Knee Pain: When to See an Orthopedic Doctor Instead of Waiting It Out

Most knee pain settles on its own. A knock, a long walk or a weekend of tennis can leave the joint sore for a few days, and rest, ice and time take care of it. Some knee pain is different: it is a sign that something inside the joint is torn or unstable, and waiting tends to make that kind worse, not better. Here is how to tell which kind you may have.

Signs your knee pain needs an exam

• The knee locks or catches, or will not fully straighten. A torn piece of meniscus can fold into the joint and block it.
• The knee gives way on stairs, on uneven ground or when you change direction. That usually means a ligament is no longer holding the joint together.
• Swelling keeps coming back after activity, rather than settling once and staying down.
• The pain started with a specific injury, such as a plant, a cut, a bad landing or a fall, especially if you felt or heard something go.
• The pain hasn’t improved after a course of rehabilitation.

Why waiting can cost you

The structures inside the knee protect each other. The meniscus is the knee’s shock absorber, and the ligaments keep the joint moving in line. When a ligament is torn badly enough, the knee stops controlling itself, and over years that instability grinds down the cartilage and meniscus. Cartilage and meniscus damage often travel alongside a ligament injury, which is one reason an exam early on is worth having.

Not every tear needs surgery, and a proper exam is often what tells you that you don’t need it. Some meniscus tears heal on their own, many age-related problems respond to physical therapy, and early arthritis can sometimes be treated without an operation.

What an orthopedic visit involves

Each visit starts with an exam and a review of any imaging, usually X-rays and sometimes an MRI, to answer three questions: which structure is involved, how badly, and what else went with it. From there, surgery is one option among several. Depending on the problem, treatment may include:

• physical therapy and changes to how the knee is loaded
• non-surgical options such as PRP injections and other orthobiologic treatments
• meniscus repair or ligament reconstruction, done arthroscopically where the injury allows
• for advanced arthritis, partial or total knee replacement, including MAKO robotic-assisted knee replacement

Do you need a referral?

In most cases, no referral is required to schedule a consultation. Some insurance plans require one for specialist visits to be covered, and our staff can help confirm your plan’s requirements.

ELITE Sports Medicine treats knee pain at its Port St. Lucie office at 1100 SW St. Lucie West Blvd., which sees patients from across St. Lucie and Martin counties, and at its Palm Beach Gardens office. Call 561-202-8886 or request an appointment.