15 Questions to Ask Your Knee Doctor

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!

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What is Causing my Knee Pain?

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.

How will my Knee Pain be Treated?

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.

What Conservative Treatment Do You Recommend?

Your doctor will likely recommend conservative treatment options at first. They may recommend the following:

• RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation)
• Activity modification
• Anti-inflammatory medication
• Injections
• Physical therapy
• Wearing a brace
• Weight loss

What Surgical Treatment Do You Recommend?

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:

What Activities Should I Avoid?

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.

Will I Eventually Need Surgery?

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.

How Long will my Recovery Take?

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.

What Can I do at Home to Help My Knee Pain?

Your doctor may recommend at-home stretches, going on walks, or using the RICE method.

Where Should I Go for Physical Therapy?

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.

Should I Consider Dry Needling for my Knee Pain?

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.

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Do I Need a Knee Replacement?

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.

Should I Change my Diet?

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.

How Can I Prevent Future Knee Pain?

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.

Is my Pain Related to my Knees or Hips?

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.

Will I Be Able to Return to Playing Sports?

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.

Seek Help From a Knee Doctor Near You

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.

The knee is the largest joint in the body and plays a role in nearly all body movements. Your knees support the weight of your upper body and absorb the shock from running, walking, and jumping.

Unsurprisingly, the knee is the easiest joint to injure, and orthoses are often part of the healing process. In order to function correctly, your orthosis must be the right type and be fitted to your body. Durrett’s Orthotics & Prosthetics has extensive experience with orthoses and can help you get back to the activities of daily life with less pain.

Types of Knee Orthoses

Orthotic devices are also called “orthoses” or “braces” and different kinds of orthotic devices can help various conditions.

• Functional braces: Functional braces are worn after a severe injury has healed. A functional brace can help prevent additional damage by stabilizing the knee and controlling the range of motion.
• Rehabilitative orthotics: You may need to wear a rehabilitative orthosis following an injury or surgery. This brace keeps the knee stable and limits motion to help the joint heal properly.
• Unloader braces: Arthritis can cause significant pain in the knees and other joints. An unloader brace uses a three-point pressure system to shift weight to another part of the knee.

Using a Knee Orthosis

Depending on the severity of the condition, a knee orthotic may be recommended for short-term or long-term use. We recommend following the professional guidance of a member of our healthcare team, but there are a few things to keep in mind when using an orthotic device for your knee.

• Wear your knee orthosis as directed. You risk further injury and joint damage if you wear it in ways other than advised by your doctor.
• Braces wear out with everyday use, so thoroughly check yours often to ensure it’s still in good shape. If your orthosis has Velcro straps, stick the strap back on itself after removal to keep pet hair and other debris from sticking to it.
• Keep your orthosis clean to prevent bacteria from building up. Mild soap and warm water are acceptable in most cases. If you’re unsure how to care for your knee orthosis, our team will answer any questions and guide you toward appropriate care alternatives.
• Never try to repair or adjust your brace, as this can cause irreparable damage to the device and increase your risk of further injury. Let a member of our team make all the appropriate adjustments for you.

Things to Keep in Mind

An orthosis is not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle. You should maintain strength and flexibility in your knees by following a stretching and exercise program as your doctor, physical therapist, or medical team prescribes. Implement changes in your routine gradually to lessen stress on the knee joint.

Tips for Healthy Knees

1. Maintain a healthy weight. Shedding even a few excess pounds will dramatically reduce the stress on your knees.
2. Stay active as you can while following medical advice. Low-impact exercises like walking are perfect for people with knee pain. Physical activity maintains the muscle strength your joints rely on to provide adequate support. Many people believe they should move an affected area as little as possible, but your joints will become stiffer and more painful if they don’t move regularly.
3. Improve your posture. Posture affects the alignment of your joints, including your shoulders, hips, and knees. Most people have poor posture while sitting, so get up and move around every hour to help maintain a neutral spine and correct posture.

Contact Us

Don’t let knee pain stop you from living your life. Our experts in orthotics and prosthetics provide quality care and compassion to every patient. Durrett’s Orthotics & Prosthetics offers a range of services for your orthotics, prosthetics, and pedorthic needs. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

We have locations in Edgewood, KY, and Lawrenceburg, IN, and serve the areas of Erlanger, Florence, Covington, Fort Thomas, Union, Walton, Edgewood, Oakbrook, Taylorsport, Fort Mitchell, Hebron, Beaverlick, Burlington, Belleview, Independence, Newport, Verona, Elsmere, KY, and Cincinnati, OH.

We look forward to being a part of your healthcare team and providing you with high-quality care for years to come.

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