At some point in life, everyone goes through knee or joint pain. Joint or knee pain is one of the most common health issues faced by individuals above the age of 40 in the USA. There can be different reasons behind the occurrence of joint or knee pain. Sometimes it can be due to sudden injury or it can also be due to aging. Whatever the reason might be, if the knee pain persists for more than 3 to 4 days constantly, one should immediately consult an orthopedic doctor.
While there are different orthopedic specialists for different areas of the body when it comes to knee pain it’s recommended to consult an orthopedic knee specialist. Before consulting an orthopedic knee specialist in Georgia, let’s have a look at what are the symptoms that should not be ignored.
Table of Contents
Post-injury symptoms
Most individuals below the age of 40 experience knee pain post an injury. These are the sign when one needs to consult an orthopedic knee specialist in Georgia:
- If there is a popping noise in the knee area during a fall or playing.
- If there are crunching noses post an injury
- If there is stiffness or inability to stretch or move the legs.
- If there is swelling, feeling warmth and redness in the knee area.
- If there is constant weakness or numbness in the knee area.
Note that not every knee pain requires surgery or medical treatment. Some can also be treated through home care. But to know the right measures and home remedies, one needs to consult an orthopedic surgeon. He will suggest easy home care treatment options like ice compression, elevation, and exercises to help reduce knee pain within a short period.
Chronic Knee pain
7 out of 10 individuals in the USA above the age of 60 experience chronic knee pain. Following are the symptoms of chronic knee pain:
- Living in constant unexplained knee pain for more than a week.
- Long-term pain leads to swelling.
- Dull burning discomfort.
- Inability to stand steadily after waking up from bed in the morning.
If one is experiencing any of the above-mentioned symptoms for a long period, then one certain has chronic knee pain which needs medical treatment.
Common treatment options suggested by an orthopedic knee specialist
Treatments for chronic knee pain conducted by an orthopedic knee specialist are mostly divided into two categories- surgical and non-surgical.
Non-surgical options
- Pain medications
- Regular exercising
- Losing weight
- Oil massage
While chronic pain leading to osteoarthritis cannot be cured fully through non-surgical methods, certain lifestyle changes can help reduce the pain if the damage is in the primary stage.
Surgical options
An orthopedic knee specialist might refer a patient to an orthopedic surgeon if he feels that surgery is the only way out. Common surgical methods include knee replacement (partial or full) surgery, PRP treatment, knee cap surgery, and so on.
Conclusion
Even if one is experiencing moderate knee pain, it’s better to consult an orthopedic knee specialist immediately, before things get too severe. An orthopedic knee specialist in Georgia will provide the right guide ace and help patients to recover faster.