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Who To See for Knee Pain
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Sore knees can be caused by a range of conditions, from minor muscle strains, ligament injuries or chronic conditions like arthritis. In many cases, knee pain can be resolved by simple measures at home, such as rest, icing and over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen. If the pain persists despite taking these measures or the pain is severe, it’s time to see a doctor.
If you have been enduring persistent knee pain and want to explore knee pain surgery alternatives, set up a free consultation at your local QC Kinetix clinic.Â
Common Causes of Chronic Knee Pain
Chronic knee pain refers to knee pain that has lasted for more than three months. Common causes of chronic knee pain are:
Arthritis
Arthritis occurs when the knee joint becomes inflamed and wears down over time. There are over 100 types of arthritis, of which osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are most common. Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative arthritis, is the most common cause of chronic knee pain in older adults. With age, the cartilage that protects that joint bone surfaces in the joint, becomes weak and starts to wear off. In rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system attacks the joints, which leads to inflammation and swelling.
Patellofemoral injury
One of the most common causes of knee pain in adults younger than 60 is patellofemoral pain (PFP), or runner’s knee. PFP refers to the pain caused by tissue damage under or around the patella or the knee cap. In most cases, PFP is caused by intense physical activities such as squatting, jogging and stair climbing that put too much stress on the knee.
Meniscal tear
The meniscus is a semicircular, disc-shaped cartilage located between the thigh bone and shin bone. Its role is to stabilize the knee and prevent friction between the joint surfaces when the joint moves. The meniscus becomes injured when the knee is suddenly twisted while bearing weight.
Tendinitis and bursitis
A tendon is a band of tissue that connects muscle to a bone, whereas a bursa is a fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between the bones, muscles or tendons. In most joints, tendons and bursae are closely located, and therefore, both of these structures may be injured. Knee injury or overuse can cause both tendinitis and bursitis.
Ligament injury
Ligament injuries, most commonly anterior cruciate ligament injuries, are seen in people involved in sports such as basketball or soccer. Ligament injuries occur when there is sudden twisting motion of the knee or a direct blow to the knee.
Deciding Where To Go for Knee Pain Diagnosis and Treatment
When deciding who to see for knee pain diagnosis and treatment, an orthopedic doctor should be consulted. In case of sports-related knee injuries, you should visit a sports medicine specialist. If you have a knee injury and can’t get an appointment with an orthopedist, it is best to go to an urgent care facility.
Should I Go to Urgent Care or the ER for Knee Injury?
Both urgent care and ER can see to your immediate health needs. The main difference is that the ER is equipped to manage life-threatening, critical health situations such as major accidents, severe bleeding and head injuries. Urgent care provides treatment for non-life-threatening conditions or injuries when you cannot wait for an appointment.
A visit to an ER is usually necessary when knee pain has been caused by a major impact or injury. If the injury is caused by a high fall or a major automobile accident, you should visit an ER. If you had a trip-and-fall, a sprain, a bruised knee, a sports injury or arthritic knee pain that has flared up suddenly, you should go to urgent care.
In an urgent care setting, your knee pain can be managed with immobilization (using braces), pain medications and other pain management therapies such as ice or heat. Once stabilized, the urgent care physician can send you to an orthopedist for further intervention.
Can Urgent Care Diagnose Knee Injury?
Urgent care physicians can provide initial treatment to stabilize the injury but may not have the expertise or equipment (like MRI or CT scans) needed to diagnose your condition.
When you visit an urgent care physician, they will ask about the injury and information about your overall health, then perform a knee examination to assess the severity of pain, limitation of knee movement and signs of inflammation. Some urgent care centers can do an X-ray to check for fractures and dislocations. After initial management of your injury, your urgent care physician will refer you to an orthopedic specialist for an in-depth evaluation of your knee injury.
When Is Knee Pain Serious?
Many people think that medical intervention might not be necessary for knee pain. While this is true for some people with minor knee injuries, medical evaluation of your knee pain is an absolute must in the following circumstances:
- Your knee appears out of shape.
- Your knee is wobbly, and you are unable to bear weight on your knee.
- Your knee pain is excruciating and unbearable.
- Your knee is swollen, red and warm.
- You felt a popping sound in the knee during the injury.
- Your pain is getting worse despite measures like ice treatment and rest.
When To See an Orthopedic Doctor for Knee Pain
You don’t always need to see an orthopedist for knee pain. In most cases, knee pain can be treated using simple home measures such as icing, resting the knee or over-the-counter pain medications. If your pain persists, it might be a good idea to get your knee checked by an orthopedic doctor.
Knees are complex joints, and knee pain can have many causes that need different treatments. For example, the treatment plans for knee pain caused by arthritis and ligament injury are very different. An orthopedic doctor can accurately diagnose the cause of your knee pain and personalize your knee pain treatment according to the cause and your overall health.
If necessary, your doctor may refer you to other specialists, such as a rheumatologist if you have rheumatoid arthritis or an orthopedic surgeon if you need knee surgery.
How To Describe Knee Pain to Your Doctor
Clearly describing your pain can help your doctor diagnose your pain better. While talking about your pain, try to answer these questions:
- Where is the pain?
Use words such as front, back, inner or outer side of the knee to describe the pain location. If you can pinpoint the area, show your doctor exactly where you have the pain. - What type of pain are you experiencing?
Is it a sharp pain or a dull ache? Is it constant or intermittent? - What aggravates your pain?
Does your pain increase when you bear weight on your knee? Does it increase while ascending or descending stairs? - How severe is your pain?
Your doctor may ask you to rate your pain on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being minimal pain and 10 being maximum pain.
The QC Kinetix Approach: Alternatives to Traditional Medical Consultation
If you have unrelenting knee pain, you may have been told that you need surgery, and you may well want to explore other options If so, get in touch with QC Kinetix.
At QC Kinetix, we use natural, regenerative therapies to treat knee pain. Regenerative medicine is an exciting new branch of medicine that uses natural therapies to activate the innate mechanisms in the body to restore and renew damaged tissues. Our knee pain therapies do not simply mask the pain — they treat the pain at its source.Â
Regenerative therapies can be a great alternative to knee pain surgery. and provide significant pain relief without relying on pain medications and physical therapy. Our non-surgical knee pain therapies are minimally invasive, have a low risk of complications, and have shorter recovery times. If you want to know whether our therapies can help relieve your pain, schedule a free consultation today.
Joint & Bone Health Quickstart Program
QC Kinetix Joint & Bone Health supplements help your body to repair and renew injured joint tissues, including cartilage, ligaments, and tendons, while reducing inflammation of the bursae. Unlike steroids or pharmaceuticals, our supplements for joints work with your body to promote healing.
Supplements can boost your overall joint health as part of a general fitness program. However, they are particularly valuable for treating damaged or inflamed and painful joints. The Arthritis Foundation finds that joint health supplements show promise for relieving pain, stiffness, and other symptoms of arthritis.
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