Diagnosis
When performing a physical examination, your physician will typically:
Look at your knee for signs of swelling, discomfort, sensitivity, heat, and noticeable bruises.
Assess the range of motion of your lower leg in various directions.
Apply pressure or traction on the joint to examine the condition of the structures in your knee.
Imaging Tests
In certain situations, your physician may recommend tests like:
X-Ray. Initially, your physician might advise getting an X-ray, which can assist in identifying fractures in bones and joint degeneration.
Computerized Tomography (CT) scan. CT imaging utilizes X-rays captured from numerous angles to produce cross-sectional images of your body’s interior. CT scans are beneficial for diagnosing bone issues and minor fractures. A specialized type of CT scan can effectively detect gout even in the absence of joint inflammation.
Ultrasound. This method employs sound waves to generate real-time visuals of the soft tissues surrounding and within your knee. Your physician may ask you to position your knee differently during the ultrasound to investigate particular issues. Also read Knee Injection singapore for more information.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). An MRI utilizes radio signals and a strong magnet to produce three-dimensional images of your knee’s interior. This examination is especially valuable for identifying injuries in soft tissues such as ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and muscles.
Lab Tests
Should your physician suspect an infection or inflammation, you will likely undergo blood tests and possibly a procedure named arthrocentesis, which involves extracting a small volume of fluid from your knee joint using a needle that will then be analyzed in a laboratory.
Treatment
The therapeutic approaches will differ based on the specific source of your knee discomfort.
Medications
Your physician might provide medications aimed at alleviating pain and addressing the underlying conditions contributing to your knee pain, such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout.