Knee pain is one of the most common conditions Americans face – in fact – nearly a third of people will experience it at some point in their lives. At Atlanta Medical Clinic, we understand knee pain is bothersome, uncomfortable, and limits you from living your daily life the way you would like to live it. We take our patients’ care very seriously, so below we’ve highlighted 4 questions you should ask yourself in deciding to seek treatment. Read below!

1. Do You Hear Snapping, Cracking, or Popping?

If your knee is already in pain or swollen, hearing any noise come from it when you move is not something you should ignore. If you feel a painful pop, there is a possibility that a ligament is torn and you should seek medical attention as soon as possible as more damage could occur if it is ignored.

2. Does it Feel Like Something is Moving Inside Your Knee?

Sometimes pieces of bone or cartilage can break loose in the knee area, so if you feel anything moving inside other than normal joint motion, you’ll need to get treatment. Although this will not cause immediate harm to the knee, over time the pieces can make their way into the joint and prevent any normal motion.

You could also experience the kneecap itself moving in and out of place, which is a sign of dislocation. This can entail damaged nerves, torn ligaments, or severed blood vessels that could cause a number of other uncomfortable symptoms down the road.

3. Do You Experience Pain When Walking or Climbing Stairs?

A common sign of damage to the cartilage under your kneecap is feeling pain while walking up the stairs. Putting a lot of stress and pressure on your knees can cause this pain to emerge more than when they are at rest. This is often caused by osteoarthritis but can have a variety of other causes as well, so it’s best to discuss the specifics of your knee pain with a doctor.

4. Does Your Knee Often Swell Up?

If your knee gives out or causes you to feel unstable when walking or standing, it feels tender or stiff, a grinding sensation, you experience difficulty bending your knee, or general muscle weakness, these are all small signs for concern. The knee can swell even without an obvious incident that might have caused it — this is most likely arthritis. This chronic condition only worsens over time, so it should be treated as soon as possible.

If any of these symptoms sound similar to your knee pain experience, don’t wait to seek treatment. Our experienced physicians will work with you to build a customized recovery and healing plan that will fit your individual needs. Schedule a free consultation with AMC today to start your road to knee pain relief!