Hip & Knee Pain
What it feels like, and where it comes from
Hip and knee pain come in a few flavors. There is the deep groin or outer-hip ache of a hip joint that is wearing or inflamed. There is the sharp knee pain going down stairs, the swelling after activity, the knee that feels like it might give. And there is tendon pain around either joint, at the outside of the hip, below the kneecap or at the hamstring attachment, that nags for months.
What these have in common is load. The low back and pelvis decide how weight is passed into the hips and knees, and when they are restricted or uneven, one joint takes more than its share. Dr. Petrilak looks at the whole lower chain, which is why patients who have treated the knee alone sometimes find the answer was higher up.
- Hip or knee pain on stairs, squatting or standing up
- Stiffness after sitting that eases once you get moving
- Swelling or aching in a knee after activity
- Pain on the outside of the hip, especially lying on that side
- Tendon pain below the kneecap or at the back of the thigh
- A hip or knee problem that started after a back or pelvis issue
