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When Should You See a Doctor About Knee Pain?

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When Should You See a Doctor About Knee Pain?

Jul 06, 2021

Knee injuries can cause different forms of pain or instability that can impact your quality of life. On today's Health Minute, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Matheau Eysser talks about common symptoms to look for when deciding whether your knee pain should be examined by a physician.

Episode Transcript

Interviewer: When should you have your knee pain checked out? Dr. Matheau Eysser is an orthopedic surgeon. What advice do you have for patients?

Dr. Eysser: Well, I tell my patients to look for two things: number one, pain. Acute pain or pain that interrupts your sleep could indicate a torn tendon, meniscal tear, or arthritis. Second, symptoms. If your knee locks up on you or you are unable to fully straighten your knee, it could indicate a torn meniscus. Feelings of instability, a painful clicking or popping, or sharp stabbing pain are also some of the complaints or symptoms of a meniscal tear.

However, if your symptoms are a dull ache, pain when standing from a sitting position, or pain that improves after walking a couple of steps, this could indicate arthritis. If you are experiencing these types of symptoms, it is a good idea to have your knee checked out by your doctor.

updated: July 6, 2021
originally published: May 29, 2019