When Should I See a Doctor for Knee Pain?

The knee is one of the few joints in the body that allows for a wide range of motion. To perform these movements, the knees utilize a complex system of bones, tendons, muscles, ligaments, and cartilage. And because force and impact are placed on the knee every time we take a step, this system is prone to injury – thereby causing knee pain.

Many cases of knee pain go away on their own, but some can signal more severe disorders. Let’s talk about some of the symptoms which indicate the need for seeing an orthopedic physician for your knee pain so that you can receive the necessary treatment and prevent the pain from continuing.

Chronic Pain

You should visit your orthopedist if your pain persists for more than a few days and is not improving. Continuous knee pain can be a sign of more severe injuries, such as a fracture or a torn ACL. Without proper medical treatment, these injuries could cause permanent damage and even disability.

Severe Pain

Many cases of knee pain are annoying, but they usually allow patients to continue using their knee for mild activities such as walking. If you find that you can’t even take a few steps without feeling excruciating pain, call a doctor.

Severe pain can interfere with your quality of life, increase your stress levels, and reduce your ability to be independent. Pain can also prevent you from exercising, which can thereby affect your overall health and worsen the disease that’s causing your knee pain in the first place.

Swelling

Swelling in the knee can be a symptom of a fracture, a torn ligament, a torn tendon, or an infection in the knee area. Any of these issues require swift medical attention, so do not ignore swelling in your knee.

The doctor can drain the fluid that is causing the swelling in order to help relieve the pressure. The physician may also test the knee fluid to determine what is causing the swelling.

Worsening Pain

Many degenerative diseases of the knee involve pain that increases with time. One example is osteoarthritis, in which the cartilage protecting the joint wears out over time. As the wear worsens, surrounding tissues and bone become progressively inflamed, and the knee pain also worsens.

Degenerative diseases are harder to treat successfully if diagnosed in their late stages, so early intervention can make treatment more effective and reduce the probability of complications down the road. Hence, you should visit a doctor if you have pain that is becoming more severe over time.

Fever

If you are experiencing sudden knee pain and sudden fever, you might have an infection in your knee such as septic arthritis. Without treatment, infections can cause irreversible damage to bodily tissues. The pathogen might also spread to other parts of your body, potentially endangering your life.

Knee Physician in Little Rock

Knee pain that is severe, chronic, accompanied by swelling or fever, or worsening over time warrants a visit to an orthopedic doctor. You need a skilled physician to quickly diagnose your condition and give you the necessary treatment.

If you are in or near the Little Rock area, have your knee pain evaluated by the experienced medical team at Bowen Hefley Orthopedics. Dr. William Hefley and our skilled staff will help you quickly recover from knee pain and its underlying causes.

Call us now at (800) 336-2412 or schedule an appointment through our online form. We look forward to partnering with you so you can get back to the active lifestyle you enjoy!