Why does my knee hurt?
The knee is a complex joint: bones, cartilage, two menisci that cushion it, and four ligaments that stabilize it. A bad landing, an awkward twist playing soccer, or simply the years, can damage one of these pieces. Pain is how your knee tells you something stopped working properly.
These are the causes I see most often in consultation:
- Meniscus tear: pain when twisting or squatting, sometimes with a "locking" sensation.
- ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear: typical in athletes; the knee feels unstable, as if it might "buckle."
- Wear and osteoarthritis: pain that increases with activity and stiffness when you get up.
- Chondromalacia and kneecap pain: discomfort going down stairs or after sitting for a long time.
If your knee swells, locks, buckles on its own or hurts at night, don't let it slide. The sooner a meniscus or ligament injury is diagnosed, the more options you have to preserve your cartilage.
Knee arthroscopy: repair without open surgery
When an injury requires surgery, the best tool is usually arthroscopy. Through two or three incisions just a few millimeters wide, I insert a camera and micro-instruments to repair the meniscus or reconstruct the ligament, seeing everything in real time and without opening the knee.
Compared with traditional surgery, arthroscopy usually means:
- Small incisions and less damage to healthy tissue
- Less pain and lower risk of infection
- A faster recovery and return to activity
"If I have knee surgery, I'll never play sports again."
Many patients return to their sport after a good repair and rehabilitation. The goal is precisely to give you back your active life.