients were also dealing with chronic pain conditions as a result of, or aggravated by, their declining health. One of the most common pain problems that we found was knee pain. Again, in helping our patients with their knee pain, we wanted to find a natural approach to the problem by getting to the underlying cause(s) and providing a non-drug, non-surgical approach to relieving their pain and restoring normal joint function. And that is exactly what we did.
Knee Pain Symptoms
Knee pain can be caused by a number of conditions or injuries but is often the result of arthritis, which is, basically, swelling and tenderness in one or more of your joints due to disease, decay, infections, or repetitive trauma over the years. Arthritis, or more specifically, osteoarthritis, causes cartilage, the protective tough, slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones where they form a joint, to break down. Other causes may include but are not limited to, acute injuries, previous surgeries, and complications of medical conditions and treatments.
The pain can be sharp, stabbing, burning, throbbing, unrelenting or just a dull ache that refuses to go away and may range greatly in severity. Symptoms are different for each individual and may also include numbness, tingling, or skin sensitivity. There are many causes for knee pain, so it is important to find what that cause is in order to determine and develop an appropriate treatment plan to restore function, relieve pain, and postpone or prevent surgery altogether. A thorough physical examination will usually establish a diagnosis of the knee pain and its underlying cause or contributing factors. Exams may include the use of other diagnostic equipment such as x-ray, ultrasound, or MRI.
When experiencing knee pain, it is important for you to avoid any unnecessary strain on your knees when they are in this state as it can lead to further injury and degeneration if left untreated.
Types of Knee Pain
When an individual has knee problems, there are many symptoms that may indicate an underlying condition. These include:
- Constant, dull, aching pain in the knee joint
- Swelling and/or throbbing of the knee with everyday activities
- Sore muscles surrounding the knee
- Pain with touch or pressure
- Stiffness and/or the inability to completely flex or extend the knee joint
- Pain that increases gradually throughout the day
- Difficulty standing from a seated position
- Popping or grinding noises with weight-bearing movements
- Instability or “giving out” frequently
- Sudden, severe, sharp, stabbing pain in the affected knee
Causes of Knee Pain
Arthritis
Knee pain is a common problem, especially in our mid to later years, and can be caused by several factors. Often, knee pain starts out as a slight nagging pain that gets worse over time. According to the American Arthritis Foundation, there are multiple types of knee pain. Meniscus tears, sprained or strained ligaments, cartilage tears, tendonitis, and arthritis that can often cause excruciating pain in the knees. Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition, can also be a source of knee pain because it causes degeneration of multiple joints and bone tissue as well as inflammation or fluid build-up in the joints.
Soft-Tissue Injuries
The most common trauma affecting the knee is ACL sprains and tears. This is because it is the most vulnerable ligament in terms of stability. This can be excruciatingly painful, especially if it’s not treated properly. If your ACL or other stabilizing ligaments have been injured by trauma or sports injury then it could also result in a permanent limited range of motion if not addressed properly and immediately.
Trauma
Knee pain can also be caused by physical damage or medical conditions. One of the most common causes of knee pain is excess weight. Excess weight puts constant excess pressure on the joint causing accelerated wear and tear making it much easier to injure the joint. Excess weight is, in itself, repetitive trauma to the joint, especially when excess forces are applied, such as running, jumping, lifting, and twisting motions.
Tendonitis
Tendinitis, inflammation of the tendons that attach to your knee, can also occur as a result of trauma or overuse and is most common in people who have arthritis in the knee. Tendonitis will most often cause pain when you try to move or walk but may present with pain, even at rest after an injury. This condition can lead to serious complications, such as a rupture of the patella tendon or even dislocation. It’s not very common in healthy people, but when it does happen, it often occurs after overuse or strain on the knee joint.
Diagnosing Knee Pain
When you have knee pain, it is important to be evaluated to establish the source of the pain. Knee conditions should be evaluated by a physical exam and detailed medical history.
The first step to treating the source of knee pain is getting an accurate diagnosis. Therefore, diagnostic imaging processes such as X-rays, MRI scans, CT scans, and ultrasound may be used. Each diagnostic tool is used for different reasons and may be necessary to figure out exactly what is causing or contributing to your specific knee pain and provide a better understanding of what treatment options are best.
Another important reason why a proper diagnosis is important is that many patients are told that their only solution is to get surgery. However, many of these surgeries are not necessary or helpful in relieving pain and may even make the condition worse! This is why we want to try just about any and everything that we can first to prevent or postpone surgery as far down the line as possible. Our knee treatments are extremely conservative, very effective, and have helped many patients avoid knee replacement surgery.
