Knee pain can be an extremely debilitating condition that may prevent you from performing daily tasks and may even keep you from work. People of all ages can experience pain in their knees for various reasons, such as traumatic injury or degenerative joint disease. The question is how can your knee pain be treated and who should you see for treatment?
If you are suffering from debilitating knee pain or other joint pain, you may need the services of an orthopedic surgeon. Orthopedic surgeons specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. An orthopedic specialist could help you get back to a pain-free and active lifestyle.
What Is An Orthopedic Surgeon?
Some people, especially those who have never needed the expertise of an orthopedic surgeon, may not know what they are. An orthopedic surgeon is a doctor who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of bone, joint, tendon, ligament, or muscle disorders. Orthopedists may have a general focus to their practice or may narrow their focus to a specialty, such as:
- Hip and knee treatment
- Spine treatment
- Foot and ankle treatment
- Shoulder and elbow treatment
- Hand treatment
What Do Orthopedic Surgeons Treat?
Orthopedic surgeons are capable of treating patients of all ages for a variety of conditions. Although orthopedic specialists have the training and expertise to treat patients through surgery, they will always attempt treatment through nonsurgical means first. Orthopedists see patients in order to treat a wide array of musculoskeletal issues which may include:
- Arthritis
- Sports injuries
- Broken or fractured bones
- Back pain
- Ruptured discs or spinal stenosis
- Club foot, bow legs, or hip dysplasia
- Carpal tunnel or hand arthritis
- Bone tumors
- Achilles tendon, ankle, or foot injuries
- Bunions
- Limb lengthening
- Knee pain and injuries
- Joint pain
- Osteoporosis
- Orthopaedic trauma
As you can see, orthopedic surgeons treat a large number of different issues people may experience through injury, age, or disease. The type of orthopedic specialist you will see depends on your reason for visiting an orthopedist. People suffering from knee pain would be best served visiting an orthopedic surgeon that focused on knee and hip complications.
Training and Education
Another reason you should consider seeing an orthopedic surgeon to help treat your knee pain is because they are experts in their fields of practice. Orthopedic surgeons are medical doctors who go through years of vigorous education and training to earn their degrees and certifications.
It typically takes 14 years of formal education to become an orthopedic surgeon. That is a lot of time and commitment to learning how to properly treat patients. Additionally, orthopedic surgeons must continue to learn and perform adequately on oral and written examinations in order to maintain their board certification. They dedicate their lives to learning how to prevent, diagnose, and heal musculoskeletal injuries and conditions.
When You Should See An Orthopedic Surgeon For Knee Pain
If you are suffering from knee pain that is debilitating and preventing you from performing certain daily tasks, working, or even simply walking, it is time to see a doctor. It is never a bad idea to see your primary care physician first for your pain. They may be able to prescribe you pain medication in order to cope with the pain and see if it gets better with time.
However, primary care physicians do not specialize in treating knee pain or other joint issues. Your doctor may refer you to a specialist that is better able to diagnose and treat your condition, such as an orthopedic surgeon.
Visiting an orthopedic surgeon for your knee pain does not necessarily mean that you will need surgery though. Surgery is always reserved as a last resort for treatment. Orthopedists that specialize in knee issues are experts in treating knee pain. They will first work to relieve your pain through nonsurgical treatments before ever considering putting you under the knife.
You should seriously consider seeing an orthopedic specialist if you experience the following:
- Pain, swelling, and stiffness in the knees
- Joint pain or symptoms that continue for several weeks, or reoccur several times a month
- Decreased range of motion in your knees
- Knee joints that are red, tender, or warm to the touch
- Increased stiffness in the knees in the morning or after periods of inactivity
Knee Pain Treatments
Knee pain is extremely difficult to live with. We use our knees all the time to get around. This can make it hard to find lasting relief from knee pain. The best way to achieve significant pain relief is to adhere to the advice and care of your doctor and the treatments they recommend. Traditional knee pain treatment typically involves the following:
Rest
Our bodies are incredibly adept at healing themselves from a number of different injuries. Conditions that can lead to knee pain can often get better on their own with plenty of rest. Certain injuries, such as sprains, strains, tendonitis, and bursitis tend to respond well to rest.
Your doctor will typically recommend rest to start your treatment in order to see if you can recover without further intervention. You will be advised to avoid any movements or exercise that causes you to experience pain in the knees. It is also a good idea to try and bend or extend your knees as little as possible. Keeping your leg elevated as you rest can also help.
Heat and Ice Therapy
An orthopedic surgeon may also recommend using heat and ice therapy in addition to rest to help treat your knee pain.
Heat therapy can help to relax the muscles and soft tissue around your knees. This can also help reduce or relieve pain in the joints.
Ice or cold therapy works to cool the joints. Cooling the knee joints can help reduce inflammation and swelling. Additionally, ice therapy helps to numb the area which can soothe your joints and alleviate pain.
Heat and ice therapy are often used together, alternating between hot and cold. However, some injuries may benefit from one therapy and not the other.
Pain Medication
Another nonsurgical treatment method for knee pain orthopedic specialists use is pain medication. Your doctor may prescribe you prescription or over-the-counter medication depending on the nature and severity of your pain. Patients who are suffering from knee pain are often prescribed pain medications, such as:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Ibuprofen
- Acetaminophen
- Naproxen
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is often an integral part of any knee pain treatment plan. Doctors use physical therapy exercises to help patients strengthen the knee, restore range of motion and function, and improve flexibility. These are typically low-impact exercises that will not cause you pain or worsen your injury. Physical therapy is often used after surgery as well in order to help the recovery process.
Steroid Injections and Viscosupplementation
Another treatment method orthopedic surgeons will employ before moving to surgery is steroid injections. Steroid injections can help reduce pain and inflammation within the knee. However, relief from steroid injections is not always permanent and may require periodic injections.
Orthopedists may also recommend viscosupplementation to patients suffering from osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis can cause a lack of lubrication within the joints. This can result in pain as the joints are no longer able to move smoothly. Viscosupplementation involves injecting hyaluronic acid into the joints in order to improve joint lubrication. This can help improve movement and alleviate pain.
Surgery
Surgery is usually reserved for patients who are suffering from severe arthritis or joint injuries. However, if nonsurgical treatment methods have proven ineffectual, it may be time to consider surgery.
There are a number of different surgeries an orthopedic surgeon may recommend depending on what is causing your knee pain. Surgeries to treat knee pain include:
- Meniscectomy
- Meniscus repair
- Lateral release
- Plica excision
- Meniscus transplant
- ACL reconstruction
- Microfracture
- Patellar/quadriceps tendon repair
- Partial knee replacement
- Knee replacement surgery
Your doctor will ultimately make the call on whether or not surgery is the right treatment option for you. If you do need to undergo surgery, your orthopedic surgeon will walk you through every step of the process and make sure you are prepared before and after your procedure.
Why Choose An Orthopedic Surgeon For Your Knee Pain?
Whether you require surgery or not, an orthopedic surgeon is the right doctor to see for your knee pain. Their years of training and experience in diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal make them the ideal doctor to treat any knee injuries or conditions. If you are in need of an orthopedic surgeon to treat your knee pain, you can learn more about scheduling a consultation here.
