Seeking a Knee Surgeons Opinion
If you’re experiencing pain or discomfort, it’s important to realize when it’s time to see a knee surgeon. When left unattended, a minor injury or condition can develop into something far more serious, with a long lasting or even permanent impact. Knee injuries are commonplace, and they range in severity from mild to catastrophic. Anyone can sustain a knee injury from professional and recreational athletes to children, as well as adults. Oftentimes, if the knee injury is minor it can heal within a few days if the knee is rested and the person applies ice to it. More serious knee injuries should be examined by a knee doctor for an exam and diagnosis. Should your knee condition be more complex than a minor injury it may be time to seek guidance from a knee surgeon from a clinic like Premier Osteoarthritis Centers of Pennsylvania. From there you can figure out for certain what to do with your knee ailment.
Here are Three Signs That Indicate It may Time to see a Knee Surgeon:
1. The knee pain has lasted more than 48 hours. If you have suffered knee or knee joint pain for more than 48 hours, it’s important to have it seen by a knee doctor. One of the causes of knee joint pain can be an injury to the cartilage or a meniscus tear. Meniscus tears are often accompanied by a popping sensation in the knee. Using a variety of diagnostic methods, your knee doctor can determine the cause of your pain and develop a treatment plan that focuses on that rather than simply treating the symptoms.
2. Knee swelling has lasted more than 48 hours. Acute injuries typically cause swelling. If the soft tissue is damaged, the area of the injury may bleed internally and there may also be swelling. The swelling reduces the range of motion and causes pain or discomfort and may or may not be visually obvious. Stiffness may also occur. If the knee is dislocated, it should be treated by a physician within six hours after sustaining the injury or else permanent damage to the knee is a very real possibility. One way to ascertain if the knee has been seriously injured is if it appears misaligned or deformed in some way. It can be indicative of a dislocation, patella tracking injury, or a fracture. Do not delay in seeing a knee doctor or going to the emergency room.
3. Reduced range of motion in the knee or else instability when placing weight on the knee. When the knee’s range of motion is reduced, it can indicate that there is substantial internal swelling and possibly also additional injuries in the joint. If you experience a limited or a reduced range of motion that lasts more than a day, contact a knee doctor without delay.