Knee Pain Treatments
The goal of our office is to provide knee pain relief without painful surgery, the long recovery time, and the high expense that comes with it. Our treatment programs are based on the latest innovations in medical science, are FDA-approved, and are often more effective than other non-surgical options. The specific cause of your problem must be addressed with our treatment plans so that you can experience comfort from pain.
The most common treatment options for knee pain are rest, ice, compression, elevation, heat or cold packs, OTC meds, prescription meds (including addictive opioids), steroid shots, physical therapy, and, finally, surgery.
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Hyaluronic Acid
At Omaha Integrated Health, we use a substance called hyaluronic acid, which is injected directly into the knee. The best part, It’s all-natural! Hyaluronic acid injections are used to treat knee pain caused by osteoarthritis (OA) in patients who have already been treated with pain relievers (e.g., Tylenol, Ibuprophen, etc.) and other treatments that did not work well. When you see/hear the word “acid”, it may sound kind of scary, but the truth is, you already have hyaluronic acid in your joints. It’s part of your overall make-up. Hyaluronic acid is, basically, the “oil” in the joint that provides lubrication with movement.
Without it, our joints would grind together and wear down rather quickly. However, as we age and accumulate traumas to the cartilage in the knee, our bodies produce less and less hyaluronic acid and the quality of that acid decreases over time. Injecting fresh, new hyaluronic acid into the joint is, in a way, similar to getting an oil change for the engine in your car. It helps with movement, stability, and relieves pain and may help you postpone or prevent surgery. Surgery should only be an option when the knee pain becomes untreatable by all other means.
What is Regenerative Medicine?
There is one other treatment option to consider when trying to avoid surgery and all else fails- PRP or Platelet Rich Plasma, a form of regenerative medicine. Platelet Rich Plasma is relatively new in the medical world and was made famous by Kim Kardashian’s “Vampire facials”. Essentially, blood is extracted from the patient, spun in a centrifuge to separate the plasma from the regular red blood cells, and re-injected into the area that needs attention.
When the Platelet Rich Plasma is injected directly into the multiple areas of the face, it gives the face a blood-red appearance, thus the name “Vampire facial”. In that case, the PRP is used to heal the skin, decrease and prevent wrinkles. But PRP can also be used in the knee to aid and speed healing of damaged tissue and alleviate pain. Essentially, it helps your body heal itself better and faster than it would left on its own. This type of treatment is used in place of traditional surgery to restore function, reduce inflammation, and improve the quality of life for patients.
Knee Specialist in Omaha NE
Our team can help you find relief while avoiding the risks associated with traditional treatments like drugs and joint replacement surgery.
Our practice follows rigorous protocols, which are necessary when dealing with joint irritation.
Knee Joint Conditions We Treat
Our doctors provide relief for patients with a variety of conditions, such as:
⦁ Arthritis of the knee
⦁ Cartilage degeneration
⦁ Weight-related damage
⦁ Knee osteoarthritis
⦁ Bone Spurs
⦁ Bone-on-bone grinding
⦁ Decreased range of motion
⦁ Instability (“giving out” while walking)
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Our procedures are covered by all major insurance companies, Medicare, and Tricare.
Please bring your insurance card with you and we will provide a complimentary check for you to see if your specific plan is covered.
Call our office today at 402-932-5929
FAQ:
Our procedures are covered by all major insurance companies, Medicare, and Tricare. Please bring your insurance card with you and we will provide a complimentary insurance check for you to see if your specific plan is covered.
We do everything that we can to make our patients as comfortable as possible. Prior to the injection, the patient’s skin is numbed with a spray to minimize sensitivity. We then typically use lidocaine or other numbing agent to further numb the area. This is so effective that some patients were not even aware they had been injected!
Your initial visit will take approximately 1/2 hour. Most other visits are about the same or less.
The most common side effect, if any, may be a mild tenderness at the sight. Other side effects may include redness, swelling, or itching. Because we use hyaluronic acid, a product produced by our own bodies, side effects are minimal, if at all. Talk to the doctor or the Nurse Practitioner about any medications that you are taking and/or any allergies or conditions that you may have prior to treatment.
The “chicken” or “rooster” shot is referring to artificial hyaluronic acid derived from the rooster comb. Unless your insurance plan allows you to use no other, we typically only use non-avian hyaluronic acid to avoid any possible allergic reactions commonly associated with avian-derived products.
While we don’t recommend heavy lifting or strenuous activity, unless otherwise directed, you may return to normal activities the same day.
Heck yeah! We love people…unless they’re mean- then we still love them. It’s just harder. Our goal is to be the best knee doctor in Omaha, NE!