Long-Term Injuries
When your injury is not severe or has developed slowly over time, it can be especially hard to know whether or not to see a doctor. Many patients come to accept such symptoms as an inevitable part of aging or training, but that is not the case. If you continue to have pain after treating yourself at home with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications, ice, rest, and elevation, you should schedule an appointment with an orthopedic specialist.
Traumatic Injuries
If you have a new knee injury and are experiencing the following symptoms, you should go to the emergency room or urgent care center right away:
- Inability to walk on the knee
- Fever that started at the same time as your knee injury and cannot be explained by an illness
- Swelling with redness and warmth around the knee
- Pain that is very severe
- A large wound
- A puncture wound
- A wound with significant drainage
- Swelling if you are on warfarin
What to Expect at Your Consultation
At your consultation with your doctor for knee pain, your doctor will begin by asking you questions about your symptoms, including when the symptoms started and what steps you have taken to treat them. The doctor will ask about your medical history, your current medications, and your family medical history.
Next, the doctor will physically examine you, focusing on your knee. This examination can often give the doctor a good idea of what is causing the problem, and may be enough for diagnosis in some cases. In other cases, the doctor will order diagnostic testing such as an x-ray or a CT scan to confirm the cause of your pain.
Once the cause of your condition is identified, the doctor for knee pain will talk to you about the available treatments. Depending on the nature and severity of your condition, treatment may be as simple as physical therapy or an injection, or as complicated as open joint surgery.
Common Causes of Knee Pain
Some of the most common causes of knee pain include:
- Ligament tears – Tears to one of the knee’s four ligaments are quite common. These types of tears can vary significantly in terms of severity.
- Meniscus tears – The knee contains two meniscii which help facilitate smooth movement of the joint. A tear to a meniscus can cause pain and other symptoms.
- Osteoarthritis – Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition that affects the cartilage and other structures in the knee, leading to inflammation and pain.
- Fractures – A break to one or more of the bones that meet in the knee joint, known as a fracture, requires immediate treatment, including immobilization of the joint with a cast or other means
Top Doctor for Knee Pain
Dr. Howard Marans would be happy to meet with you about your knee pain. To schedule your consultation today, please click below and enter your information or call OC Orthopedic at (714) 979-8981.