Meniscopathy: Degenerative Changes and Chronic Meniscal Tears.

A meniscus tear on an MRI report can change the way a person thinks about their knee almost immediately. Before the scan, there was pain, perhaps some swelling, an occasional click when climbing stairs. After the scan, there is a diagnosis. A torn meniscus. The words sound definite, and the natural question follows: if something […]

Knee Osteoarthritis: What Happens to the Joint, and What Can Be Done About It?

A person can have knee osteoarthritis for years and barely notice it. Someone else may begin avoiding stairs, struggle to get out of a low chair, or find that a short walk leaves the knee aching for the rest of the day. The X-rays may look similar. The experience of living with the condition can […]

After a Meniscus Tear: Why Doing Less Is Sometimes Harder Than Doing More.

People often imagine rehabilitation beginning with movement. I don’t. I think it begins a little earlier. With the moment a person realizes that the knee has stopped being something they never had to think about. Before the injury, it simply existed. You stood up without planning how. You turned around without calculating the angle. You […]

What Is Osteoarthritis and Why Does It Develop?

One phrase stays with me because I hear it almost every week. “Doctor, my joints are just wearing out because I’m getting older.” People usually say it with complete certainty, as though age explains everything. I wish it were that simple. Getting older does increase the chances of developing osteoarthritis, but age itself isn’t the […]