C. Scott Walthour, M.D.

Thanks for the great question. Osteoarthritis is a common cause of knee pain - it is the "wear and tear" degeneration of the knee's cartilage layer that occurs over time. In basic terms, it is like the brake pa... continue reading  about  I recently heard about a new knee procedure that uses medical separators rather than total knee replacement to relieve pain from osteoarthritis degeneration. Can you tell me about this and where to find out about getting it done?

This is a very common complaint in my office. The sensation of "popping out of place" or "giving way" can be very frustrating to patients because they really can't seem to trust their knees. Secondary injuries ... continue reading  about  My right knee pops out with every step that I take and it hurts all the time. It's been doing this for about two years. I've been to a doctor, but was told that nothing is wrong. My knee would not be hurting like this if it was nothing. Help!

Swelling is a common concern when dealing with knee pain and knee injuries. Besides the appearance of a swollen knee, many patients complain of the discomfort and lack of motion that may coincide with the knee ... continue reading  about  Why might I get swelling behind my knee when I run?

A cracking noise heard with kneeling that is not painful and not associated with swelling can be secondary to soft tissue folds moving over the edges of the knee joint. Most people have experienced this sensati... continue reading  about  My knee popped out of place two weeks ago. I popped it right back, and the swelling and pain have gone away. Is this normal, or does it indicate a problem?

Thanks for the great question. It sounds like your fall led to an injury to the front part of the knee around the knee cap. This is common when the fall happens on a flexed knee - lots of pain, but it generally... continue reading  about  I fell two weeks ago on the sidewalk and hurt the side and top of my knee. It really swelled and was painful to the touch. Now it's much better but it is still sensitive when I kneel on it. Should I continue to give it some time?

This injury described presumably involves the front part of the knee called the pre-patellar bursa. Beneath the skin (and above the bone) the body has a natural cushion called a bursa. These fluid-filled sacs a... continue reading  about  My daughter fell hard on her knee playing volleyball. An x-ray showed no fracture of the patella, but it did indicate pre-patellar bursitis. Is there anything she can do to speed up the healing?

Thanks for the question! From what you're describing, it seems that your knee hurts with full straightening (extension) and also full bending (flexion). This symptom of pain at the extremes of knee motion can b... continue reading  about  I've been having problems with my knee hurting when I bend it or straighten it out. What can I do to help the pain, and should I see a doctor?

A knee that decides to "pop" or make cracking sounds can be quite alarming. I think that all of us at one time or another have kneeled down and had our knees make a loud noise, but no pain occurs. In the majori... continue reading  about  My knee pops out consistently when I work out. I'm 19 years old, at a healthy weight, and have an active lifestyle. I have quit working out several times due to painful cracks and pops. Is there anything that I can do to prevent this from happening?

Knee pain is an extremely common complaint in an orthopedic surgeon's office. Some of the questions that we use to help sort out the cause of knee pain include:Is this an acute problem, or has is it started slo... continue reading  about  My knee locks up on occasion and pain radiates up to my hip and down my leg into my ankle. Is this something to be alarmed about? I do not have trouble walking, but it does ache more when sitting or laying in bed.