Treatments for Knee Instability & Locking

Your knees carry a heavy burden. When you suffer from knee pain in Brooklyn or the Bronx, you can get non-surgical, minimally invasive treatment that gets you back on your feet in no time. Whether you’ve experienced a locking knee or an unstable knee, call knee pain doctors in Brooklyn and the Bronx at the Astra Knee Pain Center. They offer revolutionary treatments, including genicular artery embolization or GAE. Call today to get out of pain and back in the game.

How Do I Know If I Have an Unstable Knee?

With an unstable knee, you notice a wobbly, weak or slipping sensation when you walk. You may notice it when you’re stressing your knees, such as while you’re playing sports, jogging or walking on uneven ground. It feels like your knee’s sliding out of place.

Knee instability may come on suddenly after an injury or gradually because of underlying joint damage. 

Several conditions contribute to an unstable knee, including:

• Ligament injuries
• Meniscus tears
• A patellar tracking disorder
• Knee arthritis
• Muscle weakness

If you ignore knee instability, you may develop more serious problems, such as cartilage damage that can lead to bone-on-bone grinding. At the Astra Knee Pain Center, with offices in Brooklyn and in the Bronx, you meet doctors like Dr. George Bolotin who are experts in interventional radiology. They understand knee anatomy and are up-to-speed with the latest non-surgical pain treatments.

What Are the Different Types of a Locked Knee?

There are two types of locked knee, but the most common is true mechanical locking. This happens when a bone chip or foreign fragment inside your knee joint physically blocks movement. If this occurs, you feel immediate pain and you may not be able to fully straighten your leg.

The second type is called a pseudo-locking knee. This is when when your knee feels stuck due to swelling and stiffness, not an actual physical blockage. Your knee may improve with gentle movement or rest. A specialist identifies the type of knee locking you have during an evaluation.

Causes of a locking knee include:

• Inflammation from arthritis, aging and joint degeneration
• Bursitis, injury or joint swelling
• Muscle spasms around your knee

If inflammation contributes to your pseudo-locking knee, treatments like genicular artery embolization (GAE) may help. GAE lowers excess blood flow to the inflamed areas in your knee, easing pain and improving movement. This minimally invasive procedure helps you manage locking symptoms so you return to daily activities faster.

Can Degenerative Conditions Like Arthritis Lead to an Unstable or Locking Knee?

Degenerative conditions like osteoarthritis can make your knee feel unstable or even make it lock up. This arthritis gradually wears down the protective cartilage inside your knee. As this cushioning thins, the structural support for your knee thins with it. If you get to bone-on-bone grinding, you’ve reached an advanced state of degradation. Surgery and a total knee replacement may be your only option at that point.

Not every case of knee instability or locking means advanced arthritis, but it shows your knee isn’t functioning properly.

Knee pain specialists in Brooklyn look for symptoms that include:

• Frequently giving way or buckling when walking or standing
• Warmth around the joint after activity
• Pain that worsens with weight-bearing or twisting motions
• Limiting range of motion or stiffness, especially after rest

What Treatments Are Available For A Locking Knee Or Unstable Knee?

Several non-surgical treatments, such as physical therapy, improve the health and stability of your knees. A tailored exercise plan strengthens your quadriceps and hamstrings to keep the joint stable. PT also improves your balance and flexibility so your knee is less likely to give out or lock.

In some situations, using crutches or a cane temporarily takes pressure off your knee and makes it easier for you to recover. Wearing a knee brace stops your knee from shifting and gives your injured tissues time to heal. Adjusting your daily routine to avoid high-impact activities protects your knee from further injury.

Another option your knee pain specialist in Brooklyn or the Bronx may discuss is genicular artery embolization.

GAE is a non-surgical treatment that offers many added benefits, such as:

• You don’t have to experience incisions, stitches or a hospital stay.
• You return to normal activities faster due to the shorter GAE recovery timeline.
• You experience fewer risks and side effects.
• It helps you delay or avoid total knee replacement surgery.
• GAE complements other non-surgical treatments, like PT.

How Can Athletes Prevent Knee Pain in Brooklyn or in the Bronx?

Strength training and enhanced flexibility protect your knees during activities. This keeps your knees stable while lowering the risk of unexpected locking episodes. Strong muscles around your knee create a solid foundation for movement.

Strategies that knee pain specialists in Brooklyn and the Bronx often suggest for preventing an unstable knee and a locking knee include:

• Always warm up properly prior to practices and games.
• Use sport-specific drills to prepare your knees for the demands of the sport.
• Concentrate on your balance when jumping, landing and changing direction.
• Address minor injuries immediately to avoid consequences.

If you want relief from knee pain in Brooklyn or the Bronx without surgery, contact the Astra Knee Pain Center. Whether your unstable knee or locking knee comes from post-traumatic knee arthritis, chronic inflammatory knee pain, patellofemoral syndrome, or chondromalacia patella, the team offers advanced, non-surgical care to relieve discomfort, restore mobility, and improve your quality of life.

Home → Symptoms → Treatments for Knee Instability & Locking