Providing specialized orthopedic care at six convenient locations across Northeast Wisconsin. Click to find a location near you.
(920) 560-1000
News & Blog

3 Things to Notice Before Seeking a Knee Pain Doctor

This section of the body is most susceptible to muscle soreness or worse. Seeing as this area is made up of ligaments that connect to different bones, it’s very easy for tearing or pulling. A serious injury can happen particularly in athletes and older people. The wear and tear is inevitable, because it holds to vital parts of the body. Also, there’s no telling if the discomfort will subside without the proper diagnosis from a specialist. Here are a few things to see before seeking the advice of a knee pain doctor in Green Bay, Appleton, Oshkosh, or any of the Fox Cities.

See Someone If the Pain Lasts for Weeks

A bit of light trauma usually goes away after a few days or a week at the latest. A simple method of rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) can treat most bruises or sprains at the home. Additionally, a physician may assign an over-the-counter medication to help relieve the soreness. However, this might not be the answer. There could be an underlying reason there’s still an issue. If the discomfort doesn’t lessen or things get worse, this may be a sign of a torn muscle, cartilage, or meniscus. This needs to be seen by a reputable physician to find out the exact problem. Another thing to notice is it feels as if the knee wants to give out.

Is There Instability in This Area? 

It’s important to be mindful of what actually goes on in this area of the body. When it feels as if it’s about to give out or there’s a tremendous amount of pressure on it, chances are the ligament is either pulled or teared. When this occurs, it means that the structures aren’t connected to the bone properly. This is not noticeable unless a physician is able to see it.

Does It Impact Your Lifestyle

If the injury was recent, look at the basic things that may affect everyday life. For example, if there’s an unusual limp that goes on for quite some time, it’s good to see a physician who can give good input and a proper diagnosis. Additionally, this may affect one’s sleep. Not getting enough sleep can lead to other health problems down the line. Additionally, it makes it hard to focus on work and school. Seek a specialist who can help give advice on the best treatment possible to help with the recovery process.

By being aware of what’s happening in this section of the body, it’ll help with making a better choice of seeking treatment.

Ready to Start?

Request a consultation with one of the orthopedic specialists at the Orthopedic & Sports Institute. Call (920) 560-1000 or request an appointment online.

OSI has convenient locations to serve you. The campus in Appleton includes clinics, a surgery center, MRI, physical therapy, and a skilled nursing facility, as well as a walk-in clinic that provides care for new orthopedic injuries. OSI has outreach clinics in Green Bay, New London, Ripon, Shawano, Waupaca, and the newest location at 600 N. Koeller Street in Oshkosh.