When to See a Knee Doctor in Gallatin, TN
A knee doctor should be consulted if you have persistent knee discomfort, edema, instability, or an unexpected knee injury that is making it difficult to perform everyday activities. At the Southern Sports Medicine Institute, Dr. Thomas Gautsch, MD, provides diagnostic and suitable treatment choices to ease symptoms and promote knee health. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online today. In Gallatin, We are located at 570 Hartsville Pike, Gallatin, TN, 37066.
Table of Contents:
What is a knee specialist called?
What Are the common causes of knee pain?
What can I do to relieve knee pain?
When should I see a knee doctor to treat my pain?
While minor aches and pains throughout the body are fairly common, especially if you work a job that involves quite a bit of manual labour, are an athlete, or are older, but there can also be other underlying conditions or trauma that occurs in the body that can lead to significant pain. Knee pain can quickly get in the way of existing comfortably, making treatment provided from a knee specialist often necessary to provide pain relief.
Orthopedic doctors are physicians that have received specialized training and experience in treating conditions and injuries that affect the entire musculoskeletal system. This includes the bones, muscles, joints, nerves, cartilage, and muscles, making orthopedic physicians the experts of the knees as well. Orthopedic physicians and surgeons can specialize more specifically, with some focusing on individual body parts, making some orthopedic doctors and surgeons even more specialized in treat knee injuries, conditions, and general knee pain. Patients who are experiencing knee pain or discomfort likely caused by a sports injury, an accident, trauma to the body, or an underlying condition such as arthritis, will likely be referred to an orthopedic physician or surgeon for specialized treatment.
Throughout our lifetimes, our knees deal with daily stress and strain, making minor knee injuries fairly common especially as we age. Knee pain can be caused by years of wear and tear, such as with arthritis, but can also develop because of other mechanical problems, underlying conditions, or injuries.
Some common reasons patients develop knee pain include:
– Knee fracture
– Injury to the ACL
– Knee bursitis
– Torn meniscus
– Patellar tendinitis
– Dislocation of the kneecap
– Hip or foot pain (leading to overuse or changes in gait, putting extra strain on the knees to compensate)
– Degeneration of the bones or cartilage
– Osteoarthritis
– Rheumatoid arthritis
– Gout
We use our knees to complete almost every task, so there are quite a few ways in which they can become injured or overused that leads to significant pain. Thankfully, there are quite a few different treatment options available to ensure that patients with knee pain are able to achieve significant pain relief and to restore full strength and function.
While it is recommended that patients reach out to a health care provider, more specifically an orthopedic physician or surgeon, if they are experiencing pain or discomfort in their knees, there are some at-home remedies to temporarily relieve some pain to allow you to continue about your life comfortably until you are able to meet with a specialist.
These at-home remedies include:
– The application of cool packs and heat packs to the affected area.
– Taking over-the-counter pain relievers as directed (dependence on pain medication is indicative that specialized treatment is likely necessary).
– Regularly gently exercising and stretching the knees.
– Applying topical creams or rubs to ease pain or joint discomfort.
– Consider wearing an orthopedic brace to support the knee, especially when engaging in activities that are known to further aggravate the condition.
These are all great options to allow for patients to sleep, work, and exist more comfortably throughout their day to day lives, but if the knee pain is chronic, medical interventions from a specialist are necessary to ensure that damage is not permanent. Seeing a specialist will be able to provide long-term solutions for pain relief, likely involving physical therapy, a surgical procedure, or both.
If you are suffering from knee pain but aren’t sure if it warrants a trip to the doctor, there are some signs that you can keep an eye out for that will indicate treatment from a doctor is needed, such as visible swelling and/or around and on the knee, the formation of a deformity in the knee or affected leg, or anything visibly changes on the knee joint. You may also want to consider scheduling an appointment with a doctor if you are unable to bear any weight on the knee, or if putting weight on the knee causes it to feel unstable or wobbly, and if you are unable to fully extend or flex the affected knee.
If you have persistent knee discomfort that interferes with your function or ability to exercise, or if you are unable to walk or move appropriately, visit us at the Southern Sports Medicine Institute. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online today. We are located at 570 Hartsville Pike, Gallatin, TN, 37066. We have convenient locations in Gallatin and Nashville TN. We serve patients from Gallatin TN, Nashville TN, Portland TN, Hendersonville TN, Lafayette TN, Castalian Springs TN, Westmoreland TN, Hartsville TN, Cottontown TN, Old Hickory TN, Goodlettsville TN, Springfield TN, Red Boiling Springs TN, White House TN, Lebanon TN, Greenbrier TN, Bowling Green KY, Bethpage TN, Lavergne TN, Franklin TN, Hermitage TN and Mount Juliet TN.
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