Diagnosing The Cause of Knee Pain

Posted by UKHealthScans on April 18th, 2021

Exploring the labyrinth of the knee is a daunting challenge to any doctor. Chronic pain is so common but the causes are so varied that zeroing in on the source can be difficult. Utilizing a complete record of problems with your knee and giving you an exam, it will prove to be more important than anyone's test.

When seeking advice from a physician, be prepared to answer questions about the history of your knee. Most injuries to the knee come from physical activity. Everything from the exercise program you use to a sports injury that may have happened 20 years ago is all-important when seeking a diagnosis for chronic knee pain. Be prepared to give as detailed as possible responses to questions about the location of the pain, when it began, and what you've been doing to make it feel better. The doctor will probably check the knee for unusual tenderness, pain, swelling, visible bruising, and flexibility. Also, be prepared for several tests the doctor will perform to help your diagnosis.

A common test that helps to discover injuries to your ACL is called a Lachman's Test. The test involves flexing the leg at a sharp angle and then having the doctor try to move your calf forward. If the leg can move without inhibition, it's quite possible that you could have an ACL tear. There are similar tests to determine tears and trauma to other ligaments in the knee, such as the PCL, as well as tests for the menisci and tendons.

In some cases, the general tests may give a false result. If movement in the knee is blocked by things such as swelling or tight muscles in the front or the back of the leg, the doctor may request an MRI (magnetic resonance image) to help aid the diagnosis.

The MRI specializes in detecting trauma to ligaments, tendons, and muscles, while the X-ray is mainly used to detect problems within a bone. The MRI can assist in pinpointing soft tissue injuries the X-ray would miss. On most occasions, however, the physical exam will be enough.