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What 6 Reasons are there to See an Orthopedist for Knee Pain?
So, you have a knee problem. Should you see a knee doctor? Let’s take a look at when you really need to do more than the basic DIY methods discussed in the article 26 DIY Knee Health Secrets.
- You injured your knee, and after a few days, it’s not better. This is called acute pain
- You have pain, and it not only doesn’t go away, but it just hurts too much. This is called chronic pain
- When walking or moving around, your knee ‘gives out,’ so that you fall, or can’t put weight on it
- There is persistent swelling
- You experience so much stiffness that your range of motion is limited. You can’t fully bend or straighten your knee
- Your knee joint is deformed, overextended
A recent study says that 40 million people experience knee pain for one reason or another.
Acute vs. Chronic Pain
Acute pain is associated with some event, like an injury, such as a sprain or an impact, when the knee hits the ground hard or something hits it. Hopefully, the pain will resolve itself naturally through the RICE method. However, in some cases, as we see in professional sports or car accidents, the injury can be very painful, thus requiring medical attention.
Chronic pain is pain that develops over time and just doesn’t seem to go away. It can be bearable; however, if it persists and really starts interfering with your daily life, then it may be time to take a look at professional help. If you rate your knee pain on a scale of 1-3, where 1 is noticeable but not too much, that is probably ok, and you may well be able to get by treating it yourself.
Pain levels of 2 is when the pain is annoying but not out of control. You still may be able to take care of it yourself.
However, if your pain level is 3 or higher–and you’ll know when you feel it–it’s probably time to see some sort of professional, whether an orthopedic doctor, physical therapist or even acupuncturist, massage therapist, at a minimum.
Acute and chronic pain are different clinical entities. Acute pain is provoked by a specific disease or injury, serves a useful biologic purpose, is associated with skeletal muscle spasm and sympathetic nervous system activation, and is self-limited. Chronic pain, in contrast, may be considered a disease state.
A Knee Doctor Understands Different Types of Knee Injuries
Your ability to move is based on bones, ligaments, tendons, and muscles and how they all work together.
Obviously, bones hold up our bodies, and since there are joints between the bones, we can move. Ligaments are like the ‘strings’ between our bones. Tendons connect our muscles to our bones. If any one of those is damaged, you are going to experience some symptoms, either pain, lack of flexibility, swelling, stiffness.
One other important component of your knee is the cartilage and meniscus. These are semi-soft tissues that act as shock absorbers when running or jumping.
Put this all together, and these are the types of injuries that can occur:
- Sprains. These occur when a ligament is either overstretched or actually torn. You will feel pain, lack of full-motion, weakness so you can’t support your weight
- Strains. Your tendons are stretched too far, resulting in pain on the sides of your knee. Your knee will not move freely.
- Cartilage. Your knee may lock, lack full mobility, or feel weak or experience tenderness when you put pressure on it.
- Bursitis. A Bursa helps to lubricate your knee so it can move easily. When they are inflamed, you’ll feel pain, swelling, and stiffness.
- Broken bones and dislocations. If your knee bends backward or is clearly out of joint, you’ll know it. Likewise, broken bones are extremely painful.
For more details on these issues, go here:
The knee itself is a joint, but surrounding the joint are muscles, tendons, and ligaments, all of which can be damaged from impact or trauma, resulting in injury. When a knee injury is the result of stretched or torn ligaments, it is also called a sprain.
There are four ligaments in the knee area connecting the femur to the tibia.
The knee is one of the most common body parts to be injured. Types of common knee injuries include sprains, strains, bursitis, dislocations, fractures, meniscus tears, and overuse injuries.
Knee injuries are generally caused by twisting or bending force applied to the knee, or a direct blow, such as from sports, falls, or accidents.
What About Chronic Knee Pain?
Take a look at the 4 fold increase in people search for the term ‘chronic knee pain’ in the last 10 years. Clearly, this is a growing issue, probably due to both increase in sports, as well as an aging population. The fact is, as people get older, things wear out, and knees are no exception.
What are the Causes of Chronic Knee Pain?
Healthline, an authoritative website on all things health-related, gives a good overview of the causes of chronic knee pain. It cites a whopping 11 reasons for chronic, knee pain. However, topping the list are:
- Knee Osteoarthritis
- Tendinitis
- Bursitis
- Chondromalacia
- Gout
- Baker’s Cyst
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Dislocation
- Meniscus tear
- Ligament tears
- Bone tumors
You can read the details at their article.
Chronic knee pain is long-term pain, swelling, or sensitivity in one or both knees. The cause of your knee problems and pain can determine the symptoms you experience. Many conditions can cause or contribute to the knee pain you are experiencing as well
However, for our purposes, the point is, at what point does a mild discomfort, turn to a dull ongoing ache, or to serious pain? If you have ongoing pain that continues over time, two things to do. First, look carefully at what you are doing. If you exercise, don’t push through the pain. Heroism is not good for knees!
Second, one of the main causes of knee pain is weight. If your BMI, or Body Mass Index is over 24, it’d be a good idea to look into some weight loss program. That is because all that weight focused on your knee is one of the main causes of chronic knee pain.
Third, when you reach the point where the pain really is hindering your life, see a professional of some kind. A physical therapist may also have some good suggestions and treatments.
An orthopedic doctor, though, may well recommend an MRI, which can give a definitive answer to what is actually going on with your knee. At that point, you’ll have a better idea of how to proceed. The main thing is, if your knee hurts constantly, don’t let it go untreated and unexamined by a professional.
When Should You See an
Again, if you are experiencing significant swelling, redness, tenderness, or warmth around the joint, significant pain, or a fever, you need to make an appointment with your doctor. This is also true if there was any kind of forceful impact that resulted in the pain.
What Kind of Doctor Should You See for Knee Pain?
The majority of the time, you will find that your knee pain can be assessed by your primary care doctor. However, if the knee pain is going to require knee replacement surgery or further evaluation is needed, then you will need to make an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon. If you have gout, arthritis, or any inflammatory joint problems, you will need to consult with a rheumatologist. They can advise whether or not surgery will be needed to alleviate the pain.
How Do You Know if the Knee Pain is Serious?
You will definitely know when your knee pain is getting more serious because you will find that the knee may begin to lock, it is swollen, you can’t put your weight on it, it gave out, it can’t be fully extended, or it is only hurting in a specific location. All of this means that you may have a serious knee injury that requires a medical evaluation.
Do You Need a Referral to See a Specialist for Knee Pain?
Some insurance companies may require you to speak with your primary care provider and get a written referral before you can consult with orthopedic specialists. Even if it isn’t a requirement of your insurance company, you should still discuss your knee pain with your primary care doctor first and then discuss whether or not you will need to see a specialist for further evaluation.
Do Chronic Medical Conditions Cause Knee Pain?
Some medical conditions, including gout, arthritis, and infections, can lead to knee pain. However, some more minor knee pains can be taken care of with some self-care measures along with physical therapy and knee braces.
Can a Doctor Prescribe Anti-Inflammatory Medications to Help with Knee Pain?
For knee pain, you can find over the counter anti-inflammatory medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen to help with knee pain and provide you with short term and temporary relief. However, if the knee pain is more severe, your doctor can prescribe prescription-strength anti-inflammatory medications that can be used on a more long-term basis if needed.
Conclusion
We’ve discussed the two types of pain, acute and chronic, and their causes. And we’ve looked at how you can determine what stage you are at with your knee issue: Is it minor, moderate, or severe. For short term results, you can always self treat.
A good place to start is by looking at the various ways you can care for your own knees.
However, be realistic. If you have any of the symptoms discussed here and the related articles, seek a professional’s help.
