It is important to know when you need to call your doctor for an examination of your knee if you have been having problems. While you might not feel the need to rush to the doctor the moment you get a small ache, you will want to consider calling for an appointment if you experience any of the following problems.
You Have Trouble Walking
Whether you just notice a problem with your ability to walk when you first get up from a long period of rest, or you seem to have trouble all of the time, you will want to consider calling your doctor for an examination. You could be dealing with some inflammation, torn ligaments, or a pulled muscle. It is impossible to know the full extent of what you are going through and whether your knee will get better on its own or not unless you seek the advice of a medical professional. Make sure that you are not pushing yourself to walk too much until your doctor is able to fully diagnose the problem. The last thing you want is to make the situation worse, which could mean that you will not heal as quickly if you would have taken it easy.
Your Knee Feels Unstable
You might not have noticed any pain, but if your knee feels as though it is not as stable and secure as your other knee, then you should seek medical attention. There are many reasons why you could be having such problems with your knee, and it is vital that a doctor discovers the cause. This way, he or she can begin to work out a treatment plan that can help bring strength back into your knee before it gets so bad you become a fall risk. Another point to consider is that, by ignoring the problem that you are having with your one knee, you may be accidentally causing new problems to arise in the other knee. This is because you may be putting extra weight or strain on the other knee in order to compensate for what the injured knee is not able to do. Until your doctor is able to find a solution for you, you may want to consider using a cane so you will have a little more stability on that side of your body.
Once you realize that you are in need of professional help for your knee, you will want to call to schedule an appointment right away. This way, should you need to be referred to a specialist or be sent for testing, the process can begin soon rather than later. Contact a company like Pottstown Surgical Associates to learn more.
