If you exercise, work out or play sports, your knee might bother you now and then. Usually, the discomfort goes away when you rest or add a heating pad or ice pack to your knee. Sometimes the pain goes away on its own. But how do you know when to see a professional in Phoenix for knee pain treatment?
When the Pain Doesn’t Go Away
It’s time to see a professional in Phoenix when the pain in your knee doesn’t go away no matter what you do. It persists even when you ice it, warm it, rest it, elevate it or compress it. Pain medications such as ibuprofen give only temporary relief, and sometimes they don’t relieve the pain at all.
When the Knee Won’t Support Your Weight
A knee that buckles and will no longer support your weight is also a cause to consider knee pain treatment. This can mean anything from a dislocated or fractured kneecap to a ruptured patellar tendon.
When You Hear a Clicking or Popping Sound
A clicking, creaking or popping sound from your knee is also a reason to call a professional in Phoenix, especially if the noise is accompanied by pain. The sound can be caused by a tendon rupturing, a dislocated kneecap or an injury to one of the four ligaments that support your knee.
When You Can’t Straighten Your Leg
If you find it hard to straighten your leg without pain you may also be suffering from an injury to the tendons or ligaments of your knee. In some conditions, your knee may lock when it’s straightened, and you may feel a grinding sensation.
Your Knee Is Swollen
Call a professional for knee pain treatment if your knee is swelling along with the pain. This is a sign of a kneecap fracture, osteochondritis dissecans, which happens when part of the cartilage in the knee joint breaks away, patellar bursitis or a meniscus tear.
What to Do
When these symptoms strike, stop what you’re doing, call for professional help and follow what’s called the RICE procedure. Rest your knee, ice it, apply a compress to it, and elevate it if you can. Some of these conditions resolve after several weeks or rest. Others may require you to use crutches, extension splints or a knee brace for a few weeks. If there’s an infection in the knee, a doctor will prescribe antibiotics as well as pain medications.
Call Us for More Information
If you have knee pain or swelling or fear that your knee can’t support you, you can learn more about our knee pain treatment options for clients in the greater Phoenix area by visiting Phoenix Regenerative Medicine in Tempe, AZ. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!
