The causes of knee pain in adults can stem from a variety of things. Most of the time, it’s due to age, overwork, and exhaustion from daily activities like lifting, walking and bending. For athletes, it could be because of strain from sprinting, jumping, and running far distances.
When left untreated, the ache can become excruciating and debilitating over time. Therefore, it’s best to consult a knee replacement surgeon when dealing with severe knee pain. A knee replacement surgeon can evaluate, assess, and diagnose the cause of the pain and prescribe medication to you. They can perform surgery to allow you to get to the root cause of your pain and eliminate it.
Let’s talk about how a knee replacement surgeon can help you with knee pain and where you can go to find the best surgeon in Kingsport, TN.
1. Perform an Orthopedic Evaluation
Before the surgeon can offer treatment for knee pain, they will perform an overall evaluation, including:
Discussion of Your Medical History
Like any other medical consultation, the surgeon will ask about your personal medical history. That includes any previous or current medical conditions.
You also need to describe the intensity of the pain and how it affects your ability to perform usual tasks.
General Physical Examination
Your surgeon will inspect your affected knee to observe general leg alignment, stability, flexibility, strength, and motion. They may also prescribe a blood test during this step.
X-Ray Scan
An x-ray scan can help reveal how much damage might be present in the knee. In severe cases, it’s also to assess the level of deformity the pain is causing.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scan
For more complex cases, your doctor may recommend an MRI scan. It will help better evaluate the state of your knee bone and the soft tissues surrounding it.
Upon analyzing your medical evaluation results, the knee replacement surgeon may begin to pinpoint the cause of your pain. From there, they can recommend the necessary next steps for you.
2. Prescribe Medication
After reviewing your evaluation results, the surgeon may prescribe medication like the following:
Pain Relievers
The most commonly prescribed type of medicine is painkillers. Over-the-counter medication, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), is typically the first option available to patients. These include naproxen and ibuprofen.
Other times, your doctor may recommend acetaminophen or paracetamol. You may benefit from more potent medications in severe cases.
Injections
Corticosteroid injections or cortisone shots are another treatment option for knee pain. Your surgeon may administer these to minimize swelling and make pain dissipate faster.
They may also give you hyaluronic acid injections. This solution acts as a natural joint fluid to make knee movement easier. It can offer pain relief that usually lasts a few months.
Topical Solutions
Certain topical ointments can ease your pain. Your surgeon may prescribe an over-the-counter cream or a prescription solution.
3. Perform Knee Replacement Surgery
A knee replacement surgeon can perform surgery to improve your condition if conservative treatments don’t work for you.
Your doctor will remove certain parts or the entire knee and replace them with a prosthetic. The implant is typically plastic, ceramic, or metal.
Upon thorough assessment and diagnosis, they will explain all the potential benefits and risks of the surgery. Your surgeon will also discuss the kind of operation you need, which may be a:
- Total knee replacement – your provider replaces your entire knee joint with a prosthetic
- Partial knee replacement – your surgeon replaces only a portion of your knee joint
Surgery is often an option for severe pain that hinders your usual activities and movements. A damaged or worn-out knee joint is almost always the case.
Here are some instances where your surgeon may recommend surgery for you:
- Feeling severe knee pain when doing everyday tasks
- Intense knee pain even while at rest
- Severe swelling in the knee that does not subside even with medicine and rest
- Bowing in and out of the knee from its joint
A knee replacement surgeon will prescribe and perform surgery to alleviate the following medical conditions that cause knee pain:
- Osteoarthritis
- Knee injury
- Deformity caused by thinning or lost cartilage
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Gout
- Haemophilia
- Damage of the bone in the knee joint due to blood issues
The Best Knee Replacement Surgeon in Kingsport, TN
Are you looking for the best knee replacement surgeon? Patients with chronic and severe knee pain need to consult one they can trust. The team of specialists at Associated Orthopaedics is prepared to help you explore your options. We have board-certified and highly trained orthopedic surgeons who can diagnose and treat knee issues. We are always ready to serve you if you need experienced and compassionate specialists.
Call our friendly staff at (423) 245-3161 if you have any inquiries or want to learn about our services. For appointments, kindly submit an online appointment request form through the website.
