Knee pain and injuries related to the knee can make living an active lifestyle difficult. Luckily, there is aways something you can do to relieve or treat your knee pain. That’s why we came up with 20 questions to ask your knee doctor!
Understanding where your knee pain comes from will help your doctor to determine a treatment plan and how you can prevent knee pain in the future. If you’ve injured your knee, you likely already know where your knee pain comes from. However, if you develop knee pain out of the blue, it may be due to repetitive motion or an underlying condition.
Treatment for your knee pain will depend on the severity of your knee injury. Your knee doctor may recommend conservative treatment at first.
If your injury is severe, you may need surgery. At Elite Sports Medicine, our orthopedic surgeons prioritize conservative treatment whenever possible and will only perform surgery if necessary.
Your doctor will likely recommend conservative treatment options at first. They may recommend the following:
The type of surgery you need will depend on the condition you have. In general, some of the more common surgeries that can treat knee pain include:
While you are healing from your knee injury, your doctor may recommend that you avoid certain activities. Activities like playing sports, running, squatting, and lounging, may all increase knee pain.
In general, if an activity makes your knee pain worse, it is wise to avoid the activity. Be sure to listen to your doctor’s recommendation on what to avoid.
Sometimes knee pain can be relieved in the short term through injections and medication; however, there isn’t always a long-term fix. Your doctor may not always know if you will need surgery in the future, however, they can give you their best guess based on the treatment plan.
Your recovery time will depend on the type of knee injury you have, and if you have had surgery on your knee. Be sure to ask your doctor for a timeline for recovery so you know what to expect.
Your doctor may recommend at-home stretches, going on walks, or using the RICE method.
If your doctor recommends that you seek physical therapy as part of your treatment plan, they may already have a physical therapist in mind that you can go to. Using their recommendation is typically a great choice; however, feel free to do your own research as well.
At Elite Sports Medicine, we partner with MPOWER Physical Therapy to provide our patients with in-house physical therapy needs. Because we are under the same roof, it allows our orthopedic surgeons and physical therapists to work closely together and provide the best possible care to the patient.
Dry needling is a physical therapy treatment that involves inserting thin needles in and around muscles to relieve pain and improve range of motion.
Ask your doctor if this type of physical therapy could benefit you and your condition. If you are in middle Tennessee, you can get dry needled at MPOWER Physical Therapy in Nashville, Franklin, or Brentwood, TN.
Osteoarthritis is one of the most common reasons that people need knee replacements. If you have OA talk to your doctor about a short term and long-term treatment plan. That long-term treatment plan will likely include knee replacement surgery.
To learn more about knee replacement, visit our blog 28 Questions You Should Ask Your Knee Replacement Doctor.
With certain knee conditions like arthritis, an anti-inflammatory diet may be helpful to reduce pain. Talk to your doctor about what foods you should avoid and what foods you should incorporate.
Knee pain isn’t always preventable; however, there is always something you can do to lessen your risk. Your doctor may recommend avoiding certain activities or doing certain stretching and strengthening exercises.
If you have a history of hip pain, be sure to mention this to your doctor. Hip arthritis can actually cause knee pain, even though there is no damage to the knee.
If you are an athlete, be sure to let your doctor know. Once they have your diagnosis and treatment plan, they should be able to give you a general timeline of when you can get back to playing sports. There is not always an exact time, so it’s important to confirm with your provider before returning.
If you are experiencing knee pain that won’t go away, don’t wait to seek medical attention. If you have a severe injury or have immense pain, seek immediate medical attention. Otherwise, seek help from an orthopedic surgeon specializing in surgery of the knee.
At Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics, we have multiple knee specialists located in Nashville, Franklin, and Brentwood, TN. To schedule an appointment with one of our orthopedic providers, call us or request an appointment online.
