Dallas County Living Well Magazine November/December 2016 | Page 15

Ask These Questions
to Help Manage
Knee Pain
Courtesy Texas Health Physicians Group

N

o matter your age, and
whether you’re an athlete
or just a person on the
go, knee pain can hinder
your movement and your
life. You may be suffering now and
concerned about what the cause is.
Knee pain can occur for a number of
reasons that include arthritis, cartilage
tears, joint degeneration, or any number of other issues.
At Texas Health, our goal is to get you
back to doing the things you love, like
jogging, tennis, or just going about your
daily activities. Our network of skilled
orthopedic specialists have the knowledge, experience and technology to
help you return stronger from knee pain.
Below are a few important “should ask
questions” from knowledgeable physicians who treat chronic knee pain daily. These questions may not be top of
mind, but you should ask them to help
you determine how to manage your
knee pain better.
What symptoms should I be
concerned about?
Stiffness and limited range of motion
are indicators that your knees may be
under physical stress. If you notice or
feel physical symptoms like swelling,
degeneration, and deformity, your
knee may have the onset of arthritis,
a sports-related or common accident.

Don’t wait to see your physician, as
your pain can quickly be managed.
What should I avoid when treating knee pain?
Avoid heavy lifting, running, climbing
flights of stairs, and any high-impact
activity that puts stress on your knees.
Together with your doctor and physical therapist, you can devise a game
plan to help you treat your knee pain.
Take caution when self-medicating
for knee pain. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers long-term can also
cause side effects. Make sure to get a
doctor’s opinion before using them for
extended amounts of time.
When should I stop treating
myself (and see a doctor)?
See your doctor immediately. Even
though your pain may be minimal,
your injury or degeneration may be
more severe than you expect. The earlier you receive professional treatment,
the more damage you can prevent to
your knee. The only way to keep it
from getting worse is to be sure to get
that initial diagnosis.
How do I know what to tell
the doctor?
Don’t be shy. Tell your physician exactly what hurts, and where it feels
uncomfortable. Make sure to pinpoint
where the pain is. There’s no need to
worry, as an experienced doctor will

know what questions to ask, and will
be able to get all the right answers to
diagnose your knee issues accurately.
What is the best way to avoid
knee injuries?
There are several ways you can injure
your knee. Athletes do it all the time. As
a matter of fact, running is a common
cause of knee injuries, and organized
sports see their share of issues every year.
Even average people can have accidents
caused by stairs, or hurt themselves by
not warming up properly before exercise, or by overdoing it in the gym.
Being aware of how you can avoid
knee injury is important. Here are a
few tips that can help you avoid it:
• Maintain your weight. Extra
pounds can put undue stress on
your knees.
• Wear shoes with good support
and fit, to help maintain alignment
and balance.
• Make sure to warm and up and
stretch before exercise or strenuous activity.
• When at the gym, choose low-impact exercises. Opt for the rowing
machine instead of the treadmill.
• Swimming is a great exercise to
avoid force on your knees.
• Consider physical therapy under
the supervision of a professional;
he or she can help you find the
right exercises specifically for you.

Take the next step in understanding your knee pain. Contact a knee specialist at www.texashipandkneecenter.com/pain.
Physicians on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees of the hospital or Texas Health Resources.

DALLAS COUNTY Living Well Magazine | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

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