kind of a medical question

Belle_Fille
Belle_Fille Posts: 469
edited September 24 in Chit-Chat
im scheduled to see my family doctor friday for my knee and i was just wondering if anyone who may have gone through this before, could answer a question.

Will he do x-rays to try to see what the problem is? or will he just refer me out to a bone and joint doctor?
I'm hoping that there is no real problem with my knees and maybe i just landed on them wrong while working out or something.

Replies

  • luv2ash
    luv2ash Posts: 1,903 Member
    I think this depends on what the probelm is that you are having???
  • emmaleigh47
    emmaleigh47 Posts: 1,670 Member
    Might do xrays although they are unlikely to show anything with a knee injury, A good examination should give a clear idea of what the problem is and will likely recommend conservative treatment. If it doesnt get better with conservative treatment than may need MRI and orthopedic referral.
  • malissaperkins
    malissaperkins Posts: 23
    when i was having knee probs, i went to the Dr he took xrays. I then got referred to an ortho dr, bc they saw something on the x-ray. Then I had to have a MRI. So, I guess it just depends on alot of dif things, ie: have you ever had knee probs before. They might have to do an MRI to see if anything was torn...if that's what they think. Hope this helped a little.
  • CalorieNinja
    CalorieNinja Posts: 645 Member
    It probably just depends on symptoms and your doctor.
  • bbb84
    bbb84 Posts: 418 Member
    I had x-rays done first and when they didn't show anything bone related they sent me for an MRI and from there I was referred to a specialist. It depends on your doc and your insurance. Good luck to you, knee injury or problems are never fun.
  • LaraBoBara
    LaraBoBara Posts: 16 Member
    xrays maybe mine was just strained and my knee cap was shifting due to a lot of squats and lunges, I was stressing it out.
  • pyro13g
    pyro13g Posts: 1,127 Member
    Does your health insurance require you to be referred to specialists like an DO? If so doesn't really matter than. Should send you for an MRI and refer you to a specialist if he feels there is damage that warrants it. I've dislocated a knee and only needed physical therapy. Just depends.
  • HeartsTurtle
    HeartsTurtle Posts: 57
    I've had serious knee problems in the past and every time was a little bit different. I've had x-rays done and then was just referred to a physical therapist where they helped me from there. Other times I've seen doctors and they wouldn't even look at me until I had an MRI or X-ray done. Almost every single time I was referred to someone else. Usually family physicians only have basic training when it comes to stuff like this.

    Good luck!
  • sherri31
    sherri31 Posts: 80
    I just got a knee xray back and found out i have arthritis in mine. But need to go for mri cause they see something else. good luck
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,331 Member
    What your doctor does depends on what the evaluation of your knee shows. My experience is they will ask a bunch of questions, then they will do various things to manipulate the knee and press on parts of it to see if they can isolate exactly where the pain is located. If they can do that they have an idea of where to progress. An X-ray may be called for. It will show some problems, and not show others. I had sort tissue damage in my knee, so the X-ray was to eliminate other possibilities. Depending on where you are an MRI might be called for, but sometimes through all the other stuff they can come up with a diagnosis without needing one. If you get to the MRI point, it is likely they will refer you to an orthopedist.

    In my case my knee gave way, and then would not extend or bear weight any longer. I had always been able to get it straight when it happened before by the time I got to the hospital. Then they only had my description of what happened and some lingering tenderness to work with. This time I did not, and that was actually the best as it allowed them to see it and eliminate a bunch of things. I have a torn meniscus which was shaped sort of like a flap. It would occasionally flip up and then my knee would give way. It would eventually go back, but that was uncomfortable and took time. I had surgery to fix it back in '97, but have since re-injured it. Up until recently it would only happen once a year, so I decided that the rehab time for the surgery was not worth it. Recently it happened twice in about a 2-3 week stretch, if it happens again, I think I will see about getting it fixed again, although I would prefer to lose the rest of the weight I want to take off before that would happen. If it doesn't happen any time soon, I will continue to wait.

    In many ways, what will happen depends on your doctor and his experience in this particular area. If he is not especially knowledgeable he will probably refer.
  • annie_p
    annie_p Posts: 319 Member
    My doctor did absolutely nothing...except suggest I get a knee brace. Totally didn't help at all. My knee has been fine for the last few years(not in dance anymore, haven't roller bladed in God know's how long...) but with becoming more active lately, it's starting to act up. I go see the doc at the end of next month and hoping she'll have a little more insight and decide to do something more. But I do agree with everyone else, on that it depends on what the problem is.
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