What Is the Best Doctor to See for Knee Pain?

The Noyes Knee Institute treats, diagnoses, and rehabilitates various knee injuries and conditions. Our clinic, which includes an orthopedic knee surgeon, provides an excellent place to seek relief for knee pain. We know choosing the right specialist for knee pain can be challenging. Here is some more information about the type of doctor to see for knee pain:

What Is Knee Pain?

Knee pain is any pain or discomfort in or around the knee joint. The weight-bearing knee joint is complex and comprised of cartilage, tendons, bones, and muscles.

Knee pain accounts for a large number of visits to healthcare providers. Almost half of the adults over the age of 50 report knee pain in a one-year period. The Noyes Knee Institute has extensively researched the best ways to treat the underlying causes of knee pain. Treatment for knee pain depends on the underlying cause and severity of the condition.

Here are the types of doctors you may see when you visit us for knee pain:

General Practitioner

General practitioners, also known as family doctors or primary care physicians, are usually the first type of doctors patients see for knee pain. They will take a detailed medical history and perform a physical exam. They may order diagnostic tests such as X-rays or MRIs depending on their findings. This can help confirm the diagnosis or rule out other potential causes of knee pain.

A general practitioner often recommends rest, ice, compression, elevation (RICE), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or physical therapy exercises. They may also advise on lifestyle modifications, such as weight loss, to reduce the stress on the knee joint.

Many of our patients are referred initially to us by their family doctors. The Noyes Knee Institute specializes in cases where the knee pain is severe, does not respond to conservative treatments, or otherwise requires specialized care.

Sports Medicine

Those trained in our Sportmetrics™ program specialize in treating and preventing injuries related to sports and exercise. Developed by world-renowned physician Dr. Frank Noyes and a team of athletic trainers, physical therapists, and researchers, Sportsmetrics™ stands apart from other plyometric training programs.

We deeply understand the unique demands and stresses that sports place on the body. We can develop customized treatment plans to help patients recover from knee injuries and return to their activities as quickly and safely as possible.

Our Sportmetrics™ trainers also help with injury prevention. They can work with athletes to develop customized training programs. They can also guide proper nutrition, rest, and recovery techniques to help reduce the risk of future injuries.

Physical Therapist

Physical therapists are healthcare professionals who specialize in injuries or conditions that can affect the function of the body. Physical therapists work with patients of all ages to develop personalized treatment plans. They can help patients improve, maintain, or restore knee function and mobility.

After conducting a comprehensive evaluation, a physical therapist develops an individualized treatment plan that may include a combination of exercise, manual therapy, and other modalities to help reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation. Physical therapists often work closely with an orthopedic knee surgeon to help post-surgery.

The physical therapist may also advise proper techniques for walking, running, and other activities to reduce the risk of further injury or aggravation of the knee. They may also educate the patient on modifying their lifestyle to avoid activities exacerbating knee pain.

Orthopedic Knee Surgeon

Orthopedic surgeons treat musculoskeletal conditions, including injuries and diseases of the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. They have completed extensive training in diagnosing conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system. Our team at the Noyes Knee Institute works closely with other healthcare team members, such as physical therapists and pain management specialists.

Orthopedic surgeons diagnose and treat various conditions that affect the knee joint. This may include injuries such as ligament tears or fractures and degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis.

An orthopedic surgeon first thoroughly evaluates the knees. They may order imaging tests such as X-rays or MRIs. We then develop a treatment plan tailored to the patient’s needs. Non-surgical interventions include physical therapy, medications, or injections.

If surgery is necessary, orthopedic surgeons can perform various procedures to repair or reconstruct damaged knee structures. This may include arthroscopic surgery, where a tiny camera is inserted into the knee joint to guide the surgeon in making repairs, or joint replacement surgery, where the damaged knee joint is replaced with an artificial joint.

See How the Noyes Institute Can Help You

Our team at the Noyes Knee Institute uses industry-leading technology to treat knee-related disorders and injuries. Our organization is a leader in treating patients with knee injuries, arthritis, and other conditions. We have an expert team to help you at every stage of the process. Our goal is to help relieve pain, restore function, and improve the quality of life for our patients. Contact us today to learn more.