Our knee doctors at Orthopedic Specialists & Sports Medicine are recognized experts in providing evaluation and treatment for knee injuries and conditions.
Knee doctors are medical experts who have specialized knowledge of the knee and work with patients dealing with a wide range of knee issues. Many times, they work with athletes or athletic teams since many athletes are at a high risk for knee injuries. Preventative care can sometimes help an athlete avoid a knee condition, but certain high-impact or contact sports can make knee injuries hard to avoid. Examples of injuries that knee doctors often treat in athletes are ligament injuries, such as ACL tears, MCL tears, or PCL tears; kneecap fractures; and meniscus tears.
Knee doctors also work with people who are non-athletes and have become overweight. Because they are carrying extra weight, it puts a strain on their knees, and as a result, knee damage and pain occur. Knee doctors also help patients dealing with knee pain that has developed over time just by using their knees normally during their lifetime. People who are older typically suffer from this type of knee pain because they have put more "miles" on their knees, and the cartilage and bones have become worn. Knee doctors help a wide range of patients be able to enjoy their lives and not be limited by their knee conditions or pain.
Oftentimes, knee injuries can be treated with conservative methods, such as injections. However, there are some instances where nonsurgical treatments do not provide adequate relief and surgery is necessary, like a total knee replacement.
When It's Time to See a Knee Doctor
Being aware of certain symptoms is important because if a knee issue can be diagnosed and treated early on, it will help to avoid further knee damage and pain in the future. Sharing this information with your doctor allows them to provide you with the best knee care. If any of the following symptoms sound familiar, you may have damaged your knee joint or the surrounding tissues:
- Knee is unable to support your weight and buckles when you attempt to use it
- Knee locks up
- Knee looks misshapen or deformed
- Knee pain or swelling that gets worse after an injury
- Popping sound at the time of the knee injury
- Range of motion decreases over time
- Tingling or numbness in the lower leg
- Unable to bend or straighten the knee without pain
These symptoms often correspond to a more serious knee condition, such as:
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears
- Arthritis
- Distal femur fractures
- Kneecap dislocation
- Meniscus tears
- Osteoarthritis
- Patella fractures (broken kneecap)
- Patella tendonitis (jumper's knee)
- Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) trauma
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Our orthopedic doctors understand that knee pain can have a major effect on your lifestyle and keep you from performing routine, everyday activities. To schedule an appointment with one of our knee doctors, please call (740) 788-9220 or request an appointment online.
Our knee specialists also understand that some injuries occurs when least expected, which is why we are proud to offer our Orthopedic Urgent Care to treat patients who are suffering from acute orthopedic injuries and conditions. Walk-ins are welcome, and no appointment is necessary.
Keeping You Active at Orthopedic Specialists & Sports Medicine
Finding a doctor who can expertly diagnose and treat your knee pain is one of the most important decisions you will make regarding your care.
Our board-certified orthopedic surgeons at Orthopedic Specialists & Sports Medicine, Edward L. Westerheide, M.D., Brad L. Bernacki, M.D., Alex Tancevski, M.D., are specialty-trained in diagnosing and treating a variety of knee injuries and conditions. Our doctors always strive to find a conservative treatment for you first before recommending surgery. However, if knee surgery is the best option, our surgeons have extensive experience in performing surgical knee procedures, such as knee replacement, partial knee replacement, ACL reconstruction, and knee arthroscopy. Dr. Westerheide is also trained to perform customized knee replacements through ConforMIS. Our surgeons are dedicated to providing compassionate, expert orthopedic care to get you moving and keep you active.
Taking a team approach, our knee surgeons work closely with our specialty-trained therapy team. Our physical therapists provide expert rehabilitation services and will tailor a treatment plan to your individual needs in order to restore function and get you back to the life you love.
To schedule an appointment with one of our knee surgeons at our office in Granville, please request an appointment online or call (740) 788-9220.
