Pain in the Knees? When to See a Doctor

When knee pain keeps you from enjoying your daily life, it’s time to see your doctor. Knee pain can limit movement, cause instability or difficulty supporting weight, and contributes to sleep disturbances. Sometimes, the knee may appear misshapen, with a bent-legged or thump-kneed deformation. All these issues can be caused by inflammation or a breakdown of joints and may cause arthritis that can worsen with age.

Arthritis: The primary goals of knee arthritis treatment should be the same — stop the pain and limit damage or progression of the arthritis There are several treatments for arthritis in the knee. The most common is a non-invasive, at-home treatment called “RICE”—Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. RICE is a short-term treatment, typically lasting less than a week. Using RICE longer than suggested may delay the natural healing process of your knees. Other, longer term treatments include bracing, medications, and/or injections. Your doctor will help to explore which options are best for your treatment plan.

Bracing: Bracing is suggested to correct problems with alignment or motion of the knee.

Knee Alignment
If your knee alignment is too wide (bowlegged) or reversely, too narrow (knock-kneed), it increases the stress put on the bones of the knee. A brace often works to pause the pressure on the knee and reverse the deformity in alignment. It is important that you wear the brace as instructed.

Knee Motion
Do you have weight-bearing pain in or difficulty bending your knee or struggle with knee pain when walking? These are usual symptoms of what’s known as knee kinematics or problems in the motion of the knee caused by weaknesses in knee ligaments. Kinetic problems of the knee are possibly related to an injury but may also be due to other factors, such as obesity. A brace works as a substitute for the weakened ligament and helps to stabilize the knee in movement. It is similarly important to wear the brace daily for the treatment to be effective.

Medication
If you experience long-term knee pain, your healthcare provider may prescribe medication. Steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and auto-immune modulators reduce inflammation in the knee and limit joint damage, thereby decreasing or eliminating the pain. It may be necessary to try a number of medications to find the one best suited for you.

Injections
Depending on the severity of your pain, injections may be another option. Research on the success of injections for knee pain has been mixed, as effectiveness is linked to the severity of arthritis that you present at the time of injection. There are several injectable options, including steroidal (anti-inflammatory), visco-supplementation (hyaluronic acid), and biologic (plasma, platelets or stem cells). Your healthcare professional can advise if injection therapy is an option and, if so, the injectable best for your treatment plan.

Knee Replacement
If knee pain persists or repeatedly returns over time, despite support from non-surgical treatments above, it may be time to consult with an orthopedic knee surgeon about knee replacement. Also known as knee arthroplasty, this surgery involves replacing part or all of the knee joint with a prosthetic device that carries out similar functions of a real knee. There are multiple approaches to knee replacement, including traditional and minimally invasive. Your orthopedic knee surgeon will help to determine what procedure is best for your specific needs.

Finding the Right Orthopedic Knee Surgeon
As with any healthcare professional, it’s important that you find a surgeon with whom you are comfortable. Other “must-haves” when choosing a reputable orthopedic knee surgeon are:
• Ensure the surgeon is are board certified
• Consider years of experience with both partial and total knee replacement
• Read testimonials or patient reviews
• Know what your insurance and/or Medicare covers

Thanks to advancements in technology, surgical techniques, biological materials, and patient data and research, knee replacements have become highly effective in the restoration of function and the elimination of the pain often caused by knee arthritis.

UNOVA Hip and & Knee Center

UNOVAHipandKnee.com
888-847-4895