If you’ve been suffering from knee pain, you should consult the best knee doctor Pottstown PA residents trust. Knee pain affects many adults and can make it difficult to complete simple tasks, such as cleaning, walking up stairs and bending down. You shouldn’t have to live with that kind of discomfort forever. A doctor will diagnose your condition and talk to you about your treatment options.
Signs You Need to See a Knee Doctor
Not all types of knee pain are the same. Some are minor and go away shortly while others are more debilitating. Here are a few signs you need to see a knee doctor.
- You Have Chronic Pain: While mild pain for a day or two might not be that concerning, suffering from knee pain for longer than 12 weeks is a bigger issue. The pain likely won’t go away on its own at this point, so it’s important to see a doctor.
- You Have Limited Range of Motion: If the joints in your knees feel very tight and you have limited range of motion, you may have a joint disease, such as knee arthritis. The best knee doctor in Pottstown PA can evaluate your condition and prevent it from getting worse.
- You Have Trouble Completing Simple Tasks: Do you have difficulty performing everyday activities, like walking up the stairs or taking your dog outside? If so, it’s time to see a knee surgeon Pottstown, PA residents count on. If you have trouble completing simple tasks, your life could become very difficult and you will require somebody to always help you get around.
- You Lose Your Balance When Walking or Standing: If you experience instability whenever you walk or stand up, it’s a cause for concern. A doctor can figure out exactly what’s wrong with your knee joint and create a treatment plan.
What to Expect During Your Consultation
If you’re seeing a knee doctor for the first time, it’s important to know what to expect. The first thing your doctor likely will do is inquire about your medical history. He or she will ask you about your family medical history, past health conditions and what kind of pain you’ve been experiencing. Be sure to answer each question honestly with as many details as possible.
A knee doctor will also perform a physical examination to assess your reflexes and range of motion. He or she may have you walk, stand, climb stairs and bend up and down. Afterward, your doctor will likely take x-rays of your knee to determine the severity of your condition.
Once all the tests have been completed, your knee doctor will discuss the results with you and go over all your treatment options.
If you’re dealing with knee pain, contact the best knee doctor in Pottstown PA today.
How You Could Be Making Your Knee Pain Worse
Living with knee pain can be tough. The last thing you want to do is make it even worse. However, you could unknowingly be doing things that aggravate your pain. Here are a few ways you may be making your knee pain worse.
- You wear the wrong shoes. When you suffer from knee pain, it is even more important to wear the right shoes on your feet. If your shoes do not fit properly or offer the proper support, your knee pain may get worse. For added support, you should consider putting cushioned inserts in your shoes.
- You do high-impact exercises. Staying active can help you manage your knee pain. However, if you do the wrong exercises, it can make things worse. High-impact exercises, like running and jumping, can put too much stress on your knees. Stick to low-impact exercises, like walking and swimming, to take pressure off your knees.
- You don’t move much. While it is not a good idea to perform high-impact movements, it is not wise to rest too much either. If you do not move around much, it can make your knee joint stiffer, increasing your pain. Even walking around the house periodically can help your knee pain.
- You don’t warm up properly before exercising. Warming up is an important part of any exercise routine, but some people skip it to save time. When you have knee pain, you can’t afford to skip the warmup. Performing a proper warm up will increase blood flow to the muscles in your knees, decreasing your pain.
- Eating the wrong foods. Your diet can have an impact on many parts of your body, including your knees. Certain foods, like red meats and sugary treats, can increase inflammation in your joints, making your knee pain worse. Try to limit these kinds of foods from your diet if you have knee pain. Instead, eat foods that decrease inflammation throughout your body, such as salmon, tuna, olive oil and walnuts.
- Being overweight. Carrying around excess pounds can also worsen your knee pain. The excess weight can put a lot of pressure on your knee joints. To help relieve some of your discomfort, lose some weight through diet and exercise. Even losing a few pounds can make a difference.