When to See Your Doctor About Knee Stiffness

Knee stiffness can make it hard to do normal daily activities, like sitting, standing, walking, or climbing stairs. Many causes of knee stiffness are treatable, so don’t just sit back and assume nothing can be done. Seeing a vascular specialist can reveal what’s causing your knee stiffness, and you can regain your mobility with proper treatment.

At Apex Endovascular, located in Fort Collins, Colorado, Dr. Shawn Ahmed and our team diagnose and treat common causes of severe knee stiffness such as osteoarthritis, peripheral artery disease, and varicose veins.

Causes of knee stiffness

Your knee can be stiff after a sprain, strain, or other injury, but the stiffness should go away with proper treatment. Chronic knee stiffness may have a less obvious source.

Osteoarthritis 

One of the most common causes of knee pain is osteoarthritis, which is usually related to aging and wear-and-tear on your knee joint. In most cases, you’ll also experience pain and swelling in the affected knee(s), but stiffness can come first. Seeing a doctor for ongoing knee stiffness can help you get ahead of your knee deterioration.

Peripheral artery disease

Some people who have what they describe as pain and “stiffness” in their knees aren’t actually suffering from an arthritic joint issue, but a vascular issue. Peripheral artery disease, or PAD, is a narrowing of your arteries due to build-up of fatty deposits called plaque. The restricted blood flow can cause joint weakness and stiffness.

Varicose veins

Varicose veins usually appear on the calves or behind the knee, and can cause pain, stiffness, aching, and heaviness. Seeing a vein specialist when varicose veins first start to cause problems can help you avoid more serious issues, like leg ulcers.

Solutions for knee stiffness

If you have osteoarthritis, Dr. Ahmed performs a procedure called genicular artery embolization (GAE), which reduces blood flow to the knee joint capsule and can relieve pain, inflammation, and stiffness.

Dr. Ahmed designs individual lifestyle programs for PAD patients to improve blood flow. You may need to stop smoking, eat better, exercise more, and take blood-thinning medications to relieve your PAD symptoms. Ignored, PAD can lead to gangrene and limb loss.

For varicose veins, Dr. Ahmed employs minimally invasive procedures to close off bad veins and reroute blood to stronger ones. Then he helps you make lifestyle changes to improve your circulation and blood flow.

Are your knees stiff day after day? Call Apex Endovascular at 970-508-8439 to learn more, or book a consultation online today.