If you experience persistent pain when climbing stairs, difficulty walking long distances, or a feeling of instability while moving, it could be a sign that something is wrong and requires medical attention. Not all knee pain can be resolved with simple measures such as applying ice or heat. In some cases, discomfort can be a warning sign of a more serious condition that requires evaluation by a specialist.
According to Dr. Joseph Alvarez, a founding partner of Space City Pain Specialists, ignoring these symptoms or trying to treat them on your own can worsen the condition, reducing your quality of life and limiting your ability to move freely.
Personalized Care for Each Case
Many of the patients seen by our team of specialists at Space City Pain are looking for an immediate solution to their problems. Some people prefer to follow the treatment that worked for a friend, self-medicate, or even follow advice from online research. However, as Dr. Joseph Alvarez points out, each case requires a specific treatment plan.
Physical therapy, for example, may be the right solution for one patient but not for another, just as surgery may be recommended for some patients, while being counterproductive for others. Therefore, in-person medical care, a clinical examination, consultation with a specialist, and an accurate diagnosis are essential.
Knee Pain: Overuse and Adaptation
One of the points to consider is wear and tear and excessive use of the joints. When the intensity of physical activity changes abruptly, exceeding the usual limits of the knee, for example, the joint becomes overloaded, resulting in pain.
For athletes, the type of terrain also plays a role: running on asphalt compared to an off-road trail, or training on grass and then transitioning to activities on sand, requires the muscle to adapt to the new conditions. These are two very common examples where pain worsens precisely because the body can not adapt to the new demands.
The Old Familiar Ice Pack
The most common recommendation from friends and in online advice is to apply ice packs to the painful area. According to Dr. Alvarez, ice is an excellent remedy for knee pain, as it reduces inflammation (which causes pain), inhibits inflammatory reactions, decreases the risk of thrombosis, and has a certain analgesic effect. However, our doctor recommends applying the ice pack for a minimum of 20 minutes and a maximum of 30: after this time, the ice acts as a vasodilator and becomes less effective for certain injuries.
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A Physical Examination Is Essential
Special care should be taken in cases of inflammation, as it could indicate a more serious injury or damage to some part of the joint. Inflammation is not a good sign and a specialist should be consulted as soon as possible. It’s important to remember that the knee is covered by a membrane which, if ruptured, releases fluid into the joint. If there is a ligament tear, for example, the inflammation is due to the accumulation of blood in the affected area.
Once the patient arrives at Dr. Alvarez’s office, the standard procedure involves discussing the nature of the injury, the main symptoms, and the patient’s medical history, followed by a physical examination. If necessary, further diagnostic tests, such as an X-ray or MRI, will be recommended. With an MRI scan, for example, it is possible to assess bone structure, cartilage, menisci, and ligaments, as well as soft tissues, providing more precise information for diagnosis.
Get Back to Walking at Your Normal Pace with Dr. Joseph Alvarez
Persistent knee pain is a symptom of a chronic injury that requires a thorough diagnosis to determine the best treatment. As Dr. Alvarez points out, only with a definitive diagnosis and taking into account the patient’s activity history can the most appropriate treatment be recommended. More important than simply relieving chronic pain is identifying its cause and offering preventive treatment.
At Space City Pain, our board certified healthcare providers apply a treatment approach based on scientific evidence for lower extremity conditions. Through a comprehensive assessment of the patient’s condition, a thorough physical examination and personalized care, we can identify the specific characteristics of each case and develop the best treatment plan. Our friendly, bilingual, and highly specialized staff excels at providing pain relief to patients. If you are looking to get back to your normal pace and a pain-free life, book an appointment by calling 346-358-0034 or send us a message online today.
We don’t manage pain, we treat it.
