The most common cause of long-term knee pain and loss of function is arthritis. The most common types of arthritis are:

• Osteoarthritis (OA)—sometimes called degenerative arthritis because it is a "wearing out" condition involving the breakdown of the cartilage that cushions the knee, much like a tire gradually wears and loses its tread. When the cartilage eventually wears away completely, the bones rub against each other, causing pain and stiffness. OA usually occurs in people over age 50.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)—a disease that causes the synovium to become thickened and inflamed. In turn, too much abnormal synovial fluid is produced within the joint space, which causes a chronic inflammation that damages the cartilage. This eventually results in cartilage loss, pain, and stiffness.
• Post-traumatic Arthritis—can develop after a serious knee injury. Knee fracture or severe laxity of the ligaments from injury may lead to degeneration of the articular cartilage, causing excess wear, pain, and reduced function in the joint over time.


Knee pain can also be caused by deformity or direct injury to the joint. In some cases, the pain is made worse by the fact that a person will favor the painful knee, weakening the muscles and making the joint even more difficult to move.

Based on his orthopaedic evaluation of your condition—including a thorough medical history, physical exam, x-rays, and other tests—Dr. Kolisek will diagnose the cause of your knee pain, determine the extent of your joint damage or deformity, and recommend a course of treatment.