Accidents Happen: A Guide to Children's Emergencies

Many people experience some degree of knee pain at various points in their life. Unfortunately, this can make people willing to tough out situations that call for knee pain therapy.

Taking care of your joints is important, and your knees are among the most important joints in your body. You need to know when the time has come to seek knee pain treatment.

Mobility Issues

If knee pain has reached the point that you struggle to move well, it's time to ask for help. Even if you're confident that the problem is just pain, there's a risk that the knee could suffer long-term damage. Letting that go untreated is asking for trouble. Your knee is critical to your overall mobility and health, so set up an appointment as soon as you notice pain accompanying mobility problems.

Trauma

Accidents happen, and the knees are often the body parts that take the brunt of the trauma. When people fall, they often hit their knees on the way down. They also frequently hit their knees against objects like shelves and tables. Sporting activities inflict trauma on knees, too.

If you just had an accident that affected your knee, it's wise to have a doctor check it out. You might think the problem is just pain that'll go away, but not seeking attention could let the situation get worse. A knee pain treatment professional can check if there's a bigger problem. Likewise, they might prescribe something to relieve the pain and swelling so you can heal more comfortably.

Persistent Pain

Okay, some folks are going to try to tough it out even though that's not the right choice. After a few days, that strategy should've worked. If it didn't work, it's time to contact the doctor. This is particularly true if the combination of OTC medications, rest, and ice isn't reducing the pain much or at all.

Signs of Infection

Severe knee injuries can encourage infections. You may notice swelling and redness but dismiss it as your body dealing with it. However, prolonged issues could signal an infection. You may even develop a fever or chills.

Instability

Your knee needs to bear the load of your body. Even if the knee otherwise moves around well when you don't put weight on it, an unstable knee is a bad sign. Worse, many people try to limp around on their one good leg. That can cause the other knee to start hurting, too.

For more information on when to seek knee pain treatment, contact a professional near you.