When to Consult a Pain Specialist for Knee Pain?

Everyone suffers from knee pain occasionally. If you maintain an active life that involves regular exercise, workouts, and movements, you may occasionally experience knee pain. In most cases, knee pain automatically recedes and dissipates after a few hours or days. You may have to rest and avoid physical activities, but you can manage knee pain at home. But if you experience persistent knee pain, you need to visit an interventional pain specialist for knee pain.

You can manage knee pain at home with the following self-care solutions:

• Rest: Avoid strenuous physical activities and movements that worsen knee pain. You can also try alternating your usual activities with different activities. Instead of swimming, you can try bicycling or jogging. If you have an acute knee injury, you should stay off your feet or use crutches.
• Ice: You should place ice packs or frozen vegetables on your knees for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. This should be repeated a few times a day because ice can reduce swelling.
• Compression: Wrap an ACE bandage or elastic bandage around your knees to reduce swelling and pain. The bandage should be snug on your knees, but it shouldn’t be tight enough to restrict blood circulation or cause knee pain.
• Elevation: You should elevate your knees above your heart’s level while sitting down or sleeping. You can prop your legs up on a table or a bunch of pillows, which will reduce knee pain and knee swelling.
• NSAIDs: Over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodium can alleviate knee pain, swelling, and inflammation. If you experience knee pain, you can take NSAIDs for comfort. However, you should avoid these medications if you have high blood pressure or kidney problems.

If you don’t experience relief after these self-care solutions, you need to contact an interventional pain specialist for knee pain.

• Significant swelling
• Redness and tenderness
• Warmth around the knees
• Significant knee pain
• Fever
• Knee deformation
• Intense knee pain
• Sudden knee swelling
• Inability to bear weight
• Popping noise in your knee
• Inability to sleep comfortably
• Knee pain that worsens with time

Knee Pain Doctor NYC has double and triple board-certified knee pain specialists in New York. Our medical providers offer the latest and safest minimally invasive procedures to alleviate knee pain and help you recover quickly — without relying on addictive opioids or complex surgeries. We have state-of-the-art medical centers in Midtown Manhattan and Lower Manhattan. You may schedule an appointment online to explore your knee pain treatment options.

You should only visit interventional pain and spine specialists who provide minimally invasive treatments. If the pain doctor offers opioids or recommends surgeries, you should look for other pain specialists. An interventional pain specialist will perform comprehensive diagnostic tests, such as x-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and ultrasounds, to visualize the internal structure of your knees and curate a personalized treatment plan.

Depending on your unique knee conditions, your treatment plan may include viscosupplementation injections, epidural steroid injections, nerve blocks, ablation, or platelet-rich plasma therapy. Viscosupplementation involves injecting hyaluronic acid into the knee joint to enhance lubrication and facilitate smooth movements; PRP therapy triggers the body’s natural healing properties to reverse the damage; epidural injections reduce knee joint inflammation. You may also need physical therapy to regain movements.

• Board Certification: The knee pain doctor should be board-certified in pain management, which is an official guarantee of skills and experience.
• Comprehensive Treatments: The knee pain specialist should use cutting-edge diagnostic tools to identify and treat the root cause of knee pain — not just the symptoms.
• No Opioids: The knee pain doctor should focus on treating the root cause of your knee pain. They should absolutely not offer opioids because they can be incredibly addictive.
• Perfect Track Record: The knee pain specialist should have a perfect track record, as evidenced by their testimonials on Google or Facebook.
• Minimally Invasive Treatments: Look for knee pain doctors who provide minimally invasive procedures for knee pain and injuries — not surgical procedures.
• Free Insurance Verification: The knee pain doctor’s medical center must provide free insurance verification before the appointment.

Knee Pain Doctor NYC is a state-of-the-art medical center specializing in cutting-edge knee pain treatments. Our medical team is led by board-certified and Harvard-trained interventional pain and spine specialists with specialized training in minimally invasive treatments for knee pain and injuries, such as epidural injections and nerve blocks. Instead of offering a cookie cutter treatment plan, our pain doctors curate personalized treatments based on your specific knee conditions and goals. We place you on a long-term path towards a pain-free life without relying on addictive opioids or surgeries. Please schedule an appointment to meet a specialist for knee pain today.