Knee Pain & Orthopedic Treatment in Wellington, FL
The knee carries your body through every step, swing, and stair. When it hurts, everything narrows. At Wellington Orthopedic Institute, Dr. Michael Mikolajczak, DO provides comprehensive knee evaluation for osteoarthritis, meniscus injuries, ligament damage, patellofemoral pain, and post-surgical recovery — always starting with the least invasive path that can realistically get you moving again.
Conditions We Evaluate
- Knee osteoarthritis — progressive cartilage wear causing stiffness, morning pain, swelling, and difficulty with stairs or getting out of a chair.
- Meniscus tears — degenerative or traumatic tears of the knee’s shock-absorbing cartilage, often felt as catching, locking, or a sharp twinge with twisting.
- Ligament injuries (ACL, MCL, LCL, PCL) — instability, giving way, or swelling after a pivot, fall, or sports injury.
- Patellofemoral pain syndrome — front-of-knee pain aggravated by squatting, kneeling, hills, and long periods of sitting.
- Patellar and quadriceps tendinopathy — overuse irritation of the tendons above and below the kneecap.
- Bursitis and synovitis — inflammation causing localized swelling, warmth, and tenderness.
- Post-surgical knee care — second opinions, stalled recovery, and rehabilitation coordination after prior surgery elsewhere.
Our Approach
Dr. Mikolajczak’s approach is conservative-first. For most knee problems, a well-sequenced non-surgical plan is the right starting point — and for many patients, it is the only treatment they will ever need.
Targeted physical therapy. Strengthening the quadriceps, hamstrings, and hip stabilizers often reduces knee load and pain more than patients expect. We coordinate directly with local therapists.
Injection therapy. Depending on your diagnosis, this may include corticosteroid injections for acute inflammation, viscosupplementation for osteoarthritis, or regenerative options such as PRP where appropriate.
Bracing and offloading. Unloader braces, sleeves, and taping strategies can redistribute pressure away from the painful compartment of the knee.
Activity and load modification. Practical adjustments to how you train, walk, work, and play — designed to keep you active rather than sidelined.
Weight and metabolic factors. Even modest changes in load meaningfully reduce force across the knee. We discuss this honestly and without judgment.
When Surgery Is Considered
Surgery enters the conversation only after non-surgical options have been genuinely exhausted — not simply mentioned. When your pain, imaging, exam findings, and personal goals all point in the same direction, Dr. Mikolajczak will walk you through the realistic options.
- Arthroscopic procedures for specific mechanical problems such as an unstable meniscal tear causing true locking.
- Partial knee replacement for patients whose arthritis is confined to one compartment, preserving healthy cartilage, bone, and ligaments.
- Total knee replacement for advanced, diffuse arthritis where quality of life has meaningfully declined despite thorough conservative care.
We discuss expected recovery time, rehabilitation demands, realistic outcomes, and the risks of each option — including the option of waiting. You should never leave the office feeling rushed toward a decision.
What to Expect at Your Visit
- Imaging review. Bring any X-rays or MRI studies you already have. We review them with you on screen and explain what they actually show.
- Thorough hands-on exam. Range of motion, alignment, ligament stability, gait, and the specific movements that reproduce your pain.
- History and goals. What you want to get back to — golf, tennis, gardening, chasing grandkids, standing a full shift at work.
- A personalized written plan. Clear next steps, a timeline, and what “better” should look like at each stage.
Request Knee Consultation
Call 561-670-2010 or request an appointment online.