I really need to figure out what is wrong with my knee. It does not hurt until I try to move it, at which point it informs me that I should go back to not moving it. Attempting to do things like lever myself from a sitting to standing position causes me to produce sounds not unlike those of a puppy being beaten, assuming, of course, that the puppy knows how to swear fluently in English. The pain is almost exclusively down the front of my knee, which is (I believe) mostly tendon-y, as opposed to muscle-y.
In addition to the aforementioned pain, I also have the weird feeling that my knee is unnaturally … loose. As if it could bend sideways or backwards if I don’t pay close attention to it while walking, or going up and down stairs. (This has been particularly fun, what with the split-level house and all.) And it’s popping and clicking in neat and new-to-me ways.
So, I really need to figure out what is wrong with my knee. The question, gentle reader, is: Do I:
- Go to my Primary Care Physician?,
- Go to my rheumatologist?,
- Try to find a new orthopedist? (Since the last one I saw was many years ago, and I really didn’t much care for him anyway.), or
- Stop whining and walk it off. It’ll self correct.
I’m honestly curious, as I would like to minimize the number of doctors I have to see and maximize the likelihood of seeing someone who can actually fix the damned thing.
Stupid body.
Tendony, ligamenty and bursa-y… Got to the primary care first, that sense of looseness is not good… Let the primary care suggest and a orthopaedist
I dunno how your insurance works… you could also just go to one of those Sports Medicine places, they should have lots of experience with borked knees…
My dad was a statistician for HEW way back when. He said the statistics proved that (in general) you get the best outcomes when you go to a facility that does a high volume (specializes) in the discipline needed.
I have found that teaching hospitals and research staff tend to be the most familiar with the latest technology and technical news. (the opposite end of the spectrum seems to be private practice and podunk community hospitals; but this is my opinion, and this isn’t my area of expertise)
US News ranks Hospitals each year. For orthopedics, they list Hospital for Special Surgery as #1. It is part of the NY Presbyterian Columbia/Cornell University hospital system. http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/ny/hospital-for-special-surgery-6212900
Who you go to see first depends on your insurance. Not long ago I had a knee problem where I was sure I needed to go see an orthopedic specialist. If I feel my knee cap, it has a pronouced bump near the edge, and I am able to move my knee cap in all kinds of directions which feels very unnatural. Sometimes my leg felt all wobbly, and it hurt a heck of a lot when moving around… But now it feels fine (pain-wise. Still have the bump and slip-sliding around) and I didn’t go see a doctor. I’m sure it’s just waiting for another inopportune time to present itself. Definitely go to doctor. If you are able to skip seeing a PCP first, then contact an orthopedic specialist. Otherwise, you probably need to get the referral from your PCP. 🙁 Good luck, friend.
Closer to home (for you) is Johns Hopkins. They rank it #5 for ortho. In general, Hopkins ranks very high in many disciplines, and has held the #1 in the nation status for many previous years. They have finally been pushed to #2 by Mass General. (Clearly, Hopkins is in very good company: Mass Gen, Mayo, Cleveland Clinic, etc). http://health.usnews.com/health-news/best-hospitals/articles/2012/07/16/best-hospitals-2012-13-the-honor-roll
Pingback: I am coining a new term. » earth. shattering. kaboom.