Condition Guide · Atlanta, GA

Understanding why your knee hurts

Knee pain has dozens of possible causes. Before you can treat it effectively, you need to know which structure is actually involved. This guide focuses on one specific, treatable cause: patellar tendinopathy — degeneration of the tendon connecting the kneecap to the shin.

See How It Works View Specialists

Atlanta specialists

15 min

typical procedure length

Local

anesthesia only

Real Results

Chronic Knee Pain, In Their Own Words

Hear directly from someone whose patellar tendon pain was treated with TenJet instead of open surgery.

TenJet Patient Testimonial - Chronic Patellar Tendinitis (Jumper's Knee)

Video courtesy of HydroCision, Inc., the maker of TenJet®. Individual results vary; this patient's experience is not a guarantee of outcome. Talk with a specialist about whether the procedure is appropriate for you.

The Procedure

Where TenJet^® fits, mechanically

TenJet doesn't treat the joint — it targets the degenerated section of tendon directly. HydroCision, Inc. designed the system around a simple idea: remove damaged tissue precisely enough that the healthy fibers around it are left intact, without the recovery burden of open surgery.

The device uses a saline stream (FluidJet technology) to break apart only the unhealthy tissue

Built-in suction removes that tissue as it's created

The needle insertion point is small, not a surgical opening

The whole procedure runs about 15 minutes in-office

Covered by Medicare and most private insurance

See the technical details at hydrocision.com →

Understanding the Condition

What's actually happening in the tendon

Patellar tendinopathy develops when the patellar tendon accumulates small amounts of damage faster than it can repair itself, usually from repetitive loading — jumping, squatting, or running.

Pain is typically felt directly below the kneecap, not inside the joint

It's a degenerative tendon problem, not inflammation — which is why anti-inflammatories often don't fully resolve it

It builds gradually and is frequently ignored until it starts limiting daily activity

Imaging (ultrasound) can confirm tendon degeneration versus a joint-based cause

See The Procedure

TenJet® in Action

Official demonstration video from HydroCision, the maker of TenJet, plus a look at how tendinitis differs from the deeper tissue degeneration TenJet is designed to treat.

TenJet Patella Tendinosis Minimally Invasive Tenotomy

Healthy tendon fiber structure diagram — Healthy Tendon

Tendinitis inflamed tendon diagram — Tendinitis

Tendinosis degenerated tendon fiber diagram — Tendinosis (Chronic Degeneration)

Diagrams and video courtesy of HydroCision, Inc.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly does patellar tendinopathy hurt?

Typically at the front of the knee just below the kneecap, worse with jumping, stairs and prolonged sitting, and often described as a deep ache rather than a sharp pain.

Can I walk immediately afterwards?

Usually with some protection at first. A published case allowed toe-touch weight bearing with crutches for three days, then progression as tolerated.

Does this work when therapy has not?

That is the typical scenario. One published patient had completed three separate rounds of physical therapy, including an aggressive eccentric protocol, before the procedure.

Is the recovery painful?

Some early tenderness is expected. In the documented case the patient used a short course of prescription analgesia on the first day and over-the-counter medication after that.

This information is general and is not medical advice. Whether any procedure is appropriate for you can only be determined by a physician who has examined you and reviewed your imaging.