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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYou're likely to start by seeing your family doctor. In some cases, you may be referred to a physical therapist, an orthopedic surgeon or a sports medicine specialist.
What you can do
Before your appointment, you might want to write a list of answers for the following questions:
- Have you ever injured your knee?
- When did your symptoms start?
- Have you had X-rays or other imaging exams of your knees in the past? (If so, try to arrange to bring copies of them with you to your appointment.)
- What medications or supplements are you taking?
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor may ask some of the following questions:
- How would you describe your knee pain?
- Where exactly does it hurt?
- Does any particular activity make your symptoms better or worse?
- Have you recently increased your level of athletic activity?
- What home treatments have you tried already? Did they help?
References
- Frontera WR, et al. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: Musculoskeletal Disorders, Pain, and Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-6/0/1678/0.html. Accessed Dec. 5, 2012.
- O'Connor FG, et al. Patellofemoral pain syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/index.html. Accessed Dec. 5, 2012.
- Runner's knee (Patellofemoral pain). American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00382. Accessed Dec. 5, 2012.
- Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2013: 5 Books in 1. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2012. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-08373-7..00002-9&isbn=978-0-323-08373-7&about=true&uniqId=343863096-23. Accessed Dec. 5, 2012.
- Laskowski ER (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 6, 2012.
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