“Wear and tear of the knee” is the commonest cause of knee pain in adults — and there are many steps between painkillers and surgery.
Knee Pain Treatment Without Surgery
Knee pain makes walking, stairs and prayers difficult. In most adults over 45 it comes from wear and tear of the joint (osteoarthritis), but it can also follow an injury, a ligament or tendon problem, or inflammatory arthritis.
We start by identifying why your knee hurts. Treatment then combines exercise, weight and activity advice, and — where suitable — joint injections, regenerative treatment and radiofrequency treatment of the nerves that carry pain from the knee. This can help patients delay or avoid surgery, but it is not a replacement for surgery when the joint is badly damaged.
- Pain on walking, stairs or standing up
- Stiffness after rest
- Swelling or a grinding feeling
- Night pain
- Giving way or instability
What Can Cause Knee Pain?
Wear and tear (osteoarthritis)
The cartilage cushioning the joint thins and the joint becomes painful and stiff.
Injury
Ligament, meniscus and tendon injuries can cause ongoing pain.
Inflammatory arthritis
Rheumatoid and other inflammatory arthritis can affect the knees.
Referred pain
Hip or back problems sometimes cause pain felt in the knee.
How We Find the Cause
Dr. Rustam examines the knee and hip, reviews your X-ray or MRI and decides which structures are painful. A diagnostic block of the knee nerves can help predict whether radiofrequency treatment will suit you.
- Knee and hip examination
- X-ray / MRI review
- Blood tests when inflammatory arthritis is suspected
- Diagnostic genicular nerve block
Your Treatment Path
We begin with the least invasive option that is appropriate and move on only when needed. Surgery is not always avoidable, and we will tell you if it is the better choice.
Exercise and physiotherapy
Strengthening and movement training to protect the joint.
Physical therapy →Intra-articular injections
Medicine injected directly into the knee joint to settle pain and swelling.
Joint injections →PRP and regenerative treatment
Platelet-rich plasma and related treatments use your own blood components to support joint healing.
PRP injections →Genicular nerve block and radiofrequency ablation
Blocks the small nerves around the knee to reduce pain signals; the block comes first to test the response.
Radiofrequency nerve ablation →
Last reviewed: October 2026 · View Dr. Rustam’s profile → · Procedures available at IPSSC →
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers from the IPSSC team — see all FAQs or contact us directly.
Ready to Get Your Knee Pain Checked?
Book a consultation with Dr. Zahid Rustam at IPSSC, G-8 Markaz, Islamabad — seeing patients from Islamabad, Rawalpindi and surrounding areas.