What Doctor Do I See for Knee Pain?

Knee pain is a common issue affecting people of all ages. While it often occurs after an injury, it can also be due to various other issues, such as arthritis or general wear and tear from aging. If you experience knee pain, several potential doctors can provide the treatment you need.

Orthopedic Surgeon

Orthopedic surgeons specialize in treating injuries and conditions associated with the musculoskeletal system. These issues impact bones, joints, tissues, and muscles. If you experience knee pain, an orthopedic surgeon is often the right doctor to visit.

Orthopedic surgeons can treat a wide range of knee problems, including:

• Fractures
• Dislocations
• Torn tendons
• Knee replacement due to arthritis or other knee injuries

While orthopedic specialists perform knee surgery when necessary, they can also provide nonsurgical treatments to alleviate pain and restore proper knee function. These conservative treatment options will always be explored before surgery, and surgery will only be recommended when these other options have been exhausted without achieving your desired results.

Sports Medicine Doctor

Sports medicine doctors treat many of the same knee injuries as orthopedic surgeons; however, they focus primarily on injuries that occur as a result of engaging in athletic and everyday activities.

Sports medicine doctors understand your body’s unique demands and stresses when participating in athletics. Therefore, they have the proper background and training to develop a customized treatment plan to help you fully recover and return to your favorite physical activities as soon as possible.

In addition, their extensive background in the workings of the body’s musculoskeletal system gives sports medicine doctors the ability to treat just about any knee injury, regardless of the cause. Whether your knee was injured on the basketball court or slipping on an icy sidewalk, a sports medicine doctor can help.

Rheumatologist

If your knee pain is associated with arthritis, a rheumatologist may be the right specialist to visit. Rheumatologists specialize in treating inflammatory autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma. Therefore, these specialists have the right training and expertise to help you alleviate knee pain caused by an arthritic condition.

Physical Therapist

While physical therapists aren’t doctors, they are healthcare professionals with the proper training and experience to treat a wide range of knee injuries. A physical therapist can work with you to develop a customized treatment plan that will help improve strength, restore range of motion, and alleviate pain after a knee injury. In addition, physical therapy is almost always integral to your rehab after knee surgery.

Your physical therapist can also advise you on proper techniques for walking, running, and other activities to reduce the risk of reinjuring your knee after treatment. If your knee injury occurred while participating in athletic activities, your doctor may recommend working with a sports physical therapist. Just like sports medicine doctors, sports physical therapists understand how the physical demands of athletic activities impact your body, and they can recommend the right treatment plan to help you resume your favorite activities as soon as possible.

When Should I See a Doctor for Knee Pain?

Not all knee pain warrants a visit to a specialist. Sometimes, a minor injury such as a sprain will heal independently with rest, ice, and elevation. However, you should visit an orthopedic surgeon or another knee specialist if you experience one or more of the following issues/symptoms:

• Popping feeling and/or noise after a knee injury
• Swelling, redness, and warmth to the touch
• Knee weakness or instability
• Stiffness or an inability to straighten your knee
• Inability to bear weight on your knee
• Severe pain
• Your knee “gives out” when you try to walk

In addition, you should visit a doctor if you experience chronic knee pain. Your knee pain is considered chronic if it lasts longer than three months.

Common Causes of Knee Pain

A wide range of injuries, conditions, and chronic diseases may cause knee pain. Some of the most common include:

• Sprains, strains, or tears in the ligaments, tendons, or cartilage in the knee (i.e., ACL, MCL, or meniscus tears)
• Knee fractures
• Knee dislocations
• Bursitis (inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs around the knee)
• Tendinitis
• Patellofemoral pain syndrome (pain around the kneecap)
• Osteoarthritis (wear and tear of the knee joint cartilage)
• Rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune condition causing inflammation in your knee joint)

Colorado Advanced Orthopedics Can Help Alleviate Your Knee Pain

If you’re experiencing knee pain, Colorado Advanced Orthopedics can help. Our team of board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine doctors has extensive experience treating various knee injuries. We can help you restore a pain-free life so you can enjoy your favorite activities again.

Our knee surgery team is led by Dr. Kevin Borchard, who has developed a reputation as one of the finest knee surgeons in the country. Based on comprehensive patient data from Stryker Orthopaedics, Dr. Borchard regularly achieves knee surgery outcomes that exceed industry standards in various metrics. This level of expertise and quality of patient outcomes ensures you’ll receive exceptional care commensurate with what is found at hospitals in the major urban areas throughout the country.

In addition, our in-house physical therapy team provides comprehensive treatment for a wide range of knee injuries. Our physical therapists can provide stand-alone treatment and work closely with our knee surgeons to coordinate your rehab treatment after surgery. This coordination of care leads to exceptional outcomes that will help you get back to living the life you love.

Contact us to schedule an appointment. Colorado Advanced Orthopedics serves patients in Meeker and throughout the White River Valley.