overview

step one: answer nine questions, then evaluate

In order to consider the options for treating knee painpainAn unpleasant sensation associated with actual or potential tissue damage, and mediated by specific nerve fibe..., patients must first meet with a doctor to  evaluate their situation. Patients should take the time to answer these eight simple questions to find out if they should talk to their doctor about knee replacement surgerysurgeryThe branch of medicine concerned with the treatment of disease, injury, and deformity by operation or manipula....

1. Does the knee hurt one or more days per week?___Yes___No

2. Does the pain interfere with sleep? ___Yes___No

3. Is it painful to walk more than a block? ___Yes ___No

4. Are pain medications no longer working? ___Yes___No

5. Is knee pain limiting participation in activities? ___Yes___No

6. Has inactivity from knee pain caused weight gain? ___Yes___No

7. Have you ever received hyaluronic acidhyaluronic acidA substance injected into a knee with osteoarthritis. Serves to restore lubrication and shock absorbing capabi... injections? ___Yes___No

8. Would it be possible to limit activities for a few months to recover from surgery? ___Yes___No

9. Are you willing to commit to work hard during rehabilitationrehabilitationRestoration, following disease, illness, or injury, of the ability to function in a normal or near-normal mann... for a successful recovery? ___Yes___No

If patients answer yes to any of the questions above, it may be time to speak with an orthopaedic surgeon about knee replacement surgery.

step two: mobility check

Knee pain may have affected the ability to move freely. Patients can perform this mobility check by trying the movements below that demonstrate everyday activities. They should pay close attention to how easy or difficult these movements are today compared to a time before the knee discomfort.

If patients have difficulty performing any of the movements in the mobility check, it may be time to speak with their doctor about knee pain treatment options such as hyaluronic acid injections or knee replacement surgery.