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Knee Pain
Knee pain - including arthritis knee pain and pain behind the knee - is the most common musculoskeletal complaint that brings people to their doctor for knee pain relief. In today’s active society, the number of knee problems is increasing. The knees are the most easily injured part of the body. They are large weight-bearing joints that bend, straighten, rotate, and twist. These joints are used for everything from standing up to sitting, walking, and running.
What are the causes of knee pain?
Knee pain has a wide variety of specific causes that include:
- Osteoarthritis: This is the most common type of knee arthritis. It is also known as wear-and-tear arthritis or degenerative joint disease. Genetic predisposition is one of the factors that can contribute to knee arthritis. Other factors include trauma to the knee, meniscus tears, ligament damage, or fractures to the bone around the joint.
- Ligament Injuries: Ligaments are made of tough fibrous material that’s critical to the stability of the knee joint and controls excessive motion by limiting the mobility in the joint. Ligament injuries that cause pain and instability commonly occur during athletic activities.
- Meniscus Tears/Cartilage Injuries: The menisci are made of tough cartilage and conform to the surfaces of the bones they rest on. This is critical to knee health because this configuration distributes bodyweight evenly across the knee joint.
Diagnosing Knee Pain
A doctor will diagnose your knee problem based on your medical history, a physical exam, and diagnostic tests. Depending on the findings of the medical history and physical exam, the doctor may use one or more tests to determine the nature of the knee problem. Some of the more commonly used tests include X-ray; CT or CAT scan; bone scan; MRI; arthroscopy; and joint aspiration.
Treating Knee Pain
Often people get knee pain relief on their own - taking over-the-counter pain relievers and resting can help. If your knee pain is due to an injury; is severe and comes on suddenly; or doesn't improve after three days (becomes chronic knee pain) contact us for further evaluation.
In addition to cutting-edge and traditional therapies, we embrace non-traditional treatments such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, meditation/relaxation, and Qui-Gong. Our goal is to return you to good health without pain.
When conservative measures fail to control pain and improve knee function, we will discuss surgery. In most cases, surgery is performed on an outpatient basis using minimally invasive procedures, which reduces pain, risk, recovery time, and expense.
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Eugene P. Lopez, MD
Dr. Lopez is a board certified orthopedic surgeon who is specialty trained in arthroscopic surgery, sports medicine and total joint replacement surgery. In addition, he has provided care for some of Chicago’s finest athletes such as Walter Payton. His referral network extends far outside the Chicagoland area. He has patients that travel from Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin. Dr. Lopez' experience confirms that most sports injuries are best treated conservatively with a customized rehabilitation program.
In his career, Dr. Lopez has performed more than 2000 arthroscopic ACL reconstructions and arthroscopic shoulder reconstructions. He was considered a pioneer when he performed his first meniscal allograft transplant in 1998. He credits his patient’s success to his specialized training, experience and his close working relationship with the physical therapists.
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Mary K. Morrell, MD
Dr. Morrell is a board certified orthopaedic surgeon who is fellowship trained in orthopaedic traumatology and specializes in fracture management. She has a large general orthopaedic practice with special interests in pediatrics, hand and wrist conditions, arthritis pain and women’s health issues.
As one of a small number of female orthopedists in the country, Dr. Morrell has an understanding of the orthopaedic implications of women’s health issues in osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and female-athlete conditions. For arthritis pain, she employs all types of joint preservation treatment and uses minimally invasive techniques when joint replacement surgery becomes necessary. She supports the growing need for early detection and treatment of osteoporosis to maintain strong bones and prevent fractures.
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Sean D. Odell, MD
Dr. Odell is a board certified orthopaedic surgeon who is fellowship trained in arthroscopic surgery and sports medicine. He specializes in the treatment of complex injuries of the shoulder and knee including arthroscopic repair of tears in the rotator cuff, labrum, recurrent shoulder instability as well as ACL reconstructions. He also manages arthritis pain, and when necessary, performs joint replacement surgery of the knee, hip or shoulder.
Dr. Odell feels that patients need to be well informed about their diagnosis and their treatment so they can take an active part in their recovery and rehabilitation, allowing them to get back to competitive sports, work or back to their lives as soon as possible.
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Bruce J. Montella, MD
Dr. Montella is a board certified orthopedic surgeon who is fellowship trained in spine surgery. He has an additional board certification in "interventional pain management". He specializes in diagnosing and treating injuries of the back and neck, as well as sports medicine injuries.
Dr. Montella also has a strong interest in sports medicine. He played football in college and was named Sports Illustrated magazine’s offensive football player of the week. He had a brief playing career with the Chicago Bears. He was a team physician for Duke University’s varsity football and basketball teams. He understands the importance of making the appropriate diagnosis and formulating a treatment plan that enables the injured athlete to return to competitive activity as soon as is safely possible.
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Erwin Friedman, DPM
Dr. Friedman is a board certified podiatrist. He has additional certifications in endoscopic treatment and in shock wave treatment for treating plantar fascitis. He specializes in all foot and ankle disorders resulting from injury, overuse, deformity and degenerative conditions.
Dr. Friedman provides care and surgery for many foot and ankle problems including, but not limited to: Achilles injuries, Bunion correction, hammer toes, ingrown and infected toe nails, plantar warts, excision of neuromas, ganglion cysts and plantar warts, foot fractures and flat feet.
Dr. Friedman is a senior attending instructor and lecturer for the podiatry residency program at Rush North Shore Medical Center. He frequently lectures on foot and ankle disorders for businesses and at public forums.
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Seanra Kalil, PA-C
Seanra Kalil, PA-C, is a 2002 graduate of the Cook County Physician Assistant Program, the first PA program in Illinois. Her professional experience spans gastroenterology, otolaryngology, allergy & immunology and radiology. Preceding practicing as a Physicians Assistant, Seanra worked with spinal cord, brain injury and subacute patients as a mental health counselor. Her Master's thesis focused on psychotherapy with chronically ill and hospitalized children and she conducted her clinical studies at the University of Chicago Children's Hospital.
Seanra enjoys treating both adults and children in the Immediate Care clinic under the supervision of Dr. Eugene Lopez. She is a licensed and certified Physician Assistant in the state of Illinois. She is an active member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants.
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Kody Lewis, PA-C
Kody Lewis is a board certified physician assistant (PA-C). He is a Masters Graduate of Marquette University Physician Assistant Program, a National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) accredited program.
His training had an emphasis on general surgery, adult and pediatric orthopaedics, emergency medicine and general medicine. He is licensed to practice medicine and prescribe medications in the state of Illinois under physician supervision. Kody works directly with Dr. Lopez in the operating room as well as in the hospital and clinical settings.
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Ross Robarts, PA-C
Ross Robarts, PA-C is a graduate of the Yale University Physician Assistant Program, a National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) accredited program. He is board certified as a Physician Assistant (PA-C) in Illinois.
Ross is currently licensed to practice medicine in the state of Illinois as well as prescribe medications under physician supervision. Ross works directly with Dr. Morrell and Dr. Odell in the operating room as well as the clinical and hospital setting.
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