Knee Pain

Knee pain is one of the more common reasons to seek medical attention. The knee joint has the largest amount of connective tissue of any joint. This fact, in addition to the weight we expect our knees to bear, explains why our knees are so commonly injured. By definition, acute knee pain lasts less than six weeks. This type of knee pain can often be traced back to a specific injury or incident. Examples include twisting the knee, falling on the knee, or an abrupt increase in physical activity in a very short period of time. These types of injuries can result in physical damage to the bones of the knee, or to the cartilage, ligaments, or tendons that provide cushion and structure for the knee. Chronic pain lasts longer, and is more often related to older injuries or long term “wear and tear” of the knee joint- especially the cartilage. If you seek treatment for knee pain, your healthcare provider will first want to know how long your knee has been hurting, as well as whether there was a specific injury. This is because the mechanism of injury can point to a specific diagnosis. Other common questions asked during a visit for knee pain include what has been tried for the pain, what makes the knee feel better, and what makes the pain worse. The answers to these questions will help the provider to rule out certain conditions, and can help to decide whether an Xray or other imaging (i.e. MRI) is necessary. If you are experiencing knee pain, it is usually appropriate to seek evaluation from a primary care provider (i.e. your family practice provider). He or she can often make a diagnosis and help to develop a treatment plan. If the condition or injury requires surgery or specialty management, the provider can refer you to an orthopedic surgeon. Some conditions do not require surgery, but may respond well to physical therapy. Keep in mind that the Health and Wellness Center has a physical therapist on staff, and that no referral is needed to book an appointment. Some patients choose to see a physical therapist as their point of entry into the healthcare system for an injury. Physical therapists are trained to perform initial evaluations for injuries and orthopedic conditions, so this is a reasonable way to start your evaluation