5 Signs That You Should Seek Medical Treatment for Knee Pain

Given all that your knees are responsible for in terms of support and mobility, it’s little wonder that knee pain can have such a far-reaching effect on your life. While knee pain isn’t at all uncommon, you need to know the difference between an acute tweak that will resolve itself and an issue that requires a higher standard of care.

At Pain Medicine Consultants, our team of pain management specialists has extensive experience helping our patients overcome knee problems of all kinds. Our primary goal is to help you get back to your life quickly and painlessly using the most advanced techniques available.

How you know you should seek treatment for knee pain

If you’re struggling with knee pain, here’s a look at five signs that should prompt you to seek our medical expertise.

RICE method does not help

While pain is a common, everyday part of our lives (think stubbing your toe), understanding the difference between a temporary problem and one that potentially presents ongoing concerns is key to knowing when to seek medical treatment.

If the pain in your knees (or knee) doesn’t improve after applying the RICE method — rest, ice, compression, and elevation — this usually signals that you may have a larger problem. There’s no definitive timeline, but if your pain doesn’t improve or even worsens after a few weeks, it’s time to come see us for guidance.

Gradual onset of pain

If your knee pain develops slowly but steadily, this, too, is a sign that you may be dealing with a larger problem that could benefit from intervention. For example, when arthritis or degenerative processes take hold in your knees, the symptoms usually start revealing themselves after intense activity.

Slowly, but surely, your pain becomes more of a constant companion than an infrequent visitor. If you notice this trend, we urge you to come see us sooner rather than later, because early intervention can make a significant difference in your outcome.

Difficulty walking

This sign is also one that’s hard to ignore. If knee pain is preventing you from moving freely, this is a surefire sign that you need help. If you find that your life is becoming increasingly limited because of painful knees, there’s much that we can do to restore your pain-free mobility.

Swelling

When your body senses damage, it raises an inflammatory response to allow your tissue to heal. This means that any swelling that accompanies your knee pain is perfectly natural. But if the swelling persists for weeks, this indicates that your body is struggling to heal the area on its own and could benefit from a little outside help.

A loss of range of motion and instability

You rely on your knees to support and carry your body, so if you lose range of motion or at least one of your knees becomes unstable, see one of our interventional pain specialists, who can review your situation.

Remedying your knee pain

The bottom line is that you shouldn’t live with persistent pain of any kind, especially in joints as important as your knees. To help remedy your pain and reestablish mobility, our team offers a wide range of solutions, including:

• Prescription medications
• Physical therapy
• Joint injections
• Platelet-rich plasma injections
• Stem cell therapy
• Cold laser therapy and low-light laser therapy
• Shockwave therapy

If you’re experiencing ongoing problems with knee pain, contact one of our locations in Pleasant Hill, Pleasanton, or Corte Madera, California, to set up an appointment.