Dr. Scott J. Tarantino, MD

If you are having pain in multiple different joints at 29 years old, you should probably initially discuss it with your medical doctor. There are many medical issues that can cause polyarthralgias (pain in multiple joints), including gout, Lyme disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, etc. Certain medications can also cause joint pain. There are some simple screening blood tests that can eliminate most of the possibilities. Rheumatologists are doctors that specialize in disorders that can cause pain in multiple joints simultaneously and might be of some help.

This is a difficult question for any doctor to answer without knowing the details of your case and what exactly you mean by the word "recovery". Does recovery mean off crutches and back to work OR does it mean back to normal activities with a completely pain-free knee? Many factors can affect the recovery time including age, medical conditions, pre-existent condition of the knee (i.e.--do you have any arthritis?), etc. Generally speaking, recovery times for arthroscopic meniscectomy of the knee is 6-12 weeks, but can be longer or shorter depending on those factors. Your doctor can give you a more specific answer based on the details of your specific case.

As a knee doctor, I rarely worry about "noise" that isn't associated with pain. The audible grinding in the knee is often referred to as "crepitation" and is not an uncommon issue as we age. It may or may not be related to arthritis, especially in the kneecap area if noted during stair climbing, squatting, or kneeling. If it is painless, generally we reassure you not to worry and advise a return visit if it becomes painful. Knee replacements are only considered if patients have painful arthritis that is not responding to conservative treatment options, like medications, injections, physical therapy, or bracing.

The most common causes of pain in the hip area in a relatively young person would be overuse tendinitis or bursitis. There are other reasons to have hip pain, but diagnosis would require an evaluation by an orthopedic surgeon and X-rays.

The primary indication for knee replacement surgery is unrelenting pain from arthritis of the knee. If you have arthritis of your knee and feel like your quality of life is not acceptable, you can consider knee replacement surgery if it is unresponsive to non-surgical options. You would need to see an orthopedic surgeon for an evaluation and X-rays.

Pain in the inner thigh can be caused by many reasons that might be irritated by increased activity. Some of these would be tendinitis, bursitis, hip arthritis, or even a back issue with nerve irritation. You might consider an evaluation by an orthopedic surgeon.

Whether or not you need to address an ACL tear surgically depends on many factors, but the most important are your age and activity levels. The younger and more active you are in cutting sports (i.e.--football, lacrosse, basketball, skiing, etc), the more likely you will need surgery. If you are less active, older, and willing to modify your lifestyle, you can attempt a trial of non-surgical management with physical therapy and bracing. If your knee remains or feels unstable and affects your ability to maintain your desired lifestyle, you can always consider surgery at a later time.